
Lord Cobham (the 10th Baron Cobham)
In England, the office of Lord Lieutenant is military in origin and dates from the reign of Henry VIII when its holder was made responsible for maintaining order in the County, and all military measures necessary for local defence.
In Kent, the office of the Lord Lieutenant, the permanent representative of the Crown in the County, dates from Tudor times.
Documents held at The Centre for Kentish Studies show that the first permanent holder of the office of Lord Lieutenant in our County was Lord Cobham (the 10th Baron Cobham). He was in office in 1558 and was also Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle.
From the outset the Lieutenancy played a vitally-important role in organising the defence of the County. When invasion threatened our shores in 1588 it was Lord Cobham’s deputies who reported crucial intelligence to the Government on the progress of the Armada in the Channel.