Lord Lieutenant of Devon facts for kids

The Lord Lieutenant is a special person chosen by the King to represent him in a county. Think of them as the King's personal representative in a specific area, like Devon. This important job has been around for a very long time, helping to connect the local people with the King or Queen.

History of the Lord Lieutenant's Role

The job of the Lord Lieutenant started during the time of King Henry VIII (between 1509 and 1547). Back then, they took over military duties from the local Sheriffs. They were in charge of the King's military forces in the county.

Later, around 1569, rules were made to allow for Deputy Lieutenants to be appointed. These people helped the Lord Lieutenant with their work. By 1662, the Lord Lieutenant had full control over the local army, called the militia.

However, things changed over time. In 1871, a law called the Regulation of the Forces Act 1871 moved the control of the military back to the Crown. Then, in 1921, the Lord Lieutenant lost the power to ask people from the county to fight if needed.

Since 1711, all Lord Lieutenants have also held another important title: Custos Rotulorum of Devon. This means they are also in charge of keeping the county's records and leading local legal groups.

What Does a Lord Lieutenant Do Today?

Lord Lieutenants are chosen by the King for each county in the United Kingdom. Their main job is to represent the King. They are not involved in politics and must retire when they turn 75. It is an unpaid position, meaning they don't get a salary for this role.

The five main duties of a Lord Lieutenant are:

• Helping to arrange visits by members of the Royal family to the county. They also escort Royal visitors during their stay.
• Giving out medals and awards on behalf of the King. They also give advice on who should receive honours.
• As the Custos Rotulorum of Devon, they lead local legal groups. This includes being the Chairman of committees that advise on Justices of the Peace (local judges) and tax commissioners.
• Connecting with local military groups. This includes units from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, Royal Air Force, and their associated cadet forces.
• Taking part in important local community and volunteer activities.

Notable Lord Lieutenants of Devon

Many important people have served as the Lord Lieutenant of Devon over the centuries. This list shows some of them:

• John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford (1552–1555)
• John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath (1556–1561)
• Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford (1584 – 1585)
• William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath (1586 – 1623)
• George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (1660 – 1670)
• John Poulett, 1st Earl Poulett (1702 – 1714)
• Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue (1788 – 1839)
• Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue (1904 – 1928)
• Massey Lopes, 2nd Baron Roborough (1958 – 1978)
• John St Aubyn Parker, 6th Earl of Morley (1982 – 1998)
• Sir Eric Dancer (1998 – 2015)
• David Fursdon (since 2015)

Deputy Lieutenants of Devon

A deputy lieutenant of Devon is a person chosen by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon to help them. Deputy lieutenants support the Lord Lieutenant in their duties. There can be many deputy lieutenants at one time, depending on how many people live in the county. Their appointment does not end when a new Lord Lieutenant takes over. However, they usually retire when they reach 75 years old.