High Sheriff of Essex

The High Sheriff of Essex was an ancient Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Sheriff of Essex was retitled High Sheriff of Essex. The High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown in England and Wales, their purpose being to represent the monarch at a local level, historically in the shires.

The office was a powerful position in earlier times, as sheriffs were responsible for the maintenance of law and order and various other roles. It was only in 1908 under Edward VII that the Lord Lieutenant became more senior than the High Sheriff. Since then the position of High Sheriff has become more ceremonial, with many of its previous responsibilities transferred to High Court judges, magistrates, coroners, local authorities and the police.

This is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Essex. Prior to 1567 the Sheriff of Essex was also the Sheriff of Hertfordshire.

Brigadier Edward Joseph Todhunter (High Sheriff 1964-65), and Captain Guy Edward Ruggles-Brise (High Sheriff 1967-68), both served in the Second World War in the Army. They found themselves captured at different times during the ebb and flow of campaigns in North Africa. They ended up in the same Italian prisoner of war camp Vincigliata PG 12 a Medieval castle near Florence. After the Italian armistice in September 1943 they both spent time with the Partisans in the Apennines and after many months together escaped reaching Allied lines in a leaking fishing boat in May 1944.

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