Clerk of the Acts

Office of the Clerk of the Acts
British White Ensign, 1707–1800
Department of the Admiralty
Member of	Navy Board (1546-1796)
Reports to	First lord of the Admiralty
Nominator	First lord of the Admiralty
Appointer	Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (usually for life)
Inaugural holder	Richard Howlett
Formation	1546-1796

The Clerk of the Acts originally known as the Clerk of the Navy also known as the Navy Clerk of the Acts was a civilian officer in the Royal Navy who was also a principle member of the Navy Board from 1546 until 1796, he was responsible for the organisation of Navy Office, processing naval contracts and coordinating the secretarial side of the Navy Board's work.

The office was formally established in 1546 when the post holder was granted a salary by letters patent under the great seal the tenure was usually for life it succeeded the earlier office of Clerk of the Ships or Clerk of the Kings Ships. Between the years 1673 and 1677 the office was held jointly by two clerks of the acts, and then again from 1702 until 1706. In 1796 the offices of Clerk of the Acts and three other offices those of Comptroller of Storekeepers Accounts, Comptroller of Treasurer's Accounts and Comptroller of Victualling Accounts were abolished and the Board reconstituted, the function of the Navy Office was then supervised of three Committees, of Correspondence, Accounts and Stores.

The Clerk of the Acts was officially responsible for:

Included:

From June 1639 to August 1706 two clerks of the acts were occasionally appointed jointly to the office