Great Chamberlain

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Holders of the office of Chamberlain of Scotland are known from about 1124, though by the seventeenth century it enjoyed high status but few actual powers, having lost its financial functions after 1425 to the Treasurer and its supervision of the royal burghs. Left vacant from 1558 to 1565 and again from 1569 it was revived in 1580 for the cousin of James I, Esme Stewart, First Duke of Lennox, whose appearance as a Great Officer of State in 1581 is attributable to his personal standing with the king rather than his office. Thereafter the office was held by successive Dukes of Lennox (heritably from 1603) until resigned to the Crown by the Duke of Richmond and Lennox in 1705. In 1711 the office was revived in the form of a commission of chamberlainry and trade which lapsed on the death of Queen Anne.