Vice Admiral of Hampshire | |
---|---|
Active | 1558-1846 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Type | Naval administration |
Role |
Admiralty court and Naval Jurisdiction. |
The Vice-Admiral of Hampshire was responsible for the defence of the county of Hampshire, England.
As a Vice-Admiral, the post holder was the chief of naval administration for his district. His responsibilities included pressing men for naval service, deciding the lawfulness of prizes (captured by privateers), dealing with salvage claims for wrecks and acting as a judge.
The earliest record of an appointment was of Sir Adrian Poynings 1558–1571.
In 1863 the Registrar of the Admiralty Court stated that the offices had 'for many years been purely honorary' (HCA 50/24 pp. 235-6). Appointments were made by the Lord High Admiral when this officer existed. When the admiralty was in commission appointments were made by the crown by letters patent under the seal of the admiralty court.
This is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Hampshire. A separate Vice-Admiral of the Isle of Wight was appointed from 1569 to 1571, and from 1734 to 1807, although during the latter period, the Vice-Admiral of Hampshire intermittently held both posts.