Lord Lieutenant of Rutland facts for kids
Imagine someone who represents the King or Queen in a county – that's what a Lord-Lieutenant does! They are the monarch's personal representative in a specific area, like Rutland. This important job has a long history, and for a while, the position for Rutland was actually stopped. But don't worry, it came back!
For many years, the special job of Lord-Lieutenant for Rutland existed. However, on March 31, 1974, this ancient position was officially ended. For a period, from April 1, 1974, until April 8, 1997, Rutland was looked after by the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire. This meant that the person representing the King or Queen for Leicestershire also covered Rutland.
Since 1690, everyone who held the title of Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland also had another important role: Custos Rotulorum of Rutland. This fancy Latin name means "Keeper of the Rolls," and it meant they were in charge of the county's official records and documents.
What Does a Lord-Lieutenant Do?
A Lord-Lieutenant is a very important person. They represent the King or Queen in their county. Their main jobs include:
- Welcoming members of the Royal Family when they visit.
- Presenting awards and medals on behalf of the King or Queen.
- Supporting local community groups and volunteer work.
- Promoting the county and its people.
They are a link between the local community and the Royal Family.
Rutland's Early Lord-Lieutenants (Until 1974)
For centuries, many notable people held the position of Lord-Lieutenant for Rutland. They were responsible for representing the monarch and overseeing various county affairs. Here are some of the individuals who held this role before it was temporarily stopped:
- Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland 1559–1563
- Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon ? – December 14, 1595
- George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon October 2, 1596 – December 30, 1604
- The position was empty for a time
- John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton May 16, 1607 – August 23, 1613
- John Harington, 2nd Baron Harington of Exton October 8, 1613 – February 27, 1614
- Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon 1614–1642 (worked with another person)
- Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon December 27, 1638 – 1642
- David Cecil, 3rd Earl of Exeter March 5, 1642 - 1643
- During the Interregnum (a time when England had no king)
- Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden August 9, 1660 – October 29, 1682
- Edward Noel, 1st Earl of Gainsborough November 17, 1682 – January 23, 1688 (worked with another person)
- Wriothesley Noel, Viscount Campden March 24, 1685 – January 23, 1688
- Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough January 23, 1688 – August 28, 1690
- Bennet Sherard, 2nd Baron Sherard August 28, 1690 – January 15, 1700
- Bennet Sherard, 3rd Baron Sherard March 11, 1700 – November 14, 1712
- John Cecil, 6th Earl of Exeter November 14, 1712 – September 12, 1715
- Bennet Sherard, 1st Earl of Harborough September 12, 1715 – October 16, 1732
- Philip Sherard, 2nd Earl of Harborough July 17, 1733 – July 20, 1750
- Brownlow Cecil, 9th Earl of Exeter June 6, 1751 – April 12, 1779
- George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea April 12, 1779 – August 2, 1826
- Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter October 7, 1826 – January 16, 1867
- Charles Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough February 22, 1867 – August 13, 1881
- William Tollemache, 9th Earl of Dysart November 3, 1881 – March 29, 1906
- John Brocklehurst, 1st Baron Ranksborough March 29, 1906 – February 28, 1921
- Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster January 6, 1921 – September 29, 1951
- William Melville Codrington February 5, 1951 – April 29, 1963
- Thomas Charles Stanley Haywood August 12, 1963 – March 31, 1974 (He then became the Lord-Lieutenant for Leicestershire)
The Position Returns (Since 1997)
Good news for Rutland! The position of Lord-Lieutenant was brought back on April 8, 1997. Since then, new individuals have taken on this important role, continuing the tradition of representing the monarch in the county.
- Sir Thomas Lawrie (Jock) Kennedy April 1, 1997 – July 14, 2003
- Sir Lawrence Howard July 14, 2003 – March 29, 2018
- Dr Sarah Furness April 3, 2018 – present
