I TRINITY HOUSE, CORPORATION OF. An asso ciation of English mariners which originally had its headquarters at Deptford in Kent. In its first charter, received from Henry VIII., in 1514, it was described as the "Guild, Fraternity or Brotherhood of the Most Glorious and Undivided Trinity, and of Saint Clement, in the parish of Deptford, Stronde." The first master appointed was the founder of the corporation, Sir Thomas Spert. Deptford having been made a royal dockyard by Henry VIII., and being the station where outgoing ships were supplied with pilots, the corporation rapidly developed. By Henry VIII. it was entrusted with the direction of the new naval dockyard. From Elizabeth it received authority to erect beacons and marks for the guidance of navigators along the coasts of England. In 1604 a select class was constituted called Elder Brethren, the Younger Brethren, however, having a vote in the election of mas ter and wardens. The practical duties of the fraternity are dis charged by the acting Elder Brethren, so in number, one of whom is elected to fill the office of Deputy Master, two being elected from the royal navy. These Brethren are elected from among the Younger Brethren, themselves Masters of British ships, or commanding officers of His Majesty's ships ; their number is about three hundred. In 1647 the corporation was dissolved by Parlia ment, but it was reconstructed in 166o, and the charter was re newed by James II. in 1685. In 1687 a by-law of the Trinity House for the first time required an agreement in writing between the master and crew of a ship. A new hall and almshouses were erected at Deptford in 1765; but for some time the offices of the corporation had been transferred to London, where for a while they had a house in Water Lane, Lower Thames Street, and in 1795 their headquarters were removed to Trinity House, Tower Hill, built from the designs of Samuel Wyatt. By an Act of 1836
they received powers to purchase from the Crown, as well as from private proprietors, all interest in coast lights. For the mainte nance of lights, buoys, etc., they had power to raise money by tolls, the surplus being devoted to the relief of old and indigent mariners or their near relatives. In 1853 the control of the funds collected by the corporation was transferred to the Board of Trade, and the money over which the Brethren were allowed independent control was ultimately reduced to the private income derived from funded and trust property. Their practical duties in erection and maintenance of lighthouses, buoys and beacons remain as important as ever. Similar functions are carried out by the Northern Lighthouse board, and the Irish Lighthouse board for Scotland and Ireland respectively. Other Trinity Houses established under charter or act of parliament for the ap pointment and control of pilots are at Hull and Newcastle. Under the designation, Trinity Masters, the Elder Brethren act as Asses sors in the Admiralty Court, the House of Lords, and the High Court of Scotland ; the Elder Brethren act in an advisory capacity to all Colonial authorities under the jurisdiction of the Colonial Office in all matters affecting coastal lighthouses and lights. The corporation has a large wharf and repair shop at the mouth of the River Lea.