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Gentleman of the Bedchamber

 

 

 

 

A Gentleman of the Bedchamber was the holder of an important office in the royal household of the Kingdom of England from the 11th century, later used also in the Kingdom of Great Britain.

There were always several holders of the office, who were invariably gentlemen and almost invariably peers, often important ones, as the regular access to the monarch which the role brought was the most valuable commodity of the courtier. The duties of the office involved waiting on the king when he ate in private, helping him to dress, guarding the bedchamber and closet, and providing companionship.

From 1660 the office of first gentleman of the bedchamber was invariably combined with that of Groom of the Stole.

Monarch	Dates	Gentleman of the Bedchamber
King James II (1685–1688)	1687/8	George Douglas, 1st Earl of Dumbarton
King William III (1689–1702)	1689	James Douglas, Earl of Drumlanrig afterwards 2nd Duke of Queensberry
	1689–1702	Charles Douglas, 2nd Earl of Selkirk
King George I (1714–1727)	1720–?	Charles Douglas, 2nd Earl of Selkirk
	1727–1739	Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry
George, Prince of Wales, later King George II (1714–1760)	1727–1739	Charles Douglas, 2nd Earl of Selkirk
Frederick, Prince of Wales (1729–1751)	1738–1751	Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry
King George III (1760–1820)	1760–1789	William Douglas, Earl of March, later 4th duke of Queensberry
King William IV (1830–1837)	1831–1835 & 1835–1837	Charles Douglas, 6th Marquess of Queensberry
	1835–1837	George Douglas, 17th Earl of Morton

 

 

 

 

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