Commander-in-Chief of the Forces

The Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, or just the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), was the professional head of the British Army from 1660 until 1904, when the office was replaced by the Chief of the General Staff, soon to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff (from 1909).

From the passing of the War Office Act 1870, as part of the Cardwell reforms, the C-in-C was made subordinate to the Secretary of State for War.

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), Master-General of the Ordnance, Secretary at War, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Secretary of State for War, and from 1964, together with the other services, by the Secretary of State for Defence.

Officeholders

General-in-Chief Command (1660–1793)

• Captain-General George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (1660–1670)
• Vacant (1670–1674)
• General James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth (1674–1679)
• Vacant (1679–1690)
• General John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough (1690–1691)
• General Meinhardt Schomberg, 1st Duke of Leinster (1691)
• Vacant (1691–1702)
• General John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough (1702–1708)
• Vacant (1708–1711)
• General James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde (1711–1714)
• Vacant (1714–1744)
• Field Marshal John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair (1744)
• Field Marshal George Wade (1745)
• Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1745–1757)
• Field Marshal John Ligonier, 1st Viscount Ligionier (1757–1759)
• Vacant (1759–1766) (Lord Ligonier held the title on an honorary basis)
• General John Manners, Marquess of Granby (1766–1769)
• Vacant (1769–1778)
• General Jeffery Amherst, 1st Lord Amherst (1778–1782)
• Field Marshal Henry Seymour Conway (1782–1793)

Commander-in-Chief (1793–1904)

• General Jeffery Amherst, 1st Lord Amherst (1793–1795)
• Field Marshal Prince Frederick, Duke of York (1795–1809)
• General Sir David Dundas (1809–1811)
• Field Marshal Prince Frederick, Duke of York (1811–1827)
• Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1827–1828)
• General Rowland Hill, 1st Lord Hill (1828–1842)
• Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1842–1852)
• Field Marshal Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge (1852–1856)
• Field Marshal Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (1856–1895)
• Field Marshal Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley (1895–1900)
• Field Marshal Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts (1900–1904)

References

• Regiments.org
• Everything