Vice-Admiral of the coast of County Durham

The Vice-Admiral of the coast of Durham was responsible for the defence County Durham, England.

History
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 Reginald Beseley in 1559.

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.

Vice-Admirals of Durham
This is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Durham.


 * 1559: Reginald Beseley
 * 1559–63: Vacant
 * 1563: William Eure, 2nd Baron Eure
 * 1563–1568: Vacant
 * 1568: Valentine Browne
 * 1568–1575: Vacant
 * 1575–1596: Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon
 * 1596 Richard Mompesson
 * 1596–1611: Vacant
 * 1611–1640: Theophilus Howard, Lord Howard (Earl of Suffolk from 1626)
 * 1640: Sir John Delaval
 * 1640–1652: Vacant
 * 1652: John Fenwick
 * 1652–1660: Vacant
 * 1661–1685: Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle (and for Cumberland, Northumberland and Westmorland)
 * 1685–1687: Vacant
 * 1687–1689: John Sheffield, 3rd Earl of Mulgrave (and for Northumberland and Yorkshire)
 * 1689–1702: Richard Lumley, 1st Viscount Lumley (Earl of Scarbrough from 1690) (and for Northumberland)
 * 1702–1710: Nathaniel Crew, 3rd Baron Crew
 * 1710: Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough
 * 1710–1740: Richard Lumley, Viscount Lumley (Earl of Scarbrough from 1721)
 * 1740–1755: Vacant
 * 1755–1758: Henry Vane, 1st Earl of Darlington
 * 1758–1795: Vacant
 * 1795–1842: William Vane, 3rd Earl of Darlington (Marquess of Cleveland 1827–1833, Duke of Cleveland from 1833)
 * 1842–1854: Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry