Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire facts for kids

A Lord Lieutenant was a very important person chosen by the King or Queen to represent them in a county, like Yorkshire. Think of them as the monarch's main helper and representative in that area. Their job was to keep the peace, organize the local military (called the militia), and make sure the King's laws were followed. This role was especially important in times when there was no police force as we know it today.

What Was a Lord Lieutenant?

A Lord Lieutenant was a high-ranking official appointed by the British monarch. This role was created in the 16th century. Their main duties included raising and leading the local militia, which was like a local army. They also helped manage local government and justice. It was a position of great trust and power. The Lord Lieutenant was the King or Queen's direct link to the people of the county.

Early Lord Lieutenants of Yorkshire

Yorkshire is a very large county in England, so having a strong leader there was always important. Here are some of the people who held this significant role before the mid-1600s. They were chosen because they were powerful landowners or trusted by the monarch.

Important Figures in Yorkshire's History

• Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon (1586–1595): Henry Hastings was one of the first Lord Lieutenants for Yorkshire. He served for nine years. He was born in 1536 and passed away in 1595.
• Thomas Cecil, 2nd Baron Burghley (1599–1603): Thomas Cecil took over the role after a short break. He was born in 1542 and died in 1623.
• Edmund Sheffield, 3rd Baron Sheffield (1603–1619): Edmund Sheffield served for a long time, sixteen years. He was born in 1565 and passed away in 1646.
• Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland (1619–1628): Emanuel Scrope held the position for nine years. He was born in 1584 and died in 1630.
• Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1628–1641): Thomas Wentworth was a very well-known figure during his time. He served as Lord Lieutenant for thirteen years. He was born in 1593 and passed away in 1641.
• Thomas Savile, 1st Viscount Savile (1641): Thomas Savile held the role for a very short period in 1641. He was born in 1591 and died in 1658.
• Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex (1641–1642): Robert Devereux was the last person to hold the single Lord Lieutenant role for all of Yorkshire before a big change. He was born in 1591 and passed away in 1646.

Changes to the Role After 1642

From 1642 until 1660, there was no Lord Lieutenant for Yorkshire. This was a time of great trouble in England, known as the English Civil War. After the King was restored to power in 1660 (this is called the Restoration), the role of Lord Lieutenant was brought back. However, Yorkshire was so large that it was decided to split the job. Instead of one Lord Lieutenant for the whole county, there were now three separate ones:

• The Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire
• The Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire
• The Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire

This change made it easier to manage the different parts of Yorkshire.

Images for kids

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  Henry Hastings

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  Thomas Cecil

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  Edmund Sheffield

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  Emanuel Scrope

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  Thomas Wentworth

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  Thomas Savile

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  Robert Devereux