Comptrollers of Army Accounts

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Comptrollers of Army Accounts were British public officials first appointed on 10 June 1703, by the Lord High Treasurer, Lord Godolphin; there were two Comptrollers (assisted by a Secretary and eight clerks). Initially under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, they were instead made accountable to the Treasury in 1708. [1]

Contents

Role

The Comptrollers were established to audit the accounts of all army Paymasters and regiments, to keep an account of all weapons, tents and provisions issued to each regiment (to ensure that each regiment was duly charged for what it received) and to inspect all muster rolls. [2] To begin with, they also had responsibility for inspecting the clothing contracts entered into by each regiment but in 1708 this duty was handed over to a separate Clothing Board established under the Board of General Officers.

In 1783 the role of the Comptrollers was extended, to cover 'the examination of the Provision and Store accounts of the Commissariat Department'.

In 1785 the two Comptrollers of Army Accounts were made ex officio members of the new Audit Board (the Commissioners for Auditing Public Accounts). In 1806 the Comptrollers were separated from the Audit Board; their responsibilities and powers were again extended and a third Comptroller was appointed (however, when he died in office in 1830, he was not replaced). By 1833 they were described as: "Comptrollers of all extraordinary military expenditure (except that connected with the Ordnance department) and auditors of the provision and store accounts of all Commissariat and other officers in charge of stores (except ordnance) on foreign service". [1]

Demise

In 1835 the office of the Comptrollers of Army Accounts was dissolved and its responsibilities given to the Commissioners of Audit. [2]

List of comptrollers

FromToName [3] Notes
17031707Sir Joseph Tredenham
17031704William Duncombe
17041708 Arthur Moore
17081756 Sir Philip Meadows
17081711 Thomas Brodrick
17111730The Hon. James Bruce
17301747 Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton
17471776 Stephen Fox, 1st Baron Ilchestercreated Earl of Ilchester 17 June 1756
17561775James Cresset
17751783Henry Bunbury
17761780Thomas Bowlby
17801780 Christopher D'Oyly (appointment gazetted but declined) [4]
17801802Sir John DickEx officio Commissioner of Audit from 1785
17831794William MollesonEx officio Commissioner of Audit from 1785
17941811John Martin LeakeEx officio Commissioner of Audit until 1805
18021817John ErskineEx officio Commissioner of Audit until 1805
18061830 John King
September 1811October 1811 John Charles Herries
18111835Colonel John Drinkwater
18151823Anthony RosenhagenMember of the Board from 1817 [1]
18231826The Hon. James Henry Keith Stewart
18261835Lt-Col Sir William Lewis Herries KCH

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Drinkwater, Lt-Col John (1835). Statements respecting the late Departments of the Comptrollers of the Army. London: William Nicol.
  2. 1 2 Roper, Michael (1998). The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660-1964. Kew, Surrey: Public Record Office.
  3. Sainty, J. C. "Comptrollers of Army Accounts". Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  4. "D'OYLY, Christopher". The History of Parliament. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 10 December 2018.