1660-?4 -- Clerk for the Chatham Chest (a fund for disabled seamen)
1663-72 -- Judge Advocate-General
-- Robert Latham's Companion volume (10) to the Latham & Matthews edition of the diary. The year information for Fowler's Chatham Chest post, with its odd lack of information for one digit of the year, is just as it is in the Companion volume (presumably it means some document was rendered illegible at one spot). The Companion volume has a very short article on the Chatham Chest on page 59.
The King reminds the judge-Advocate of his duties:
To John Fowler, Esq., Judge-Advocate of His Majesty's Fleet.
Whereas upon Consideration had of the Usefulness of a Judge-Advocate to be appointed in reference to the Articles established by Parliament, for the regulating and better government of his Majesty's Navy, Ships of War, and Forces by Sea, I have thought fit to appoint you to be Judge-Advocate of his Majesty's Fleet: These are therefore, to will and require you, from time to time, to attend all Courts-Martial that shall be called on board the Ship Admiral, or any other Ship in his Majesty's Fleet, where you shall be present, for Trial of Offenders against the said Articles and Orders; and to examine all such Persons as shall from time to time, during your Employment in the said Place, be brought or produced as Witnesses, in order to the due Proof of the Matter of Fact laid to the Charge of them, or any of them; and in all other things to do and perform the Duty of your Place, in as full and ample manner, as any Judge-Advocate of a Fleet might, or ought to do; and you are to observe and follow such farther Instructions and Directions, as you shall from time to time receive from myself, or the Commander in chief of the Fleet, where you shall be present: And for your Service herein, you are to receive such an Allowance of Sallary, Fees, Perquisites, and other Considerations as usually hath been, or that shall be thought meet to be allowed to a Judge-Advocate of his Majesty's Fleet. And for so doing, this shall be your Warrant. Given under my Hand and Seal, the 17th of January, 1662. JAMES.
The Google librarian has quite a lot of information on more recent appointees, except for Wiki which says John Fowler didn't get the full-time job until 1662/3, and they don't record who filled the as-needed position before that. Fortunately Pepys names the Judge-Advocate as being "Fowler" when they go drinking together on March 21, 1659/60, https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/….
Wiki says: The Judge Advocate of the Fleet was an appointed civilian judge who was responsible for the supervision and superintendence of the court martial system in the Royal Navy from 1663 to 2008.
History The position dates to the 16th century but was filled on an occasional basis until 1663 when it became a permanent role. Appointments were by Admiralty Order and included an annual stipend worth £146 between 1663 and 1666, and £182 thereafter. From 1824 the Judge Advocate jointly held the office of Counsel to the Admiralty, later styled as Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence. A remunerated position of Deputy Judge Advocate existed from 1668 to 1679, and again from 1684 to 1831. ...
Judge Advocates of the Fleet: 1663 J. Fowler 1672 J. Brisbane 1680 H. Croone 1689 P. Foster 1689 F. Bacher 1690 Villiers Bathurst 1711 W. Strahan 1714 E. Honywood 1724 J. Copeland ...
5 Annotations
First Reading
David Quidnunc • Link
Career
c. 1653-60 -- Judge-Advocate to the fleet
1660-?4 -- Clerk for the Chatham Chest (a fund for disabled seamen)
1663-72 -- Judge Advocate-General
-- Robert Latham's Companion volume (10) to the Latham & Matthews edition of the diary. The year information for Fowler's Chatham Chest post, with its odd lack of information for one digit of the year, is just as it is in the Companion volume (presumably it means some document was rendered illegible at one spot). The Companion volume has a very short article on the Chatham Chest on page 59.
David Quidnunc • Link
Personal
Fowler once played the lute "when a young man," but he lost the use of his hand for some reason (Pepys's diary, 25 August 1660).
He was a friend of Will Hewer.
Fowler's son, possibly named Ludwig, was an apothecary. In 1657, a Ludwig Fowler was named a "freeman" of the Society of Apothecaries in London.
-- L&M volumes 1 (1660), 10 (Companion), 11 (Index)
Second Reading
Bill • Link
The King reminds the judge-Advocate of his duties:
To John Fowler, Esq., Judge-Advocate of His Majesty's Fleet.
Whereas upon Consideration had of the Usefulness of a Judge-Advocate to be appointed in reference to the Articles established by Parliament, for the regulating and better government of his Majesty's Navy, Ships of War, and Forces by Sea, I have thought fit to appoint you to be Judge-Advocate of his Majesty's Fleet: These are therefore, to will and require you, from time to time, to attend all Courts-Martial that shall be called on board the Ship Admiral, or any other Ship in his Majesty's Fleet, where you shall be present, for Trial of Offenders against the said Articles and Orders; and to examine all such Persons as shall from time to time, during your Employment in the said Place, be brought or produced as Witnesses, in order to the due Proof of the Matter of Fact laid to the Charge of them, or any of them; and in all other things to do and perform the Duty of your Place, in as full and ample manner, as any Judge-Advocate of a Fleet might, or ought to do; and you are to observe and follow such farther Instructions and Directions, as you shall from time to time receive from myself, or the Commander in chief of the Fleet, where you shall be present: And for your Service herein, you are to receive such an Allowance of Sallary, Fees, Perquisites, and other Considerations as usually hath been, or that shall be thought meet to be allowed to a Judge-Advocate of his Majesty's Fleet. And for so doing, this shall be your Warrant. Given under my Hand and Seal, the 17th of January, 1662.
JAMES.
Bill • Link
Wait, haha, James wasn't the King! was Lord High Admiral.
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
The Google librarian has quite a lot of information on more recent appointees, except for Wiki which says John Fowler didn't get the full-time job until 1662/3, and they don't record who filled the as-needed position before that.
Fortunately Pepys names the Judge-Advocate as being "Fowler" when they go drinking together on March 21, 1659/60, https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/….
Wiki says:
The Judge Advocate of the Fleet was an appointed civilian judge who was responsible for the supervision and superintendence of the court martial system in the Royal Navy from 1663 to 2008.
History
The position dates to the 16th century but was filled on an occasional basis until 1663 when it became a permanent role.
Appointments were by Admiralty Order and included an annual stipend worth £146 between 1663 and 1666, and £182 thereafter.
From 1824 the Judge Advocate jointly held the office of Counsel to the Admiralty, later styled as Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence.
A remunerated position of Deputy Judge Advocate existed from 1668 to 1679, and again from 1684 to 1831. ...
Judge Advocates of the Fleet:
1663 J. Fowler
1672 J. Brisbane
1680 H. Croone
1689 P. Foster
1689 F. Bacher
1690 Villiers Bathurst
1711 W. Strahan
1714 E. Honywood
1724 J. Copeland
...
EXTRACTED FROM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jud…