Lord Lieutenant of Devon

Lord Lieutenants are appointed by the King for each county in the United Kingdom, to represent the Crown. They are non-political and retire at the age of 75. The post is unpaid.

The five main duties of the Lord Lieutenant are:

• Arranging visits to the county by members of the Royal family and escorting Royal visitors;
• Presenting medals and awards on behalf of His Majesty, and advising on honours nominations;
• As Custos Rotulorum of Devon, leading local judicial bodies as Chairman of the Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace and General Commissioners of Income Tax;
• Liaising with local units of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army (and Territorial Army), Royal Air Force and associated cadet forces; and
• Participating in civic and voluntary activities.

The following persons served as Lord Lieutenant of Devon:

• John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1555 of Bedford House, Exeter and of Chenies in Buckinghamshire;
• John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath 1556–1561, of Tawstock, Devon
• Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford 1584 – 28 July 1585
• William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath 12 September 1586 – 12 July 1623 (son-in-law of his predecessor Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford), of Tawstock, Devon
• Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford 18 July 1623 – 9 May 1641 jointly with
• William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford 30 March 1637 – 1642
• Interregnum
• George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle 23 July 1660 – 3 January 1670, of Potheridge, Devon
• John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath 10 February 1670 – 1675, of Stowe, Kilkhampton, Cornwall and of Bideford, Devon;
• Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle 2 December 1675 – 1685, of Potheridge, Devon
• John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath 7 December 1685 – 1696 jointly with
• Charles Granville, 2nd Baron Granville 6 May 1691 – 1693
• Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford 24 April 1696 – 1702
• John Poulett, 1st Earl Poulett 21 July 1702 – 1714
• Sir William Courtenay, 2nd Baronet 4 December 1714 – 1716, of Powderham, Devon
• John Carteret, 2nd Baron Carteret 13 July 1716 – 1721
• Hugh Fortescue, 14th Baron Clinton 9 August 1721 – 1733, of Castle Hill, Filleigh, Devon
• Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford 9 May 1733 – 31 March 1751, of Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe, Devon (which he never visited) and of Houghton Hall, Norfolk
• John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford 23 April 1751 – 5 January 1771
• Vere Poulett, 3rd Earl Poulett 6 February 1771 – 14 April 1788
• Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue 21 May 1788 – 1839, of Castle Hill, Filleigh, Devon
• Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue 15 November 1839 – 14 September 1861, of Castle Hill, Filleigh, Devon
• Edward Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset 9 November 1861 – 28 November 1885, of Stover, Teigngrace, Devon and of Berry Pomeroy, Devon;
• Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh 20 January 1886 – 12 January 1887, of Pynes, Upton Pyne, Devon
• Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 20th Baron Clinton 16 February 1887 – 29 March 1904, of Heanton Satchville, Huish
• Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue 22 April 1904 – 1928, of Castle Hill, Filleigh, Devon
• Francis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete 30 June 1928 – 1936, of Flete, Holbeton, Devon
• Hugh Fortescue, 5th Earl Fortescue 5 May 1936 – 14 June 1958, of Castle Hill, Filleigh, Devon
• Massey Lopes, 2nd Baron Roborough 16 July 1958 – 5 October 1978, of Maristow, Tamerton Foliot
• Sir Richard Amyatt Hull 5 October 1978 – 10 May 1982[1]
• John St Aubyn Parker, 6th Earl of Morley 10 May 1982 – 16 September 1998[2] of Saltram, Plympton
• Sir Eric Dancer 16 September 1998 – 17 April 2015[3]
• David Fursdon since 17 April 2015[4]

A deputy lieutenant of Devon is commissioned by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon. Deputy lieutenants support the work of the lord-lieutenant. There can be several deputy lieutenants at any time, depending on the population of the county. Their appointment does not terminate with the changing of the lord-lieutenant, but they usually retire at age 75.

• J.C. Sainty (1970). "Lieutenancies of Counties, 1585–1642". Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research (Special Supplement No. 8).
• J.C. Sainty (1979). List of Lieutenants of Counties of England and Wales 1660-1974. London: Swift Printers (Sales) Ltd.

• History and duties