The postal history of the United Kingdom is notable in at least two respects; first, for the introduction of postage stamps in 1840, and secondly for the establishment of an efficient postal system throughout the British Empire, laying the foundation of many national systems in existence today
In the 12th century King Henry I of England, appointed messengers to carry letters for the government.
Henry III provided uniforms for the messengers, and Edward I instituted posting houses where the messengers could change horses. The reign of Edward II saw the first postal marking; handwritten notations saying "Haste, post haste".
Henry VIII created the Royal Mail in 1516, appointing Brian Tuke as "Master of the Postes", while Elizabeth I appointed Thomas Randolph as "Chief Postmaster". The Royal Mail was made available to the public, in 1635, under Thomas Witherings, the chief postmaster under Charles I of England
In 1661, Charles II made Henry Bishop the first Postmaster General (PMG) and, following complaints about delayed letters, Bishop introduced the Bishop mark, a small circle with month and day inside. In subsequent years, the postal system expanded to a network covering the country, and post offices were set up in both large and small towns, each of which had its own postmark.
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