Unit Name: | Vice Admiral of Kent |
Dates: | 1558-1846 |
Branch: | Royal Navy |
Type: | Naval administration |
Role: | Admiralty court and Naval Jurisdiction. |
The Vice-Admiral of Kent[1] was responsible for the defence of the county of Kent, 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 William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham 1559–1597.
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.[2]
This is a list of people who have served as Vice-Admiral of Kent.From 1585 to 1607, a separate vice-admiral was appointed for the Hundred of Milton.