Commissioner of His Majesty's Customs

[Megan Roberts]

Any thoughts on what the role would be in the 1700s?

I know that Adam Smith (author of Wealth of Nations) was one in Edinburgh.

Any thoughts on how many there would be at any one time?

thanks

[Elwyn Soutter]

There was a number of them. They set the strategic direction and were responsible to Parliament for the department's work. A bit like a modern board of Directors. They still exist. See:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/history/hmce.htm

[Coromandel]

The first clause of 'An Act to consolidate the Customs Laws' [24th July 1876] says:

'It shall be lawful for Her Majesty from time to time to appoint, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, any number of persons not exceeding five to be Commissioners of Customs for the collection and management of the Customs of the United Kingdom and of Her Majesty's possessions abroad . . .'

There's a lot more in the other 289 clauses that follow! You can read them all at

http://www.
legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1876/36/pdfs/ukpga_18760036_en.pdf

(The first few pages are just the headings of the clauses; the full text doesn't start until page 17 of the PDF file.)

[Coromandel]

Earlier in the nineteenth century the maximum number of Commissioners had been greater. By 6 Geo. IV c.106
('An Act for the Management of the Customs'), which came into force on 5 January 1826,

'It shall be lawful for his Majesty from time to time to appoint, under the great seal of the United Kingdom, any number of persons, not exceeding thirteen, to be commissioners of customs for the collection and for the management of the customs in and throughout the whole of the United Kingdom, and of any of his Majesty's possessions abroad; and also to appoint any number of persons, not exceeding four, to be assistant commissioners in and for Scotland and Ireland . . .'

according to David Steel's 'The Ship-Master's Assistant and Owner's Manual' of 1826, which is on Google Books.

[Coromandel]

The Morning Post of 16 August 1822 gives a useful history of the Commission of Customs, with details of numbers of Commissioners and salaries at various dates. It finishes with a summary of the situation in 1822, with nine Commissioners of Customs for England, five for Scotland and five for Ireland.

This was part of the 'Second Report of the Commissioners on the Public Revenue' which was published in several parts during August 1822. (You can read it all on the British Library Nineteenth Century Newspapers site.)

[Peter Goodey]

You may like to read An Account of the Commissioners of Customs, Excise, Hearthmoney, and Inland Revenue, 1642-1913; HMSO, 1913

[Megan Roberts]

Do people think that "Honourable, Comptroller of his Majesty's Customs" is the same role as Commissioner?

thanks

[Elwyn Soutter]

No I don't think it was the same as a Commissioner. A Comptroller is an auditor, responsible for checking and controlling the finances.