# First Sea Lord

First Sea Lord, officially known as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1SL/CNS), is the title of a statutory position in the British Armed Forces, usually held by an admiral. As the highest-ranking officer to serve in the Royal Navy, the chief is the principal military advisor on matters pertaining to the navy and a deputy to the Secretary of State for Defence. In a separate capacity, the CNS is a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and, thereby, a military advisor to the National Security Council, the prime minister and the monarch. The First Sea Lord is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty of the Royal Navy unless the Chief of the Defence Staff is a naval officer. Admiral Sir Ben Key was appointed First Sea Lord in November 2021.
Originally titled the "Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty" when the post was created in 1689, the office was re-styled First Naval Lord in 1771. The concept of a professional "First Naval Lord" was introduced in 1805, and the title of the office was changed to First Sea Lord on the appointment of Sir John "Jackie" Fisher in 1904. Since 1923, the First Sea Lord has been a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee; he now sits on the Defence Council and the Admiralty Board.

## Responsibilities

The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and a member of the Defence Council. He is responsible to the Secretary of State for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Naval Service. As a member of the Defence Council, the First Sea Lord supports the Secretary of State in the management and direction of the Armed Forces through prerogative and statutory powers. As a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, he advises CDS on maritime strategy and policy. He has a collective responsibility for providing strategic direction to the department, managing performance and ensuring that defence delivers the required outputs.

## History

Lords Admiral were appointed from the 15th century; they were later styled Lords High Admiral until the 18th century, and Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty from the 17th century, as the governors of the English and later British Royal Navy. From 1683 to 1684, there were seven paid Commissioners, and one unpaid supernumerary Commissioner. The number varied between five and seven Commissioners through the 18th century. The standing of all the Commissioners was in theory the same, although the First Commissioner or First Lord exercised an ascendancy over his colleagues from an early date.
The generally recognized office of Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty was established on 8 March 1689, with the first incumbent being Admiral Arthur Herbert; he was also First Lord of the Admiralty. On 20 January 1690 Admiral Herbert was succeeded by Admiral Sir John Chicheley under First Lord of Admiralty Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke.
On 22 May 1702 the Board of Admiralty ceased control of naval affairs and was replaced by the Lord Admiral's Council. The previous office of Senior Naval Lord was replaced by a Senior Member to the Lords Admiral Council; he was usually a serving naval officer of admiral rank and was the Chief Naval Adviser to the Lord Admiral. This lasted until 8 November 1709, when the Board of Admiralty resumed control of Naval Affairs and the post of Senior Naval Lord was resumed.
On 2 February 1771 the office of Senior Naval Lord was renamed to First Naval Lord. The first post holder was Vice-Admiral Augustus Hervey; he first served under First Lord of the Admiralty John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents. On 2 May 1827 the Board of Admiralty once again ceased control of Naval Affairs and was replaced, until 1828, by a Lord High Admirals Council.
The title of the First Naval Lord was changed to First Sea Lord on the appointment of Sir Jackie Fisher in 1904. In 1917 the First Sea Lord was re-styled First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. From 1923 onward, the First Sea Lord was a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and from 1923 to 1959, in rotation with the representatives of the other services (the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff), he served as the chairman of that committee and head of all British armed forces. The title was retained when the Board of Admiralty was abolished in 1964 and the Board's functions were integrated into the Ministry of Defence.
Under the current organisation, the First Sea Lord sits on the Defence Council, the Admiralty Board and the Navy Board.
Since 2012, the flagship of the First Sea Lord has nominally been the ship of the line HMS Victory, which used to be Lord Nelson's flagship.
Professional heads of the English/British Armed Forces vte :
| | Royal Navy | British Army | Royal Air Force | Combined |
| 1645 | N/A | Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (1645/60–1904, intermittently) | N/A. The RAF was formed in 1918 | |
| 1689 | Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771) | Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (1645/60–1904, intermittently) | N/A. The RAF was formed in 1918 | |
| 1771 | First Naval Lord (1771–1904) | Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (1645/60–1904, intermittently) | N/A. The RAF was formed in 1918 | |
| 1904 | First Sea Lord (1904–1917) | Chief of the General Staff (1904–1909) | N/A. The RAF was formed in 1918 | Inter-service co-ordination was carried out from 1904 by the Committee of Imperial Defence under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister |
| 1909 | First Sea Lord (1904–1917) | Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1909–1964) | N/A. The RAF was formed in 1918 | Inter-service co-ordination was carried out from 1904 by the Committee of Imperial Defence under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister |
| 1917 | First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–present) | Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1909–1964) | N/A. The RAF was formed in 1918 | Inter-service co-ordination was carried out from 1904 by the Committee of Imperial Defence under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister |
| 1918 | First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–present) | Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1909–1964) | Chief of the Air Staff (1918–present) | Inter-service co-ordination was carried out from 1904 by the Committee of Imperial Defence under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister |
| 1923 | First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–present) | Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1909–1964) | Chief of the Air Staff (1918–present) | Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (1923–1959, held by one of the service heads until 1956) |
| 1959 | First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–present) | Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1909–1964) | Chief of the Air Staff (1918–present) | Chief of the Defence Staff (1959–present) |
| 1964 | First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–present) | Chief of the General Staff (1964–present) | Chief of the Air Staff (1918–present) | Chief of the Defence Staff (1959–present) |

## Appointees

The following table lists all those who have held the post of First Sea Lord or its preceding positions. Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| Senior Naval Lords |||||||
| 1 | Herbert, ArthurAdmiral Arthur Herbert (c. 1648–1716) | 8 March 1689 | 20 January 1690 | 318 days |
| 2 | Chicheley, JohnRear-Admiral Sir John Chicheley (c. 1640–1691) | 20 January 1690 | 5 June 1690 | 136 days |
| 3 | Russell, EdwardAdmiral of the Fleet Edward Russell (1653–1727) | 5 June 1690 | 23 January 1691 | 232 days |
| 4 | Priestman, HenryCaptain Henry Priestman (c. 1647–1712) | 23 January 1691 | 2 May 1694 | 3 years, 99 days |
| (3) | Russell, EdwardAdmiral of the Fleet Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford (1653–1727) | 2 May 1694 | 31 May 1699 | 5 years, 29 days |
| 5 | Rooke, GeorgeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke (1650–1709) | 31 May 1699 | 26 January 1702 | 2 years, 240 days |
| 6 | Leake, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Leake (1656–1720) | 8 November 1709 | 4 October 1710 | 330 days |
| 7 | Byng, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Byng (1663–1733) | 4 October 1710 | 30 September 1712 | 1 year, 362 days |
| (6) | Leake, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Leake (1656–1720) | 30 September 1712 | 14 October 1714 | 2 years, 14 days |
| (7) | Byng, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Byng (1663–1733) | 14 October 1714 | 16 April 1717 | 2 years, 184 days |
| 8 | Aylmer, MatthewAdmiral of the Fleet Matthew Aylmer (c. 1650–1720) | 16 April 1717 | 19 March 1718 | 337 days |
| (7) | Byng, GeorgeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Byng (1663–1733) | 19 March 1718 | 30 September 1721 | 3 years, 195 days |
| 9 | Jennings, JohnAdmiral Sir John Jennings (1664–1743) | 30 September 1721 | 1 June 1727 | 5 years, 244 days |
| 10 | Norris, JohnAdmiral Sir John Norris (c. 1670–1749) | 1 June 1727 | 13 May 1730 | 2 years, 346 days |
| 11 | Wager, CharlesAdmiral Sir Charles Wager (1666–1743) | 13 May 1730 | 23 June 1733 | 3 years, 41 days |
| 12 | Hamilton, ArchibaldCaptain Lord Archibald Hamilton (1673–1754) | 23 June 1733 | 13 March 1738 | 4 years, 263 days |
| 13 | Powlett, HarryLord Harry Powlett (1691–1759) | 13 March 1738 | 19 March 1742 | 4 years, 6 days |
| (12) | Hamilton, ArchibaldCaptain Lord Archibald Hamilton (1673–1754) | 19 March 1742 | 25 March 1746 | 4 years, 6 days |
| 14 | Beauclerk, VereAdmiral Lord Vere Beauclerk (1699–1781) | 25 March 1746 | 18 November 1749 | 3 years, 238 days |
| 15 | Anson, GeorgeAdmiral George Anson, 1st Baron Anson (1697–1762) | 18 November 1749 | 22 June 1751 | 1 year, 216 days |
| 16 | Rowley, WilliamAdmiral Sir William Rowley (c. 1690–1768) | 22 June 1751 | 17 November 1756 | 5 years, 148 days |
| 17 | Boscawen, EdwardVice-Admiral Edward Boscawen (1711–1761) | 17 November 1756 | 6 April 1757 | 140 days |
| (16) | Rowley, WilliamAdmiral Sir William Rowley (c. 1690–1768) | 6 April 1757 | 2 July 1757 | 87 days |
| (17) | Boscawen, EdwardAdmiral Edward Boscawen (1711–1761) | 2 July 1757 | 19 March 1761 | 3 years, 260 days |
| 18 | Forbes, JohnAdmiral John Forbes (1714–1796) | 19 March 1761 | 20 April 1763 | 2 years, 32 days |
| 19 | Howe, RichardCaptain Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe (1726–1799) | 20 April 1763 | 31 July 1765 | 2 years, 102 days |
| 20 | Saunders, CharlesVice-Admiral Sir Charles Saunders (c. 1715–1775) | 31 July 1765 | 15 September 1766 | 1 year, 46 days |
| 21 | Keppel, AugustusRear-Admiral Augustus Keppel (1725–1786) | 15 September 1766 | 11 December 1766 | 87 days |
| 22 | Brett, PeircyRear-Admiral Sir Peircy Brett (1709–1781) | 11 December 1766 | 28 February 1770 | 3 years, 79 days |
| 23 | Holburne, FrancisAdmiral Francis Holburne (1704–1771) | 28 February 1770 | 2 February 1771 | 339 days |
| First Naval Lords |||||||
| 24 | Hervey, AugustusCaptain Augustus Hervey (1724–1779) | 2 February 1771 | 12 April 1775 | 4 years, 69 days |
| 25 | Palliser, HughVice-Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser (1723–1796) | 12 April 1775 | 23 September 1779 | 4 years, 164 days |
| 26 | Palliser, HughVice-Admiral Robert Man | 23 September 1779 | 22 September 1780 | 365 days |
| 27 | Darby, GeorgeVice-Admiral George Darby (c. 1720–1790) | 22 September 1780 | 1 April 1782 | 1 year, 191 days |
| 28 | Harland, RobertAdmiral Sir Robert Harland (c. 1715–1784) | 1 April 1782 | 30 January 1783 | 304 days |
| 29 | Pigot, HughAdmiral Hugh Pigot (1722–1792) | 30 January 1783 | 31 December 1783 | 335 days |
| 30 | Leveson-Gower, JohnRear-Admiral John Leveson-Gower (1740–1792) | 31 December 1783 | 12 August 1789 | 5 years, 224 days |
| 31 | Hood, SamuelAdmiral Samuel Hood, 1st Baron Hood (1724–1816) | 12 August 1789 | 7 March 1795 | 5 years, 207 days |
| 32 | Middleton, CharlesVice-Admiral Sir Charles Middleton (1726–1813) | 7 March 1795 | 20 November 1795 | 258 days |
| 33 | Gambier, JamesVice-Admiral James Gambier (1756–1833) | 20 November 1795 | 19 February 1801 | 5 years, 91 days |
| 34 | Troubridge, ThomasRear-Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge (c. 1758–1807) | 19 February 1801 | 15 May 1804 | 3 years, 86 days |
| (33) | Gambier JamesVice Admiral James Gambier (1756–1833) | 15 May 1804 | 10 February 1806 | 1 year, 271 days |
| 35 | Markham, JohnRear Admiral John Markham (1761–1827) | 10 February 1806 | 6 April 1807 | 1 year, 55 days |
| (33) | Gambier, JamesAdmiral James Gambier (1756–1833) | 6 April 1807 | 9 May 1808 | 1 year, 33 days |
| 36 | Bickerton, RichardVice Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton (1759–1832) | 9 May 1808 | 25 March 1812 | 3 years, 321 days |
| 37 | Domett, WilliamVice Admiral William Domett (1752–1828) | 25 March 1812 | 23 October 1813 | 1 year, 212 days |
| 38 | Yorke, JosephVice Admiral Sir Joseph Yorke (1768–1831) | 23 October 1813 | 24 May 1816 | 2 years, 214 days |
| 39 | Moore, GrahamVice Admiral Sir Graham Moore (1764–1843) | 24 May 1816 | 13 March 1820 | 3 years, 294 days |
| 40 | Johnstone Hope, WilliamVice Admiral Sir William Johnstone Hope (1766–1831) | 13 March 1820 | 2 May 1827 | 7 years, 50 days |
| 41 | Cockburn, GeorgeVice Admiral Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853) | 19 September 1828 | 25 November 1830 | 2 years, 67 days |
| 42 | Hardy, ThomasRear Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy (1769–1839) | 25 November 1830 | 1 August 1834 | 3 years, 249 days |
| 43 | Dundas, GeorgeRear Admiral Sir George Dundas (1778–1834) | 1 August 1834 | 1 November 1834 | 92 days |
| 44 | Adam, CharlesRear Admiral Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853) | 1 November 1834 | 23 December 1834 | 52 days |
| (41) | Cockburn, GeorgeVice Admiral Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853) | 23 December 1834 | 25 April 1835 | 123 days |
| (44) | Adam, CharlesVice Admiral Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853) | 25 April 1835 | 8 September 1841 | 6 years, 197 days |
| (41) | Cockburn, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853) | 8 September 1841 | 13 July 1846 | 4 years, 308 days |
| 45 | Parker, WilliamVice Admiral Sir William Parker (1781–1866) | 13 July 1846 | 24 July 1846 | 11 days |
| (44) | Adam, CharlesVice Admiral Sir Charles Adam (1780–1853) | 24 July 1846 | 20 July 1847 | 361 days |
| 46 | Dundas, JamesRear Admiral Sir James Dundas (1785–1862) | 20 July 1847 | 13 February 1852 | 4 years, 208 days |
| 47 | Berkeley, MauriceRear Admiral Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley (1788–1867) | 13 February 1852 | 2 March 1852 | 18 days |
| 48 | Parker, HydeVice Admiral Hyde Parker (1784–1854) | 2 March 1852 | 26 May 1854 | 2 years, 85 days |
| (47) | Berkeley, MauriceVice Admiral Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley (1788–1867) | 26 May 1854 | 24 November 1857 | 2 years, 182 days |
| 48 | Dundas, RichardVice Admiral Sir Richard Saunders Dundas (1802–1861) | 24 November 1857 | 8 March 1858 | 104 days |
| 49 | Martin, WilliamVice Admiral Sir William Martin (1801–1895) | 8 March 1858 | 28 June 1859 | 1 year, 112 days |
| (48) | Dundas, RichardVice Admiral Richard Saunders Dundas (1802–1861) | 28 June 1859 | 15 June 1861 | 1 year, 352 days |
| 50 | Grey, FrederickAdmiral Sir Frederick Grey (1805–1878) | 15 June 1861 | 13 July 1866 | 5 years, 28 days |
| 51 | Milne, AlexanderVice Admiral Sir Alexander Milne (1806–1896) | 13 July 1866 | 18 December 1868 | 2 years, 158 days |
| 52 | Dacres, SydneyAdmiral Sir Sydney Dacres (1804–1884) | 18 December 1868 | 27 November 1872 | 3 years, 345 days |
| (51) | Milne, AlexanderAdmiral Sir Alexander Milne (1806–1896) | 27 November 1872 | 7 September 1876 | 3 years, 285 days |
| 53 | Yelverton, HastingsAdmiral Sir Hastings Yelverton (1808–1878) | 7 September 1876 | 5 November 1877 | 1 year, 59 days |
| 54 | Wellesley, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Wellesley (1814–1901) | 5 November 1877 | 12 August 1879 | 1 year, 280 days |
| 55 | Key, AstleyAdmiral Sir Astley Cooper Key (1821–1888) | 12 August 1879 | 1 July 1885 | 5 years, 323 days |
| 56 | Hood, ArthurAdmiral Sir Arthur Hood (1824–1901) | 1 July 1885 | 15 February 1886 | 229 days |
| 57 | Hay, JohnAdmiral Lord John Hay (1827–1916) | 15 February 1886 | 9 August 1886 | 175 days |
| (56) | Hood, ArthurAdmiral Sir Arthur Hood (1824–1901) | 9 August 1886 | 24 October 1889 | 3 years, 76 days |
| 58 | Hamilton, RichardAdmiral Sir Richard Hamilton (1829–1912) | 24 October 1889 | 28 September 1891 | 1 year, 339 days |
| 59 | Hoskins, AnthonyAdmiral Sir Anthony Hoskins (1828–1901) | 28 September 1891 | 1 November 1893 | 2 years, 34 days |
| 60 | Richards, FrederickAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Richards (1833–1912) | 1 November 1893 | 19 August 1899 | 5 years, 291 days |
| 61 | Kerr, WalterAdmiral of the Fleet Lord Walter Kerr (1839–1927) | 19 August 1899 | 21 October 1904 | 5 years, 63 days |
| First Sea Lords |||||||
| 62 | Fisher, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher (1841–1920) | 21 October 1904 | 25 January 1910 | 5 years, 96 days |
| 63 | Wilson, ArthurAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Wilson (1842–1921) | 25 January 1910 | 5 December 1911 | 1 year, 314 days |
| 64 | Bridgeman, FrancisAdmiral Sir Francis Bridgeman (1848–1929) | 5 December 1911 | 9 December 1912 | 1 year, 4 days |
| 65 | Mountbatten, LouisAdmiral Prince Louis of Battenberg (1854–1921) | 9 December 1912 | 30 October 1914 | 1 year, 325 days |
| (62) | Fisher, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher (1841–1920) | 30 October 1914 | 15 May 1915 | 197 days |
| 66 | Jackson, HenryAdmiral Sir Henry Jackson (1855–1929) | 15 May 1915 | 30 November 1916 | 1 year, 199 days |
| 67 | Jellicoe, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Jellicoe (1859–1935) | 30 November 1916 | 10 January 1918 | 1 year, 41 days |
| 68 | Wemyss, RosslynAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Rosslyn Wemyss (1864–1933) | 10 January 1918 | 1 November 1919 | 1 year, 295 days |
| 69 | Beatty, DavidAdmiral of the Fleet David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (1871–1936) | 1 November 1919 | 30 July 1927 | 7 years, 271 days |
| 70 | Madden, CharlesAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Madden (1862–1935) | 30 July 1927 | 30 July 1930 | 3 years, 0 days |
| 71 | Field, FrederickAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Field (1871–1945) | 30 July 1930 | 21 January 1933 | 2 years, 175 days |
| 72 | Chatfield, ErnleAdmiral of the Fleet Ernle Chatfield, 1st Baron Chatfield (1873–1967) | 21 January 1933 | 7 September 1938 | 5 years, 229 days |
| 73 | Backhouse, RogerAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Backhouse (1878–1939) | 7 September 1938 | 12 June 1939 | 278 days |
| 74 | Pound, DudleyAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound (1877–1943) | 12 June 1939 | 15 October 1943 | 4 years, 125 days |
| 75 | Cunningham, AndrewAdmiral of the Fleet Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope (1883–1963) | 15 October 1943 | 24 May 1946 | 2 years, 221 days |
| 76 | Cunningham, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Cunningham (1885–1962) | 24 May 1946 | 29 September 1948 | 2 years, 128 days |
| 77 | Fraser, BruceAdmiral of the Fleet Bruce Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape (1888–1981) | 29 September 1948 | 20 December 1951 | 3 years, 82 days |
| 78 | McGrigor, RhoderickAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick McGrigor (1893–1959) | 20 December 1951 | 18 April 1955 | 3 years, 119 days |
| 79 | Mountbatten, LouisAdmiral of the Fleet Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1900–1979) | 18 April 1955 | 19 October 1959 | 4 years, 184 days |
| 80 | Lambe, CharlesAdmiral Sir Charles Lambe (1900–1960) | 19 October 1959 | 23 May 1960 | 217 days |
| 81 | John, CasparAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Caspar John (1903–1984) | 23 May 1960 | 7 August 1963 | 3 years, 76 days |
| 82 | Luce, DavidAdmiral Sir David Luce (1906–1971) | 7 August 1963 | 15 March 1966 | 2 years, 220 days |
| 83 | Begg, VarylAdmiral Sir Varyl Begg (1908–1995) | 15 March 1966 | 12 August 1968 | 2 years, 150 days |
| 84 | Fanu, MichaelAdmiral Sir Michael Le Fanu (1913–1970) | 12 August 1968 | 3 July 1970 | 1 year, 325 days |
| 85 | Hill, PeterAdmiral Sir Peter Hill-Norton (1915–2004) | 3 July 1970 | 9 April 1971 | 280 days |
| 86 | Pollock, MichaelAdmiral Sir Michael Pollock (1916–2006) | 9 April 1971 | 1 March 1974 | 2 years, 326 days |
| 87 | Ashmore, EdwardAdmiral Sir Edward Ashmore (1919–2016) | 1 March 1974 | 9 February 1977 | 2 years, 345 days |
| 88 | Lewin, TerenceAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Terence Lewin (1920–1999) | 1 March 1977 | 6 July 1979 | 2 years, 127 days |
| 89 | Leach, HenryAdmiral Sir Henry Leach (1923–2011) | 6 July 1979 | 1 December 1982 | 3 years, 148 days |
| 90 | Fieldhouse, JohnAdmiral Sir John Fieldhouse (1928–1992) | 1 December 1982 | 2 August 1985 | 2 years, 244 days |
| 91 | Staveley, WilliamAdmiral Sir William Staveley (1928–1997) | 2 August 1985 | 25 May 1989 | 3 years, 296 days |
| 92 | Oswald, JulianAdmiral Sir Julian Oswald (1933–2011) | 25 May 1989 | 2 March 1993 | 3 years, 281 days |
| 93 | Bathurst, BenjaminAdmiral Sir Benjamin Bathurst (born 1936) | 2 March 1993 | 10 July 1995 | 2 years, 130 days |
| 94 | Slater, JockAdmiral Sir Jock Slater (born 1938) | 10 July 1995 | 8 October 1998 | 3 years, 90 days |
| 95 | Boyce, MichaelAdmiral Sir Michael Boyce (1943–2022) | 8 October 1998 | 16 January 2001 | 2 years, 100 days |
| 96 | Essenhigh, NigelAdmiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh (born 1944) | 16 January 2001 | 17 September 2002 | 1 year, 244 days |
| 97 | West, AlanAdmiral Sir Alan West (born 1948) | 17 September 2002 | 6 February 2006 | 3 years, 142 days |
| 98 | Band, JonathonAdmiral Sir Jonathon Band (born 1950) | 6 February 2006 | 21 July 2009 | 3 years, 165 days |
| 99 | Stanhope, MarkAdmiral Sir Mark Stanhope (born 1952) | 21 July 2009 | 9 April 2013 | 3 years, 262 days |
| 100 | Zambellas, GeorgeAdmiral Sir George Zambellas (born 1958) | 9 April 2013 | 8 April 2016 | 2 years, 365 days |
| 101 | Jones, PhilipAdmiral Sir Philip Jones (born 1960) | 8 April 2016 | 19 June 2019 | 3 years, 72 days |
| 102 | Radakin, TonyAdmiral Sir Tony Radakin (born 1965) | 19 June 2019 | 8 November 2021 | 2 years, 142 days |
| 103 | Key, BenAdmiral Sir Ben Key (born 1965) | 8 November 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 124 days |

## In fiction

In John Buchan's novel The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915), the First Sea Lord is named as Lord Alloa, an impostor whom Richard Hannay recognizes at a meeting as a spy and recent pursuer of his. Hannay describes Lord Alloa as recognizable from news pictures for his "beard cut like a spade, the firm fighting mouth, the blunt square nose, and the keen blue eyes...the man, they say, that made the New British Navy". The real First Sea Lord at the time the story is set (early summer 1914) was Prince Louis of Battenberg, coincidentally also bearded.