Master of the Ceremonies

The office of Master of the Ceremonies was established by King James I/VI. The Master's duties were to receive foreign dignitaries and present them to the monarch at court. Below is a list of known holders until the replacement of the office by the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps in 1920.

Masters of the Ceremonies

• 1603–1627: Sir Lewes Lewkenor^[1]
• 1627–1641: Sir John Finett ^[1]
• 1641–1686: Sir Charles Cotterell^[1]
• 1686–1710: Sir Charles Lodowick Cotterell^[1]
• 1710–1758: Sir Clement Cottrell^[1]
• 1758–1779: Sir Charles Cottrell-Dormer^[1]
• 1779–1796: Sir Clement Cottrell-Dormer^[1]
• 1796–1818: Sir Stephen (or Samuel) Cottrell^[1]
• 1818–1847: Sir Robert Chester^[1]
• 1847–1876: Hon. Sir Edward Cust
• 1876–1890: Sir Francis Seymour, Bt.
• 1890–1893: Sir Christopher Teesdale
• 1893–1903: Colonel the Honourable Sir William James Colville, KCVO, CB^[2]
• 1901–: Honourable Richard Charles Moreton^[2]
• 1903–1907: Sir Douglas Dawson
• 1907–1920: Hon. Sir Arthur Walsh

Assistant Masters of the Ceremonies

• 1668–1672: Charles Cotterell^[3]
• 1672–1686: Charles Lodowick Cotterell^[3]
• 1686–1699: John Dormer^[3]
• 1699–1707: Clement Cotterell^[3]
• 1710–1740: John Inglis^[3]
• 1740–1758: Charles Cotterell^[3]
• 1758–1796: Stephen Cotterell^[3]
• 1796–1818: Robert Chester^[3]
• 1818–1822: Robert Chester (jnr.)^[3]
• 1822–1823: W. J. Crosbie^[3]
• 1823–1825: Henry Thomas Baucutt Mash^[3]
• 1825–1845: Thomas Seymour Hyde^[3]
• 1845–1847: Hon. Sir Edward Cust
• 1847–?: William Henry Cornwall
• ?–1881: Charles Bagot
• 1881–1887: Augustus Savile
• 1887–1901: William Chaine^[2]
• 1901–?: Robert Follett Synge, Esq., CMG^[2]

References

• "Dependent Sub-departments: Ceremonies 1660-1837". Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (revised): Court Officers, 1660-1837. 2006. pp. 112–114. Retrieved 2007-02-01. 
• "Cottrell-Dormer of Rousham". Burke's Peerage & Gentry, 107th edition. 2003. Retrieved 2007-02-01.