Lord Keeper of the Great Seal

The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and later from Great Britain, was formerly a civil servant of the British Crown, who was responsible for the safekeeping of the Great Seal of England. Thus he became one of the Great Officers of State, the Great government officials.

The seal, which was introduced by Edward the Confessor, had been entrusted to a registrar for the preservation first. Since the time of Thomas Becket, the meaning of the Federal Chancellery changed greatly. The incumbent, a member of the clergy was not only involved in the affairs of his diocese, he was also sometimes not in England. Therefore, the great seal was given sometimes in the personal custody of a Vice - Chancellor or keepers. This practice was also followed during a vacancy of the Chancellery.

This office was the time to a permanent position and the Lord Keeper won the right to accept all the obligations in connection with the great seal. He was usually, but not so much force, a peer, and held his office as long as it pleased the king. He was appointed by the transfer of the stamp and not by letters patent. His status was finally (in the case of Lord Keeper Sir Nicholas Bacon) established by an Act of Elizabeth I, which he admitted the following rights:

"Like place, pre - eminence, jurisdiction, execution of laws, and all other customs, commodities, and advantages as the Lord Chancellor "

In later reigns of the Lord Keeper was raised in general to the Lord Chancellor and he retained control of the seal. The last Lord Keeper was Sir Robert Henley (later Earl of Northington ), which after the accession of George III. was appointed Chancellor.