LORD LIEUTENANT. The chief Crown of ficer in the counties of Great Britain and Ireland. The office came into existence in the reign of Henry VIII. and grew out of the practice of the Crown appointing prominent persons in each county in times of disorder or danger to muster the male inhabitants who were capable of bearing arms. This prerogative of the Crown was known as issuing 'commissions of array.' The commissioners took the name of lieutenants of the King and corresponded somewhat to the old English earl as military head of the shire, and as such soon overshadowed the sheriff. The latter official gave up his control over the county militia to the Lord Lieutenant and henceforth became a civil officer. The new officer was re sponsible to the Crown for the efficiency and discipline of the county militia over which he had chief command. The right of the Crown to issue such commissions was denied by the Long Parliament. Their legality was established after the Restoration by a declaratory act. The Lord Lieutenant was the permanent local represen tative of the Crown, and, on the occasion of an invasion or rebellion, had power to raise the militia, form regiments, troops, and companies, and give commissions to officers. With the
growth of a standing army the county militia became less important and at the same time the office of Lord Lieutenant dwindled in power. Finally, in IS71, his authority over the county militia was withdrawn and transferred to other officers appointed by the Secretary of State for War. At the present time he is the principal justice of the peace in the county, is at the head of the county magistracy, and is responsible for the preservation of order and the administra tion of justice in the county. He is also keeper of the records (Custos Rofidorum), appoints the clerk of the peace, and recommends to the Lord Chancellor the appointment and removal of the justices of the peace for the county. Ile is usually a prominent landowner, generally serves for life, and is under the control of the Home Office.