Judge Advocate of the Fleet

The position dates to the sixteenth century but was filled on an occasional basis until 1663 when it became a permanent role. Appointments were by Admiralty Order and included an annual stipend worth £146 between 1663 and 1666, and £182 thereafter. From 1824 the Judge Advocate jointly held the office of Counsel to the Admiralty.[1] later styled as Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence. A remunerated position of Deputy Judge Advocate existed from 1668 to 1679, and again from 1684 to 1831.[1]

Until 2004 the Judge Advocate shared responsibility for the naval court martial system with the Chief Naval Judge Advocate previously known as the Deputy Judge Advocate of the Fleet, a legally trained serving naval officer who was responsible for the appointment of judge advocates. However the Chief Naval Judge Advocate's post was abolished in 2004[2] following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that held that, as a serving naval officer, his position was insufficiently independent.[3]

The role of Judge Advocate of the Fleet was taken over by the Judge Advocate General from 2004 onwards.[4] It was formally abolished on 31 December 2008 under the Armed Forces Act 2006.[5]

• 1663 J. Fowler[1]
• 1672 J. Brisbane[1]
• 1680 H. Croone[1]
• 1689 P. Foster[1]
• 1689 F. Bacher[1]
• 1690 Villiers Bathurst[1]
• 1711 W. Strahan[1]
• 1714 E. Honywood[1]
• 1724 J. Copeland[1]
• 1729 T. Hawes[1]
• 1743 T. Kempe[1]
• 1744 Charles Fearne[1]
• 1768 Sir George Jackson, Bt., MP (Sir George Duckett, Bt. from 1797)[1]
• 1824 Horace Twiss, KC, MP[1]
• 1828 Henry John Shepherd, QC[1]
• 1845 Richard Godson, QC, MP[1]
• 1849 Richard Budden Crowder, QC, MP[1]
• 1854 Thomas Phinn[1]
• 1855 William Atherton, QC, MP[1]
• 1859 Robert Porrett Collier, QC[1]
• 1863 Thomas Phinn, QC[1]
• 1866 John Walter Huddleston, KC[1]
• 1875–1904 Alexander Staveley Hill, KC[6]
• 1904–1924 Sir Reginald Brodie Dyke Acland, KC[7]
• 1924-1933 Charles Murray Pitman, KC[8]
• 1933 John Graham Trapnell, KC
• 1943 John Lhind Pratt
• 1945 Hon. Ewen Edward Samuel Montagu, CBE, QC
• 1973 William McLaren Howard, QC
• 1986 HHJ Andrew Felix Waley, VRD, QC
• 1995 HHJ John Lionel Sessions
• 2004 Moribund
• 2008 Abolished

• 1668 J. Smith
• 1675 J. Southerne
• 1677 W. Hewer
• 1684 J. Walbanke
• 1687 S. Atkins
• 1689 M. Tindall
• 1692 S. Pett
• 1693 J. Burchett
• 1694 G. Larkin
• 1697 J. Fawler
• 1703 W. Rock
• 1707 M. Ferrabosco
• 1707 E. Honywood
• 1714 J. Copeland
• 1724 W. Bell
• 1740 T. Kempe
• 1743 Charles Fearne
• 1744 E. Mason
• 1745 G. Atkins
• 1754 J. Clevland
• 1762 R. Higgens
• 1780 T. Binsteed
• 1804 M. Greetham
• 1843 G. L. Greetham
• 1856 W. J. Hellyer
• 1861 W. Eastlake