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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