{{short description|British Royal Navy senior admiral}} {{Use British English|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox official post | post = Office of the Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff | body = | nativename = | insignia = Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg | insigniasize = 150px | insigniacaption = Ensign of the Royal Navy | image = Vice Admiral Paul Beattie.webp | imagesize = 180px | incumbent = Vice Admiral Paul Beattie | incumbentsince = 30 September 2025 | department = Ministry of Defence <br/> Royal Navy | member_of = Admiralty Board <br>Navy Board | reports_to = First Sea Lord | nominator = Secretary of State for Defence | appointer = ''Prime Minister'' | appointer_qualified = <small>Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council</small> | termlength = Not fixed (typically 4–5 years) | inaugural = Rear Admiral George Dundas | formation = Second Naval Lord, 1830–1904<br/>Second Sea Lord from 1904 | website = | abbreviation = 2SL/DCNS }}
The '''Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff''' (formerly '''Second Sea Lord''') is deputy to the First Sea Lord and the second highest-ranking officer currently to serve in the Royal Navy and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments. Originally titled '''Second Naval Lord''' in 1830, the post was restyled ''Second Sea Lord'' in 1904. They are based at Navy Command Headquarters.
==History== In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents.<ref name=Sainty-18-31>{{cite web|title=Sainty, JC, ''Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660–1870', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4: Admiralty Officials 1660–1870'' (1975), pp. 18–31.|url=http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=16652| access-date =4 September 2009}}</ref> The Second Naval Lord was the second most senior Naval Lord on the Board of Admiralty and as '''Chief of Naval Personnel''' was responsible for handling all personnel matters for the Royal Navy. In 1917 the title was changed to the Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel by an order in council dated 23 October.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harley |first1=Simon |last2=Lovell |first2=Tony |title=Second Sea Lord – The Dreadnought Project |url=http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Second_Sea_Lord |website=www.dreadnoughtproject.org |publisher=Harley and Lovell, 5 June 2018 |access-date=29 June 2018 }}</ref>
The posts of Second Sea Lord and '''Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command''' (CINCNAVHOME) were amalgamated in 1994 in the reductions of the British Armed Forces following the end of the Cold War.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/profiles.php?SigID=1357 |title=Admiral Sir Michael Layard, KCB, CBE |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928195904/http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/profiles.php?SigID=1357 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The original post of Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command had been created on 1 July 1969, as a result of the merger of the posts of Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth and Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.<ref>[http://www.history.inportsmouth.co.uk/people/cinc-portsmouth.htm History in Portsmouth] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627145452/http://www.history.inportsmouth.co.uk/people/cinc-portsmouth.htm |date=27 June 2015 }}</ref>
2SL is based in Portsmouth in a combined headquarters with the Fleet Commander on Whale Island.<ref>[http://www.armedforces.co.uk/navy/listings/l0009.html Royal Navy Command and Organisation]</ref> Until October 2012, he flew his flag from {{HMS|Victory}}, the world's oldest commissioned warship, which is preserved in dry dock in Portsmouth.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/establishments/naval-bases-and-air-stations/hmnb-portsmouth/news/oscar-makes-99th-commanding-officer-for Oscar Makes 99th Commanding Officer for HMS Victory]</ref> The right to use HMS ''Victory'' as a flagship came from his position as CINCNAVHOME, who in turn acquired it from the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth. Since October 2012, distinct Commander-in-Chief posts have been discontinued and full command responsibility is vested in the First Sea Lord, who now flies his flag from ''Victory''; this change formed part of the Levene reforms which were implemented at that time.<ref>{{cite web|title=An independent report into the structure and management of the Ministry of Defence|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/27408/defence_reform_report_struct_mgt_mod_27june2011.pdf|date=1 June 2011|first=Lord|last=Levene of Portsoken|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref>
In 2016 the post was retitled '''Second Sea Lord & Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff''' and defined as "responsible for the delivery of the Naval Service’s current and future personnel, equipment and infrastructure".<ref name=responsibilities>{{cite web|title=Second Sea Lord|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-naval-staff/second-sea-lord|website=Royal Navy|access-date=17 June 2016}}</ref>
==Second Naval Lords, 1830–1904== Second Naval Lords include:<ref name=appoints>[http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201900-.pdf Senior Royal Navy Appointments] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315105247/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201900-.pdf |date=15 March 2012 }}</ref> * Rear Admiral George Dundas, 1830–1834 * Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, 1834 * Vice-Admiral Sir John Beresford, 1835–1841 * Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, 1835–1841 * Rear Admiral Sir Edward Troubridge, 1841 * Vice-Admiral Sir William Gage, 1841–1846 * Vice-Admiral Sir James Dundas, 1846–1847 * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Prescott, 1847 * Vice-Admiral Sir Maurice Berkeley, 1847–1852 * Vice-Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, 1852 * Vice-Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby, 1852–1853 * Vice-Admiral Sir Maurice Berkeley, 1853–1854 * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas, 1854–1855 * Vice-Admiral Henry Eden, 1855–1857 * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas, 1857 * Vice-Admiral Henry Eden, 1857–1858 * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas, 1858–1859 * Rear Admiral Frederick Pelham, 1859–1861 * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Eden, 1861–1866 * Vice-Admiral Sir Sydney Dacres, 1866–1868 * ''Vacant'', 1868–1872 * Vice-Admiral Sir John Tarleton, 1872–1874 * Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Hornby, 1874–1877 * Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Hood 1877–1879 * Admiral Richard Meade, 4th Earl of Clanwilliam, 1879–1880 * Admiral Lord John Hay, 1880–1883 * Admiral Beauchamp Seymour, 1st Baron Alcester, 1883–1885 * Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins, 1885–1888 * Vice-Admiral Sir Vesey Hamilton, 1888–1889 * Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax, 1889–1892 * Admiral Sir Frederick Richards, 1892–1893 * Admiral Lord Walter Kerr, 1893–1895 * Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford, 1895–1899 * Admiral Lord Walter Kerr, 1899 * Vice-Admiral Archibald Douglas, 1899–1902 * Admiral Sir John Fisher, 1902–1903
==Second Sea Lords, 1904–1917== Second Sea Lords include:<ref name=appoints/> * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Drury, 1903–1907 * Admiral Sir William May, 1907–1909 * Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman, 1909–1911 * Vice-Admiral Sir George Egerton, 1911 * Vice-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, 1911–1912 * Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, 1912–1914 * Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Hamilton, 1914–1916 * Vice-Admiral Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe, 1916 * Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, 1916–1917
==Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel 1917–1995== * Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, 1917 * Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert Heath, 1917–1919 * Admiral Sir Montague Browning, 1919–1920 * Admiral Sir Henry Oliver, 1920–1924 * Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 4th Baronet, 1924–1925 * Vice-Admiral Sir Hubert Brand, 1925–1927 * Admiral Sir Michael Hodges, 1927–1930 * Admiral Sir Cyril Fuller, 1930–1932 * Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, 1932–1935 * Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, 1935–1938 * Admiral Sir Charles Little, 1938–1941 * Admiral Sir William Whitworth, 1941–1944 * Admiral Sir Algernon Willis, 1944–1946 * Admiral Sir Arthur Power, 1946–1948 * Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt, 1948–1950 * Admiral Sir Alexander Madden, 1950–1953 * Admiral Sir Guy Russell, 1953–1955 * Admiral Sir Charles Lambe, 1955–1957 * Vice-Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin, 1957–1959 * Admiral Sir Sir St John Tyrwhitt, 2nd Baronet, 1959–1961 * Admiral Sir Royston Wright, 1961–1965 * Admiral Sir Desmond Dreyer, 1965–1967 * Admiral Sir Peter Hill-Norton, 1967 * Admiral Sir Frank Twiss, 1967–1970 * Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Lewis, 1970–1971 * Admiral Sir Derek Empson, 1971–1974 * Admiral Sir David Williams, 1974–1977 * Admiral Sir Gordon Tait, 1977–1979 * Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi, 1979–1982 * Admiral Sir Simon Cassels, 1982–1986 * Admiral Sir Richard Fitch, 1986–1988 * Admiral Sir Brian Brown, 1988–1991 * Admiral Sir Michael Livesay, 1991–1992 * Admiral Sir Michael Layard, 1992–1995
==Second Sea Lords and Commanders-in-Chief Naval Home Command, 1995–2012== thumbnail|From 1995 to 2012 the Second Sea Lord was (as Commander-in-Chief) based in Admiralty House within HMNB Portsmouth (note the Vice-Admiral's flag in this 2006 photo). Second Sea Lords and Commanders-in-Chief include:<ref name=appoints/> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank ! Name ! Image ! In office |- | Admiral | Sir Michael Boyce | 90px | 1995–1997 |- | Admiral | Sir John Brigstocke | 90px | 1997–2000 |- | Vice-Admiral | Sir Peter Spencer | | 2000–2003 |- | Admiral | Sir James Burnell-Nugent | | 2003–2005 |- | Vice-Admiral | Sir Adrian Johns | 90px | 2005–2008 |- | Vice-Admiral | Sir Alan Massey | 90px | 2008–2010 |- | Vice-Admiral | Sir Charles Montgomery | 90px | 2010–2012<ref>{{cite web|title=Government, People, Sir Charles Montgomery, Biography, Career|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/charles-montgomery|website=gov.uk|publisher=H.M. Government, UK|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> |- |}
==Second Sea Lords and Chiefs of Naval Personnel and Training, 2012–2015==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank ! Name ! Image ! In office |- | Vice Admiral | Sir Charles Montgomery | 90px | 2012 ''(and see above)'' |- | Vice Admiral | Sir David Steel | 90px | 2012–2015 |- |}
==Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, 2015–present== See: Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank ! Name ! Image ! In office |- | Vice Admiral | Sir Jonathan Woodcock | 90px | 2SL: 2015–2018, Deputy CNS: 2016–2018 |- | Vice Admiral | Tony Radakin | 90px | 2018–2019 |- | Vice Admiral | Nick Hine | 90px | 2019–2022 |- | Vice Admiral | Sir Martin Connell | 90px | 2022–2025 |- | Vice Admiral | Paul Beattie | | 2025–present |}
==Departments under the office== ''As of September 2020:''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/documents/useful-resources/navy_directory.pdf?la=en-gb&hash=06EAE4D98ACBB12DD39B4D69D69EC90D |title=The Navy Directory 2019 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 January 2020 |website=royalnavy.mod.uk |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=3 November 2020 }}</ref><ref name="HDW">{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/920219/20200922-How_Defence_Works_V6.0_Sep_2020.pdf |title=How Defence Works Version 6.0 Sep2020 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=23 September 2020 |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk |publisher=UK MOD |access-date=3 November 2020 |quote=page 28}}</ref>
===2017–2020=== * Director People and Training, previously the Naval Secretary<ref name=FOIDecember>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/706860/response/1693242/attach/3/2020%2012677%20Davis%20Response.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1|title=Freedom of Information Response|date=18 November 2020 |publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref> * Director Development, previously the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability)<ref name=FOIDecember/><ref name=HDW /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/703360/response/1672255/attach/3/2020%2012135%20Davis%20Response.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 |title=Director Develop or Director Development in Navy Command |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=10 November 2020 |publisher=whatdotheyknow.com |access-date=10 November 2020 |quote=n response toyour request,I can advise that the position of Director Develop is held by Rear Admiral Andrew Burns.}}</ref> * Office of the Assistant Chief (Policy)<ref name=HDW /> * Office of the Director of Personnel and Training & Office of the Naval Secretary<ref name=HDW /> * Director Navy Acquisition<ref name=HDW />
===Former=== Included:<ref>{{cite web|last1=Archives|first1=The National|title=Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C712|website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk|publisher=National Archives, 1620–1979|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hamilton|first1=Sir Vesey|title=Naval Administration – Part II. – Chapter II.|url=http://www.pdavis.nl/NA06.htm|website=pdavis.nl|publisher=Sir Vesey Hamilton, 1896|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1939-45.htm#11|title=Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945|last1=Watson|first1=Graham|website=www.naval-history.net|publisher=Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Hamilton|first1=C. I.|title=The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927|year=2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781139496544|page=292|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8S4yyAkysYgC&q=department+of+naval+equipment+%2C+admiralty&pg=PA292}}</ref> * Admiralty Interview Board * Naval Careers Service * Naval Education Service * Office of the Medical Director-General (Naval) * Royal Navy Medical Service * Royal Naval Hospital * Office the Director Naval Nursing Service * Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service * Royal Naval Reserve *Royal Marines Reserve * Department of the Director Combined Operations Personnel * Department of the Director Naval Education ** Britannia Royal Naval College ** Royal Naval College, Dartmouth ** Royal Naval College, Greenwich ** Royal Naval College (Portsmouth) ** Royal Naval War College * Department of the Engineer Rear Admiral Assistant * Department of the Paymaster Director General * Department of the Director General Medical Services * Department of the Director General Supply & Secretariat Branch * Department of the Director of Air Personnel * Department of the Paymaster Director-General * Department of the Director Physical Training & Sport * Department of the Director of Personnel Services * Department of the Director Welfare Conditions * Department of the Director of Manning * Department of the Director Recruiting * Department of the Director Service Conditions * Department of the Director of Training * Directorate General Training, (1960–1969) * Directorate-General Naval Manpower and Training (1972–1994) * Department of the Engineer-in-chief, as regards personnel * Medical Director-General of the Navy ** Dental Examining Board ** Medical Consultative Board ** Medical Examining Board * Naval Intelligence Department, as regards mobilisation of the fleet * Naval Mobilisation Department, as regards personnel * Office of the Admiral Commanding, Coastguard and Reserves * Office of the Admiral Commanding Reserves, as regards personnel * Office of the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Reserves, as regards personnel * Office of the Adviser on Education * Office of the Chief of Staff, Reserves * Office of the Controller of the Coastguard * Office of the Deputy Adjutant General Royal Marines * Office of the Adjutant General Royal Marines * Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet, as regards naval schools * Office of the Engineer Rear Admiral for Personnel Duties * Royal Naval Academy * Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve * Statistics Department
== See also ==
* First Sea Lord * Third Sea Lord * Fourth Sea Lord * Fifth Sea Lord
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Admiralty Board|state=collapsed}} {{Navy Board (Royal Navy)|state=collapsed}} {{Navy Command (Ministry of Defence)|state=collapsed}} {{Naval Service (British)|state=collapsed}} {{Admiralty Department|state=collapsed}} {{Board of Admiralty|state=collapsed}}
* Category:Royal Navy appointments Category:Admiralty during World War II