Steward, LORD HIGH, anciently the first officer of the crown in England (Lat. dapifer, scnescellus), whose important functions were soon conferred on the Justiciar. The dignity, thenceforward honorary, was long hereditary in the successive houses of Leicester, but was finally absorbed into the royal dignity by Henry IV. Since that time there has been no permanent Lord Steward, but the office is temporarily revived when occasion requires, a Lord Steward being appointed under the Great Seal pro hac vice at a coronation or the trial of a peer. When the proceedings are at an end the Lord Steward terminates his commission by breaking his wand of office.
The Steward or High Steward of Scotland was not only chief of the household, but collected and managed the crown revenues, and took the first place in the army next to the king in battle. The office was conferred by David I. on Walter Fitzalan, the founder of the royal house of Stewart (q.v.). The accession of Robert, the seventh High Steward, to the throne as Robert II. merged the seneschalship in the crown; but the estates of the stewards afterwards became the appanage of the king's eldest son, and by act of the Scottish parliament of 1469 the titles of Prince and High Steward of Scotland, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, and Lord of the Isles were vested in the eldest son and heir-apparent of the crown of Scotland for ever. 'Great Steward of Scotland' has thus become one of the titles of the Prince of Wales.
The Lord Steward of the Household, in England, was originally designated the Lord Great Master of the Household. He is the head of the ancient court called the Board of Green Cloth (q.v.), and as such has the control and selection of all the officers and servants of the household, except those belonging to the Chapel, the Chamber, and the Stable, and also appoints the royal tradesmen. He is always sworn a member of the Privy-council, and has precedence of all peers of his own degree. He has no formal grant of office, but receives his charge from the sovereign in person. He holds his appointment during pleasure, and his tenure depends upon the political party to which he belongs; the salary of the office is £2000.