Gentleman Usher

• 1. Origins And Early History

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  In the fifteenth century, a new class of servant emerged within Tudor noble households. These men held titles that would eventually define royal protocol for centuries. Richard Brathwait described them in his Household of an Earle as essential officers required by the state of an earl. They occupied a middle ground between the steward and ordinary servants. Their duties included overseeing staff who cooked or waited upon the nobleman at meals. They ensured the great chamber remained clean under the direction of lesser servants. The Gentleman Usher also managed miscellaneous services like the care of chapels and bed-chambers. He was traditionally responsible for swearing in new members of the nobleman's service. George Chapman wrote a play titled The Gentleman Usher featuring a character named Bassiolo. Henry VIII granted an usher's position to Italian merchant Leonardo Frescobaldi.

• 2. Royal Household Evolution

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  The Black Book of the Household of King Edward IV lists four Gentlemen Ushers of the Chamber. One or two sat continuously during meals to ensure order and silence. They kept tallies of all food and drink consumed in the Chamber daily. Under Henry VII, at least one usher attended every day from 8am until nightfall. They were forbidden to let strangers enter without commandment from the Lord Chamberlain. Prior to the Interregnum, these ushers carried short white staffs half the length of the Lord Chamberlain's. Henry VIII separated them into three distinct classes: Privy Chamber, Daily Waiters, and Quarter Waiters. Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber waited at the door of the King's bedchamber. They supervised grooms who swept floors and laid straw mats. James VI and I arrived in York in May 1603 to swear Elizabeth's former ushers as his servants. Richard Coningsby and George Pollard became part of this new royal arrangement. Anne of Denmark employed four usher quarter waiters alongside gentleman usher John Tunstall. The yearly fee for such a post was £40 while purchasing the office cost £250 in December 1603.

• 3. Ceremonial Transformation

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  By the eighteenth century, the Bedchamber had supplanted the Privy Chamber as the monarch's private enclave. An adjacent Drawing Room became the main place of assembly at Court instead of the Presence Chamber. Both chambers retained separate staffs of Gentlemen Ushers despite losing close involvement with daily routines. Under Queen Victoria, Gentleman Ushers of the Privy Chamber still conducted Her Majesty in the absence of higher officers. They served as sole attendants in the Closet and the Chapel. Over time their role shifted toward increasing ceremony rather than active supervision. In 1901, King Edward VII abolished separate designations to appoint simply Gentleman Ushers in Ordinary. Today an establishment of ten Lady and Gentleman Ushers attends royal events. These individuals generally come from retired military officer backgrounds. Two currently represent the Royal Navy while four represent the Army and four the Royal Air Force. When on duty they wear service uniforms with brassards displaying the royal cypher or morning dress depending on occasion. They receive modest honorariums for upkeep of their orders of dress. Ushers retire at age 70 when they may become Extra Lady or Gentleman Ushers.

• 4. Specialized Rod Offices

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  The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod was established around 1361 as an officer of the Order of the Garter. He also serves as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and Doorkeeper of the House of Lords. Since 1971 he has acted as Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Lords. During the Tudor period this post usually belonged to senior members like the Groom of the Stool. From the Restoration until 1765, Black Rod held seniority among existing Gentleman Usher Daily Waiters. Lieutenant General Ed Davis currently holds the post following Sarah Clarke's appointment on the 17th of November 2017. The Gentleman Usher of the White Rod emerged c.1373 as a hereditary dignity attending Parliament before its abolition in 1707. This office became adjudgeable in 1758 and has been bought and sold several times since then. The position is now held by the Walker Trustees. The Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod appeared in 1714 as usher for the Scottish Order of the Thistle. Rear Admiral Christopher Hope Layman currently fills that role today.

• 5. Modern Appointment Criteria

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  Certain Gentleman Ushers hold duties outside the Royal Household attached to orders of knighthood or Parliament. The Irish Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod was established in 1783 as usher for the Irish Order of St Patrick. No appointees have served there since 1933. The Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod appeared in 1725 as usher for the British Order of the Bath. Major General James Gordon currently serves as the present Scarlet Rod. The Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State dates back c.1837 and bears the Sword of State in ceremonial processions. General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue holds this current post. The Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod emerged in 1882 as an Officer of Arms before becoming an usher in 1911. Dame DeAnne Julius currently serves as the Blue Rod. The Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod appeared in 1918 as usher for the Order of the British Empire. Dame Amelia Fawcett currently holds that position. Gentleman Ushers of the Black Rod also exist for New Zealand, Australia, its states, and Canada.