Commissioner in Lunacy

A member of the Commissioners in Lunacy, established under the Lunacy Act 1845 as a permanent body to inspect and regulate asylums and other institutions caring for people classified as mentally ill. The eleven Commissioners comprised three medical, three legal, and five unpaid lay members, with the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury as chairman from 1845 until 1885. Their responsibilities included inspecting institutions and overseeing the admission, detention, and discharge of patients. The Commission was replaced by the Board of Control for Lunacy and Mental Deficiency in 1913. This could be considered a significant public appointment, particularly for a barrister, physician, or prominent layman.