Almoner (anciently written amner), an officer appointed to distribute alms to the needy, generally an ecclesiastic. Such officers were from very early times in Europe attached to the households of sovereigns, nobles, and prelates, to monastic, educational, and charitable institutions, etc. In England there was a lord high almoner before the time of Edward I., and in modern times the title has been held by the archbishop of York. There is also a hereditary grand almoner in the person of the marquis of Exeter; and there is an almonry in Westminster. In France the grand aumo-nier was the chief ecclesiastic of the king's household, generally of' high birth, and had several subordinates with great power and peculiar privileges. Since 1792 the office has been several times abolished and restored; it existed under Napoleon I. (Cardinal Fesch) and III. There are also almoners of the army and navy, etc. In the church, deacons have sometimes been called almoners (eleemosynarii).