Cofferer of the Household

Next in rank to the Comptroller, the holder paid the wages of some of the servants above and below stairs, was a member of the Board of Green Cloth, and sat with the Lord Steward in the Court of the Verge.

The Keeper of the Wardrobe was at this time increasingly occupied with matters of state, and so his chief clerk gradually took on additional responsibilities for accounting and bookkeeping, and came to be referred to as the Cofferer.

[4] As such, he became in effect the working head of the Wardrobe, and acted when required as locum tenens to the Keeper.

[5] The Cofferer retained his role as principal accounting officer under the Lord Steward.

[6] The office of Cofferer was abolished by the Civil List and Secret Service Money Act 1782.

Henry Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle served Cofferer of the Household between 1747 and 1754.