Master of the Mint

Master of the Mint is a title within the Royal Mint given to the most senior person responsible for its operation. It was an important office in the governments of Scotland and England, and later Great Britain and then the United Kingdom, between the 16th and 19th centuries. Until 1699, the appointment was usually for life. Its holder occasionally sat in the cabinet. During the interregnum (1643–1660) the last Master of the Mint to King Charles, Sir Robert Harley, transferred his allegiance to Parliament and remained in office. After his death in 1656 Aaron Guerdon was appointed. In 1870 the role was amalgamated into the office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, making the Chancellor, by virtue of his position, the Master of the Mint. The duty of running the mint was given to the Deputy Master of the Mint; who is now the mint's Chief Executive. Masters of the Mint in England 1331 Richard de Snowshill and Richard of Grimsby 1351–? Henry de Bruselee and John Chichester 1361–1361 Walter dei Bardi 1365–1367 John Chichester 1375–1391 Walter dei Bardi 1391–1391 John Wildeman 1411–1414 Richard Garner 1413–1414 Sir Lewis John 1418–1420 Sir Lewis John 1421–1432 Bartholomew Goldbeter 1435–1446 John Paddesley 1446–1459 Robert Manfield 1459–1461 Sir Richard Tonstall 1461–1483 William Hastings (executed 1483) 1483–1485 Sir Robert Brackenbury (killed at Bosworth, 1485) 1485–1490 Sir Giles Daubeney 1492–1493 Sir Bartholomew Reade and Sir John Shaa 1493–1494 Sir Bartholomew Reade and Robert Fenrother 1495–1498 Sir Bartholomew Reade and Sir John Shaa 1509–1534 William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy 1543 Ralph Rowlet and Sir Martin Bowes 1544 Sir Martin Bowes 1547–1553 Sir John York 1553–1555 Thomas Egerton 1560–1571 Sir Thomas Stanley 1571–1582 John Lonyson 1582–1599 Sir Richard Martin 1599–1609 Sir Richard Martin (died 1616) and Richard Martin 1617–1623 Sir Edward Villiers 1623–1626 Sir Randal Cranfield 1626–1635 Sir Robert Harley 1635–1643 In Commission: Sir Ralph Freeman Sir Thomas Aylesbury 1643–1649 Sir Robert Harley 1649–1653 Aaron Guerdon 1660–1662 Sir Ralph Freeman 1662–1667 Sir Ralph Freeman and Henry Slingsby 1667–1680 Henry Slingsby (suspended 1680) 1680–1684 In Commission: Sir John Buckworth Charles Duncombe James Hoare 1684–1686 In Commission: Thomas Neale Charles Duncombe James Hoare 1686–1699 Thomas Neale 1699-1727 Sir Isaac Newton 1727–1737 John Conduitt 1737–1745 Hon. Richard Arundell 1745–1769 Hon.