| Former Chief Rabbis | |||||
| Name | Place and date of Birth | Period of Office (length) | Age on appointment | ||
| Aaron Hart | Breslau | 1670 | 1709-1756 (47) | 39 | |
| Hart Lyon | Europe | 1721 | 1756-1764 (8) | 35 | |
| David Tevele Schiff | Frankfurt | - | 1765-1792 (27) | 40 approx | |
| Solomon Hirschell | London | 1762 | 1802-1842 (40) | 40 | |
| Nathan Marcus Adler | Hanover | 1803 | 1845-1890 (45) | 42 | |
| Hermann Adler CVO | Hanover | 1839 | 1891-1911 (20) | 52 | |
| Joseph Herman Hertz CH | Czechoslovakia | 1872 | 1913-1946 (33) | 41 | |
| Sir Israel Brodie | Newcastle | 1895 | 1948-196(17) | 53 | |
| Lord Immanuel Jakobovits | Konigsberg | 1921 | 1967-1991 (24) | 46 | |
| Jonathan Sacks | London | 1948 | 1991- | 43 | |
Details & Facts
There have been two sets of father and son Chief Rabbis: Hart Lyon and Solomon Hirschell Nathan Adler and Hermann Adler
Most Chief Rabbis were aged between 35 and 46 on their appointment Seven served 20 years or more, and of these three were in office for 40 years or more. The longest period was served by Aaron Hart, appointed at the age of 39 he served for 46 years. The longevity of post holders has provided stability to Anglo Jewry.
Except for Rabbi Hart Lyon until Sir Israel Brodie all Chief Rabbis served until their deaths and therefore the year of end of office also indicates year of death. Rabbi Hart Lyon died in 1800 and Sir Israel Brodie in 1979.
Lord Jakobovits retired in 1991 and died in 1999
During the 290 years the longest gap between two Chief Rabbis was the 10 years between Rabbi David Tevelle Schiff's death and Rabbi Solomon Herschell's appointment.