The History of the Post Office, from Its Establishment Down to 1836

by Herbert Joyce

APPENDIX

SUCCESSION OF POSTMASTERS-GENERAL
from 1660 to 1836

From 1660 to 1667 the Post Office was in farm, the farmers being—

1660 to 1663.
Henry Bishopp. Rent, £21,500.

Bishopp surrendered his patent, which was for seven years, in 1663.

1663 to 1667.
(Being residue of Bishopp's term.)
Daniel O'Neile. Rent, £21,500.
1667 to 1685.
Henry, Earl of Arlington.
Rent for later part of the term, £43,000.

Office managed, at first, by Sir John Bennet, Lord Arlington's
brother, and afterwards by Colonel Roger Whitley.

1685 to 1689.
Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester.
(For part of the time Lord Treasurer.)[101]

Office managed by Philip Frowde, Esq., under the title of Governor.

July 1689 to March 1690.
Colonel John Wildman.
1690 to 1708.
Sir Robert Cotton, Knight, and
Sir Thomas Frankland, Bart.
1708 to 1715.
Sir Thomas Frankland, Bart., and
Sir John Evelyn, Bart.
1715 to 1721.
Charles, Lord Cornwallis, and
James Craggs, Esq.
1721 to 1725.
Edward Carteret, Esq., and
Galfridus Walpole, Esq.
1725 to 1732.
Edward Carteret, Esq., and
Edward Harrison, Esq.
Christmas 1732.
Edward Carteret alone to Midsummer 1733.
1733 to 1739.
Edward Carteret, Esq., and
Thomas, Lord Lovell, afterwards Earl of Leicester.
1739 to 1744.
Thomas, Lord Lovell, and
Sir John Eyles, Bart.
1744 to 1745.
Thomas, Earl of Leicester (sometime Lord Lovell) alone.
1745 to 1758.
Thomas, Earl of Leicester, and
Sir Everard Fawkener, Knight.
1758 to 1759.
Thomas, Earl of Leicester, alone.
June 2, 1759 to November 27, 1762.
William, Earl of Bessborough, and
Hon. Robert Hampden.
November 27, 1762 to September 23, 1763.
John, Earl of Egmont, and
Hon. Robert Hampden.
September 23, 1763 to July 19, 1765.
Thomas, Lord Hyde, and
Hon. Robert Hampden.
July 19, 1765 to December 29, 1766.
William, Earl of Bessborough, and
Thomas, Lord Grantham.
December 29, 1766 to April 26, 1768.
Wills, Earl of Hillsborough, and
Francis, Lord Le Despencer.
April 26, 1768 to January 16, 1771.
John, Earl of Sandwich, and
Francis, Lord Le Despencer.
January 16, 1771 to December 11, 1781.
Francis, Lord Le Despencer, and
Right Hon. Henry Frederick Thynne, afterwards Carteret.
December 11, 1781 to January 24, 1782.
Right Hon. Henry Frederick Carteret (sometime Thynne) alone.
January 24 to April 25, 1782.
William, Viscount Barrington, and
Right Hon. Henry Frederick Carteret.
April 25, 1782 to May 1, 1783.
Charles, Earl of Tankerville, and
Right Hon. Henry Frederick Carteret.
May 1, 1783 to January 7, 1784.
Thomas, Lord Foley, and
Right Hon. Henry Frederick Carteret.
January 7, 1784 to September 19, 1786.
Charles, Earl of Tankerville, and
Right Hon. Henry Frederick Carteret. (Created Baron Carteret,
January 29, 1784.)
September 19 to December 10, 1786.
Thomas, Earl of Clarendon, and
Henry Frederick, Lord Carteret.
December 10, 1786 to July 6, 1787.
Henry Frederick, Lord Carteret, alone.
July 6, 1787 to September 19, 1789.
Henry Frederick, Lord Carteret, and
Thomas, Lord Walsingham.
September 19, 1789 to March 13, 1790.
Thomas, Lord Walsingham, and
John, Earl of Westmorland.
March 13, 1790 to July 28, 1794.
Thomas, Lord Walsingham, and
Philip, Earl of Chesterfield.
July 28, 1794 to March 1, 1798.
Philip, Earl of Chesterfield, and
George, Earl of Leicester.
March 1, 1798 to February 27, 1799.
George, Earl of Leicester, and
William, Lord Auckland.
February 27, 1799 to March 31, 1801.
William, Lord Auckland, and
George, Lord Gower.
March 31, 1801 to July 19, 1804.
William, Lord Auckland, and
Lord Charles Spencer.
July 19, 1804 to February 20, 1806.
Lord Charles Spencer and
James, Duke of Montrose.
February 20, 1806 to May 5, 1807.
Robert, Earl of Buckinghamshire, and
John Joshua, Earl of Carysfort.
May 5, 1807 to June 6, 1814.
John, Earl of Sandwich, and
Thomas, Earl of Chichester.
June 6 to September 30, 1814.
Thomas, Earl of Chichester, alone.
September 30, 1814 to April 6, 1816.
Thomas, Earl of Chichester, and
Richard, Earl of Clancarty.
April 6, 1816 to June 13, 1823.
Thomas, Earl of Chichester, and
James, Marquess of Salisbury.

Since Lord Salisbury's death on the 13th of June 1823, no second Postmaster-General has been appointed.

June 13, 1823 to July 4, 1826.
Thomas, Earl of Chichester.
July 4, 1826 to September 17, 1827.
Lord Frederick Montague.
September 17, 1827 to December 14, 1830.
William, Duke of Manchester.
December 14, 1830 to July 5, 1834.
Charles, Duke of Richmond.

By his first patent, dated the 14th of December 1830, the Duke was appointed Postmaster-General of Great Britain; and by a second patent, dated the 14th of April 1831, he was appointed Postmaster-General of Great Britain and Ireland.

July 5 to December 31, 1834.
Francis Nathaniel, Marquess Conyngham.
December 31, 1834 to May 8, 1835.
William, Lord Maryborough.
May 8 to May 30, 1835.
Francis Nathaniel, Marquess Conyngham.
May 30, 1835, to September 15, 1841.
Thomas William, Earl of Lichfield.