Master-General of the Ordnance

The Master-General of the Ordnance was an important British military position before 1855, when its duties were largely abolished. Usually held by a serving General, the Master-General of the Ordnance was responsible for all British artillery, engineers, fortifications, military supplies, and much else, and was not subordinate to the Commander in Chief, the titular head of the British military. The position was frequently a cabinet level one, especially in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Office Holder

Year
of
appointment
Sir Thomas Seymour 1544-1547
Sir Phillip Hoby 1547-1554
Sir Richard Southwell 1554-1559
Ambrose Dudley, 1st Earl of Warwick 1560-1585
Ambrose Dudley, 1st Earl of Warwick

Sir Phillip Sidney

 1585-1586
Ambrose Dudley, 1st Earl of Warwick 1586-1590
vacant 1590-1597
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex 1597-1601
vacant 1601-1603
Charles Blount, 1st Earl of Devonshire 1603-1606
vacant 1606-1608
George Carew, 1st Lord Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes 1608-1629
Horace Vere, 1st Lord Vere 1629-1634
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