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The Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, later Commander-in-Chief, British Army, or just the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), was the professional head of the English Army from 1660 to 1707 (the English Army, founded in 1645, was succeeded in 1707 by the new British Army, incorporating existing Scottish regiments) and of the British Army from 1707 until 1904.

In most instances, Commanders-in-Chief of the Forces were not cabinet members. Instead, the British Army was represented variously in government by the Paymaster of the Forces (Paymaster General), the Master-General of the Ordnance, the Secretary at War (who was not usually a member of the Cabinet) and the Secretary of State for War.

The office was replaced in 1904 with the creation of the Army Council and the appointment of Chief of the General Staff.

Republican origins

In 1645, after the Outbreak of the English Civil War, Parliament appointed Thomas Fairfax "Captain General and Commander-in-Chief all the armies and forces raised and to be raised within the Commonwealth of England."^[1] Thomas Fairfax was the senior most military officer, having no superior, and held great personal control over the army and its officers. Lord Fairfax was styled "Lord General." None of his successors would use this title. In 1650, Fairfax resigned his post shortly before the Scottish campaign of the War.^[2]

Oliver Cromwell, Fairfax's Lieutenant-General, succeeded him as Commander-in-chief of the Forces.^[2] Under Cromwell, the Commander-in-Chief was de facto head of state, especially after the dismissal of the Long Parliament. Cromwell held the office until 1653 when he was elected Lord Protector.^[3]

On 21 February 1660, the reconstituted Long Parliament resolved "that General George Monck be constituted and appointed Captain-General and Commander in Chief, under Parliament, of all the Land-Forces of England, Scotland and Ireland".^[4]

Post-Restoration origins

After Moncks's death, the post (which gave the holder significant military power) was abolished, until James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth successfully petitioned the King and was granted it in 1674.^[5] After Monmouth's execution the post was again not filled until 1690, when it was bestowed upon John Churchill, Earl of Marlborough, during the King's absence in Ireland;^[6] (it was likewise conferred on the Duke of Schomberg the following year during the King's absence in Flanders, Marlborough having fallen from favour).^[7]

Later history

With the appointment of General Lord Jeffrey Amherst in 1793, the Commander-in-Chief was given authority over matters of discipline, over supplies, training and promotions in the British Army. The establishment of a military staff took place under the oversight of his successor, HRH The Duke of York.^[8]

With the demise of the Board of Ordnance in the wake of the Crimean War the Commander-in-Chief assumed command of the Ordnance troops: the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Corps of Royal Engineers. The momentum of reform at this time, however, was toward increasing the authority of the Secretary of State for War. From the passing of the War Office Act 1870, as part of the Cardwell reforms, the C-in-C was made clearly subordinate to the Secretary of State, to serve as the latter's principal military adviser, and was made to move out of his traditional office above the arch at Horse Guards and into the War Office. Nevertheless, in 1888 he is still described as having responsibility for all personnel and matériel issues for the army and auxiliary forces, and in 1895 he took on the responsibilities of chief of staff.^[8]

The post was finally abolished by recommendation of the Esher Report, set up in the wake of the Second Boer War, which established the office of Chief of the General Staff.^[8]

Officeholders

Parliamentary General-in-Chief Command (1645–1653)

Rank	Name	Image	In office	Reference
Captain General	Sir Thomas Fairfax		1645 – 1650	[1]
Captain General	Oliver Cromwell		1650 – 1653	[2]

General-in-Chief Command (1660–1793)

Rank	Name	Image	In office	Reference
Captain General	George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle		3 August 1660 – 3 January 1670	[9]
	Vacant		3 January 1670 – 30 March 1674
General	James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth		30 March 1674 – 1 December 1679	[10]
	Vacant		1 December 1679 – 3 June 1690
General	John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough		3 June 1690 – 30 April 1691	[6]
General	Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg		30 April 1691 – 1691	[7]
	Vacant		1691 – 24 April 1702
General	John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough		24 April 1702 – 1708	[6]
	Vacant		1708 – 1 January 1711
General	James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde		1 January 1711 – 1714	[11]
	Vacant		1714 – 1 January 1744
Field Marshal	John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair		1 January 1744 – 1744	[12]
Field Marshal	George Wade		1744–1745	[13]
	Vacant		1745–1745
General	Prince William, Duke of Cumberland		1745 – 24 October 1757	[14]
Field Marshal	John Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier		24 October 1757 – 1759	[15]
	Vacant		1759 – 13 August 1766
General	John Manners, Marquess of Granby		13 August 1766 – 1769	[16]
	Vacant		1769 – 19 March 1778
Field Marshal	Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst		19 March 1778 – 29 March 1782	[17]
Field Marshal	Henry Seymour Conway		29 March 1782 – 21 January 1793	[18]

Commander-in-Chief (1793–1904)

Rank	Name	Image	In office	Reference
Field Marshal	Jeffery Amherst, 1st Lord Amherst		1793–1795	[19]
Field Marshal	Prince Frederick, Duke of York		1795–1809	[20]
General	Sir David Dundas		1809–1811	[21]
Field Marshal	Prince Frederick, Duke of York		29 May 1811 – 22 January 1827	[22]
Field Marshal	Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington		22 January 1827 – 22 January 1828	[23]
General	Rowland Hill, 1st Lord Hill		22 January 1828 – 15 August 1842	[24]
Field Marshal	Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington		15 August 1842 – 14 September 1852	[25]
Field Marshal	Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge		28 September 1852 – 5 July 1856	[26]
Field Marshal	Prince George, Duke of Cambridge		5 July 1856 – 1 November 1895	[27]
Field Marshal	Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley		1 November 1895 – 3 January 1901	[28]
Field Marshal	Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts		3 January 1901 – 12 February 1904	[29]

References

Sources

• 
  Gaunt, Peter (1996), Oliver Cromwell, Blackwell, ISBN 0-631-18356-6
  


• 
  Glover, Richard (1963). Peninsular Preparation: The Reform of the British Army 1795–1809. Cambridge University Press.
  


• 
  Heathcote, Tony (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736–1997. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5.
  

External links

• Regiments.org


• Everything