The Apothecary to the Household is an officer of the Medical Household of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He has a salaried daily surgery.[ clarification needed ]
The Apothecary to the Household was originally responsible for providing medicine to members of the Royal Household; a separate officer, the Apothecary to the Person, ministered to the Sovereign. Both were appointed by warrant from the Lord Chamberlain, although the appointment was frequently published, in the form of letters patent under the Great Seal. [1]
From the Restoration until 1727, a single Apothecary to the Household was appointed. [2] For the next century, two or occasionally three individuals jointly held the office. [1] The joint appointments came to an end on the resignation of Claudius du Pasquier in 1879. [3] The original salary consisted of wages of £40 and board wages of £60, which had risen to a total of £160 and was fixed at £106 13s 4d during the reign of Queen Anne. During the earlier Stuart era, the Apothecary to the Household was also entitled to riding wages and sometimes lodging. [1]
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The Lord Steward or Lord Steward of the Household is one of the three Great Officers of the Household of the British monarch. Historically the Lord Steward presided over the Household Below Stairs, and by tradition he takes precedence over all other officers of the household. Holders of the office are always peers; until 1924 they were always members of the Government, and until 1782 the office was one of considerable political importance and carried Cabinet rank. Lord Stewards presided at the Board of Green Cloth, until the Board of Green Cloth disappeared in the reform of local government licensing in 2004.
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The office of apothecary to the household was held singly until 1727. Thereafter it was ...