The Master of the Buckhounds (or Master of the Hounds) was an officer in the

Master of the Horse Master of the Horse is an official position in several European nations. It was more common when most countries in Europe were monarchies, and is of varying prominence today. (Ancient Rome) The original Master of the Horse ( la, Magister Equitu ...

's department of the British Royal Household. The holder was also His/Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot. The role was to oversee a hunting pack; a buckhound is smaller than a staghound and used for coursing the smaller breeds of deer, especially fallow deer. The position was abolished by the

Civil List Act 1901 Civil may refer to: *Civic virtue, or civility *Civil action, or lawsuit * Civil affairs *Civil and political rights *Civil disobedience * Civil engineering *Civil (journalism), a platform for independent journalism *Civilian, someone not a memb ...

History

Hunting had played a role among England's royalty. The specific role of master of the hounds was first mentioned during the reign of

Edward III Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring r ...

. At this time it was a hereditary position held by the Brocas family. This tradition faded in the 17th century along with the feudal system, and the monarch instead selected the master of the hounds. In later years, it was a political office and appointed by the Prime Minister, so the holder changed with every new government. In later years the position was always held by a nobleman who had rendered service to the party in control.

Hereditary Masters of the Buckhounds

The "hereditary" mastership was a

serjeanty Under feudalism in France and England during the Middle Ages, tenure by serjeanty () was a form of tenure in return for a specified duty other than standard knight-service. Etymology The word comes from the French noun , itself from the Latin ...

associated with the Manor of Little Weldon. It was held in the Brocas family until 1633, when it was sold to the Watson family. *Osborne Lovel (''temp.'' Hen. I) *William Lovel *Hamon le Venour *William Lovel *John Lovel (died 1316) *Thomas de Borhunte (died 1340) *William Danvers (died 1361) * Sir Bernard Brocas (died 1395) * Sir Bernard Brocas (died 1400) *William Brocas (died 1456) *William Brocas (died 1484) *John Brocas (died 1492) *William Brocas (died 1506) *George Warham and Ralph Pexsall (1512–1514) *Ralph Pexsall (died 1540) *Sir Richard Pexsall (died 1571) *Sir John Savage (until 1584) *Sir Pexsall Brocas (died 1630) *Thomas Brocas (until 1633) *

Lewis Watson, 1st Baron Rockingham , spouse-type = , issue-type = , issue = ''with Eleanor:''{{Plainlist, *Edward Watson, 2nd Baron Rockingham *Grace Watson *Anne Watson *Frances Watson *Elizabeth Watson *Eleanor Watson , issue-link = , iss ...

(died 1653) * Edward Watson, 2nd Baron Rockingham (died 1689) * Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham (until 1706) The pack of the Hereditary Master was merged with that of the Privy Master in 1706 and the office ceased.

Masters of the (Privy) Buckhounds

The Privy Buckhounds were created in 1528 by King Henry VIII to provide for a hunting pack overseen by a Royal appointee rather than a hereditary officer. *1528:

George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (c. 1504 – 17 May 1536) was an English courtier and nobleman who played a prominent role in the politics of the early 1530s. He was the brother of Anne Boleyn, from 1533 the second wife of King Hen ...

*1536: ''vacant'' *1538: Sir Richard Long *1546: ''vacant'' *1550: Sir Thomas Darcy *1551: John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick *1552: Lord Robert Dudley *1553: ''vacant'' *1572:

Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, (24 June 1532 – 4 September 1588) was an English statesman and the favourite of Elizabeth I from her accession until his death. He was a suitor for the queen's hand for many years. Dudley's youth was o ...

*1588: ''vacant'' *1596: Sir Henry Grey *1603: Sir Thomas Tyringham *1612: Sir Timothy Tyrrell, Sr. *1633: Sir Thomas Tyringham *1636: Robert Tyrwith *1651: ''vacant'' *19 September 1660

John Cary John Cary (c. 1754 – 1835) was an English cartographer. Life Cary served his apprenticeship as an engraver in London, before setting up his own business in the Strand in 1783. He soon gained a reputation for his maps and globes, his atlas ...

*31 March 1685 Col. James Grahme *9 September 1689

Jacques de Gastigny Jacques de Gastigny (also spelt Gatigny; died 1708), known in England as James Gastigny, was a French Huguenot who served as Master of the Buckhounds to King William III. Through his will he founded the French Protestant Hospital in Finsbury, Lon ...

*6 July 1698 Reinhard Vincent Graf von Hompesch *8 March 1702 ''vacant'' *13 June 1709

Walter Chetwynd Walter Chetwynd FRS (1 May 1633 – 21 March 1693), of Ingestre Hall, Staffordshire was an English antiquary and politician. Life He was the only child of Walter Chetwynd (1598–1669), the eldest son of Walter Chetwynd (died 1638), who buil ...

*8 June 1711 Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet *28 June 1712

George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan (29 September 1685 – 5 July 1732), styled Lord Brudenell between 1698 and 1703, was a British peer. Origins He was the son of Francis Brudenell, Lord Brudenell, by his wife Lady Frances Savile, grand-daugh ...

*11 July 1715 ''vacant'' *28 July 1727

Francis Negus Francis Negus (1670 – 9 September 1732) of Dallinghoo, Suffolk, was an English Army officer, courtier, and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1717 to 1732. He is the reputed inventor of the drink negus. Early life Negus is a ...

*21 June 1733

Charles Bennet, 2nd Earl of Tankerville Charles Bennet, 2nd Earl of Tankerville, KT (21 December 1697 – 14 March 1753), styled Lord Ossulston between 1714 and 1722, was a British peer and politician. Background Tankerville was the son of Charles Bennet, 1st Earl of Tankerville, a ...

*18 June 1737

Ralph Jenison Ralph Jenison ( – 15 May 1758) of Elswick Hall near Newcastle, Northumberland and Walworth Castle, county Durham. was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1724 and 1758 Early life Jenison was baptized at Heighington, Co ...

*31 December 1744

George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, (6 October 1716 – 8 June 1771) was a British statesman of the Georgian era. Due to his success in extending commerce in the Americas, he became known as the "father of the colonies". President of the ...

*2 July 1746

*2 July 1757

John Bateman, 2nd Viscount Bateman John Bateman, 2nd Viscount Bateman (April 1721 – 2 March 1802) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1746 to 1784. Bateman was the eldest son of William Bateman, 1st Viscount Bateman MP and his wife Lady Anne Spencer, ...

*29 March 1782:

George Villiers, 4th Earl of Jersey George Bussy Villiers, 4th Earl of Jersey, PC (9 June 173522 August 1805, Tunbridge Wells) was an English nobleman, peer, politician and courtier at the court of George III. He was the oldest surviving son of William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Je ...

*17 May 1783: John Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke; succeeded as 5th Earl of Sandwich 30 April 1792 *12 February 1806:

William Keppel, 4th Earl of Albemarle William Charles Keppel, 4th Earl of Albemarle, GCH, PC (14 May 1772 – 30 October 1849), briefly styled Viscount Bury between May and October 1772, was a British Whig politician. Background Albemarle was the only child of General Georg ...

*13 May 1806:

Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis (19 October 1774 – 9 August 1823), styled Viscount Brome until 1805, was a British Tory politician. He served as Master of the Buckhounds between 1807 and 1823. Background Cornwallis was the only s ...

*12 September 1823:

William Wellesley-Pole, 1st Baron Maryborough William Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington, (20 May 1763 – 22 February 1845), known as Lord Maryborough between 1821 and 1842, was an Anglo-Irish politician and an elder brother of the Duke of Wellington. His surname changed twice: he wa ...

*24 November 1830: Thomas Anson, 2nd Viscount Anson; created Earl of Lichfield 15 September 1831 *30 December 1834:

George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield, PC (23 May 1805 – 1 June 1866), styled Lord Stanhope until 1815, was a British Tory politician, courtier and race horse owner. He served as Master of the Buckhounds under Lord Melbourne from 1834 to 18 ...

*30 April 1835: William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll *21 December 1839:

George Kinnaird, 9th Lord Kinnaird George William Fox Kinnaird, 9th Lord Kinnaird, KT, PC (14 April 1807 – 7 January 1878) was a Scottish Whig politician. He served as Master of the Buckhounds under Lord Melbourne from 1839 to 1841. Background Kinnaird was the eldest son of ...

*10 September 1841:

James St Clair-Erskine, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn General James Alexander St Clair-Erskine, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn PC, DL (15 February 1802 – 16 June 1866), styled Lord Loughborough from 1805 to 1837, was a Scottish soldier and Tory politician. A General in the British Army, he also held polit ...

*9 July 1846:

Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, (11 May 181531 March 1891), styled Lord Leveson until 1846, was a British Liberal statesman and diplomat from the Leveson-Gower family. He is best remembered for his service as Secreta ...

*16 May 1848:

John Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough John George Brabazon Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough PC (14 October 1809 – 28 January 1880), styled Viscount Duncannon from 1844 until 1847, was a British cricketer, courtier and Liberal politician. Background Born in London, Ponsonby wa ...

*28 February 1852:

*30 December 1852:

*26 February 1858:

John Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich John William Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich PC (8 November 1811 – 3 March 1884), styled Viscount Hinchingbrooke from 1814 to 1818, was a British peer and Conservative politician. He served under Lord Derby as Captain of the Honourable Corps o ...

*18 June 1859:

*23 January 1866:

Richard Boyle, 9th Earl of Cork Richard Edmund St Lawrence Boyle, 9th Earl of Cork and Orrery KP, PC (19 April 1829 – 22 June 1904), styled Viscount Dungarvan between 1834 and 1856, was a British courtier and Liberal politician. In a ministerial career spanning between ...

*10 July 1866: Charles Colville, 10th Lord Colville of Culross *12 December 1868:

*2 March 1874:

Charles Yorke, 5th Earl of Hardwicke Charles Philip Yorke, 5th Earl of Hardwicke, (23 April 1836 – 18 May 1897), styled Viscount Royston until 1873, and nicknamed Champagne Charlie for his love of the high life, was a British aristocrat, Conservative politician, dandy and bankr ...

*3 May 1880:

*27 June 1885:

John Beresford, 5th Marquess of Waterford John Henry de la Poer Beresford, 5th Marquess of Waterford (21 May 184423 October 1895), styled Earl of Tyrone from 1859 to 1866, was an Irish peer and Conservative politician. He served as Master of the Buckhounds under Lord Salisbury from 1885 ...

*17 February 1886:

Charles Harbord, 5th Baron Suffield Charles Harbord, 5th Baron Suffield (2 January 1830 – 9 April 1914), was a British peer, courtier and Liberal politician. A close friend of Edward VII, he served as a Lord of the Bedchamber and Lord-in-waiting to the King. He also held politic ...

*16 August 1886:

George Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry George William Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry, (9 May 1838 – 13 March 1930), styled Viscount Deerhurst from November 1838 until 1843, was a British Conservative politician. He was Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms between 1877 and 1880 and again ...

*25 August 1892:

Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale (29 October 1854 – 21 October 1925) was a British Liberal politician. Early life Thomas Lister was born on 29 October 1854 in Fontainebleau, France, the eldest son of Thomas Lister, 3rd Baron Ribblesdale ...

*16 July 1895:

*1 November 1900:

Charles Cavendish, 3rd Baron Chesham Charles Compton William Cavendish, 3rd Baron Chesham, (13 December 1850 – 9 November 1907), styled The Honourable Charles Cavendish between 1863 and 1882, was a British soldier, courtier and Conservative politician. He served as the last Mast ...

References

Database of Court Officers
{{British Monarchy Household Court titles Lists of government ministers of the United Kingdom Defunct ministerial offices in the United Kingdom Positions within the British Royal Household Obsolete occupations 1901 disestablishments in the United Kingdom