History of the Lieutenancy
The 7th Earl of Derby
The office of Lord-Lieutenant is military in origin and dates from the 1540s in the reign of Henry VIII, when its holder was made responsible for the maintenance of order and for all military measures necessary locally for defence. By 1569 provision was made for the appointment of deputies.
In 1757 the militia was recognised under the Lord-Lieutenant and the deputies, at a time when the country was feeling the strain of the lengthy wars of that century. By the Regulation of the Forces Act 1871, the militia was removed from the Lord-Lieutenant's direct control, but not until 1921 did the Office finally lose the power to call on all able-bodied men of each county to fight in case of need.
Today the Lord-Lieutenant performs a number of duties in respect of the armed forces, especially the reserve forces, all largely ceremonial. From the earliest days the Lord-Lieutenant has also been closely associated with the magistracy and until the 19th Century was appointed the Clerk of the Peace. The Lord-Lieutenant is now appointed Keeper of the Rolls and as such it is her duty to ensure that the correct standard of conduct is observed by all magistrates.
The Merseyside Lieutenancy was established on 1st April 1974 on the creation of the County of Merseyside. Previously, the Lieutenancies of Lancashire and Cheshire covered the area.
Merseyside has had six Lord-Lieutenants:
Brigadier Sir Douglas Crawford CB DSO TD (1974 - 1979)
Wing Commander Sir Kenneth Stoddart KCVO KStJ AE LLD DL (1979 - 1989)
Henry Cotton Esq. LLD DL (1989 - 1993)
Sir Alan Waterworth KCVO KStJ JP MA LLD DL (1993 - 2006)
Dame Lorna E F Muirhead DCVO DBE CStJ SRN SCM MTD FRCM FRCOG FLJMU LLD(Hon) LHD (2006 - 2017)
Mark Blundell Esq (2017 to present)
Click on the photograph below to see the first members of the new Merseyside Lieutenancy in 1974.
The current holder of the office is Mr Mark Blundell who was appointed on 13th September 2017 and who will retire at the age of 75. Mr Blundell was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2006.
Life as a Lord-Lieutenant has not always been as well ordered as it is today. James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, born in Knowsley (now in Merseyside) was Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire and Cheshire and Chamberlain of Chester. However he supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War and after capture, he was tried as a traitor by the Parliamentarians. He was executed in Bolton.
In 1757 the militia was recognised under the Lord-Lieutenant and the deputies, at a time when the country was feeling the strain of the lengthy wars of that century. By the Regulation of the Forces Act 1871, the militia was removed from the Lord-Lieutenant's direct control, but not until 1921 did the Office finally lose the power to call on all able-bodied men of each county to fight in case of need.
Today the Lord-Lieutenant performs a number of duties in respect of the armed forces, especially the reserve forces, all largely ceremonial. From the earliest days the Lord-Lieutenant has also been closely associated with the magistracy and until the 19th Century was appointed the Clerk of the Peace. The Lord-Lieutenant is now appointed Keeper of the Rolls and as such it is her duty to ensure that the correct standard of conduct is observed by all magistrates.
The Merseyside Lieutenancy was established on 1st April 1974 on the creation of the County of Merseyside. Previously, the Lieutenancies of Lancashire and Cheshire covered the area.
Merseyside has had six Lord-Lieutenants:
Brigadier Sir Douglas Crawford CB DSO TD (1974 - 1979)
Wing Commander Sir Kenneth Stoddart KCVO KStJ AE LLD DL (1979 - 1989)
Henry Cotton Esq. LLD DL (1989 - 1993)
Sir Alan Waterworth KCVO KStJ JP MA LLD DL (1993 - 2006)
Dame Lorna E F Muirhead DCVO DBE CStJ SRN SCM MTD FRCM FRCOG FLJMU LLD(Hon) LHD (2006 - 2017)
Mark Blundell Esq (2017 to present)
Click on the photograph below to see the first members of the new Merseyside Lieutenancy in 1974.
The current holder of the office is Mr Mark Blundell who was appointed on 13th September 2017 and who will retire at the age of 75. Mr Blundell was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2006.
Life as a Lord-Lieutenant has not always been as well ordered as it is today. James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, born in Knowsley (now in Merseyside) was Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire and Cheshire and Chamberlain of Chester. However he supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War and after capture, he was tried as a traitor by the Parliamentarians. He was executed in Bolton.
