# Lord Privy Seal

The Lord Privy Seal (or, more formally, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. Originally, its holder was responsible for the monarch's personal (privy) seal (as opposed to the Great Seal of the Realm, which is in the care of the lord chancellor) until the use of such a seal became obsolete. Though one of the oldest offices in European governments, it has no particular function today because the use of a privy seal has been obsolete for centuries; it may be regarded as a traditional sinecure, but today, the holder of the office is invariably given a seat in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, and is sometimes referred to as a minister without portfolio.
Since the premiership of Clement Attlee, the position of Lord Privy Seal has frequently been combined with that of leader of the House of Lords or leader of the House of Commons. The office of Lord Privy Seal, unlike those of leader of the Lords or Commons, is eligible for a ministerial salary under the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. The office does not confer membership of the House of Lords, leading to Ernest Bevin's remark on holding this office that he was "neither a Lord, nor a Privy, nor a Seal".
During the reign of Edward I, prior to 1307, the privy seal was kept by the controller of the wardrobe. The Lord Privy Seal was the president of the Court of Requests during its existence.

## List of Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal
### Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal (c. 1307–1714)

Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal :
| Lord Keeper | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch (Reign) |
| William Melton | 1307 | 1312 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| Roger Northburgh | 1312 | 1316 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| Thomas Charlton | 1316 | 1320 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| Robert Baldock Archdeacon of Middlesex | 1320 | 1323 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| Robert Wodehouse | 1323 | 1323 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| Robert Ayleston | 1323 | 1324 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| William Ayermin | 1324 | 1325 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| Henry de Cliff | 1325 | 1325 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| William Herlaston | 1325 | 1326 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| Robert Wyvil | 1326 | 1327 | Edward II r. 1307–1327 |
| Richard Airmyn | 1327 | 1328 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Adam de Lymbergh | 1328 | 1329 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Richard Bury Bishop of Durham | 1329 | 1334 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Robert Ayleston | 1334 | 1334 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Robert Tawton | 1334 | 1335 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| William de la Zouch | 1335 | 1337 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Richard Bintworth | 1337 | 1338 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| William Kilsby | 1338 | 1342 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| John de Ufford | 1342 | 1344 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Thomas Hatfield | 1344 | 1345 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| John Thoresby Master of the Rolls | 1345 | 1347 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury | 1347 | 1350 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Michael Northburgh Archdeacon of Suffolk | 1350 | 1354 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Thomas Bramber | 1354 | 1355 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| John Winwick | 1355 | 1360 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| John Buckingham Bishop of Lincoln | 1360 | 1363 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| William of Wykeham Archdeacon of Lincoln | 1363 | 1367 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Peter Lacy | 1367 | 1371 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| Nicholas Carew MP for Surrey | 1371 | 1377 | Edward III r. 1327–1377 |
| John Fordham | 1377 | 1381 | Richard II r. 1377–1399 |
| William Dighton | 1381 | 1382 | Richard II r. 1377–1399 |
| Walter Skirclaw Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield | 1382 | 1386 | Richard II r. 1377–1399 |
| John Waltham Bishop of Salisbury | 1386 | 1389 | Richard II r. 1377–1399 |
| Edmund Stafford Bishop of Exeter | 1389 | 1396 | Richard II r. 1377–1399 |
| Guy Mone | 1396 | 1397 | Richard II r. 1377–1399 |
| Richard Clifford Bishop of Bath and Wells | 1397 | 1401 | Richard II r. 1377–1399 |
| Richard Clifford Bishop of Bath and Wells | 1397 | 1401 | Henry IV r. 1399–1413 |
| Thomas Langley | 1401 | 1405 | Henry IV r. 1399–1413 |
| Nicholas Bubwith | 1405 | 1406 | Henry IV r. 1399–1413 |
| John Prophet Dean of York | 1406 | 1415 | Henry IV r. 1399–1413 |
| John Prophet Dean of York | 1406 | 1415 | Henry V r. 1413–1422 |
| John Wakering Bishop of Norwich | 1415 | 1416 | Henry V r. 1413–1422 |
| Henry Ware | 1416 | 1418 | Henry V r. 1413–1422 |
| John Kemp Bishop of Rochester | 1418 | 1421 | Henry V r. 1413–1422 |
| John Stafford | 1421 | 1422 | Henry V r. 1413–1422 |
| William Alnwick Bishop of Norwich | 1422 | 1432 | Henry VI r. 1422–1461 |
| William Lyndwood Bishop of St David's | 1432 | 1443 | Henry VI r. 1422–1461 |
| Thomas Beckington Bishop of Bath and Wells | 1443 | 1444 | Henry VI r. 1422–1461 |
| Adam Moleyns Bishop of Chichester | 1444 | 1450 | Henry VI r. 1422–1461 |
| Andrew Holes Archdeacon of York | 1450 | 1452 | Henry VI r. 1422–1461 |
| Thomas Lisieux Dean of St Paul's | 1452 | 1456 | Henry VI r. 1422–1461 |
| Laurence Booth Bishop of Durham | 1456 | 1460 | Henry VI r. 1422–1461 |
| Robert Stillington Bishop of Bath and Wells | 1460 | 1467 | Henry VI r. 1422–1461 |
| Robert Stillington Bishop of Bath and Wells | 1460 | 1467 | Edward IV r. 1461–1470 |
| Thomas Rotherham Bishop of Rochester | 1467 | 1470 | Edward IV r. 1461–1470 |
| John Hales Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield | 1470 | 1471 | Henry VI r. 1470–1471 |
| Thomas Rotherham Bishop of Lincoln | 1471 | 1474 | Edward IV r. 1471–1483 |
| John Russell Bishop of Lincoln | 1474 | 1483 | Edward IV r. 1471–1483 |
| John Russell Bishop of Lincoln | 1474 | 1483 | Edward V r. 1483 |
| John Gunthorpe Dean of Wells | 1483 | 1485 | Edward V r. 1483 |
| John Gunthorpe Dean of Wells | 1483 | 1485 | Richard III r. 1483–1485 |
| Peter Courtenay Bishop of Exeter | 1485 | 1487 | Henry VII r. 1485–1509 |
| Richard Foxe Bishop of Winchester | 1487 | 1516 | Henry VII r. 1485–1509 |
| Richard Foxe Bishop of Winchester | 1487 | 1516 | Henry VIII r. 1509–1547 |
| Thomas Ruthall Bishop of Durham | 1516 | 1523 | Henry VIII r. 1509–1547 |
| Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney | 1523 | 1523 | Henry VIII r. 1509–1547 |
| Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of London | 1523 | 1530 | Henry VIII r. 1509–1547 |
| Thomas Boleyn 1st Earl of Wiltshire | 1530 | 1536 | Henry VIII r. 1509–1547 |
| Thomas Cromwell 1st Earl of Essex | 1536 | 1540 | Henry VIII r. 1509–1547 |
| William FitzWilliam 1st Earl of Southampton | 1540 | 1542 | Henry VIII r. 1509–1547 |
| John Russell 1st Earl of Bedford | 1542 | 1555 | Henry VIII r. 1509–1547 |
| John Russell 1st Earl of Bedford | 1542 | 1555 | Edward VI r. 1547–1553 |
| John Russell 1st Earl of Bedford | 1542 | 1555 | Mary I r. 1553–1558 |
| William Paget 1st Baron Paget | 1555 | 1558 | Mary I r. 1553–1558 |
| Nicholas Bacon | 1558 | 1571 | Elizabeth I r. 1558–1603 |
| William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley | 1571 | 1572 | Elizabeth I r. 1558–1603 |
| William Howard 1st Baron Howard of Effingham | 1572 | 1573 | Elizabeth I r. 1558–1603 |
| Thomas Smith MP for Essex | 1573 | 1576 | Elizabeth I r. 1558–1603 |
| Francis Walsingham MP for Surrey | 1576 | 1590 | Elizabeth I r. 1558–1603 |
| William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley | 1590 | 1598 | Elizabeth I r. 1558–1603 |
| Robert Cecil 1st Earl of Salisbury | 1598 | 1608 | Elizabeth I r. 1558–1603 |
| Robert Cecil 1st Earl of Salisbury | 1598 | 1608 | James I r. 1603–1625 |
| Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton | 1608 | 1614 | James I r. 1603–1625 |
| Robert Carr 1st Earl of Somerset | 1614 | 1616 | James I r. 1603–1625 |
| Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester | 1616 | 1625 | James I r. 1603–1625 |
| John Coke MP for Cambridge University | 1625 | 1628 | Charles I r. 1625–1649 |
| Robert Naunton | 1628 | 1628 | Charles I r. 1625–1649 |
| Henry Montagu 1st Earl of Manchester | 1628 | 1642 | Charles I r. 1625–1649 |
| Lucius Cary 2nd Viscount Falkland | 1643 | 1643 | Charles I r. 1625–1649 |
| Edward Nicholas | 1643 | 1644 | Charles I r. 1625–1649 |
| Henry Bourchier 5th Earl of Bath | 1644 | 1646 | Charles I r. 1625–1649 |
| Interregnum Commissioners of Parliament's Great Seal | 1646 | 1660 | Charles II Court in exile |
| John Robartes 2nd Baron Robartes | 1660 | 1673 | Charles II r. 1660–1685 |
| Arthur Annesley 1st Earl of Anglesey | 1673 | 1682 | Charles II r. 1660–1685 |
| George Savile 1st Marquess of Halifax | 1682 | 1685 | Charles II r. 1660–1685 |
| Henry Hyde 2nd Earl of Clarendon | 1685 | 1687 | James II r. 1685–1688 |
| Henry Arundell 3rd Baron Arundell of Wardour | 1687 | 1688 | James II r. 1685–1688 |
| George Savile 1st Marquess of Halifax | 1689 | 1690 | Mary II r. 1689–1694 & William III r. 1689–1702 |
| Thomas Herbert 8th Earl of Pembroke | 1692 | 1699 | Mary II r. 1689–1694 & William III r. 1689–1702 |
| John Lowther 1st Viscount Lonsdale | 1699 | 1700 | Mary II r. 1689–1694 & William III r. 1689–1702 |
| Ford Grey 1st Earl of Tankerville | 1700 | 1701 | Mary II r. 1689–1694 & William III r. 1689–1702 |
| John Sheffield 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby | 1702 | 1705 | Anne r. 1702–1714 |
| John Holles 1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne | 1705 | 1711 | Anne r. 1702–1714 |
| John Robinson Bishop of Bristol | 1711 | 1713 | Anne r. 1702–1714 |
| William Legge 1st Earl of Dartmouth | 1713 | 1714 | Anne r. 1702–1714 |

### Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal (1714–present)

Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal :
| Lord Keeper | Lord Keeper | Lord Keeper | Term of office | Term of office | Other ministerial portfolios held during tenure | Party | Ministry | Monarch (Reign) |
| | | Thomas Wharton 1st Marquess of Wharton | 23 September 1714 | 31 August 1715 | | Whig | Townshend | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland | 31 August 1715 | 19 December 1716 | | — | Townshend | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull | 19 December 1716 | 6 February 1719 | | — | Townshend | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull | 19 December 1716 | 6 February 1719 | | — | Stanhope–Sunderland I | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull | 19 December 1716 | 6 February 1719 | | — | Stanhope–Sunderland II | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Henry Grey 1st Duke of Kent | 6 February 1719 | 11 June 1720 | | — | Stanhope–Sunderland II | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull | 11 June 1720 | 11 March 1726 | | — | Stanhope–Sunderland II | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull | 11 June 1720 | 11 March 1726 | | — | Walpole–Townshend | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Thomas Trevor 1st Baron Trevor | 11 March 1726 | 8 May 1730 | | — | Walpole–Townshend | George I r. 1714–1727 |
| | | Thomas Trevor 1st Baron Trevor | 11 March 1726 | 8 May 1730 | | — | Walpole–Townshend | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Spencer Compton 1st Earl of Wilmington | 8 May 1730 | January 1731 | | Whig | Walpole | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | William Cavendish 3rd Duke of Devonshire | 12 January 1731 | 5 May 1733 | | Whig | Walpole | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Henry Lowther 3rd Viscount Lonsdale | 5 May 1733 | 16 May 1735 | | — | Walpole | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Francis Godolphin 2nd Earl of Godolphin | 16 May 1735 | 7 April 1740 | | — | Walpole | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | John Hervey 2nd Baron Hervey | 7 April 1740 | 13 July 1742 | | — | Walpole | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | John Leveson-Gower 2nd Baron Gower | 13 July 1742 | 10 December 1743 | | Tory | Carteret | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | George Cholmondeley 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley | 10 December 1743 | 27 December 1744 | | — | Carteret | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower | 27 December 1744 | 8 June 1755 | | Tory | Broad Bottom (I & II) | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower | 27 December 1744 | 8 June 1755 | | Tory | Newcastle I | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough | 8 June 1755 | 22 December 1755 | | — | Newcastle I | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Granville Leveson-Gower 2nd Earl Gower | 22 December 1755 | 30 June 1757 | | Tory | Newcastle I | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Granville Leveson-Gower 2nd Earl Gower | 22 December 1755 | 30 June 1757 | | Tory | Pitt–Devonshire | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Granville Leveson-Gower 2nd Earl Gower | 22 December 1755 | 30 June 1757 | | Tory | 1757 Caretaker | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Richard Grenville-Temple 2nd Earl Temple | 30 June 1757 | 5 October 1761 | | — | Pitt–Newcastle | George II r. 1727–1760 |
| | | Richard Grenville-Temple 2nd Earl Temple | 30 June 1757 | 5 October 1761 | | — | Pitt–Newcastle | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Russell 4th Duke of Bedford | 25 November 1761 | 22 April 1763 | | Whig | Pitt–Newcastle | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Russell 4th Duke of Bedford | 25 November 1761 | 22 April 1763 | | Whig | Bute | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough | 22 April 1763 | 30 July 1765 | | — | Grenville (Whig–Tory) | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Thomas Pelham-Holles 1st Duke of Newcastle | 30 July 1765 | 30 July 1766 | | Whig | Rockingham I | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | William Pitt 1st Earl of Chatham | 30 July 1766 | 2 November 1768 | Prime Minister | Whig | Chatham (Whig–Tory) | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | George Hervey 2nd Earl of Bristol | 2 November 1768 | 26 February 1770 | | — | Grafton (Whig–Tory) | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | George Montagu-Dunk 2nd Earl of Halifax | 26 February 1770 | 22 January 1771 | | Tory | North | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Henry Howard 12th Earl of Suffolk | 22 January 1771 | 12 June 1771 | | — | North | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Augustus FitzRoy 3rd Duke of Grafton | 12 June 1771 | 4 November 1775 | | Whig | North | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | William Legge 2nd Earl of Dartmouth | 4 November 1775 | 27 March 1782 | | — | North | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Augustus FitzRoy 3rd Duke of Grafton | 27 March 1782 | 4 April 1783 | | Whig | Rockingham II | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Augustus FitzRoy 3rd Duke of Grafton | 27 March 1782 | 4 April 1783 | | Whig | Shelburne (Whig–Tory) | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Frederick Howard 5th Earl of Carlisle | 4 April 1783 | 23 December 1783 | | — | Fox–North (Whig–Tory) | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Charles Manners 4th Duke of Rutland | 23 December 1783 | 27 November 1784 | | — | Pitt I | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess of Stafford | 27 November 1784 | 1794 | | Tory | Pitt I | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | George Spencer 2nd Earl Spencer | 1794 | 16 July 1794 | | Whig | Pitt I | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Pitt 2nd Earl of Chatham | 16 July 1794 | 14 February 1798 | | — | Pitt I | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland | 14 February 1798 | 5 February 1806 | | Tory | Pitt I | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland | 14 February 1798 | 5 February 1806 | | Tory | Addington | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland | 14 February 1798 | 5 February 1806 | | Tory | Pitt II | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Henry Addington 1st Viscount Sidmouth | 5 February 1806 | 15 October 1806 | | Tory | All the Talents (Whig–Tory) | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | Henry Vassall-Fox 3rd Baron Holland | 15 October 1806 | 25 March 1807 | | Whig | All the Talents (Whig–Tory) | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland | 25 March 1807 | 30 April 1827 | | Tory | Portland II | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland | 25 March 1807 | 30 April 1827 | | Tory | Perceval | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland | 25 March 1807 | 30 April 1827 | | Tory | Liverpool | George III (1760–1820) |
| | | John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland | 25 March 1807 | 30 April 1827 | | Tory | Liverpool | George IV r. 1820–1830 |
| | | William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck 4th Duke of Portland | 30 April 1827 | 16 July 1827 | | Tory | Canning (Canningite–Whig) | George IV r. 1820–1830 |
| | | George Howard 6th Earl of Carlisle | 16 July 1827 | 26 January 1828 | | Whig | Canning (Canningite–Whig) | George IV r. 1820–1830 |
| | | George Howard 6th Earl of Carlisle | 16 July 1827 | 26 January 1828 | | Whig | Goderich (Canningite–Whig) | George IV r. 1820–1830 |
| | | Edward Law 2nd Baron Ellenborough | 26 January 1828 | 10 June 1829 | President of the Board of Control | Tory | Wellington–Peel | George IV r. 1820–1830 |
| | | James St Clair-Erskine 2nd Earl of Rosslyn | 10 June 1829 | 22 November 1830 | | Tory | Wellington–Peel | George IV r. 1820–1830 |
| | | James St Clair-Erskine 2nd Earl of Rosslyn | 10 June 1829 | 22 November 1830 | | Tory | Wellington–Peel | William IV r. 1830–1837 |
| | | John Lambton 1st Baron Durham | 22 November 1830 | 3 April 1833 | | Whig | Grey | William IV r. 1830–1837 |
| | | Frederick John Robinson 1st Earl of Ripon | 3 April 1833 | 5 June 1834 | | Whig | Grey | William IV r. 1830–1837 |
| | | George Howard 6th Earl of Carlisle | 5 June 1834 | 30 July 1834 | | Whigs | Grey | William IV r. 1830–1837 |
| | | Constantine Phipps 2nd Earl of Mulgrave | 30 July 1834 | 14 November 1834 | | Whig | Melbourne I | William IV r. 1830–1837 |
| | | James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie 1st Baron Wharncliffe | 15 December 1834 | 8 April 1835 | | Conservative | Peel I | William IV r. 1830–1837 |
| | | John Ponsonby 1st Baron Duncannon styled Viscount Duncannon | 23 April 1835 | 15 January 1840 | First Commissioner of Woods and Forests | Whig | Melbourne II | William IV r. 1830–1837 |
| | | John Ponsonby 1st Baron Duncannon styled Viscount Duncannon | 23 April 1835 | 15 January 1840 | First Commissioner of Woods and Forests | Whig | Melbourne II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | George Villiers 4th Earl of Clarendon | 15 January 1840 | 30 August 1841 | Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Whig | Melbourne II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | 3 September 1841 | 2 February 1842 | | Conservative | Peel II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott 5th Duke of Buccleuch | 2 February 1842 | 21 January 1846 | | Conservative | Peel II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Thomas Hamilton 9th Earl of Haddington | 21 January 1846 | 27 June 1846 | | Conservative | Peel II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound 2nd Earl of Minto | 6 July 1846 | 21 February 1852 | | Whig | Russell I | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | James Gascoyne-Cecil 2nd Marquess of Salisbury | 27 February 1852 | 17 December 1852 | | Conservative | Who? Who? | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | George Campbell 8th Duke of Argyll | 4 January 1853 | 7 December 1855 | | Peelite | Aberdeen (Peelite–Whig) | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | George Campbell 8th Duke of Argyll | 4 January 1853 | 7 December 1855 | | Peelite | Palmerston I | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Dudley Ryder 2nd Earl of Harrowby | 7 December 1855 | 3 February 1858 | | Whig | Palmerston I | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Ulick de Burgh 1st Marquess of Clanricarde | 3 February 1858 | 21 February 1858 | | Whig | Palmerston I | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Charles Yorke 4th Earl of Hardwicke | 26 February 1858 | 11 June 1859 | | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | George Campbell 8th Duke of Argyll | 18 June 1859 | 26 June 1866 | | Liberal | Palmerston II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | George Campbell 8th Duke of Argyll | 18 June 1859 | 26 June 1866 | | Liberal | Russell II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | James Harris 3rd Earl of Malmesbury | 6 July 1866 | 1 December 1868 | | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli III | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | John Wodehouse 1st Earl of Kimberley | 9 December 1868 | 6 July 1870 | | Liberal | Gladstone I | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Charles Wood 1st Viscount Halifax | 6 July 1870 | 17 February 1874 | | Liberal | Gladstone I | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | James Harris 3rd Earl of Malmesbury | 21 February 1874 | 12 August 1876 | | Conservative | Disraeli II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Benjamin Disraeli 1st Earl of Beaconsfield | 12 August 1876 | 4 February 1878 | Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury | Conservative | Disraeli II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Algernon Percy 6th Duke of Northumberland | 4 February 1878 | 21 April 1880 | | Conservative | Disraeli II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | George Campbell 8th Duke of Argyll | 28 April 1880 | 2 May 1881 | | Liberal | Gladstone II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue 1st Baron Carlingford | 2 May 1881 | 5 March 1885 | | Liberal | Gladstone II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Archibald Primrose 5th Earl of Rosebery | 5 March 1885 | 9 June 1885 | First Commissioner of Works | Liberal | Gladstone II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Dudley Ryder 3rd Earl of Harrowby | 24 June 1885 | 28 January 1886 | | Conservative | Salisbury I | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | William Ewart Gladstone MP for Midlothian | 17 February 1886 | 20 July 1886 | Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Commons | Liberal | Gladstone III | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | George Cadogan 5th Earl Cadogan | 3 August 1886 | 11 August 1892 | | Conservative | Salisbury II | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | William Ewart Gladstone MP for Midlothian | 20 August 1892 | 10 March 1894 | Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Commons | Liberal | Gladstone IV | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Edward Marjoribanks 2nd Baron Tweedmouth | 10 March 1894 | 21 June 1895 | Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Liberal | Rosebery | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Richard Assheton Cross 1st Viscount Cross | 29 June 1895 | 12 November 1900 | | Conservative | Salisbury (III & IV) (Con.–Lib.U.) | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 3rd Marquess of Salisbury | 12 November 1900 | July 1902 | Prime Minister Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Salisbury (III & IV) (Con.–Lib.U.) | Victoria r. 1837–1901 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 3rd Marquess of Salisbury | 12 November 1900 | July 1902 | Prime Minister Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Salisbury (III & IV) (Con.–Lib.U.) | Edward VII r. 1901–1910 |
| | | Arthur Balfour MP for Manchester East | 14 July 1902 | October 1903 | Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Balfour (Con.–Lib.U.) | Edward VII r. 1901–1910 |
| | | James Gascoyne-Cecil 4th Marquess of Salisbury | 17 October 1903 | December 1905 | President of the Board of Trade | Conservative | Balfour (Con.–Lib.U.) | Edward VII r. 1901–1910 |
| | | George Robinson 1st Marquess of Ripon | 10 December 1905 | October 1908 | Leader of the House of Lords | Liberal | Campbell-Bannerman | Edward VII r. 1901–1910 |
| | | George Robinson 1st Marquess of Ripon | 10 December 1905 | October 1908 | Leader of the House of Lords | Liberal | Asquith (I–III) | Edward VII r. 1901–1910 |
| | | Robert Crewe-Milnes 1st Marquess of Crewe | 9 October 1908 | October 1911 | Leader of the House of Lords Secretary of State for the Colonies Secretary of State for India | Liberal | Asquith (I–III) | Edward VII r. 1901–1910 |
| | | Robert Crewe-Milnes 1st Marquess of Crewe | 9 October 1908 | October 1911 | Leader of the House of Lords Secretary of State for the Colonies Secretary of State for India | Liberal | Asquith (I–III) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Charles Wynn-Carington 1st Earl Carrington | 23 October 1911 | February 1912 | | Liberal | Asquith (I–III) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Robert Crewe-Milnes 1st Marquess of Crewe | 13 February 1912 | May 1915 | Secretary of State for India Leader of the House of Lords | Liberal | Asquith (I–III) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | George Curzon 1st Earl Curzon of Kedleston | 25 May 1915 | December 1916 | President of the Air Board | Conservative | Asquith Coalition (Lib.–Con.–Lab.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | David Lindsay 27th Earl of Crawford | 15 December 1916 | January 1919 | | Conservative | Lloyd George (I & II) (Lib.–Con.–Lab.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Bonar Law MP for Glasgow Central | 10 January 1919 | March 1921 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Lloyd George (I & II) (Lib.–Con.–Lab.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Austen Chamberlain MP for Birmingham West | 23 March 1921 | October 1922 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Lloyd George (I & II) (Lib.–Con.–Lab.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | October 1922 | May 1923 | | | Law | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Robert Cecil 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood | 28 May 1923 | January 1924 | | Conservative | Baldwin I | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | J. R. Clynes MP for Manchester Platting | 22 January 1924 | November 1924 | Deputy Leader of the House of Commons | Labour | MacDonald I | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | James Gascoyne-Cecil 4th Marquess of Salisbury | 6 November 1924 | June 1929 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Baldwin II | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Jimmy Thomas MP for Derby | 7 June 1929 | June 1930 | | Labour | MacDonald II | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Vernon Hartshorn MP for Ogmore | 5 June 1930 | March 1931 | | Labour | MacDonald II | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Tom Johnston MP for West Stirlingshire | 24 March 1931 | August 1931 | | Labour | MacDonald II | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | William Peel 1st Earl Peel | August 1931 | November 1931 | | Conservative | National I (N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Philip Snowden 1st Viscount Snowden | 5 November 1931 | September 1932 | | National Labour | National II (N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Stanley Baldwin MP for Bewdley | 29 September 1932 | December 1933 | Lord President of the Council | Conservative | National II (N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Anthony Eden MP for Warwick and Leamington | 31 December 1933 | June 1935 | | Conservative | National II (N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart 7th Marquess of Londonderry | 7 June 1935 | November 1935 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | National III (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Edward Wood 3rd Viscount Halifax | 22 November 1935 | May 1937 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | National III (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.) | George V r. 1910–1936 |
| | | Edward Wood 3rd Viscount Halifax | 22 November 1935 | May 1937 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | National III (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.) | Edward VIII r. 1936 |
| | | Edward Wood 3rd Viscount Halifax | 22 November 1935 | May 1937 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | National III (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Herbrand Sackville 9th Earl De La Warr | 28 May 1937 | October 1938 | | National Labour | National IV (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | John Anderson 1st Viscount Waverley MP for Combined Scottish Universities | 31 October 1938 | September 1939 | | Independent (National) | National IV (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Samuel Hoare 1st Viscount Templewood MP for Chelsea | 3 September 1939 | April 1940 | | Conservative | Chamberlain War (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Kingsley Wood MP for Woolwich West | 3 April 1940 | May 1940 | | Conservative | Chamberlain War (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Clement Attlee MP for Limehouse | 11 May 1940 | February 1942 | Deputy Leader of the House of Commons | Labour | Churchill War (All parties) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Stafford Cripps MP for Bristol East | 19 February 1942 | November 1942 | Leader of the House of Commons | Labour | Churchill War (All parties) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil Viscount Cranborne | 22 November 1942 | September 1943 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Churchill War (All parties) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Max Aitken 1st Baron Beaverbrook | 24 September 1943 | July 1945 | | Conservative | Churchill War (All parties) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Max Aitken 1st Baron Beaverbrook | 24 September 1943 | July 1945 | | Conservative | Churchill Caretaker (Con.–N.Lib.) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Arthur Greenwood MP for Wakefield | 27 July 1945 | 17 April 1947 | Paymaster General | Labour | Attlee (I & II) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Philip Inman 1st Baron Inman | 17 April 1947 | 7 October 1947 | | Labour | Attlee (I & II) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Christopher Addison 1st Viscount Addison | 7 October 1947 | 9 March 1951 | Leader of the House of Lords Paymaster General | Labour | Attlee (I & II) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Ernest Bevin MP for Woolwich East | 9 March 1951 | 14 April 1951 | | Labour | Attlee (I & II) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Richard Stokes MP for Ipswich | 26 April 1951 | October 1951 | Minister of Materials | Labour | Attlee (I & II) | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 5th Marquess of Salisbury | 28 October 1951 | 7 May 1952 | Leader of the House of Lords Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations | Conservative | Churchill III | George VI r. 1936–1952 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 5th Marquess of Salisbury | 28 October 1951 | 7 May 1952 | Leader of the House of Lords Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations | Conservative | Churchill III | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harry Crookshank MP for Gainsborough | 7 May 1952 | 20 December 1955 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Churchill III | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harry Crookshank MP for Gainsborough | 7 May 1952 | 20 December 1955 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Eden | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | R. A. Butler MP for Saffron Walden | 20 December 1955 | October 1959 | Leader of the House of Commons Secretary of State for the Home Department | Conservative | Eden | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | R. A. Butler MP for Saffron Walden | 20 December 1955 | October 1959 | Leader of the House of Commons Secretary of State for the Home Department | Conservative | Macmillan (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Quintin Hogg 2nd Viscount Hailsham | 14 October 1959 | July 1960 | Minister of Science | Conservative | Macmillan (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Edward Heath MP for Bexley | 27 July 1960 | October 1963 | Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Conservative | Macmillan (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Selwyn Lloyd MP for Wirral | 20 October 1963 | October 1964 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Douglas-Home | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Frank Pakenham 7th Earl of Longford | 18 October 1964 | December 1965 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Wilson (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Frank Soskice MP for Newport | 23 December 1965 | April 1966 | | Labour | Wilson (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Frank Pakenham 7th Earl of Longford | 6 April 1966 | January 1968 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Wilson (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Edward Shackleton Baron Shackleton | 16 January 1968 | April 1968 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Wilson (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Fred Peart MP for Workington | 6 April | October 1968 | | Labour | Wilson (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Edward Shackleton Baron Shackleton | 18 October 1968 | June 1970 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Wilson (I & II) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | George Jellicoe 2nd Earl Jellicoe | 20 June 1970 | June 1973 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Heath | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | David Hennessy 3rd Baron Windlesham | 5 June 1973 | March 1974 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Heath | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Malcolm Shepherd 2nd Baron Shepherd | 7 March 1974 | September 1976 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Wilson (III & IV) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Malcolm Shepherd 2nd Baron Shepherd | 7 March 1974 | September 1976 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Callaghan | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Fred Peart Baron Peart | 10 September 1976 | May 1979 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Callaghan | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Ian Gilmour Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar MP for Chesham and Amersham | 5 May 1979 | September 1981 | Government spokesman in the House of Commons for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Conservative | Thatcher I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Humphrey Atkins MP for Spelthorne | 14 September 1981 | April 1982 | Government spokesman in the House of Commons for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Conservative | Thatcher I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Janet Young Baroness Young | 6 April 1982 | June 1983 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Thatcher I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | John Biffen MP for North Shropshire | 11 June 1983 | June 1987 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Thatcher II | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | John Wakeham MP for South Colchester and Maldon | 13 June 1987 | 10 January 1988 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Thatcher III | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | John Ganzoni 2nd Baron Belstead | 10 January 1988 | 28 November 1990 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Thatcher III | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | David Waddington Baron Waddington | 28 November 1990 | 11 April 1992 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Major I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | John Wakeham Baron Wakeham | 11 April 1992 | 20 July 1994 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Major I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil Viscount Cranborne | 20 July 1994 | 2 May 1997 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Major I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil Viscount Cranborne | 20 July 1994 | 2 May 1997 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Major II | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Ivor Richard Baron Richard | 2 May 1997 | 27 July 1998 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Blair I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Margaret Jay Baroness Jay of Paddington | 27 July 1998 | 8 June 2001 | Leader of the House of Lords Minister for Women | Labour | Blair I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Gareth Williams Baron Williams of Mostyn | 8 June 2001 | 13 June 2003 | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Blair II | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Peter Hain MP for Neath | 13 June 2003 | 6 May 2005 | Leader of the House of Commons | Labour | Blair II | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Geoff Hoon MP for Ashfield | 6 May 2005 | 5 May 2006 | Leader of the House of Commons | Labour | Blair III | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Jack Straw MP for Blackburn | 5 May 2006 | 27 June 2007 | Leader of the House of Commons | Labour | Blair III | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harriet Harman MP for Camberwell and Peckham | 28 June 2007 | 11 May 2010 | Leader of the House of Commons Minister for Women and Equality | Labour | Brown | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | George Young MP for North West Hampshire | 12 May 2010 | 4 September 2012 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Cameron–Clegg (Con.–L.D.) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Andrew Lansley MP for South Cambridgeshire | 4 September 2012 | 14 July 2014 | Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Cameron–Clegg (Con.–L.D.) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Tina Stowell Baroness Stowell of Beeston | 15 July 2014 | 14 July 2016 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Cameron–Clegg (Con.–L.D.) | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Tina Stowell Baroness Stowell of Beeston | 15 July 2014 | 14 July 2016 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Cameron II | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Natalie Evans Baroness Evans of Bowes Park | 14 July 2016 | 6 September 2022 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | May I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Natalie Evans Baroness Evans of Bowes Park | 14 July 2016 | 6 September 2022 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | May II | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Natalie Evans Baroness Evans of Bowes Park | 14 July 2016 | 6 September 2022 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Johnson I | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Natalie Evans Baroness Evans of Bowes Park | 14 July 2016 | 6 September 2022 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Johnson II | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Nicholas True Baron True | 6 September 2022 | 5 July 2024 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Truss | Elizabeth II r. 1952–2022 |
| | | Nicholas True Baron True | 6 September 2022 | 5 July 2024 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Truss | Charles III (2022–present) |
| | | Nicholas True Baron True | 6 September 2022 | 5 July 2024 | Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Sunak | Charles III (2022–present) |
| | | Angela Smith Baroness Smith of Basildon | 5 July 2024 | Incumbent | Leader of the House of Lords | Labour | Starmer | Charles III (2022–present) |

#### Notes

* ↑ Archdeacon of Sarum until 1426; Bishop of Norwich from 1426
* ↑ Archdeacon of Oxford 1434–1442; Bishop of St David's from 1442
* ↑ Dean of Salisbury until 1446; Bishop of Chichester from 1446
* ↑ Dean of St Paul's until 1457
* ↑ Archdeacon of Taunton until 1465; Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1466
* ↑ Bishop of Rochester from 1468
* ↑ Bishop of Rochester until 1472; Bishop of Lincoln from 1472
* ↑ Bishop of Rochester 1476–1480; Bishop of Lincoln from 1480
* ↑ Bishop of Exeter until 1492; Bishop of Bath and Wells 1492–1494; Bishop of Durham 1494–1501; Bishop of Winchester from 1501
* ↑ Concurrently held the offices of Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1533, Secretary of State from 1534, and Lord Great Chamberlain in 1540
* ↑ Baron Russell from 1539, created Earl of Bedford in 1551
* ↑ Concurrently held the office of Secretary of State
* ↑ Appointed in the controversial Oxford Parliament, Bourchier is sometimes regarded as holding the office for life. However, during the Interregnum Bourchier was identified as a Delinquent by Parliamentarians and use of the Privy Seal ended. Until the Restoration of Charles II the Great Seal was the primary seal of government, for which the custody held in commission.
* ↑ Marquess of Normanby from 1694; created Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703
* ↑ Earl of Wharton from 1706; created Marquess of Wharton in 1715
* ↑ Baron Gower from 1709; created Earl Gower in 1746
* ↑ The Prince of Wales served as prince regent from 5 February 1811.
* ↑ Earl Gower from 1754; created Marquess of Stafford in 1786
* ↑ Served as President of the Board of Control from September 1828
* ↑ Served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster October 1840 – June 1841
* ↑ Served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from May 1894
* ↑ Served as President of the Board of Trade from March 1905
* ↑ Served as Leader of the House of Lords from April 1908
* ↑ Earl of Crewe from 1895; created Marquess of Crewe July 1911
* ↑ Served as Secretary of State for the Colonies until November 1910
* ↑ Served as Secretary of State for India November 1910 – March 1911; and from May 1911
* ↑ Served as President of the Air Board from May 1916
* ↑ MP for Hitchin until 1923; created Viscount Cecil of Chelwood December 1923
* ↑ Served as Leader of the House of Lords from April 1925
* ↑ Served as Paymaster General July 1946 – March 1947
* ↑ Served as Paymaster General July 1948 – April 1949
* ↑ Served as Minister of Materials from July 1951
* ↑ Served as Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations from March 1952
* ↑ Served as Secretary of State for the Home Department from January 1957

## Other countries

* Keeper of the seals of France
* Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan
* Keeper of the Rulers' Seal of Malaysia