Commander-in-Chief of the Forces: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, or just the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), was the professional head of the British Army from 1672 until 1904, when the office was replaced by the Chief of the General Staff. From 1855, the C-in-C was subordinate to the Secretary of State for War.

Commanders-in-Chief of the Forces

• James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth (1674–1679)
• Vacant (1679–1690)
• John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough (1690–1691)
• Meinhard Schomberg, 1st Duke of Leinster (1691–1711)
• James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormond (1711–1714)
• Vacant (1714–1744)
• John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair (1744)
• George Wade (1745–1748)
• Vacant (1748–1757)
• John Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier (1757–1759)
• Vacant (1759–1766)
• John Manners, Marquess of Granby (1766–1769)
• Vacant (1769–1778)
• Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Lord Amherst (1778–1782)
• Henry Seymour Conway (1782–1783)
• Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Lord Amherst (1783–1795)
• Prince Frederick, Duke of York (1795–1809)
• Sir David Dundas (1809–1811)
• Prince Frederick, Duke of York (1811–1827)
• Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1827–1828)
• Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill (1828–1842)
• Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1842–1852)
• Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge (1852–1856)
• Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge (1856–1895)
• Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley (1895–1900)
• Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts (1900–1904)