Lord Lieutenant of a County, an officer of great distinction, appointed by the Crown for the managing of the standing militia of the county, and all military mattes therein. Lords lieutenant are supposed to have been introduced about the reign of Henry VIII., for they are mentioned as known offices in the 4 & 5 Ph. & M. c. 3, though they had not been long in use; for Camden speaks of them in the time of Queen Elizabeth as extraordinary magistrates, constituted only in times of difficulty and danger. They are generally of the principal nobility, and of the best interest in the county; they are to form the militia in case of a rebellion, etc., and march at the head of them, as the Crown shall direct. They have the power of presenting to the sovereign the names of deputy-lieutenants, who are to be selected from the best gentry in the county, and act in the absence of the Lord Lieutenant. Their jurisdiction and privileges in relation to the militia, yeomanry, and volunteers reverted to her Majesty by 34 & 35 Vict. c. 86, s. 6, and see Militia Act, 1882 (45 & 46 Vict. c. 49), as affected by the Territorial Army and Militia Act, 1921 (11 & 12 Geo. 5, c. 37). Lords Lieutenants are appointed for life or quamdiu se bene gesserint.
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