High Sheriff of Kent

The high sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown (prior to 1974 the office previously known as sheriff). Formerly the high sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now obsolete, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. The high sheriff changes every March.

This is a list of high sheriffs of Kent.

19th century
• 5 February 1800: John Larking, of East Malling

• 12 February 1801: Edward Austen, of Godmersham

• 3 February 1802: Thomas Godfrey, of Ash

• 3 February 1803: Christopher Cooke, of Ash Grove

• 1 February 1804: Sir Walter Stirling, 1st Baronet, of Shoreham

• 6 February 1805: John Minet Fector, of Updown

• 1 February 1806: John Harrison, of Dennehill

• 4 February 1807: John Simpson of Fairlawn, Sevenoaks

• 3 February 1808: Charles Milner, of Preston Park

• 6 February 1809: Sir Brook William Bridges, 4th Baronet, of Goodneston

• 31 January 1810: James Burton, of Mabledon

• 8 February 1811: Sir John Courtenay Honywood, 5th Baronet, of Evington

• 24 January 1812: John Wells, of Bickley Park

• 10 February 1813: John Cator, of Beckenham

• 4 February 1814: James Wildman, of Chilham Castle

• 13 February 1815: Robert Foote, of Charlton

• 1816: Alexander Evelyn of St Clere

• 1817: William Alexander Morland of Lamberhurst

• 1818: William Henry Baldock of Petham

• 1819: Hon. John Wingfield Stratford of Addington Place

• 1820: Sir Thomas Dyke, 4th Baronet of Lullingstone

• 1821: Sir John Shelley-Sydney, of Penshurst Castie, Bt.

• 1822: John Powell Powell of Quex

• 1823: Thomas Austen of Sevenoaks.

• 1824: Fiennes Wykeham-Martin

• 1825: William George Daniel, of Foley House

• 1826: Sir John Fagge, 7th Baronet

• 1827: Isaac Minet, of Baldwyns

• 1828: Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson, 8th Baronet

• 1829: Thomas Rider of Boughton Monchelsea Place, near Maidstone

• 1830: Edward Rice, of Dane Court

• 1831: Baden Powell, of Speldhurst

• 1832: George Douglas, of Chilston Park

• 1833: Demetrius Grevis James, of Ightham

• 1834: George Stone, of Chislehurst

• 1835: John Ward, of Holwood

• 1836: Sir Edward Cholmeley Dering, 8th Baronet, of Surrenden

• 1837: Francis Bradley, of Gore Court

• 1838: Thomas Turner Alkin, of Hunton Court

• 1839: David Salomons, of Broom Hill, Tunbridge Wells

• 1840: Arthur Pott, of Bentham Hill

• 1841: De La Mark Banks, of Sheppy Court

• 1842: Henry Hoare, of Staplehurst

• 1843: Frederick Perkins, of Chipsted Place

• 1844: Sir Joseph Hawley, 3rd Baronet, of Leybourne Grange

• 1845: Sir Moses Montefiore, of East Cliff, Saint Lawrence

• 1846: William Osmun Hammond, of Saint Alban's

• 1847: John Pelly Atkins, of Halsted

• 1848: John Ashley Warre, of Westcliffe, Saint Lawrence

• 1849: William Masters Smith, of Camer, Meopham

• 1850: Matthew Bell, of Bourne House, Bishopsbourne

• 1851: Ford Wilson, of Blackhurst, Tonbridge Wells

• 1852: Sir John William Lubbock of High Elms Down, Bt.

• 1853: Francis Colville Hyde of Syndale House, Ospringe

• 1854: Alexander Glendining, of Ashgrove, Sevenoaks

• 1855: Sir Walter Charles James, 2nd Baronet, of Betteshanger, near Sandwich

• 1856: Richard Paterson, of Leesons, Chislehurst

• 1857: John Savage, of St Leonards

• 1858: Edward Ladd Betts, of Preston Hall, Aylesford

• 1859: Sir Richard Tufton, 1st Baronet, of Hothfield Place, near Maidstone

• 1860: Sir Courtenay Honywood, 7th Baronet, of Evington, Elmstead, near Canterbury

• 1861: Alexander Randall, of Foley House, Maidstone

• 1862: Henry Bannerman, of Hunton Court, near Maidstone

• 1863: Samuel Long, of Bromley Hill

• 1864: George Field, of Ashurst Park, near Tonbridge Wells

• 1865: Robert Rodger, of Hadlow Castle, near Tonbridge

• 1866: Thomas Farmer Baily, of Hall Place, Leigh

• 1867: William Moore, of Wierton

• 1868: Stephen Musgrave Hilton, of Bramling House, Ickham

• 1869: Joseph Ridgway, of Fairlawn, Shipbourne

• 1870: Sir Edmund Filmer, 9th Baronet of East Sutton Park

• 1871: Francis Philips, of Lee Priory, Ickham

• 1872: Sir John Frederick Croft, of Doddington Place, Bt.

• 1873: John Wingfield Stratford, of Addingfcon Park, Maidstone

• 1874: Charles Stewart Hardy, of Chilham Castle, Chilham, Canterbury

• 1875: George Duppa, of Hollingbourne House, Maidstone

• 1876: Edward Loyd, of Lillesden, Hawkhurst

• 1877: Charles John Plumptre, of Fredville, Wingham

• 1878: Edward Henry Scott, of Sundridge Park, Bromley

• 1879: Lieutenant – Colonel Thomas Walton Roberts, of Glassenbury House, Cranbrook.

• 1880: Sir David Lionel Goldsmid-Stern-Salomons, 2nd Baronet of Brooms Hill, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells

• 1881: Mawdistly Gaussen Best, of Park House, Boxley

• 1882: Lieutenant – Colonel Henry Dorrien Streatfeild, of Chiddingstone, Edenbridge.

• 1883:William Hale Willats, of Denton Court, Canterbury,

• 1884: George Samuel Fereday-Smith, of Grovehurst, Tunbridge Wells,

• 1885: William Alexander Mackinnon, of Acrise Place, Folkestone,

• 1886: Chapman de Laune Faunce de Laune, of Sharsted Court, Sittingbourne,

• 1887: Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Arthur Madan Warde, of Squerryes Court, Westerham.

• 1888: William James Thompson, of Kippington, Sevenoaks,

• 1889: Joseph Sebag Montefiore, of East Cliff Lodge, Ramsgate,

• 1890: Henry Arthur Brassey, of Preston Hall, Aylesford,

• 1891: Charles Wheler Wheler, of Otterden Place, Faversham

• 1892: Multon Lambarde, of Beechmont, Sevenoaks

• 1893: Richard Benyon Berens, cf Kevington, St. Mary Cray, Dartford

• 1894: Richard James Balston of Springfield House, Maidstone

• 1895: Thomas Bevan, of Stone Park, Stone, near Dartford

• 1896: The Honourable Ralph Pelham Nevill, of The Manor, Birling) near Maidstone.

• 1897: Richard Coombe Miller, of Oakfield, Dartford

• 1898: Norman Watney, of Valence, Westerham

• 1899: James Taddy Friend, of Northdown, Margate

20th century
• 1900: William Marshall Cazalet, of Fairlawn, Shipbourne, Tonbridge

• 1901: Henry Booth Hohler, of Fawkham Manor, Longfield

• 1902: Edward Locke Tomlin, of Angley Park, Cranbrook

• 1903: Sir Charles Jessel, Bt

• 1904: John Francis William Deacon of Mabledon, Tunbridge,

• 1905: Colonel William Fearon Tipping, of Brasted Place, Brasted.

• 1906: Thomas Colyer Colyer-Fergusson, of Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks,

• 1907: Edward Windsor Hussey, of Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst,

• 1908: Archibald Cameron Norman, of The Rookery, Bromley Common, Bromley

• 1909: Colonel Charles Stanley Williams, of Ivy House, Bough Beech, Chiddingstone.

• 1910: Robert Norton, of Downs House, Yalding

• 1911: George Ashley Dodd, of Godinton, Ashford

• 1912: Osmond Elim d'Avigdor Goldsmid, of Somarhill, Tonbridge

• 1913: Sir Mark Edlmann Collet of St. Clere, Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Bt.

• 1914: Francis Elmer Speed of Knowlton Court, Dover

• 1915: Algernon Massy Fleet of Darenth Grange, near Dartford

• 1916: Cuthbert Arthur Morris Morris-Field, of Ashurst Park, Tunbridge Welle

• 1917: Frederick William Hollams of Dene Park, Tonbridge

• 1918: Lieut.-Colonel John Middleton Rogers, of Riverhill, Sevenoaks

• 1919: Henry Augustus Milles-Lade, of Nash Court, Boughton, Faversham.

• 1920: Captain William Lee Henry Roberts, of Holborough Court, Snodland,

• 1921: Capt. Vivian Trestrail Dampietr Palmer, of Heronden Hall, Tenterden

• 1922: John Wheeler Wheeler-Bennett, of Ravensbourne, Keston

• 1923: John Wheeler Wheeler-Bennett, of Ravensbourne, Keston

• 1924: Robert Henry Style, of Boxley House, Boxley

• 1925: Sir John Dewrance, of Cranmor Place, Walden Koad, Chislehurst

• 1926: Charles Eugene Gunther, of Tongswood, Hawkhurst, Kent

• 1927: Frank Cyril Tiarks

• 1928: William Plender, 1st Baron Plender

• 1929: Copley De Lisle Hewitt, of The Friars, Aylesford

• 1930: Sir Edmund Davis,Kt of Chilham Castle, near Canterbury

• 1931: Major Sir John Theodore Prestige, of Bourne Park, Bishopsbourne, near Canterbury

• 1932:

• 1933: Alfred Charles Leney

• 1934: Arthur Charles Davis

• 1935: W K Whigham

• 1936: Lieut Col Arthur Laurance Cecil Neame OBE

• 1937: Lord Plender

• 1938: Major Max Teichman-Derville

• 1940: Sir Louis Newton, 1st Baronet

• 1941: Sir Edward William Meyerstein (1864–1942). References: The Seaxe, No 38, 2001t: Edward William Meyerstein.

• 1947: Charles Norman

• 1948: Thomas Neame, of Preston Lea, Faversham.

• 1949: Francis Walter Chamberlain, of The Glebe House, West Wickham

• 1950: Major-General Charles Wake Norman, of Street House, Hayes.

• 1951: Leslie Doubleday, of Hempstead House, Tonge, near Sittingbourne.

• 1952: Willie Emerson Dedrick, of Brome House, West Mailing

• 1953: Major Sir Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid, 2nd Baronet, of Somerhill House, Tonbridge

• 1954: Major John Roberts O'Brien Warde, of Squerryes Court, Westerham.

• 1955: Jasper Beale Neame, of Cratloe, Faversham

• 1956: Sir (Hugh) Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, of Cobtree Manor, Maidstone

• 1957: Brigadier Hugh Ronald Norman, of St. Clere, Kemsing

• 1958: Sir George Jessel, Baronet, of Ladham House, Goudhurst

• 1959: Admiral Sir Henry Ruthven Moore, of The Beck, Wateringbury

• 1960: Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet, of Fairlawne, Tonbridge.

• 1961: Commander Sir John James Kenward Best-Shaw, of Boxley Abbey, Maidstone

• 1962: Walter Henry Whigham, of Cobham Court, Bekesbourne, near Canterbury.

• 1963: Christopher Edward Clive Hussey, of Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst

• 1964: Cuthbert Ackroyd

• 1965: Walter Charles Withecomb Brice of Highover, Hoo, near Rochester.

• 1966: Lieut.-Colonel William Owen Hamborough Joynson, of Tebbs Corner, Ightham, near Sevenoaks.

• 1967: Cecil Stuart Chiesman of Longways, Denbridge Road, Bickley.

• 1968: Gerald Wellington Williams

• 1969: William Hope Loudon of Olantigh, Wye, near Ashford.

• 1970: Major William Michael Robson

• 1971: Sir Derek Greenaway

• 1972: Anthony James Hannam Taylor

• 1973: Kenneth McAlpine of The Priory, Lamberhurst

• 1974: David George Wilfrid Barham, of Hole Park, Rolvenden

• 1975: John Gore Phillimore of The Postern, Tonbridge

• 1976: Lieutenant Colonel Garth Leslie Doubleday

• 1977: Anthony George Pige Leschallas, of Hocker Edge House, Cranbrook.

• 1978: Major Ion Calvocoressi of Court Lodge, Westerham.

• 1979: John Keith Shipton of The Manor House, Upper Hardres, Canterbury

• 1980: Edward St John Brice of Hoo Lodge, Hoo, Rochester

• 1981: Marianna, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley

• 1982: Robert Victor John Evans of Squerryes Lodge, Westerham

• 1983: Brigadier Maurice Alan Atherton, of Digges Place, Barham, Canterbury

• 1984: Richard James Corben of Great Ivy Mill, Loose, Maidstone

• 1985: Major Sir Marc Noble

• 1986: Theda Fitzgerald Moore of George House, Bridge Street, Wye, Ashford.

• 1987: Captain Richard Dewar Neame, of The Court House, Bishopbourne, Canterbury.

• 1988: Lieutenant Colonel John Rochfort Yerburgh, of Hartlip Place

• 1989: Henry Cornwallis Maude, of Wingham Well House, Wingham

• 1990: John St Andrew Warde, of Squerryes Court, Westerham

• 1991: David McArthur Holman, of Crundale House, Crundale, Canterbury

• 1992: Henry Hyde Villiers of Ulcombe Place, Ulcombe, Maidstone

• 1993: Robin Charles Denison-Pender

• 1994: Rosemary Chloe Teacher, of Hadlow Place, Tonbridge

• 1995: Robin John Baker White of Street End Place, Street End, Canterbury.

• 1996: Paul James Cranston Smallwood of The Old Rectory, Stanford, Ashford.

• 1997: Edwin Roy Pratt Boorman of Redhill Farm, Redhill, Wateringbury.

• 1998: John Philip Merricks of The Manor, Icklesham, Rye, East Sussex

• 1999: John Bernard Sunley, of The Old Vicarage, Godmersham, near Canterbury

21st century
• 2000: Roderick Francis Loder-Symonds of Denne Hill Farm, Womenswold, Canterbury.

• 2001: Robert Harry Beale Neame, of Dane Court, Kits Hill, Selling, Faversham.

• 2002: Charles Lancelot Dawes of Leacon Hall, Warehorne, Ashford.

• 2003: Anthony Hugh Verner Monteuuis, of Park Holt, Penshurst, Tonbridge

• 2004: James Rushworth Hope Loudon, of Olantigh, Wye, Ashford

• 2005: William Arthur Andrew Wells of Mere House, Mereworth

• 2006: Amanda Arianwen Cecilia Cottrell of Challock Lees, Ashford

• 2007: Nigel Leonard Wheeler, of East Peckham, Tonbridge

• 2008: Richard John Oldfield, of Doddington Park

• 2009: Jane Margaret Rogers, of Riverhill House, Sevenoaks

• 2010: Peregrine Tatton Eyre Massey, of Boldshaves, Woodchurch

• 2011: Georgie Mary Warner, of Petteridge Place, Brenchley

• 2012: Michael William Sommerville Bax of Shadoxhurst, Ashford

• 2013: Alastair Campbell, 4th Baron Colgrain of Sevenoaks

• 2014: Hugo Mark Fenwick of Egerton, Ashford

• 2015: William Alexander, of Shoreham, Sevenoaks

• 2016: Kathrin Fiona Smallwood of Charing

• 2017: George Elphinstone Jessel of East Brabourne, near Ashford

• 2018: Susan Jane Ashton of Tenterden

• 2019: Paul Jonathan Barrett of Wickhambreaux, Canterbury

• 2020: Remony Elizabeth St John Millwater of Sandwich

• 2021: John Charles Harold Weir of Hempstead, Gillingham

• 2022: Russell John Race of Rochester

• 2023: Nadra Ahmed, of West Malling