Editing Commandant General Royal Marines

{{Short description|Professional head of the Royal Marines}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Commandant General Royal Marines
| insignia = 
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = 
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = Flag of the Commandant General Royal Marines.svg
| flagcaption = Flag of the Commandant General
| image = Commandant General Royal Marines 2022 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 
| incumbent = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Gwyn Jenkins|Sir Gwyn Jenkins]]
| acting = 
| incumbentsince = 25 November 2022
| department = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| style = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
| abbreviation = CGRM
| member_of = [[Admiralty Board (United Kingdom)|Admiralty Board]]<br />[[Navy Command (Ministry of Defence)|Navy Command]]
| reports_to = [[Fleet Commander]]
| nominator = [[Secretary of State for Defence]]
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The Monarch]]
| appointer_qualified = {{small|On the advice of the Prime Minister, subject to formal approval by the [[King-in-Council]]}}
| termlength = 1-4 years
| formation = 1825
| first = Major-General Sir [[James Campbell (Royal Marines officer)|James Campbell]]
| deputy = Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines
| website = [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/gwyn-jenkins#biography About Commandant General Royal Marines]
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Commandant General Royal Marines''' is the professional head of the [[Royal Marines]]. The title has existed since 1943. The role is held by a [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] who is assisted by a Deputy Commandant General, with the rank of [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/November/08/131108-RM-statement |title=Statement from Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines |publisher=Royal Navy |date=2014-06-09 |access-date=2014-06-14}}</ref> This position is not to be confused with [[Captain General Royal Marines]], the ceremonial head. The Commandant General Royal Marines is the counterpart to the [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant]] of the [[United States Marine Corps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/Leaders.aspx|title=Marine Corps Leadership|publisher=Marine Corps|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref>

==History==
In 1760 three naval captains were appointed colonels of marines. However, these were naval officers and it meant that the furthest a marine officer could advance was to lieutenant colonel. It was not until 1771 that commandants of the three divisions ([[Portsmouth]], [[Plymouth]] and [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]]) were appointed.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=njBFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR13|title=Historical Record of the Royal Marine Forces|volume =1|first= Paul Harris |last=Nicolas|publisher=Thomas and William Boone|location=London|year= 1845}}</ref> The first single professional head of the Royal Marine Forces was the Deputy Adjutant-General, a post which existed from 1825<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.terryaspinall.com/marines/1800.html|title=Royal Marines historical time line|access-date=27 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310131506/http://www.terryaspinall.com/marines/1800.html|archive-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> until 1914 when the post was re-designated the Adjutant-General:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishAdmiraltyOrg1914.htm|title=British Admiralty|publisher=Naval History|access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotfreebooks.com/book/Punch-or-the-London-Charivari-Vol-146-February-11-1914-Various.html|title=Punch, or the London Charivari|volume= 146|date=11 February 1914|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref> the post holder usually held the rank of full [[General (United Kingdom)|general]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=91829085&mode=transcription|title=Navy List|publisher=Admiralty|access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref> Since 1943 the professional head of the Royal Marines has been the Commandant-General who held the rank of full general until 1977, the rank of lieutenant general until 1996, the rank of major general until April 2021, the rank of lieutenant general until November 2022, and the rank of full general since 2022.<ref name=appoints>{{cite web|url= http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf|title=Senior Royal Navy appointments|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> [[Robert Magowan|Lieutenant General Robert Magowan]] was the first person to assume the role twice, serving between 2016 and 2017 and again from 2021 to 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/news/new-head-royal-marines-takes-role|title=New Head Royal Marines Takes Role|date=30 April 2021|publisher=forces.net|access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref>

On 25 November 2022 the Royal Marines announced that General [[Gwyn Jenkins]], then [[Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff]], would be concurrently appointed the new Commandant General Royal Marines, making him the first full general to occupy the role since 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/services/royal-marines/major-general-gwyn-jenkins-named-new-commandant-general|title=Royal Marines appoint new Commandant General|date=25 November 2022|publisher=forces.net|access-date=24 March 2023}}</ref>

From 1825 until 1964 his headquarters office which changed location several times was known as the Royal Marine Office.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List |date=December 1827 |publisher=John Murray |location=London, England |page=124 |chapter=Royal Marine Office}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Records of Royal Marines |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C724 |website=nationalarchives.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=3 January 2019 |location=London, England |language=en |date=1688–1983 |quote=Division within ADM}}</ref>

==Role==
The appointment had been held concurrently with that of Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces (COMUKAMPHIBFOR) since the creation of the Fleet Battle Staff in 2001. COMUKAMPHIBFOR was one of two deployable [[two-star rank|two-star]] maritime operational commanders (the other being Commander UK Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR), now [[Commander United Kingdom Strike Force]],<ref name=fbs>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/training-and-people/the-rn-today/navy-command-headquarters/fleet-battle-staff/index.htm |publisher=Royal Navy |title=Fleet Battle Staff |access-date=20 May 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317031520/http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/training-and-people/the-rn-today/navy-command-headquarters/fleet-battle-staff/index.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2011 }}</ref> with particular responsibility for amphibious and littoral warfare.<ref name=fbs/> Unlike COMUKMARFOR, COMUKAMPHIBFOR is primarily configured to command as a combined joint task force and designed to support a single two star commander.<ref name=fbs/> In April 2018, it was announced that the two separate deployable [[two-star rank|two-star]] maritime operational commanders (COMUKMARFOR and COMUKAMPHIBFOR) would be merged into a single, larger, maritime battle staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/79465/uk-amphibious-headquarters-to-disappear-in-merger|title=Jane's – UK Amphibious Headquarters to Disappear in Merger|date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424201801/http://www.janes.com/article/79465/uk-amphibious-headquarters-to-disappear-in-merger|access-date=22 February 2020|archive-date=2018-04-24}}</ref>

In April 2021, the role passed to a more senior officer in a dual-hatted capacity, and the commandant general's role, as well as being the professional head of the Royal Marines, was identified as championing emerging concepts in amphibious warfare and maintaining critical ties with the US Marine Corps.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-telegraph/20210303/281530818755825|title=Chief of Marines and Navy at Loggerheads|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 March 2021|access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref>

==General Officers Commanding==
General Officers Commanding have included:<ref name=appoints/>

===Deputy Adjutant General Royal Marines===
*Major-General Sir [[James Campbell (Royal Marines officer)|James Campbell]] 1825–1831
*Major-General Sir [[John Boscawen Savage|John Savage]] 1831–1836
*Lieutenant-General Sir [[John Owen (Royal Marines officer)|John Owen]] 1836–1854
*Lieutenant-General Sir [[Samuel Robert Wesley|Robert Wesley]] 1854–1862
*General [[George Colt Langley|Sir George Langley]] 1862–1867
*General [[Samuel Lowder]] 1867–1872
*General [[George Augustus Schomberg|Sir George Schomberg]] 1872–1875
*Lieutenant General [[George Brydges Rodney (Royal Marines officer)|George Rodney]] 1875–1878
*Major-General Sir [[Charles Adair (Royal Marines officer)|Charles Adair]] 1878–1883
*General Sir [[John William Collman Williams|John Williams]] 1883–1888
*General Sir [[Howard Sutton Jones|Howard Jones]] 1888–1893
*General Sir [[Henry Tuson]] 1893–1900
*Lieutenant-General [[John Ignatius Morris|John Morris]] 1900–1902
*Lieutenant-General Sir [[William Purvis Wright|William Wright]] 1902–1907
*General Sir [[William Adair]] 1907–1911
*General Sir [[William Nicholls (Royal Marines officer)|William Nicholls]] 1911–1914

===Adjutant General Royal Marines===
*General Sir [[William Nicholls (Royal Marines officer)|William Nicholls]] 1914–1916
*Major-General Sir [[David Mercer (Royal Marines officer)|David Mercer]] 1916–1920
*Major-General [[Gunning Campbell]] July 1920 – November 1920
*General Sir [[Herbert Blumberg]] 1920–1924
*General Sir [[Alexander Richard Hamilton Hutchison|Alexander Hutchison]] 1924–1927
*General Sir [[Lewis Halliday]] 1927–1930
*General Sir [[Richard Ford (Royal Marines officer)|Richard Ford]] 1930–1933<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33983|date=3 October 1933|page=6355}}</ref>
*General Sir [[Richard Foster (Royal Marines officer)|Richard Foster]] 1933–1936<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34329 |date=6 October 1936 |page=6363}}</ref> 
*General Sir [[William Wellington Godfrey|William Godfrey]] 1936–1939
*General Sir [[Alan Bourne]] 1939–1943

===Commandant General Royal Marines===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|Ref.|Refences}}
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
| 1
| [[File:Thomas Hunton.jpg|60px]]
| General<br />'''[[Sir Thomas Hunton]]'''<br />{{small|(1885–1970)}}
| January 1943
| 1946
| {{age in years|1943|1946}} years
| –
|-
| 2
|
| General<br />'''[[Sir Dallas Brooks]]'''<br />{{small|(1896–1966)}}
| 1946
| May 1949
| {{age in years|1946|1949}} years
| –
|-
| 3
| [[File:Leslie Chasemore Hollis.jpg|60px]]
| General<br />'''[[Sir Leslie Hollis]]'''<br />{{small|(1897–1963)}}
| 1949
| 1952
| {{age in years|1949|1952}} years
| –
|-
| 4
| 
| General<br />'''[[Sir John Westall]]'''<br />{{small|(1901–1986)}}
| 1952
| 1955
| {{age in years|1952|1955}} years
| –
|-
| 5
| 
| General<br />'''[[Sir Campbell Hardy]]'''<br />{{small|(1906–1984)}}
| 1955
| 1959
| {{age in years|1955|1959}} years
| –
|-
| 6
| 
| General<br />'''[[Sir Ian Riches]]'''<br />{{small|(1908–1996)}}
| 1959
| 1962
| {{age in years|1959|1962}} years
| –
|-
| 7
| 
| General<br />'''[[Sir Malcolm Cartwright-Taylor]]'''<br />{{small|(1911–1969)}}
| 1962
| 1965
| {{age in years|1962|1965}} years
| –
|-
| 8
| 
| General<br />'''[[Sir Norman Tailyour]]'''<br />{{small|(1914–1979)}}
| 1965
| 1968
| {{age in years|1965|1968}} years
| –
|-
| 9
| 
| General<br />'''[[Sir Peter Hellings]]'''<br />{{small|(1916–1990)}}
| 1968
| 1971
| {{age in years|1968|1971}} years
| –
|-
| 10
| 
| General<br />'''[[Sir Ian Gourlay]]'''<br />{{small|(1920–2013)}}
| 1971
| 9 June 1975
| {{age in years|1968|1975}} years
| –
|-
| 11
| 
| General<br />'''[[Peter Whiteley (Royal Marines officer)|Sir Peter Whiteley]]'''<br />{{small|(1920–2016)}}
| 1975
| 1977
| {{age in years|1975|1977}} years
| –
|-
| 12
| 
| Lieutenant General<br />'''[[John Richards (Royal Marines officer)|Sir John Richards]]'''<br />{{small|(1927–2004)}}
| 1977
| 1981
| {{age in years|1977|1981}} years
| –
|-
| 13
| 
| Lieutenant General<br />'''[[Sir Steuart Pringle]]'''<br />{{small|(1928–2013)}}
| 1981
| 1984
| {{age in years|1981|1984}} years
| –
|-
| 14
| [[File:USMC display to British Royal Marines LGEN Sir Michael Wilkins (Wilkins cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Lieutenant General<br />'''[[Michael Wilkins (Royal Marines officer)|Sir Michael Wilkins]]'''<br />{{small|(1933–1994)}}
| 1984
| 1987
| {{age in years|1984|1987}} years
| –
|-
| 15
| 
| Lieutenant General<br />'''[[Sir Martin Garrod]]'''<br />{{small|(1935–2009)}}
| 1987
| 1990
| {{age in years|1987|1990}} years
| –
|-
| 16
| 
| Lieutenant General<br />'''[[Sir Henry Beverley]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1935)}}
| 1990
| 1994
| {{age in years|1990|1994}} years
| –
|-
| 17
| 
| Lieutenant General<br />'''[[Sir Robin Ross]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1939)}}
| 1994
| 1996
| {{age in years|1994|1996}} years
| –
|-
| 18
| 
| Major General<br />'''[[David Pennefather]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1945)}}
| 1996
| 1998
| {{age in years|1996|1998}} years
| –
|-
| 19
| [[File:Governor Sir Robert Fulton - Inspection (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Robert Fulton (Royal Marines officer)|Robert Fulton]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1948)}}
| 1998
| 2001
| {{age in years|1998|2001}} years
| –
|-
| 20
| [[File:Sir Robert Fry - Self Portrait (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Robert Fry]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1951)}}
| 2001
| 2002
| {{age in years|2001|2002}} years
| –
|-
| 21
| 
| Major General<br /> '''[[Tony Milton|Anthony Milton]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1949)}}
| May 2002
| February 2004
| {{age in years and months|2002|05|1|2004|02|1}}
| –
|-
| 22
| [[File:Royal Marines French Marines 20 years (David Wilson cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[David Wilson (Royal Marines officer)|David Wilson]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1949)}}
| February 2004
| August 2004
| {{age in years and months|2004|02|1|2004|08|1}}
| –
|-
| 23
| [[File:James Dutton Governor of Gibraltar.jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[James Dutton (Royal Marines officer)|James Dutton]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1954)}}
| August 2004
| June 2006
| {{age in years and months|2004|08|1|2006|06|1}}
| –
|-
| 24
| [[File:HMS Edinburgh rededication (Garry Robison cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Garry Robison]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1958)}}
| June 2006
| June 2009
| {{age in years and months|2006|06|1|2009|06|1}}
| –
|-
| 25
| [[File:Andysalmon.jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Andy Salmon|Andrew Salmon]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1959)}}
| 26 June 2009
| February 2010
| {{age in years and months|2009|06|26|2010|02|1}}
| –
|-
| 26
| [[File:USMC-110727-M-RT059-004 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br /> '''[[Buster Howes|Francis Howes]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1960)}}
| February 2010
| December 2011
| {{age in years and months|2010|02|1|2011|12|1}}
| –
|-
| 27
| [[File:Mgeddavis.jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Ed Davis (Royal Marines officer)|Edward Davis]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1963)}}
| December 2011
| 13 June 2014
| {{age in years and months|2011|12|1|2014|06|13}}
| <ref>[http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/City-brigadier-lead-Royal-Marines/story-13763133-detail/story.html City brigadier will lead Royal Marines] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209105427/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/City-brigadier-lead-Royal-Marines/story-13763133-detail/story.html |date=2011-12-09 }} This is Plymouth, 5 November 2011.</ref><ref name="Smith"/>
|-
| 28
| [[File:Major-General Martin Smith RM (Parade Reception).jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Martin Smith (Royal Marines officer)|Martin Smith]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1962)}}
| 13 June 2014
| 4 June 2016
| {{age in years and months|2014|06|13|2016|06|04}}
| <ref name="Smith">{{cite web |title=Commandant General Royal Marines Supersession |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/june/18/140618-cgrm-supersession |website=royalnavy.mod.uk |access-date=9 October 2020 |date=18 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="Magowan"/>
|-
| 29
| [[File:Major General Robert Magowan (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Robert Magowan]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1967)}}
| 4 June 2016
| 19 January 2018
| {{age in years and months|2016|06|04|2018|01|19}}
| <ref name="Magowan">{{cite web |title=Supersession of the Commandant General Royal Marines (CGRM) |url=https://theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk/news/commandant-general-royal-marines-supersession/ |website=theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk |publisher=The Royal Marines Charity |access-date=9 October 2020 |date=13 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="Stickland"/>
|-
| 30
| [[File:Stickland_inspects_Royal_Marines_(cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Charles Stickland]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1968)}}
| 19 January 2018
| 14 June 2019
| {{age in years and months|2018|01|19|2019|06|14}}
| <ref name="Stickland">{{cite web |title=Supersession of the Commandant General Royal Marines (CGRM) |url=https://theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk/news/supersession-of-the-commandant-general-royal-marines-cgrm/ |website=theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk |publisher=The Royal Marines Charity |access-date=9 October 2020 |date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916042524/https://theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk/news/supersession-of-the-commandant-general-royal-marines-cgrm/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Holmes"/>
|-
| 31
| [[File:Major General Matt Holmes CBE DSO.jpg|60px]]
| Major General<br />'''[[Matt Holmes (Royal Marines officer)|Matthew Holmes]]'''<br />{{small|(1967–2021)}}
| 14 June 2019
| 30 April 2021
| {{age in years and months|2019|06|14|2021|04|30}}
| <ref name="Holmes">{{cite web |title=Supersession of the Commandant General Royal Marines (CGRM) |url=https://theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk/news/supersession-of-the-commandant-general-royal-marines-cgrm:1/ |website=theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk |publisher=The Royal Marines Charity |access-date=9 October 2020 |date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926063915/https://theroyalmarinescharity.org.uk/news/supersession-of-the-commandant-general-royal-marines-cgrm:1/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 32
| [[File:Lieutenant General Robert Magowan (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| Lieutenant General<br />'''[[Robert Magowan]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1967)}}
| 30 April 2021
| 25 November 2022
| {{age in years and months|2021|04|30|2022|11|25}}
| <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forces.net/news/new-head-royal-marines-takes-role|title=New Head Of Royal Marines Takes Up Role|publisher=Forces News|date=30 April 2021|access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 33
| [[File:Commandant General Royal Marines 2022 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| General<br />'''[[Gwyn Jenkins|Sir Gwyn Jenkins]]'''
| 25 November 2022
| ''Incumbent''
| {{age in years and months|2022|11|25}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/services/royal-marines/major-general-gwyn-jenkins-named-new-commandant-general|title=Royal Marines appoint new Commandant General|date=25 November 2022|publisher=forces.net|access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=63889 |date=29 November 2022 |page=22839 |supp= y}}</ref>
|}

==List of Deputy Commandants General==
{{expand list|date=March 2021}}
The following have served as Deputy Commandant General:

* {{0|0000}}–2013: Brigadier [[Bill Dunham]]
* 2014–2017: Brigadier Richard Spencer
* 2017–2020: Brigadier Haydn White
* 2020–present: Brigadier Anthony R. Turner

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Navy Command (Ministry of Defence)|state=collapsed}}
{{Naval Service (British)}}
{{Navy Department (Ministry of Defence)}}

[[Category:Military appointments of the Royal Marines]]
[[Category:Royal Marines generals| ]]