Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire facts for kids

A Lord Lieutenant is a special person chosen by the King or Queen to be their representative in a county, like Warwickshire. Think of them as the monarch's local ambassador! They help support the Royal Family and promote good things in their county. Since 1728, the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire has also been the Custos Rotulorum, which means they are the keeper of the county's records and a senior justice of the peace.

Understanding the Lord Lieutenant Role

The role of a Lord Lieutenant is very old, going back hundreds of years. Originally, these people were in charge of the local militia, which was like a local army. Over time, their duties changed. Today, the role is mostly ceremonial and involves many important community tasks.

What Does a Lord Lieutenant Do?

Lord Lieutenants have several key responsibilities:

• They welcome members of the Royal Family when they visit the county.
• They present medals and awards on behalf of the King or Queen, like the King's Awards for Enterprise or for Voluntary Service.
• They support the local armed forces, including cadets and reservists.
• They encourage and promote voluntary work and community groups.
• They help make sure the county's traditions and history are remembered.

Why is the Role Important?

The Lord Lieutenant helps connect the local community with the monarchy. They are a non-political figure who represents the King or Queen and works to celebrate the achievements of people and organisations in Warwickshire. It's a way to show that the monarch cares about what happens in every part of the country.

Lord Lieutenants of Warwickshire Through History

Warwickshire has had many important people serve as its Lord Lieutenant over the centuries. This list shows some of the individuals who held this special position.

• Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick 1569–1570
• vacant
• Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick bef. 1587 – 21 February 1590
• vacant
• William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton 29 October 1603 – 24 June 1630
• Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton 17 July 1630 – 1642
• Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke 1642 (Parliamentarian)
• Basil Feilding, 2nd Earl of Denbigh 1643 (Parliamentarian)
• Interregnum
• James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton 18 July 1660 – 15 December 1681
• Edward Conway, 1st Earl of Conway 23 January 1682 – 11 August 1683
• Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland 5 September 1683 – 29 March 1686
• George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton 29 March 1686 – 5 December 1687
• Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland 5 December 1687 – 20 June 1689
• George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton 20 June 1689 – 21 July 1715
• John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu 21 July 1715 – 5 July 1749
• Francis Greville, 1st Earl Brooke 3 October 1749 – 29 June 1757
• Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford 29 June 1757 – 14 June 1794
• George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick 6 February 1795 – 2 May 1816
• Francis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of Hertford 19 July 1816 – 28 June 1822
• Henry Greville, 3rd Earl of Warwick 18 July 1822 – 10 August 1853
• William Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven 12 September 1853 – 12 March 1856
• William Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh 12 March 1856 – 21 October 1905
• Hugh Seymour, 6th Marquess of Hertford 27 November 1905 – 23 March 1912
• William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton 7 May 1912 – 15 June 1913
• William Craven, 4th Earl of Craven 18 July 1913 – 10 July 1921
• Francis Leigh, 3rd Baron Leigh 8 August 1921 – 16 May 1938
• Lord Henry Charles Seymour 20 June 1938 – 18 June 1939
• John Verney, 20th Baron Willoughby de Broke 28 August 1939 – 15 January 1968
• Charles Smith-Ryland 15 January 1968 – 1989
• Francis FitzRoy Newdegate, 3rd Viscount Daventry 19 March 1990 – 17 January 1997
• Sir Martin Dunne 17 January 1997 – 30 March 2013
• Timothy Cox 2 April 2013 – present