# List of lord chancellors and lord keepers

The following is a list of lord chancellors and lord keepers of the Great Seal of England and Great Britain. It also includes a list of commissioners of Parliament's Great Seal during the English Civil War and Interregnum.

## Lord chancellors and lord keepers of England, 1050–1707
### 11th century

* Regenbald (1050 – after 1066)
* Herfast (1068–1070)
* Saint Osmund, count of Sées and bishop of Salisbury (c. 1070)
* Maurice, Archdeacon of Le Mans (c. 1078)
* Gerard, Preceptor of Rouen, later Archbishop of York (c. 1085 – before 1091)
* Robert Bloet (after January 1091)
* William Giffard (1094–1101)

### 12th century

* Roger of Salisbury (1101–1102)
* Waldric (1102–1107)
* Ranulf (1107–1123)
* Geoffrey Rufus (1123–1133)
* Robert de Sigello (1133–1135) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* Roger le Poer (1135–1139)
* Philip de Harcourt, Dean of Lincoln (1139–1140)
* Robert of Ghent, Dean of York (1140–1141)
* William FitzGilbert (1141–1142)
* Robert of Ghent, Dean of York (1142–1154)
* Thomas Becket, Archdeacon of Canterbury, later Archbishop of Canterbury (1155–1162)
* Geoffrey Ridel, Archdeacon of Canterbury (1162–1173)
* Ralph de Warneville, Treasurer of York (1173–1181)
* Geoffrey, the Bastard, Plantagenet (1181–1189)
* William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely (1189–1197)
* Eustace, Dean of Salisbury (1197–1199) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* Eustace, Dean of Salisbury (1198–1199)

### 13th century

* Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury (1199–1205)
* Walter de Gray, at various times Bishop of Lichfield, Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York (1205–1214)
* Richard Marsh, later Bishop of Durham (1214–1226)
* Ralph Neville, Bishop of Chichester (1226–1240)
* Richard le Gras, Abbot of Evesham (1240–1242)
* Ralph Neville, Bishop of Chichester (1242–1244)
* Silvester de Everdon, Archdeacon of Chester (1244–1246) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* John Maunsell, Provost of Beverley (1246–1247) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* John Lexington (1247–1248) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* John Maunsell (1248–1249) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* John Lexington (1249–1253) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* Eleanor of Provence, Queen Consort and Regent of England (1253–1254) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* William of Kilkenny (1254–1255) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* Henry Wingham, from 1259/1260 Bishop of London (1255–1260)
* Nicholas of Ely, Archdeacon of Ely (1260–1261)
* Walter de Merton, Archdeacon of Bath (1261–1263)
* Nicholas of Ely, Archdeacon of Ely (1263)
* John Chishull, Archdeacon of London (1263–1264)
* Thomas Cantilupe, Archdeacon of Stafford (1264–1265)
* Ralph Sandwich (1265) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* Walter Giffard, Bishop of Bath and Wells (1265–1266)
* Godfrey Giffard, Archdeacon of Wells (1266–1268)
* John Chishull, Dean of St Paul's (1268–1269)
* Richard Middleton, Archdeacon of Northumberland (1269–1272)
* Walter de Merton, Archdeacon of Bath (1272–1274)
* Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath (1274–1292)
* Thomas Bek, Archdeacon of Dorset (1279) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* John Langton, Canon of Lincoln (1292–1302)

### 14th century

* William Greenfield, Dean of Chichester (1302–1305)
* William Hamilton, Dean of York (1305–1307)
* Ralph Baldock, Bishop of London (1307)
* John Langton, Bishop of Chichester (1307–1310)
* Walter Reynolds, Bishop of Worcester (1310–1314)
* John Sandale, Canon of Lincoln (1314–1318)
* John Hotham, Bishop of Ely (1318–1320)
* John Salmon, Bishop of Norwich (1320–1323)
* Robert Baldock, Archdeacon of Middlesex (1323–1326)
* William Ayermin, Bishop of Norwich (1326–1327)
* John Hotham, Bishop of Ely (1327–1328)
* Henry Burghersh, Bishop of Lincoln (1328–1330)
* John de Stratford, Bishop of Winchester (1330–1334)
* Richard Bury, Bishop of Durham (1334–1335)
* John de Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury (1335–1337)
* Robert de Stratford, Bishop of Chichester (1337–1338)
* Richard Bintworth, Bishop of London (1338–1339)
* John de Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury (1340)
* Robert de Stratford, Bishop of Chichester (1340)
* Robert Bourchier, 1st Baron Bourchier (1340–1341)
* Robert Parning (1341–1343)
* Robert Sadington (1343–1345)
* John de Ufford, Dean of Lincoln (1345–1349)
* John Thoresby, Bishop of Worcester (1349–1356)
* William Edington, Bishop of Winchester (1356–1363)
* Simon Langham, Bishop of Ely (1363–1367)
* William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester (1367–1371)
* Robert Thorpe (1371–1372)
* John Knyvet (1372–1377)
* Adam Houghton, Bishop of St David's (1377–1378)
* Lord Scrope of Bolton (1378–1380)
* Simon Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury (1380–1381)
* Hugh Segrave (1381) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* William Courtenay, Bishop of London (1381)
* Lord Scrope of Bolton (1381–1382)
* Robert Braybrooke, Bishop of London (1382–1383)
* Lord de la Pole (later Earl of Suffolk) (1383–1386)
* Thomas Arundel, Bishop of Ely (1386–1389)
* William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester (1389–1391)
* Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of York (1391–1396)
* Edmund Stafford, Bishop of Exeter (1396–1399)
* Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury (1399)

### 15th century

* John Scarle, Archdeacon of Lincoln (1399–1401)
* Edmund Stafford, Bishop of Exeter (1401–1403)
* Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Lincoln (1403–1405)
* Thomas Langley, Dean of York (1405–1407)
* Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury (1407–1410)
* Thomas Beaufort (1410–1412)
* Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury (1412–1413)
* Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester (1413–1417)
* Thomas Langley, Bishop of Durham (1417–1424)
* Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester (1424–1426)
* John Kemp, Archbishop of York (1426–1432)
* John Stafford, Bishop of Bath (later Archbishop of Canterbury) (1432–1450)
* John Kemp, Archbishop of York (1450–1454)
* Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (1454–1455)
* Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury (1455–1456)
* William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester (1456–1460)
* George Neville, Bishop of Exeter (1460–1467)
* Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath (1467–1470)
* George Neville, Archbishop of York (1470–1471)
* Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath (1471–1473)
* Laurence Booth, Bishop of Durham (1473–1474)
* John Alcock, Bishop of Rochester (1475) (Keeper of the Great Seal)
* Thomas Rotheram, Bishop of Lincoln (1475–1483)
* John Russell, Bishop of Lincoln (1483–1485)
* Thomas Rotheram, Archbishop of York (1485)
* John Alcock, Bishop of Worcester (1485–1486)
* John Morton, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury (1486–1500)

### 1500–1654

| Image | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch (reign) |
| | Henry Deane, Archbishop of Canterbury, Keeper | 1500 | 1502 | Henry VII (1485–1509) |
| | William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, Keeper to 1504 | 1502 | 1515 | Henry VII (1485–1509) |
| | William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, Keeper to 1504 | 1502 | 1515 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| | Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal Archbishop of York | 1515 | 1529 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| | Thomas More | 1529 | 1532 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| | Thomas Audley (Lord Audley of Walden from 1538) | 1532 | 1544 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| | Lord Wriothesley | 1544 | 1547 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| | Lord Wriothesley | 1544 | 1547 | Edward VI (1547–1553) |
| | Lord St John, Keeper | 1547 | 1547 | Edward VI (1547–1553) |
| | Lord Rich | 1547 | 1551 | Edward VI (1547–1553) |
| | Thomas Goodrich, Bishop of Ely | 1552 | 1553 | Edward VI (1547–1553) |
| | Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester | 1553 | 1555 | Mary I (1553–1558) |
| | Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York | 1555 | 1558 | Mary I (1553–1558) |
| | Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper | 1558 | 1579 | Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
| | Thomas Bromley | 1579 | 1587 | Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
| | Christopher Hatton | 1587 | 1591 | Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
| | In commission: Commissioners of the Great Seal Lord Burghley Lord Hunsdon Lord Cobham Lord Buckhurst Commissioners to hear causes Gilbert Gerard and others | 1591 | 1592 | Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
| | John Puckering, Lord Keeper | 1592 | 1596 | Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
| | Thomas Egerton, Lord Keeper to 19 July 1603 (Lord Ellesmere from 1603; Viscount Brackley from 1616) | 6 May 1596 | 5 March 1617 | Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
| | Thomas Egerton, Lord Keeper to 19 July 1603 (Lord Ellesmere from 1603; Viscount Brackley from 1616) | 6 May 1596 | 5 March 1617 | James I (1603–1625) |
| | Francis Bacon, Lord Keeper to 1618 (Lord Verulam from 1618 Viscount St Alban from 1621) | 7 March 1617 | 1621 | James I (1603–1625) |
| | In commission: Commissioners to hear causes in the Court of Chancery Julius Caesar and others Commissioners to hear causes in the House of Lords James Ley and others Commissioners to use the Great Seal Viscount Mandeville Duke of Lennox Earl of Arundel | 1621 | 1621 | James I (1603–1625) |
| | John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Keeper | 1621 | 1625 | James I (1603–1625) |
| | Thomas Coventry, Lord Keeper (Lord Coventry from 1628) | 1625 | 1640 | Charles I (1625–1649) |
| | Lord Finch, Lord Keeper | 1640 | 1641 | Charles I (1625–1649) |
| | Lord Lyttleton of Mounslow, Lord Keeper (Took Great Seal to the King in 1642) | 1641 | 1645 | Charles I (1625–1649) |
| | Richard Lane, Lord Keeper | 1645 | 1650 | Charles I (1625–1649) |
| | Richard Lane, Lord Keeper | 1645 | 1650 | Charles II Court in exile from 1649 |
| Vacant | Vacant | 1650 | 1653 | Charles II Court in exile from 1649 |
| | Edward Herbert, Lord Keeper | 1653 | 1654 | Charles II Court in exile from 1649 |
The Great Seal was captured and destroyed by Parliament on 11 August 1646.

### Commissioners of Parliament's Great Seal 1643–1660

| Name | Term |
| In commission: Earl of Kent Earl of Bolingbroke died July 1646 Oliver St John John Wilde Samuel Browne Edmund Prideaux Earl of Salisbury replacing Bolingbroke | Nov 1643 – Oct 1646 |
| In commission: Earl of Salisbury Earl of Manchester William Lenthall (as Speaker of the House of Commons) | 1646–1648 |
| In commission: Earl of Kent Lord Grey of Werke Thomas Widdrington Bulstrode Whitelocke | 1648–1649 |
| In commission: Bulstrode Whitelocke John Lisle Richard Keble | 1649–1654 |
| In commission: Bulstrode Whitelocke Thomas Widdrington John Lisle | 1654–1656 |
| In commission: Nathaniel Fiennes John Lisle | 1656–1659 |
| In commission: Nathaniel Fiennes John Lisle Bulstrode Whitelocke | January–June 1659 |
| In commission: John Bradshaw Thomas Tyrrell John Fountaine | June 1659 – 1660 |
| In commission: William Lenthall Thomas Widdrington Thomas Tyrrell John Fountaine Earl of Manchester | 1660–1660 |

### From the Restoration (1660) to the Act of Union (1707)

| Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper | Term of office | Term of office | Other peerage(s) | Monarch (reign) |
| Edward Hyde | 13 January 1658 | 30 August 1667 | Baron Hyde in 1660 Earl of Clarendon in 1661 | Charles II (1660–1685) |
| Orlando Bridgeman | 31 August 1667 | 17 November 1672 | — | Charles II (1660–1685) |
| Anthony Ashley Cooper 1st Earl of Shaftesbury | 17 November 1672 | 9 November 1673 | | Charles II (1660–1685) |
| Heneage Finch (Lord Keeper until 1675) (Lord Finch from 10 January 1673, Earl of Nottingham from 12 May 1681) | 9 November 1673 | 18 December 1682$^†$ | — | Charles II (1660–1685) |
| Francis North | 20 December 1682 | 5 September 1685$^†$ | Baron Guilford in 1683 | Charles II (1660–1685) |
| Francis North | 20 December 1682 | 5 September 1685$^†$ | Baron Guilford in 1683 | James II (1685–1688) |
| Lord Jeffreys | 28 September 1685 | December 1688 | — | James II (1685–1688) |
| In commission: John Maynard Anthony Keck William Rawlinson | 4 March 1689 | 14 May 1690 | — | Mary II (1689–1694) & William III (1689–1702) |
| In commission: John Trevor William Rawlinson George Hutchins | 14 May 1690 | 22 March 1693 | — | Mary II (1689–1694) & William III (1689–1702) |
| John Somers (Lord Keeper until 1697) (Lord Somers from 1697) | 23 March 1693 | 27 April 1700 | — | Mary II (1689–1694) & William III (1689–1702) |
| In commission: John Holt, Lord Chief Justice George Treby, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Edward Ward, Chief Baron of the Exchequer | 27 April 1700 | 31 May 1700 | — | Mary II (1689–1694) & William III (1689–1702) |
| Nathan Wright | 31 May 1700 | 11 October 1705 | — | Mary II (1689–1694) & William III (1689–1702) |
| Nathan Wright | 31 May 1700 | 11 October 1705 | — | Anne (1702–1714) |
| William Cowper | 11 October 1705 | 4 May 1707 | Baron Cowper in 1706 | Anne (1702–1714) |

## Lord high chancellors and lord keepers of Great Britain (1707–present)

Tory        Whig        Conservative        Liberal        Labour        National Labour        National Liberal :
| High Chancellor and Lord Keeper | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Ministry | Other peerage(s) | Monarch (Reign) |
| William Cowper 1st Baron Cowper | 4 May 1707 | 23 September 1710 | — | Godolphin–Marlborough | see below | Anne (1702–1714) |
| William Cowper 1st Baron Cowper | 4 May 1707 | 23 September 1710 | — | Oxford–Bolingbroke | see below | Anne (1702–1714) |
| In commission: Thomas Trevor, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Robert Tracy, Justice of the Common Pleas John Scrope, Baron of the Exchequer | 26 September 1710 | 19 October 1710 | — | Oxford–Bolingbroke | — | Anne (1702–1714) |
| Simon Harcourt 1st Baron Harcourt | 19 October 1710 | 21 September 1714 | Tory | Oxford–Bolingbroke | Viscount Harcourt in 1721 | Anne (1702–1714) |
| William Cowper 1st Baron Cowper | 21 September 1714 | 15 April 1718 | — | Townshend | Earl Cowper in 1718 | George I (1714–1727) |
| William Cowper 1st Baron Cowper | 21 September 1714 | 15 April 1718 | — | Stanhope–Sunderland I | Earl Cowper in 1718 | George I (1714–1727) |
| In commission: Robert Tracy, Justice of the Common Pleas John Pratt, Justice of the King's Bench James Montagu, Baron of the Exchequer | 18 April 1718 | 12 May 1718 | — | Stanhope–Sunderland II | — | George I (1714–1727) |
| Thomas Parker 1st Baron Parker | 12 May 1718 | 7 January 1725 | Whig | Stanhope–Sunderland II | Earl of Macclesfield in 1721 | George I (1714–1727) |
| Thomas Parker 1st Baron Parker | 12 May 1718 | 7 January 1725 | Whig | Walpole–Townshend | Earl of Macclesfield in 1721 | George I (1714–1727) |
| In commission: Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls Jeffrey Gilbert, Baron of the Exchequer Robert Raymond, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench | 7 January 1725 | 1 June 1725 | — | Walpole–Townshend | — | George I (1714–1727) |
| Peter King 1st Baron King | 1 June 1725 | 29 November 1733 | — | Walpole–Townshend | — | George I (1714–1727) |
| Peter King 1st Baron King | 1 June 1725 | 29 November 1733 | — | Walpole–Townshend | — | George II (1727–1760) |
| Peter King 1st Baron King | 1 June 1725 | 29 November 1733 | — | Walpole | — | George II (1727–1760) |
| Charles Talbot 1st Baron Talbot | 29 November 1733 | 14 February 1737$^†$ | — | Walpole | — | George II (1727–1760) |
| Philip Yorke 1st Baron Hardwicke | 21 February 1737 | 19 November 1756 | Whig | Walpole | Earl of Hardwicke in 1754 | George II (1727–1760) |
| Philip Yorke 1st Baron Hardwicke | 21 February 1737 | 19 November 1756 | Whig | Carteret | Earl of Hardwicke in 1754 | George II (1727–1760) |
| Philip Yorke 1st Baron Hardwicke | 21 February 1737 | 19 November 1756 | Whig | [[Broad Bottom ministry|Broad Bottom (I & II)]] | Earl of Hardwicke in 1754 | George II (1727–1760) |
| Philip Yorke 1st Baron Hardwicke | 21 February 1737 | 19 November 1756 | Whig | Newcastle I | Earl of Hardwicke in 1754 | George II (1727–1760) |
| In commission: John Willes, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sidney Stafford Smythe, Baron of the Exchequer John Eardley Wilmot, Justice of the King's Bench | 19 November 1756 | 30 June 1757 | — | Pitt–Devonshire | — | George II (1727–1760) |
| In commission: John Willes, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sidney Stafford Smythe, Baron of the Exchequer John Eardley Wilmot, Justice of the King's Bench | 19 November 1756 | 30 June 1757 | — | 1757 Caretaker | — | George II (1727–1760) |
| Robert Henley 1st Baron Henley | 30 June 1757 | 30 July 1766 | Whig | Pitt–Newcastle | Earl of Northington in 1764 | George II (1727–1760) |
| Robert Henley 1st Baron Henley | 30 June 1757 | 30 July 1766 | Whig | Pitt–Newcastle | Earl of Northington in 1764 | George III (1760–1820) |
| Robert Henley 1st Baron Henley | 30 June 1757 | 30 July 1766 | Whig | Bute | Earl of Northington in 1764 | George III (1760–1820) |
| Robert Henley 1st Baron Henley | 30 June 1757 | 30 July 1766 | Whig | Grenville (Whig–Tory) | Earl of Northington in 1764 | George III (1760–1820) |
| Robert Henley 1st Baron Henley | 30 June 1757 | 30 July 1766 | Whig | Rockingham I | Earl of Northington in 1764 | George III (1760–1820) |
| Charles Pratt 1st Baron Camden | 30 July 1766 | 17 January 1770 | Whig | Chatham (Whig–Tory) | Earl Camden in 1786 | George III (1760–1820) |
| Charles Pratt 1st Baron Camden | 30 July 1766 | 17 January 1770 | Whig | Grafton (Whig–Tory) | | George III (1760–1820) |
| Charles Yorke MP for Cambridge University | 17 January 1770 | 20 January 1770$^†$ | Whig | Grafton (Whig–Tory) | | George III (1760–1820) |
| In commission: Sidney Stafford Smythe, Baron of the Exchequer Henry Bathurst, Justice of the Common Pleas Richard Aston, Justice of the King's Bench | 21 January 1770 | 23 January 1771 | — | North | — | George III (1760–1820) |
| Henry Bathurst 1st Baron Apsley | 23 January 1771 | 3 June 1778 | Tory | North | Succeeded as Earl Bathurst in 1775 | George III (1760–1820) |
| Edward Thurlow 1st Baron Thurlow | 3 June 1778 | 7 April 1783 | Tory | North | | George III (1760–1820) |
| Edward Thurlow 1st Baron Thurlow | 3 June 1778 | 7 April 1783 | Tory | Rockingham II | see below | George III (1760–1820) |
| Edward Thurlow 1st Baron Thurlow | 3 June 1778 | 7 April 1783 | Tory | Shelburne (Whig–Tory) | see below | George III (1760–1820) |
| In commission: Lord Loughborough, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas William Henry Ashurst, Justice of the King's Bench Beaumont Hotham, Baron of the Exchequer | 9 April 1783 | 23 December 1783 | — | Fox–North (Whig–Tory) | — | George III (1760–1820) |
| Edward Thurlow 1st Baron Thurlow | 23 December 1783 | 15 June 1792 | Tory | Pitt I | Baron Thurlow in 1792 | George III (1760–1820) |
| In commission: James Eyre, Chief Baron of the Exchequer William Henry Ashurst, Justice of the King's Bench John Wilson, Justice of the Common Pleas | 15 June 1792 | 28 January 1793 | — | Pitt I | — | George III (1760–1820) |
| Alexander Wedderburn 1st Baron Loughborough | 28 January 1793 | 14 April 1801 | — | Pitt I | Earl of Rosslyn in 1801 | George III (1760–1820) |
| John Scott 1st Baron Eldon | 14 April 1801 | 7 February 1806 | Tory | Addington | see below | George III (1760–1820) |
| John Scott 1st Baron Eldon | 14 April 1801 | 7 February 1806 | Tory | Pitt II | see below | George III (1760–1820) |
| Thomas Erskine 1st Baron Erskine | 7 February 1806 | 1 April 1807 | Whig | All the Talents (Whig–Tory) | — | George III (1760–1820) |
| John Scott 1st Baron Eldon | 1 April 1807 | 12 April 1827 | Tory | Portland II | Earl of Eldon in 1821 | George III (1760–1820) |
| John Scott 1st Baron Eldon | 1 April 1807 | 12 April 1827 | Tory | Perceval | Earl of Eldon in 1821 | George III (1760–1820) |
| John Scott 1st Baron Eldon | 1 April 1807 | 12 April 1827 | Tory | Liverpool | Earl of Eldon in 1821 | George III (1760–1820) |
| John Scott 1st Baron Eldon | 1 April 1807 | 12 April 1827 | Tory | Liverpool | Earl of Eldon in 1821 | George IV (1820–1830) |
| John Copley 1st Baron Lyndhurst | 2 May 1827 | 24 November 1830 | Tory | Canning (Canningite–Whig) | — | George IV (1820–1830) |
| John Copley 1st Baron Lyndhurst | 2 May 1827 | 24 November 1830 | Tory | Goderich (Canningite–Whig) | — | George IV (1820–1830) |
| John Copley 1st Baron Lyndhurst | 2 May 1827 | 24 November 1830 | Tory | Wellington–Peel | — | George IV (1820–1830) |
| John Copley 1st Baron Lyndhurst | 2 May 1827 | 24 November 1830 | Tory | Wellington–Peel | — | William IV (1830–1837) |
| Henry Brougham 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux | 24 November 1830 | 21 November 1834 | Whig | Grey | Baron Brougham and Vaux in 1860 | William IV (1830–1837) |
| Henry Brougham 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux | 24 November 1830 | 21 November 1834 | Whig | Melbourne I | Baron Brougham and Vaux in 1860 | William IV (1830–1837) |
| John Copley 1st Baron Lyndhurst | 21 November 1834 | 8 April 1835 | Conservative | Wellington Caretaker | — | William IV (1830–1837) |
| John Copley 1st Baron Lyndhurst | 21 November 1834 | 8 April 1835 | Conservative | Peel I | — | William IV (1830–1837) |
| In commission: Charles Pepys, Master of the Rolls Lancelot Shadwell, Vice-Chancellor of England John Bosanquet, Justice of the Common Pleas | 23 April 1835 | 16 January 1836 | — | Melbourne II | — | William IV (1830–1837) |
| Charles Pepys 1st Baron Cottenham | 16 January 1836 | 30 August 1841 | Whig | Melbourne II | see below | William IV (1830–1837) |
| Charles Pepys 1st Baron Cottenham | 16 January 1836 | 30 August 1841 | Whig | Melbourne II | see below | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| John Copley 1st Baron Lyndhurst | 3 September 1841 | 27 June 1846 | Conservative | Peel II | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Charles Pepys 1st Baron Cottenham | 6 July 1846 | 19 June 1850 | Whig | Russell I | Earl of Cottenham in 1850 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| In commission: Lord Langdale, Master of the Rolls Lancelot Shadwell, Vice Chancellor of England Robert Rolfe, Baron of the Exchequer | 19 June 1850 | 15 July 1850 | — | Russell I | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Thomas Wilde 1st Baron Truro | 15 July 1850 | 21 February 1852 | Whig | Russell I | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Edward Sugden 1st Baron St Leonards | 27 February 1852 | 17 December 1852 | Conservative | Who? Who? | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Robert Rolfe 1st Baron Cranworth | 28 December 1852 | 21 February 1858 | Whig | Aberdeen (Peelite–Whig) | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Robert Rolfe 1st Baron Cranworth | 28 December 1852 | 21 February 1858 | Whig | Palmerston I | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Frederic Thesiger 1st Baron Chelmsford | 26 February 1858 | 11 June 1859 | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli II | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| John Campbell 1st Baron Campbell | 18 June 1859 | 24 June 1861 | Liberal | Palmerston II | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Richard Bethell 1st Baron Westbury | 26 June 1861 | 7 July 1865 | Liberal | Palmerston II | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Robert Rolfe 1st Baron Cranworth | 7 July 1865 | 26 June 1866 | Liberal | Palmerston II | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Robert Rolfe 1st Baron Cranworth | 7 July 1865 | 26 June 1866 | Liberal | Russell II | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Frederic Thesiger 1st Baron Chelmsford | 6 July 1866 | 29 February 1868 | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli III | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Hugh Cairns 1st Baron Cairns | 29 February 1868 | 1 December 1868 | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli III | see below | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| William Wood 1st Baron Hatherley | 9 December 1868 | 15 October 1872 | Liberal | Gladstone I | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Roundell Palmer 1st Baron Selborne | 15 October 1872 | 17 February 1874 | Liberal | Gladstone I | see below | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Hugh Cairns 1st Baron Cairns | 21 February 1874 | 21 April 1880 | Conservative | Disraeli II | Earl Cairns in 1878 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Roundell Palmer 1st Baron Selborne | 28 April 1880 | 9 June 1885 | Liberal | Gladstone II | Earl of Selborne in 1882 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Hardinge Giffard 1st Baron Halsbury | 24 June 1885 | 28 January 1886 | Conservative | Salisbury I | see below | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Farrer Herschell 1st Baron Herschell | 6 February 1886 | 20 July 1886 | Liberal | Gladstone III | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Hardinge Giffard 1st Baron Halsbury | 3 August 1886 | 11 August 1892 | Conservative | Salisbury II | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Farrer Herschell 1st Baron Herschell | 18 August 1892 | 21 June 1895 | Liberal | Gladstone IV | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Farrer Herschell 1st Baron Herschell | 18 August 1892 | 21 June 1895 | Liberal | Rosebery | — | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Hardinge Giffard 1st Baron Halsbury | 29 June 1895 | 4 December 1905 | Conservative | Salisbury (III & IV) (Con.–Lib.U.) | Earl of Halsbury in 1898 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Hardinge Giffard 1st Baron Halsbury | 29 June 1895 | 4 December 1905 | Conservative | Salisbury (III & IV) (Con.–Lib.U.) | Earl of Halsbury in 1898 | Edward VII (1901–1910) |
| Hardinge Giffard 1st Baron Halsbury | 29 June 1895 | 4 December 1905 | Conservative | Balfour (Con.–Lib.U.) | Earl of Halsbury in 1898 | Edward VII (1901–1910) |
| Robert Reid 1st Baron Loreburn | 10 December 1905 | 10 June 1912 | Liberal | Campbell-Bannerman | Earl Loreburn in 1911 | Edward VII (1901–1910) |
| Robert Reid 1st Baron Loreburn | 10 December 1905 | 10 June 1912 | Liberal | Asquith (I–III) | Earl Loreburn in 1911 | Edward VII (1901–1910) |
| Robert Reid 1st Baron Loreburn | 10 December 1905 | 10 June 1912 | Liberal | Asquith (I–III) | Earl Loreburn in 1911 | George V (1910–1936) |
| Richard Haldane 1st Viscount Haldane | 10 June 1912 | 25 May 1915 | Liberal | Asquith (I–III) | — | George V (1910–1936) |
| Stanley Buckmaster 1st Baron Buckmaster | 25 May 1915 | 5 December 1916 | Liberal | Asquith Coalition (Lib.–Con.–Lab.) | Viscount Buckmaster in 1933 | George V (1910–1936) |
| Robert Finlay 1st Baron Finlay | 10 December 1916 | 10 January 1919 | Conservative | [[Lloyd George ministry|Lloyd George (I & II)]] (Lib.–Con.–Lab.) | Viscount Finlay in 1919 | George V (1910–1936) |
| F. E. Smith 1st Baron Birkenhead | 10 January 1919 | 19 October 1922 | Conservative | [[Lloyd George ministry|Lloyd George (I & II)]] (Lib.–Con.–Lab.) | Viscount Birkenhead in 1921 Earl of Birkenhead in 1922 | George V (1910–1936) |
| George Cave 1st Viscount Cave | 24 October 1922 | 22 January 1924 | Conservative | Law | — | George V (1910–1936) |
| George Cave 1st Viscount Cave | 24 October 1922 | 22 January 1924 | Conservative | Baldwin I | — | George V (1910–1936) |
| Richard Haldane 1st Viscount Haldane | 22 January 1924 | 6 November 1924 | Labour | MacDonald I | — | George V (1910–1936) |
| George Cave 1st Viscount Cave | 6 November 1924 | 28 March 1928 | Conservative | Baldwin II | — | George V (1910–1936) |
| Douglas Hogg 1st Baron Hailsham | 28 March 1928 | 4 June 1929 | Conservative | Baldwin II | Viscount Hailsham in 1929 | George V (1910–1936) |
| John Sankey 1st Baron Sankey | 7 June 1929 | 7 June 1935 | Labour | MacDonald II | Viscount Sankey in 1932 | George V (1910–1936) |
| John Sankey 1st Baron Sankey | 7 June 1929 | 7 June 1935 | National Labour | National I (N.Lab.–Con.–N.Lib. –Lib. | Viscount Sankey in 1932 | George V (1910–1936) |
| John Sankey 1st Baron Sankey | 7 June 1929 | 7 June 1935 | National Labour | National II (N.Lab.–Con.–N.Lib. –Lib. until 1932) | Viscount Sankey in 1932 | George V (1910–1936) |
| Douglas Hogg 1st Viscount Hailsham | 7 June 1935 | 9 March 1938 | Conservative | National III (Con.–N.Lab.–N.Lib.) | — | George V (1910–1936) |
| Douglas Hogg 1st Viscount Hailsham | 7 June 1935 | 9 March 1938 | Conservative | National III (Con.–N.Lab.–N.Lib.) | — | Edward VIII (1936) |
| Douglas Hogg 1st Viscount Hailsham | 7 June 1935 | 9 March 1938 | Conservative | National IV (Con.–N.Lab.–N.Lib.) | — | George VI (1936–1952) |
| Frederic Maugham Baron Maugham | 9 March 1938 | 3 September 1939 | Conservative | National IV (Con.–N.Lab.–N.Lib.) | Viscount Maugham in 1939 | George VI (1936–1952) |
| Thomas Inskip 1st Viscount Caldecote | 3 September 1939 | 12 May 1940 | Conservative | Chamberlain War (Con.–N.Lab.–N.Lib.) | — | George VI (1936–1952) |
| John Simon 1st Viscount Simon | 10 May 1940 | 27 July 1945 | National Liberal | Churchill War (All parties) | — | George VI (1936–1952) |
| John Simon 1st Viscount Simon | 10 May 1940 | 27 July 1945 | National Liberal | Churchill Caretaker (Con.–N.Lib.) | — | George VI (1936–1952) |
| William Jowitt 1st Baron Jowitt | 27 July 1945 | 26 October 1951 | Labour | [[Attlee ministry|Attlee (I & II)]] | Viscount Jowitt in 1947 Earl Jowitt in 1951 | George VI (1936–1952) |
| Gavin Simonds Baron Simonds | 30 October 1951 | 18 October 1954 | Conservative | Churchill III | Baron Simonds in 1952 Viscount Simonds in 1954 | George VI (1936–1952) |
| Gavin Simonds Baron Simonds | 30 October 1951 | 18 October 1954 | Conservative | Churchill III | Baron Simonds in 1952 Viscount Simonds in 1954 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| David Maxwell Fyfe 1st Viscount Kilmuir | 18 October 1954 | 13 July 1962 | Conservative | Churchill III | Earl of Kilmuir in 1962 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| David Maxwell Fyfe 1st Viscount Kilmuir | 18 October 1954 | 13 July 1962 | Conservative | Eden | Earl of Kilmuir in 1962 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| David Maxwell Fyfe 1st Viscount Kilmuir | 18 October 1954 | 13 July 1962 | Conservative | [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Macmillan (I & II)]] | Earl of Kilmuir in 1962 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Reginald Manningham-Buller 1st Baron Dilhorne | 13 July 1962 | 16 October 1964 | Conservative | [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Macmillan (I & II)]] | Viscount Dilhorne in 1962 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Reginald Manningham-Buller 1st Baron Dilhorne | 13 July 1962 | 16 October 1964 | Conservative | Douglas-Home | Viscount Dilhorne in 1962 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Gerald Gardiner Baron Gardiner | 16 October 1964 | 19 June 1970 | Labour | [[Labour government, 1964–1970|Wilson (I & II)]] | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Quintin Hogg Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone | 20 June 1970 | 4 March 1974 | Conservative | Heath | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Frederick Elwyn Jones Baron Elwyn-Jones | 5 March 1974 | 4 May 1979 | Labour | [[Labour government, 1974–1979|Wilson (III & IV)]] | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Frederick Elwyn Jones Baron Elwyn-Jones | 5 March 1974 | 4 May 1979 | Labour | Callaghan | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Quintin Hogg Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone | 4 May 1979 | 13 June 1987 | Conservative | Thatcher I | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Quintin Hogg Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone | 4 May 1979 | 13 June 1987 | Conservative | Thatcher II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Michael Havers Baron Havers | 13 June 1987 | 26 October 1987 | Conservative | Thatcher III | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| James Mackay Baron Mackay of Clashfern | 28 October 1987 | 2 May 1997 | Conservative | Thatcher III | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| James Mackay Baron Mackay of Clashfern | 28 October 1987 | 2 May 1997 | Conservative | Major I | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| James Mackay Baron Mackay of Clashfern | 28 October 1987 | 2 May 1997 | Conservative | Major II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Derry Irvine Baron Irvine of Lairg | 2 May 1997 | 12 June 2003 | Labour | Blair I | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Derry Irvine Baron Irvine of Lairg | 2 May 1997 | 12 June 2003 | Labour | Blair II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Charlie Falconer Baron Falconer of Thoroton | 12 June 2003 | 27 June 2007 | Labour | Blair II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Charlie Falconer Baron Falconer of Thoroton | 12 June 2003 | 27 June 2007 | Labour | Blair III | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Jack Straw MP for Blackburn | 28 June 2007 | 11 May 2010 | Labour | Brown | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Kenneth Clarke MP for Rushcliffe | 12 May 2010 | 4 September 2012 | Conservative | Cameron–Clegg (Con.–L.D.) | Baron Clarke of Nottingham for Life in 2020 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Chris Grayling MP for Epsom and Ewell | 4 September 2012 | 9 May 2015 | Conservative | Cameron–Clegg (Con.–L.D.) | Baron Grayling for Life in 2024 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Michael Gove MP for Surrey Heath | 9 May 2015 | 14 July 2016 | Conservative | Cameron II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Liz Truss MP for South West Norfolk | 14 July 2016 | 11 June 2017 | Conservative | May I | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| David Lidington MP for Aylesbury | 11 June 2017 | 8 January 2018 | Conservative | May II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| David Gauke MP for South West Hertfordshire | 8 January 2018 | 24 July 2019 | Conservative | May II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Robert Buckland MP for South Swindon | 24 July 2019 | 15 September 2021 | Conservative | Johnson I | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Robert Buckland MP for South Swindon | 24 July 2019 | 15 September 2021 | Conservative | Johnson II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Dominic Raab MP for Esher and Walton | 15 September 2021 | 6 September 2022 | Conservative | Johnson II | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Brandon Lewis MP for Great Yarmouth | 6 September 2022 | 25 October 2022 | Conservative | Truss | — | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Brandon Lewis MP for Great Yarmouth | 6 September 2022 | 25 October 2022 | Conservative | Truss | — | Charles III (2022–present) |
| Dominic Raab MP for Esher and Walton | 27 October 2022 | 21 April 2023 | Conservative | Sunak | — | Charles III (2022–present) |
| Alex Chalk MP for Cheltenham | 26 April 2023 | 5 July 2024 | Conservative | Sunak | — | Charles III (2022–present) |
| Shabana Mahmood MP for Birmingham Ladywood | 5 July 2024 | Incumbent | Labour | Starmer | — | Charles III (2022–present) |