Vice-Admiral of Cumberland

The holder of the post Vice-Admiral of Cumberland was responsible for the defence County of Cumberland, 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 Reginald Beseley 1559–1563.

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 Admiral of Cumberland
This is a list of people who have been Vice-Admiral of Cumberland.


 * Reginald Beseley 1559–1563
 * Thomas Willson 1563–1569?
 * Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon 1586 – aft. 1587
 * Sir Robert Carey 1594–?
 * Sir Richard Mompesson ?–1604
 * George Hume, 1st Earl of Dunbar 1604–1611
 * Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk 1611–1640
 * vacant
 * Interregnum
 * Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle 1661–1685
 * John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale 1686–1700
 * vacant
 * Sir Richard Musgrave, 2nd Baronet 1702–1710
 * Sir William Pennington, 1st Baronet 1710–1715
 * Sir James Lowther, 4th Baronet 1715–1755
 * Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont 1755–1763
 * vacant
 * James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale 1765–1802
 * vacant
 * William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale 1809–1844