List of English chief ministers facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A Chief Minister was a special helper to the English King or Queen a long time ago. They were like the main person in charge of the government in England, and later in Great Britain, before the year 1721. These chief ministers were often important officials, but sometimes there wasn't one main chief minister.

Under the early kings from Normandy and Anjou, a person called the justiciar was often the chief minister. When kings left England to look after other parts of their lands, the justiciar acted like a stand-in ruler or regent. In the 1200s, after England lost its lands in France, the justiciar's power became less important because the kings stayed in England more often.

For the next 300 years, the Lord Chancellor was usually the chief minister. The chancellor was in charge of the King's Great Seal, led meetings of the King's Privy Council and Parliament, and was head of a special court. After the English Reformation (a big change in religion), the power shifted to the Lord High Treasurer. After 1721, the job of Prime Minister became the main leader of the British government.

This list of chief ministers is grouped by the royal family they served. For a list of specific governments in England, you can see List of English ministries.

Anglo-Saxon Chief Ministers
Norman Chief Ministers
Plantagenet Chief Ministers
- House of Lancaster Chief Ministers
- House of York Chief Ministers
House of Tudor Chief Ministers
House of Stuart Chief Ministers
Stuart Restoration
Hanoverian Succession and the Rise of the Prime Minister
- Chief Ministers for George I
See also

Anglo-Saxon Chief Ministers

Minister	Born	Died	Main Job(s)	Monarch
Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury 946–955	Around 920, near Glastonbury	19 May 988	Treasurer Chancellor	Eadred (946–955)
No main minister; King Eadwig ruled alone (955–959)
Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury 959–978	Around 920, near Glastonbury	19 May 988	Chancellor	Edgar (959–975)
No main minister (978–1021)
Godwin, Earl of Wessex 1022–1053	Around 988, England	15 April 1053	Justiciar Treasurer	Cnut (1016–1035) Harold I (1035–1040) Harthacnut (1040–1042) Edward the Confessor(1042–1066)
Harold, Earl of Wessex 1053–1066	Around 1022, England	14 October 1066	No specific job listed

Norman Chief Ministers

Minister	Born	Died	Main Job(s)	Monarch
No main minister; King William I ruled alone (1066–1087)
Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham 1089–1100	Around 1060, near Bayeux	5 September 1128, Durham	Treasurer Justiciar Keeper of the Great Seal	William II (1087–1100)
Roger, Bishop of Salisbury 1100–1135	Around 1070-1080, Normandy	11 December 1139, Salisbury	Lord Chancellor Justiciar	Henry I (1100–1135)

Plantagenet Chief Ministers

Minister	Born	Died	Main Job(s)	Monarch
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury 1155–1162	21 December 1118, London	29 December 1170, Canterbury	Lord Chancellor	Henry II (1154–1189)
No main minister; King Henry II ruled alone (1162–1189)				Henry II (1154–1189)
William de Longchamp, Bishop of Ely 1190–1191	Normandy	January 1197, Poitiers	Justiciar Lord Chancellor	Richard I (1189–1199)
Walter de Coutances, Archbishop of Rouen 1191–1194	Cornwall	16 November 1207	Justiciar
No main minister; King Richard I ruled alone (1194–1199)
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke 1213–1216	Around 1145, Wiltshire	14 May 1219, Caversham	Lord Marshal	John (1199–1216)
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke 1216–1219	Around 1145, Wiltshire	14 May 1219, Caversham	Regent (a person who rules for a child king) Lord Marshal	Henry III (1216–1272)
Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent 1219–1232	Around 1175, Norfolk	Around 5 May 1243, Banstead	Regent (1219–1227) Justiciar
Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester 1232–1234	Not available	9 June 1238	Not available
King Henry III ruled alone (1234–1258); a group called the Council of Fifteen (1258–1261); King Henry III ruled alone (1262–1264)
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester 1264–1265	Around 1208, Montfort-l'Amaury	4 August 1265, Evesham	Lord High Steward Protector of the Realm
No main minister; King Henry III ruled alone (1265–1272)
Regents (acting rulers): Walter Giffard, Roger Mortimer, and Robert Burnell (1272–1274)				Edward I (1272–1307)
Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath and Wells 1274–1292	Around 1235, Acton Burnell	25 October 1292, Berwick-upon-Tweed	Lord Chancellor	Edward I (1272–1307)

Minister	Term of Office	Main Job(s)	Monarch
John de Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury	1330–1340	Archbishop of Canterbury	Various Plantagenet Kings
William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester	1367–1371	Bishop of Winchester
William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester	1389–1391	Bishop of Winchester

House of Lancaster Chief Ministers

Minister	Term of Office	Main Job(s)	Monarch
Henry Beaufort, Cardinal, Bishop of Winchester	1413–1417	Cardinal, Bishop of Winchester	Henry VI
John, Duke of Bedford	1422–1435	Regent (died 14 September 1435)
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester	1422–1437	Regent (died 23 February 1447)
Henry Beaufort, Cardinal, Bishop of Winchester	1424–1427	Cardinal, Bishop of Winchester
Henry Beaufort, Cardinal, Bishop of Winchester	1432–1447	Cardinal, Bishop of Winchester
William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk	1447–1450	Duke of Suffolk
Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York	3 April 1454 – February 1455 19 November 1455 – 25 February 1456	Protector (Regent) for King Henry VI

House of York Chief Ministers

Minister	Term of Office	Main Job(s)	Monarch
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick; known as Warwick the Kingmaker	1461–1467	Earl of Warwick	Edward IV
Thomas Rotherham, Archbishop of York	1475–1483	Archbishop of York	Edward IV
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester	30 April – 26 June 1483	Lord Protector of the Realm for young King Edward V	Edward V

House of Tudor Chief Ministers

Minister	Born	Died	Main Job(s)	Monarch
Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby 1485–1505	1435, England	29 July 1504, Lancashire (Age 68–69)	Lord High Constable	Henry VII (1485–1509)
Sir Richard Empson & Edmund Dudley 1505–1509	Empson: 1450, England Dudley: 1462 or 1471, England	17 August 1510, Tower Hill (Executed for treason) (Ages 59–60 and 39–47)	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Empson) & President of the King's Council (Dudley)	Henry VII (1485–1509)
No main minister; King Henry VIII ruled alone (1509–1514)				Henry VIII (1509–1547)
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York 1514–1529	March 1473, Ipswich	29 November 1530, Leicester (Age 57)	Lord Chancellor
Sir Thomas More 1529–1532	7 February 1478, London	6 July 1535, Tower Hill (Executed for treason) (Age 57)	Lord Chancellor
Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex (1540) 1532–1540	1485, Putney	28 July 1540, Tower Hill (Executed for treason) (Age 54–55)	Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Privy Seal Secretary of State Master of the Rolls
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk 1540–1546	1473, England	25 August 1554, Kenninghall (Age 80–81)	Lord High Treasurer Earl Marshal
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset 1547–1549	1500, England	22 January 1552, Tower Hill (Executed for treason) (Age 50–51)	Lord Protector of the Realm Lord High Treasurer Earl Marshal	Edward VI (1547–1553) and Jane (1553)
John Dudley, 1st Earl of Warwick then (1551) 1st Duke of Northumberland 1549–1553	1504, London	22 August 1553, Tower Hill (Executed for treason) (Age 48–49)	Lord Great Chamberlain Lord President of the Council Lord Steward	Edward VI (1547–1553) and Jane (1553)
[[Stephen Gardiner\|Stephen Gardiner], Bishop of Winchester 1553–1555	1483, Bury St Edmunds	12 November 1555, London (Age 71–72)	Lord Chancellor	Mary I (1553–1558)
[[Reginald Pole\|Cardinal Reginald Pole], Archbishop of Canterbury 1555–1558	3 March 1500, Stourton	17 November 1558, London (Age 58)	No specific job listed	Mary I (1553–1558)
William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester 1558–1572	1483/85, Fisherton Delamere	10 March 1572, Old Basing (Age 88–89)	Lord High Treasurer	Elizabeth I (1558–1603)
[[William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley\|William Cecil], 1st Baron Burghley 1572–1598	13 September 1520, Bourne	4 August 1598, Westminster (Age 77)	Lord High Treasurer Lord Privy Seal
Thomas Sackville, 1st Baron Buckhurst 1599–1603	1536, Withyham	19 April 1608, Westminster (Age 71–72)	Lord High Treasurer

House of Stuart Chief Ministers

Minister		Born	Died	Main Job(s)	Monarch
[[Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury\|Robert Cecil], Baron Cecil then (1605) 1st Earl of Salisbury 1603 – 1612		1 June 1563, Westminster	24 May 1612, Marlborough (Age 48)	Lord High Treasurer Lord Privy Seal	James I (1603–1625)
Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton 1612 – 1614		25 February 1540, Shotesham	15 June 1614, Westminster (Age 74)	First Lord of the Treasury Lord Privy Seal
Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset 1614 – 1615	Around 1587, Wrington	17 July 1645, Dorset (Age 57–58)	Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Lord Chamberlain Lord Privy Seal
No main minister; King James I ruled alone (1615–1617)
Francis Bacon], Baron Verulam (1618) 1617 – 1621		22 January 1561, Strand, London	9 April 1626, Highgate (Age 65)	Lord Chancellor
[[George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham\|George Villiers], became (1623) 1st Duke of Buckingham 1621 – 1628		28 August 1592, Brooksby	23 August 1628, Portsmouth (Killed by John Felton) (Age 35)	Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Lord High Admiral Master of the Horse
		28 August 1592, Brooksby	23 August 1628, Portsmouth (Killed by John Felton) (Age 35)		Charles I (1625–1649) (From 1642, during the English Civil War)
Richard Weston, Baron Weston then (1633) 1st Earl of Portland 1628 – 1634/35		1 March 1577, Essex	13 March 1634/35, Westminster (Age 57/58)	Lord High Treasurer First Lord of the Admiralty
No main minister; King Charles I ruled alone (1635–1640)
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford 1640 – 1641		13 April 1593, London	12 May 1641, Tower Hill (Executed for conspiracy) (Age 48)	Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey 1641 – 1642		16 December 1582, England	24 October 1642, Edge Hill (Age 59)	Lord Great Chamberlain
[[Prince Rupert of the Rhine\|Prince Rupert], Count Palatine of the Rhine 1642 – 1646		17 December 1619, Prague	29 November 1682, Westminster (Age 62)	No specific job listed
King Charles I was held prisoner until he was executed (1646–1649)

Stuart Restoration

In 1660, the leaders of the Commonwealth invited Charles II to become king again. After this, the chief minister started to be somewhat responsible to Parliament. However, King Charles often acted as his own chief minister. The Glorious Revolution of 1688–89 made this process even stronger. By the time Queen Anne became queen in 1702, monarchs had less choice about who their ministers would be.

Chief Ministers for Charles II and James II

	Minister(s) (Born–Died)	Time in Office		Main Job(s)	Political Group	Election	Government Name
	1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–1674)	1660	1667	First Lord of the Treasury (1660) Chancellor of the Exchequer (1660–61) Lord Chancellor	N/A	1661	Clarendon
Buckingham	The C.A.B.A.L. * 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1630–1673) 1st Earl of Arlington (1618–1685) 2nd Duke of Buckingham (1628–1687) Lord Ashley (1621–1683) 1st Duke of Lauderdale (1621–1683)	1667	1674	(See Cabal ministry for details.)	N/A		Cabal
	1st Earl of Danby (1632–1712)	1674	March 1679	Lord High Treasurer	Tory	N/A	Danby I
Temple	The Privy Council led by Sir William Temple (1628–1699)	April 1679	November 1679	(See Privy Council ministry for details.)	N/A		Privy Council
Rochester Godolphin Sunderland	1st Earl of Rochester (1642–1711) & 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645–1712) & 2nd Earl of Sunderland (1641–1702)	November 1679	1687	Rochester: First Lord of the Treasury (1679–84) Godolphin: First Lord of the Treasury (1684–85) Sunderland: Northern Secretary (1679–80 & 1683–84) Godolphin: Northern Secretary (1684) Sunderland: Southern Secretary (1680–81 & 1684–88) Rochester: Lord High Treasurer (1685–87)	Tory	1681	The Chits
Rochester Godolphin Sunderland		November 1679	1687		Tory	1685	The Chits

Chief Ministers for William III and Mary II

Portrait		Minister(s) (Born–Died)	Time in Office		Main Job(s)	Political Group	Election	Government Name
	Carmarthen Halifax	1st Marquess of Carmarthen (1632–1712) & 1st Marquess of Halifax (1633–1695)	1689	8 February 1690	Carmarthen: Lord President of the Council Halifax: Lord Privy Seal	N/A	1689	Carmarthen–Halifax
		1st Marquess of Carmarthen (1632–1712)	February 1690	1695	Lord President of the Council	Tory	1690	Carmarthen

From 1693, and during the time William III ruled alone, the government was more and more controlled by a group called the Whig Junto.

Chief Ministers for Queen Anne

The Kingdoms of England and Scotland joined together to form the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.

	Minister(s) (Born–Died)	Time in Office		Main Job(s)	Political Group	Election	Government Name
Godolphin Marlborough	1st Earl of Godolphin (1645–1712) & 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650–1722)	1702	1710	Godolphin: Lord High Treasurer Marlborough: Master-General of the Ordnance	Tory	1702	Godolphin–Marlborough
						1705
						1708
	Robert Harley (1661–1724)	1710	30 July 1714	Chancellor of the Exchequer (1710–11) Lord High Treasurer (1711–14)	Tory (formerly Whig)	1710	Harley
	Robert Harley (1661–1724)	1710	30 July 1714		Tory (formerly Whig)	1713	Harley
	1st Duke of Shrewsbury (1660–1718)	30 July 1714	13 October 1714	Lord High Treasurer	Tory	N/A

Hanoverian Succession and the Rise of the Prime Minister

After Queen Anne died in 1714, the new King, George I, was in Hanover (a part of Germany) and didn't know he was king yet. So, Parliament chose Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield to be a "Regent" or acting king until George I arrived. Later, George, the Prince of Wales, also acted as regent for six months when the King went back to Hanover.

In the early years of King George I's rule, since he couldn't speak English, the cabinet (a group of top ministers) started meeting without him.

After George I became king and the Duke of Shrewsbury left his job in 1714, the role of Lord High Treasurer was no longer held by one person. Instead, a group of "Lords of the Treasury" took over, led by the First Lord of the Treasury. From 1714 to 1717, the government was led by Viscount Townshend. He was officially the Northern Secretary. Other important figures like the Earl of Halifax, the Earl of Carlisle, and Sir Robert Walpole also served as First Lord of the Treasury during this time.

From 1717 to 1721, Lords Stanhope and Sunderland led the government together. Stanhope handled foreign affairs, and Sunderland managed things at home. Stanhope died in 1721, and Sunderland resigned shortly after. Then, Townshend and Walpole returned to power.

Because of these changes, the First Lord of the Treasury became the most powerful minister. This role was the beginning of what we now call the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Chief Ministers for George I

	Minister(s) (Born–Died)	Time in Office		Main Job(s)	Political Group	Election	Government Name
	2nd Viscount Townshend (1674–1738)	13 October 1714	1716	Northern Secretary	Whig	1715	Townshend
Stanhope Sunderland	1st Viscount Stanhope (around 1673–1721) & 3rd Earl of Sunderland (1675–1722)	12 April 1717	21 March 1718	Stanhope: First Lord of the Treasury Chancellor of the Exchequer Sunderland: Northern Secretary	Whig	N/A	Stanhope–Sunderland I
Stanhope Sunderland		21 March 1718	4 April 1721	Sunderland: First Lord of the Treasury Stanhope: Northern Secretary	Whig	N/A	Stanhope–Sunderland II