# Clerk of the Crown in Chancery

The Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain is a senior civil servant who is the head of the Crown Office.
The Crown Office, a section of the Ministry of Justice, has custody of the Great Seal of the Realm, and has certain administrative functions in connection with the courts and the judicial process, as well as functions relating to the electoral process for House of Commons elections, to the keeping of the Roll of the Peerage, and to the preparation of royal documents such as warrants required to pass under the royal sign-manual, fiats, letters patent, etc.

## History

The position evolved from the mediaeval office of the Chancery. The first individual known to be designated as Clerk of the Crown in Chancery was Benedict Normanton in 1331. After 1384, it became common for two persons to hold the clerkship in two separate offices, and in some cases two persons held one of the offices in survivorship.
From 1885 onwards, the office of Clerk of the Crown in Chancery has always been held by the Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department (now the Ministry of Justice). The Clerk of the Crown is formally appointed by the monarch under the royal sign-manual; they must take an oath before assuming the office, which is now administered by the Lord Chancellor.

## Responsibilities

Since 1885, the office of Clerk of the Crown in Chancery has been combined with that of Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department (now the Ministry of Justice). The Clerk of the Crown in Chancery is appointed by the Monarch under the royal sign-manual.
All formal royal documents (such as warrants to be signed by the monarch; letters patent, both those that are signed by the King himself and those that are approved by warrant; and royal charters) are prepared by the Crown Office.
The Crown Office is also responsible for sealing with the Great Seal of the Realm all documents that need to pass under that seal, once the authority for the use of the seal is signified by the Sovereign (authorisation to use the Seal is granted either by the monarch signing a warrant that approves the draft text of letters patent, directs that they be prepared and authorises them to be sealed and issued; or by the Sovereign directly signing the letters patent that are to pass under the great seal, as is necessary in some cases, such as with letters patent that grant Royal Assent to bills passed by Parliament and with instruments of consent relating to royal marriages).
The Clerk of the Crown in Chancery discharges his or her functions regarding the use of the Great Seal and the preparation of royal warrants, letters patent, etc., under the direction of the Lord Chancellor, who is the keeper of the Great Seal of the Realm.
The Crown Office is also responsible for maintaining and updating the Roll of the Peerage. The Secretary of State for Justice is the keeper of the Peerage Roll, and his duties in that regard are daily discharged by a Registrar of the Peerage and a Deputy Registrar, who work within the Crown Office and are therefore under the supervision of the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery. The duties of the Ministry of Justice regarding the keeping and maintenance of the Roll of the Peerage are discharged in collaboration with the Garter King of Arms and Lord Lyon King of Arms, regarding their respective heraldic jurisdictions. The Crown Office also compiles the Official Roll of the Baronetage.
The Crown Office also has duties relating to the elections for the House of Commons. The Clerk of the Crown in Chancery initiates a parliamentary election in a constituency by sending an election writ to the returning officer of the constituency, and historically received all ballot papers and ballot stubs after the election was complete though they are now kept locally by the registration officer for each area (and retained for a year).
The Clerk issues election writs to all constituencies whenever the King makes a proclamation summoning a new parliament, and issues an election writ to a specific constituency whenever that constituency's seat is certified as vacant. The Clerk of the Crown in Chancery also prepares a Return Book, listing the names of all those who are returned as members of the House of Commons in a general election, and delivers that book to the Clerk of the House of Commons on the first day of a new parliament.

## List of Clerks of the Crown

Clerk of the Crown in Chancery :
| # | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Office | Concurrent office(s) | Ref. |
| 1 | Benedict Normanton (n/a) | occ.4 August 1331 | 1350 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 2 | John (de) Tamworth (died c. 1374) | 20 February 1350 | 1374–1376 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 3 | Geoffrey Martin (n/a) | 1 January 1376 | 1396 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 4 | Edmund Brudenell (n/a) | 30 July 1380 | 1385 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 4 | Edmund Brudenell (n/a) | 10 April 1384 | 1385 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 5 | James (de) Billingford (died 1409) | 2 December 1385 | 13 March 1396 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 5 | James (de) Billingford (died 1409) | 13 March 1396 | 1409 | Chief Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 6 | John Clerk (n/a) | 13 March 1396 | 1409 | Secondary Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 6 | John Clerk (n/a) | 6 February 1409 | 17 October 1415 | Clerks of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 7 | William Champneys (n/a) | 6 February 1409 | 1415 | Clerks of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 8 | Richard Sturgeon (n/a) | 8 April 1415 | 17 October 1415 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 8 | Richard Sturgeon (n/a) | 17 October 1415 | 12 August 1449 | Clerks of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 9 | Sir Thomas Haseley (died 1449) | 17 October 1415 | 24 December 1448 | Clerks of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 9 | Sir Thomas Haseley (died 1449) | 24 December 1448 | 23 May 1449 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 10 | Thomas Ive (n/a) | 24 December 1448 | 20 April 1461 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 10 | Thomas Ive (n/a) | 20 April 1461 | 21–23 May 1481 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 11 | William Rous (died 1470) | 12 August 1449 | 12 October 1470 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 12 | John Bagot (n/a) | 12 October 1470 | 1499 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 13 | Richard Ive (died 1487) | 21 May 1481 | 19 September 1485 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 13 | Richard Ive (died 1487) | 19 September 1485 | 10 November 1487 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 14 | Gilbert Bacheler (died 1500) | 19 September 1485 | 1485 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 14 | Gilbert Bacheler (died 1500) | 10 November 1487 | 29 October 1500 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 15 | Clement Clerk (died 1504) | 10 November 1487 | 1504 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 16 | William Porter (died 1522) | 12 November 1504 | 4 March 1522 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 17 | Ralph Pexall (died 1537) | 6 March 1522 | 15–16 July 1537 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 18 | Sir Thomas Pope (c. 1507–1559) | 15–16 July 1537 | 26 February 1538 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 18 | Sir Thomas Pope (c. 1507–1559) | 28 February 1538 | 1544 | Clerks of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 19 | John Lucas (died 1556) | 28 February 1538 | 1544 | Clerks of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 20 | Edmund Martin (n/a) | 9 April 1544 | 20 July 1546 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 20 | Edmund Martin (n/a) | 20 July 1546 | 1579 | Clerks of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 21 | Thomas Powle (I) (1514–1601) | 20 July 1546 | 26 July 1601 | Clerks of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 22 | Sir George Coppin (died 1620) | 26 July 1601 | 1 March 1620 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 23 | Sir Thomas Edmondes (1563–1639) | 1 March 1620 | 11 June 1629 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 24 | Thomas Willis (1576–1656) | 13 June 1629 | occ. 1646 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 25 | John Bolles (n/a) | 12 December 1643 | occ. April 1654 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 26 | Nathaniel Taylor (n/a) | 15 November 1655 | 1659–1660 | Clerk of the Commonwealth | — | |
| 27 | Valentine Willis (n/a) | 10 February 1660 | April 1660 | Clerk of the Commonwealth | — | |
| 27 | Valentine Willis (n/a) | April 1660 | 30 June 1660 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 28 | Henry Barker (n/a) | 19 July 1660 | 22 February 1692 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 29 | Thomas Chute (died 1701) | 22 February 1692 | 17 May1701 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England | — | |
| 30 | George Wright (n/a) | 17 May 1701 | 6 March 1725 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England (until 1707) | — | |
| 30 | George Wright (n/a) | 17 May 1701 | 6 March 1725 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain (after 1707) | — | |
| 31 | Stephen Bisse (died 1746) | 6 March 1725 | 9 September 1746 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | — | |
| 32 | Thomas Bray (died 1737) | 6 March 1725 | 1737 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | — | |
| 33 | The Right Honourable Charles Yorke PC MP for Reigate→ Cambridge University (1722–1770) | 9 September 1746 | 20 January 1770 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Lord High Chancellor (1770)Attorney General (1762–1763, 1765–1766)Solicitor General (1756–1761) | |
| 34 | The Honourable John Yorke MP for Higham Ferrers→ Reigate (1728–1801) | 9 September 1746 | 4 September 1801 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | — | |
| 35 | The Right Honourable Henry Bathurst 3rd Earl Bathurst KGPC (1762–1834) | 4 September 1801 | 27 July 1834 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Lord President of the Council (1828–1830)Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (1812–1827)Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1809)President of the Board of Trade (1807–1812) | |
| 36 | The Honourable Apsley Bathurst (1769–1816) | 4 September 1801 | 24 January 1816 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | — | |
| 37 | Sir Denis Le Marchant 1st Baronet (1795–1874) | 30 July 1834 | 1834 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | — | |
| 38 | Leonard Edmunds in Great Britain (died 1887) | 15 November 1834 | 1848 | Clerk of the Crown | — | |
| 39 | The Honourable Charles Edward Pepys Viscount Crowhurst died 1863 | 14 March 1848 | 1851 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | — | |
| 40 | Charles Romilly (died 1887) | 11 July 1851 | 1880 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | — | |
| 41 | Ralph Charlton Palmer (died 1923) | 18 September 1880 | 1885 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | — | |
| 42 | Sir Kenneth Muir Mackenzie GCBPCQC (1845–1930) | 17 February 1885 | 1915 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | |
| 43 | Sir Claud Schuster KtGCBCVOQC (1869–1956) | 5 July 1915 | 21 August 1944 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | |
| 44 | The Honourable Sir Albert Napier KCBKCVOQC (1881–1973) | 2 July 1944 | 1954 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | — |
| 45 | The Honourable Sir George Coldstream KCBKCVOQC (1907–2004) | 4 June 1954 | 1968 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | |
| 46 | Sir Denis Dobson KCBOBEQC (1908–1995) | 1 April 1968 | 1977 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | |
| 47 | Sir Wilfrid Bourne KCBQC (1922–1999) | 12 April 1977 | 1982 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | |
| 48 | Sir Derek Oulton GCBQC (1927–2016) | 1 October 1982 | 1989 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | |
| 49 | Sir Thomas Legg KCBQC (born 1935) | 18 September 1989 | 1998 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | |
| 50 | Sir Hayden Phillips GCB (born 1943) | 11 April 1998 | 2004 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office | |
| 50 | Sir Hayden Phillips GCB (born 1943) | 11 April 1998 | 2004 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Department for Constitutional Affairs | |
| 51 | The Honourable Sir Alexander Allan KCB (born 1951) | 2 August 2004 | 15 November 2007 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Department for Constitutional Affairs | |
| 52 | Sir Suma Chakrabarti KCB (born 1959) | 19 December 2007 | 2012 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice | |
| 53 | Dame Ursula Brennan DCB (born 1952) | 12 July 2012 | July 2015 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice | |
| 54 | Sir Richard Heaton KCB (born 1965) | 1 September 2015 | August 2020 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice | |
| — | Ceri King | September 2020 | December 2020 | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Head of the Crown OfficeRegistrar of the PeerageRegistrar of the BaronetageDeputy Clerk of the Privy CouncilHead of Secretariat | — |
| 55 | Dame Antonia Romeo DCB (born 1974) | 18 January 2021 | Incumbent | Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain | Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice | |
* ^§ Elevated to the British peerage.
* ^† Died in office.
* ^‡ Elected to a new constituency in a general election.
* ^‖ Knighthood is disputed.
* ↑ Including honorifics and constituencies for elected MPs.
* ↑ Dates provided for the end of a term are either retirement/resignation or death; when only the year is provided the exact date is unknown.

## Canadian Clerk of the Crown in Chancery

The office of Clerk of the Crown in Chancery was carried over to Canada. From 1791 to 1866, there were Clerks for both Lower Canada and Upper Canada. They carried out electoral functions similar to the British Clerk. Following Confederation in 1867, the federal government established the position of Clerk of the Crown to oversee elections. The office was amalgamated into the position of Chief Electoral Officer in 1920.