Keeper

Keeper, or LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL, one of the great offices of state, practically merged since 1757 in that of Lord Chancellor (see SEAL). An act was passed at the instance of Sir Nicholas Bacon, lord keeper, assigning or confirming to the holder of that office rank and precedence equal to that of Lord High Chancellor. From 1558 to 1700 there were eleven lord chancellors and twenty-one lord keepers; from 1700 to 1757, six chancellors and four keepers. The last lord keeper, appointed in 1757, was Lord Henley.