The Company's first Master was named in the Royal Charter of 1631, but not sworn before the Lord Mayor until 12th October 1632.

Under the terms of the Charter, subsequent elections took place on or around the feast of St. Michael the Archangel (29th September).

During the 17th and early 18th centuries, the official calendar year ran from April to the end of March, so most Masters (elected in September, but not sworn until October), served 5-6 months in the year of their election and 6-7 months in the following year.

The calendar change of 1751 however, meant that Masters after that date served only 2 months in their year of election and 10 in the following year.

In 1816 a further change took place. William Robson was elected in September, but not installed until early January 1817. He served until the following January. From that date onwards, Masters have served the full year following their election.

 

Date of appointment:

 

1631 David Ramsey Named in

         the Charter

1632 David Ramsey, (sworn

          22nd October)

 

Date of election:

 

1633 David Ramsey

         (represented by his

        Deputy, Henry Archer).

1634 Sampson Shelton

1635 John Willow

1636 Elias Allen

1638 John Smith

1639 Sampson Shelton

1640 John Charleton

1641 John Harris

1642 Richard Masterson

1643 John Harris

1644 John Harris

1645 Edward East

1646 Simon Hackett

1647 Simon Hackett

1648 Robert Grinkin

1649 Robert Grinkin

1650 Simon Bartram

1651 Simon Bartram

1652 Edward East

1653 John Nicasius

1654 Robert Grinkin

1655 John Nicasius

1656 Thomas Holland

1657 Benjamin Hill

1658 Benjamin Hill

1659 Simon Hackett

1660 John Pennock

1661 Nicholas Coxeter

1662 Nicholas Coxeter

1663 John Pennock

1664 Henry Child

1665 Jeremy Gregory

1666 Jeremy Gregory

1667 Jeremy Gregory

1668 Thomas Taylor

1669 Thomas Taylor

1670 Thomas Claxton

1671 Nicholas Coxeter

1672 Samuel Horne

1673 Samuel Horne

1674 Jeffery Bailey 

1675 Jeffery Bailey 

1676 Jeremy Gregory 

1677 Nicholas Coxeter

1678 Ralph Almond

1679 Samuel Vernon

1680 Walter Hayes

1681 John Browne

1682 Richard Ames (died) /

         Benjamin Bell.

1683 Richard Lyons

1684 Thomas Wheeler

1685 Richard Jarratt

1686 Edward Norris

1687 Thomas Taylor

1688 John Harris

1689 Nathaniel Barrow

1690 Henry Wynne

1691  Henry Jones

1692 Nicasius Russell

1693 William Knotsford

1694 William Clements

1695 Wither Cheney (excused) /

          Walter Henshaw

1606 John Sellar (excused) /

         Edward Stanton

1697 John Ebsworth

1698 Robert Williamson

1690 Robert Halsted

1700 Charles Gretton

1701 William Speakman

1702 Joseph Windmills

1703 Thomas Tompion

  “The Father of English

          Clockmaking”.

1704 Robert Webster

1705  Benjamin Graves

1706 John Finch

1707 John Pepys

1708 Daniel Quare

1709 George Etherington

1710 Thomas Taylor

1711 Thomas Gibbs

1712 John  Shaw

1713 Sir George Merttins (Lord          Mayor 1724-1725)

1714 John Barrow

1715 Thomas Feilder

1716 William Jaques

1717 Nathaniel Chamberlain

1718 Thomas Windmills

1719 Edward Crouch

1720  James Markwick

1721 Martin Jackson

1722 George Graham “Honest George Graham”, mentor  of John Harrison.

1723 John Berry

1724 Joseph Williamson (died

          in office)

1725 Francis Robinson

1725 Peter Wise

1726 Langley Bradley

1727 Cornelius Herbert

1728 James Drury

1729 Richard Vick

1730 Thomas Stones

1731 John Marsden

1732 William Bertram (died in office)

1733 William Tomlinson

1734 Edward Faulkner

1735 Hugh Richards

1736 James Snelling

1737 Thomas Wrightson

1738 John Maberly

1739 John Pepys

1740 William Sherwood

!741 John Stafford

1742 Thomas Hughes

1743 David Hubert

1744 John Hiorne

1745 Joshua Appleby

1746 Matthew Skinner

1747 Nathaniel Delander

1748 Samuel Whichcote

1749 William Scafe

1750 Henry Horne

 

( Change to new-style calendar.)

 

1751 Nathaniel Style

1752 Joseph Stephens

1753 Henton Browne

1754 Jasper Taylor

1755 William Webster

1756 Francis Perigal

1757 Charles Cabrier

1758 Conyers Dunlop

1759 Devereux Bowley

1760 Stephen Goujon

1761 Benjamin Sidey

1762 John Jones

1763 Anthony Benn (died in

         office)

1764 Samuel Whichcote

1764 William Addis

1765 Thomas Hughes

1766 Daniel Fenn

1767 Peter Higgs

1768 Samuel Charrington (died

         in office) / Henry Horne

1768 Charles Merry

1769 Thomas Garle

1770 James Brown

1771 Daniel Aveline (died in

         office).

1772 Eliezer Chater

1773 David Rivers

1774 William Rogerson

1775 Francis Perigal

1776 Joseph Stephens

1777 William Howes

1778 Southern Payne

1779 William Plumley

1780 Francis Atkins

1781 Robert Poole

1782 Thomas Lea

1783 Nathaniel Sergeant

1784 James Green

1785 Hilton Wray

1786 Edward Tutet

1787 Charles Howse

1788 James Richardson

1789 Benjamin Sidey

1790 Richard Style

1791 Daniel Fenn

1792 The Rev. Dr. Robert

         Hamilton

1793 Samuel Fenn

1794 William Rivers

1795 Harry Potter

1796 John Jackson

1797 John Ward

1798 Richard Duncombe

1799 John Marriott

1800 Matthew Dutton

1801 William Plumley

1802 Edward Gibson

1803 Timothy Chisman

1804 William Pearce

1805 William Robins

1806 Francis S. Perigal Jnr.

1807 Samuel Taylor

1808 Thomas Dolley

1809 William Robson

1810 Paul Philip Barraud

1811 Paul Philip Barraud

1812 Harry Potter (died in office).

1813 Isaac Rogers

                             [ Continued]