Global political history

Global political history from 3000 BC to the 21st century – political leaders, elections, and more.

Ceremonial offices

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Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports

William Pitt the Younger

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 28 1759; d. January 23 1806.

Titles of nobility: Earl Grey in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1807 – 1845)

1792 – 1806

Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1769; d. September 14 1852

Noble titles: Viscount Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1809 – 1852); Count of Vimeiro in the nobility of Portugal (1811 – 1852); Earl of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Marquess of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Duke of Vitória in the nobility of Portugal (1812 – 1852); Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo in the nobility of Spain (1812 – 1852); Duke of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1814 – 1852); Prince of Waterloo in the nobility of the Netherlands (1815 – 1852)

Military ranks: Major-General (1802 – 1808); Lieutenant-General (1808 – 1811); General (1811 – 1813); Field Marshal (1813 – 1852)

1829 – 1852

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 20 1784; d. October 18 1865

1861 – 1865

Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 21 1826; d. February 12 1902

Other titles: Baron Dufferin and Claneboyne (1850 – 1902); Earl of Dufferin (1871 – 1902)

1888 – 1892

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1868 – 1903)

1895 – 1903

George, Prince of Wales

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 3 1865; d. January 20 1936

Spouse: Mary of Teck (b. May 26 1867; d. March 24 1953)

Children: (1) Edward VIII, King of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India (b. June 23 1894; d. May 28 1972); (2) George VI, King of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India (b. December 14 1895; d. February 6 1952); (3) Mary, Princess Royal (b. April 25 1897; d. March 28 1965); (4) Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. March 31 1900; d. June 10 1974); (5) Prince George, Duke of Kent (b. December 20 1902; d. August 25 1942); (6) Prince John (b. July 12 1905; d. January 18 1919)

Other thrones held: Emperor of India (1910 – 1936)

Royal titles: Prince of Wales (1901 – 1910); Duke of Cornwall (1901 – 1910); Duke of Rothesay (1901 – 1910)

Other prominent offices: Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1905 – 1907)

1905 – 1907

Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 11 1836; d. February 23 1918

Noble titles: Baron Brassey in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1886 – 1918); Earl Brassey in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1911 – 1918).

1908 – 1913

Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 12 1866; d. August 12 1941

Titles of nobility: Baron Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1910 – 1941); Viscount Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1924 – 1941); Earl of Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1931 – 1941); Marquess of Willingdon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1936 – 1941)

1936 – 1941

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 30 1874; d. January 24 1965

1941 – 1965

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 4 1900; d. March 30 2002

1978 – 2002


The Tower of London

Constable of the Tower
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1769; d. September 14 1852

Noble titles: Viscount Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1809 – 1852); Count of Vimeiro in the nobility of Portugal (1811 – 1852); Earl of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Marquess of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Duke of Vitória in the nobility of Portugal (1812 – 1852); Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo in the nobility of Spain (1812 – 1852); Duke of Wellington in the peerage of the United Kingdom (1814 – 1852); Prince of Waterloo in the nobility of the Netherlands (1815 – 1852)

Military ranks: Major-General (1802 – 1808); Lieutenant-General (1808 – 1811); General (1811 – 1813); Field Marshal (1813 – 1852)

1827 – 1852

Field Marshal Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1883; d. June 17 1963

Titles of nobility: Baron Alanbrooke in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1945 – 1963); Viscount Alanbrooke in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1946 – 1963).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1935. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1938. Promoted to general, 1941. Promoted to field marshal, 1944.

1950 – 1955

Field Marshal Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 5 1881; d. December 31 1964

Titles of nobility: Baron Wilson in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1946 – 1964).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1935. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1939. Promoted to general, 1941. Promoted to field marshal, 1944.

1955 – 1960

Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 10 1891; d. June 16 1969

Titles of nobility: Viscount Alexander of Tunis in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1946 – 1969); Earl Alexander of Tunis in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1952 – 1969).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1937. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1938. Promoted to general, 1942. Promoted to field marshal, 1944.

1960 – 1965

General Sir Francis Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 23 1950.

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1994. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 2003. Promoted to general, 2005.

2009 – 2016


Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle

John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 6 1845; d. May 2 1914

Noble titles: Duke of Argyll (1900 – 1914)

1892 – 1914

Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 14 1874; d. January 16 1957

1931 – 1957

Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 6 1891; d. December 14 1970

Titles of nobility: Viscount Slim in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1960 – 1970).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1941. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1944. Promoted to general, 1945. Promoted to field marshal, 1949.

1964 – 1970

Lord Warden of the Stannaries
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 26 1819; d. December 14 1861

1842 – 1861

Master Gunner, St. James’s Park
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 30 1832; d. November 14 1914

Titles of nobility: Baron Roberts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1892 – 1914); Earl Roberts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1901 – 1914).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1878. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1883. Promoted to general, 1891. Promoted to field marshal, 1895.

1904 – 1914

Field Marshal Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1883; d. June 17 1963

Titles of nobility: Baron Alanbrooke in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1945 – 1963); Viscount Alanbrooke in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1946 – 1963).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1935. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1938. Promoted to general, 1941. Promoted to field marshal, 1944.

1946 – 1956


Orders of Chivalry

Great Master of the Order of the Bath
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 26 1819; d. December 14 1861

1847 – 1861

Edward, Prince of Wales

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 9 1841; d. May 6 1910

Spouse: Alexandra of Denmark (b. December 1844; d. November 20 1925)

Children: (1) Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (b. January 8 1864; d. January 14 1892); (2) George V, King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, Emperor of India (b. June 3 1865; d. January 20 1936); (3) Louise, Princess Royal, Duchess of Fife (b. February 20 1867; d. January 4 1931); (4) Princess Victoria (b. July 6 1868; d. December 3 1935); (5) Princess Maud, Queen consort of Norway (b. November 26 1869; d. November 20 1938); (6) Prince Alexander John of Wales (b. April 6 1871; d. April 7 1871)

Other thrones held: Emperor of India (1901 – 1910)

Royal titles: Prince of Wales (1841 – 1901); Duke of Cornwall (1841 – 1901); Duke of Rothesay (1841 – 1901)

1897 – 1901

Field Marshal Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1850; d. January 16 1942

Titles of nobility: Duke of Connaught and Strathearn in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1874 – 1942).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1880. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1886. Promoted to general, 1893. Promoted to field marshal, 1902.

1901 – 1942

Charles, Prince of Wales

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 14 1948.

1974 – 2022

William, Prince of Wales

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 21 1982.

2024 – present


Chancellor of the Order of the Garter
Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 16 1881; d. December 23 1959

Titles of nobility: Baron Irwin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1959); Viscount Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1934 – 1959); Earl of Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1944 – 1959).

1943 – 1959

Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 27 1893; d. February 23 1972

Titles of nobility: Baron Cecil in the Peerage of England (1941 – 1972); Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of Great Britain (1947 – 1972).

1960 – 1972


Grand Master of the Order of St Michael and St George
Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 24 1774; d. July 8 1850

Titles of nobility: Duke of Cambridge in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1801 – 1850).

1825 – 1850

Field Marshal Prince George, Duke of Cambridge

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 26 1819; d. March 17 1904

Titles of nobility: Duke of Cambridge in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1850 – 1904).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1845. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1854. Promoted to general, 1856. Promoted to field marshal, 1862.

1850 – 1904

George, Prince of Wales

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 3 1865; d. January 20 1936

Spouse: Mary of Teck (b. May 26 1867; d. March 24 1953)

Children: (1) Edward VIII, King of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India (b. June 23 1894; d. May 28 1972); (2) George VI, King of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India (b. December 14 1895; d. February 6 1952); (3) Mary, Princess Royal (b. April 25 1897; d. March 28 1965); (4) Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. March 31 1900; d. June 10 1974); (5) Prince George, Duke of Kent (b. December 20 1902; d. August 25 1942); (6) Prince John (b. July 12 1905; d. January 18 1919)

Other thrones held: Emperor of India (1910 – 1936)

Royal titles: Prince of Wales (1901 – 1910); Duke of Cornwall (1901 – 1910); Duke of Rothesay (1901 – 1910)

Other prominent offices: Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1905 – 1907)

1905 – 1910

Edward, Prince of Wales

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 23 1894; d. May 28 1972

Spouse: Wallis Simpson (b. June 19 1896; d. April 24 1986)

Children: None

Royal titles: Prince of Wales (1910 – 1936); Duke of Cornwall (1910 – 1936); Duke of Rothesay (1910 – 1936)

1917 – 1936

Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 14 1874; d. January 16 1957

1936 – 1957

Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 16 1881; d. December 23 1959

Titles of nobility: Baron Irwin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1959); Viscount Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1934 – 1959); Earl of Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1944 – 1959).

1957 – 1959

Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 10 1891; d. June 16 1969

Titles of nobility: Viscount Alexander of Tunis in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1946 – 1969); Earl Alexander of Tunis in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1952 – 1969).

Military ranks: Promoted to major-general, 1937. Promoted to lieutenant-general, 1938. Promoted to general, 1942. Promoted to field marshal, 1944.

1959 – 1967