Black Rod
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of a number of Commonwealth countries. The position originates in the House of Lords of the British Parliament. His equivalent in the House of Commons is the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Origin
The office was created in 1350 by royal letters patent, though the current title dates from 1522. The position was adopted by other members of the Commonwealth when they copied the British Westminster system. The title is derived from the staff of office, an ebony staff topped with a golden lion, which is the main symbol of the office's authority.
Appointment
Black Rod is formally appointed by the Crown based on a recruitment search performed by the Clerk of the Parliaments, to whom he reports. Prior to 2002 the office was held by a retired senior officer from the British Army, the Royal Navy or the Royal Air Force and was rotated between each service. It is now advertised openly. Black Rod is an officer of the English Order of the Garter, and takes the rank of knight bachelor. The present Black Rod is Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Willcocks. His deputy is the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod.
Official duties
Black Rod has a number of official duties: he is the personal attendant of the Sovereign in the Lords; as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain is responsible as the usher and doorkeeper at meetings of the Order of the Garter (stemming from the Garter Statute 1522); and, as the Sergeant-at-Arms and Keeper of the Doors of the House he is concerned in the admission of strangers to the House of Lords.
Black Rod further has the task of arresting any Lord guilty of breach of privilege or other Parliamentary offence, such as contempt or disorder, or the disturbance of the House's proceedings. He is also responsible, as the representative of the Administration and Works Committee, for more important services; the black rod is used to tap the governor's shoulder as a blessing from the Queen and security of the Palace of Westminster. Either Black Rod or his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, is required to be present when the House of Lords, upper house of Parliament, is in session, and plays a role in the induction of all new Lords Temporal into the House (but not of bishops as new Lords Spiritual).
The Mace
Black Rod is in theory responsible for carrying the Mace into and out of the chamber for the Speaker of the House of Lords (formerly the Lord Chancellor, now the Lord Speaker), though this role is delegated to the Yeoman Usher and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, or on judicial occasions, to the Lord Speaker's deputy, the Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms.
State Opening of Parliament
Black Rod is best known for his part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament and the Throne speech. He summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, as Black Rod approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make his summons, they are slammed in his face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign. Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his staff, and in reply to the challenge "Who is there?" answers "Black Rod". He is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend. This ritual is derived from the attempt by Charles I of England to arrest five members in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of privilege, though strictly the King was entitled to enter the chamber. After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representative to enter their chamber, though they can not bar him from entering with lawful authority.
In recent years, Black Rod has 'suffered' a friendly jibe on this annual occasion from the outspoken Labour MP Dennis Skinner.
Scottish Parliament
Before the Acts of Union 1707 united the English and Scottish parliaments, there was a Gentleman Usher of the White Rod who had a similar role in the Scottish Parliament.  This office no longer exists.
 See also Gentleman Usher for other colours.
Black Rod in other Commonwealth countries
As in the United Kingdom, Black Rod is responsible for arresting any senator or intruder who disrupts the proceedings.
Canada
See Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada
Australia
The Australian Senate has Ms Andrea Griffiths as Usher of the Black Rod and Mr Nick Tate as Deputy Usher of the Black Rod. One of these is present for the induction of all Senators. Each bicameral Australian state (that is, all but Queensland) also has its own Black Rod. In Australia, the Black Rod knocks on the door of the Legislative Council thrice to be permitted to enter.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, where the Legislative Council was abolished in 1951, the Usher of the Black Rod continues to summon MPs to the chamber for the Throne Speech. It is not a full-time position. Colonel William (Bill) Nathan, OBE ED, was Usher of the Black Rod 1993 to 2005, and a successor has been appointed.
Black Rods (UK) from 1361
c.1361–1387: Walter Whitehorse
1387–1399: John Cray
1399–1410: Thomas Sy
1410–1413: John Sheffield
1413–1415: John Athelbrigg
1415–1418: William Hargroave
1418–1423: John Clifford
1423–1428: John Carsons
1428–1459: William Pope
1438–1459: Robert Manfield (joint)
1459–1461: John Penycok
1461–1471: vacant?
1471–1485: William Evington
1483–1485: Edward Hardgill (joint)
1485–1489: Robert Marleton
1489–1513: Ralph Assheton
1495–1513: Hugh Dennys (joint)
1513–1526: Sir William Compton
1526–1536: Sir Henry Norreys
1536–1543: Anthony Knyvett
1543–1554: Sir Philip Hoby
1554–1565: John Norreys
1554–1591: Sir William Norreys (joint)
1591–1593: Anthony Wingfield
1593–1598: Simon Bowyer
1598–1620: Richard Coningsby
1605–1620: George Pollard (joint)
1620–1642: James Maxwell
1642–1661: James Maxwell and Alexander Thayne (Parliamentary)
1645–1661: Peter Newton (Royalist)
1661–1671: Sir John Ayton
1671–1683: Sir Edward Carteret
1683–1694: Sir Thomas Duppa
1694 – 25 August 1698: Sir Fleetwood Sheppard
5 December 1698 – 1 June 1710: Admiral Sir David Mitchell
1710–1718: Sir William Oldes
1718–1727: Sir William Saunderson, 1st Baronet
1727–1747: Sir Charles Dalton
1747–1760: Sir Henry Bellenden
1760 – 6 September 1765: Sir Septimus Robinson
1765–1812: Sir Francis Molyneux, 7th Baronet
1812 – 25 July 1832: Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt
25 July 1832 – 8 February 1877: Admiral Sir Augustus Clifford, 1st Baronet
3 May 1877 – 23 June 1883: Sir William Knollys
24 July 1883 – 7 October 1895: Sir James Drummond
11 February 1896 to 23 July 1904 - Sir Michael Biddulph
August 1904 – 16 December 1919: Sir Henry Stephenson
January 1920 – 14 May 1941: Lieutenant-General Sir William Pulteney
October 1941 – 15 August 1944: Air Chief Marshal Sir William Mitchell
January 1945 – 18 January 1949: Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Blake
18 January 1949 – 18 June 1963: Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks
18 June 1963 – October 1970: Air Chief Marshal Sir George Mills
October 1970 – 18 January 1978: Admiral Sir Frank Twiss
18 January 1978 – January 1985: Lieutenant-General Sir David House
January 1985 – January 1992: Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell
January 1992 – 8 May 1995: Admiral Sir Richard Thomas
9 May 1995 – 8 May 2001: General Sir Edward Jones
9 May 2001 – present: Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Willcocks
Black Rods (Canada) from 1867
1867–1875 René Kimber
1875–1901 René Edouard Kimber
1902–1904 Molyneux St. John
1904–1925 Ernest John Chambers
1925–1946 Andrew Ruthven Thompson
1947–1970 Charles Rock Lamoureux
1970–1979 A. Guy Vandelac
1979–1984 Thomas Guy Bowie
1984–1985 Claude G. Lajoie
1985–1989 René M. Jalbert
1989–1990 Rene Gutknecht
1990–1997 Jean Doré
1997–2001 Mary C. McLaren
2001–2002 Blair Armitage (Interim)
2002–2008 Terrance J. Christopher
2008 Blair Armitage (Interim)
2008- Kevin S. MacLeod
References
External links | '469' The British Parliament's information about the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
The Canadian Parliament's information about Black Rod
The Australian Parliamentary Education Office's information about the Usher of the Black Rod
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