Surveyor of the Navy

Office of the Surveyor of the Navy
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Department of the Admiralty
Member of	Navy Board (1546-1832), Board of Admiralty (1832-1848)
Reports to	First Lord of the Admiralty
Nominator	First Lord of the Admiralty
Appointer	Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 3–7 years)
Inaugural holder	Benjamin Gonson
Formation	1546-1869

The Surveyor of the Navy also known as Department of the Surveyor of the Navy and originally known as Surveyor and Rigger of the Navy^[1] was a former principal commissioner and member of both the Navy Board from the inauguration of that body in 1546 until its abolition in 1832 and then a member Board of Admiralty from 1848 to 1859. In 1860 the office was renamed Controller of The Navy until 1869 when the office was merged with that of the Third Naval Lord's the post holder held overall responsibility for the design of British warships.