From the early 1700s the post of Captain became an honorary position benefitting from the residential accommodation provided by the castle's living quarters. After the wartime demolition the accommodation was provided elsewhere.
| Appointed | Incumbent | Notes | | 1540 | Thomas Wingfield | First incumbent |
| 1551 | Thomas Boys |
| 1569 | John Baker |
| 1572 | Peter Hammond |
| 1599 | Matthew Bredgate |
| 1611 | Erasmus Finch |
| 1611 | William Byng |
| 1625 | Thomas Pulnetby |
| 1643 | William Batten | Royalist |
| 1648 | Col. Thomas Rainsborough | Parliamentarian. Dismissed from office. |
| 1648 | Capt. Wyne |
| 1648 | Maj. Samuel Kemm |
| 1648 | Col. Nathaniel Rich | Royalist forced to surrender to Parliamentary forces, August, 1648 |
| 1653 | Samuel Taverner | Parliamentarian appointment |
| 1660 | William Byng | Returned to office at the Restoration of the Monarchy |
| 1661 | Col. Silius Titus |
| 1671 | Capt. Francis Digby |
| 1672 | Francis Hawley, 1st Baron Hawley |
| 1673 | Sir John Berry |
| 1690 | Lt. Col. Sir John Granville |
| 1690 | Sir Francis Wheler | Died in office, 1694 |
| 1745 | John Norris | Died 1749 |
| 1777 | Francis Godolphin Osborne, Marquis of Carmarthen |
| 1786 | George Augustus, 9th Lord North |
| 1802 | Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington |
| 1838 | William Wellesley-Pole, Lord Maryborough |
| 1843 | James Andrew Brown Ramsey, Earl of Dalhousie |
| 1847 | Richard Charles Francis Meade, Earl of Clanwilliam |
| 1879 | John Robert Townshend, Earl Sydney |
| 1890 | Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell |
| 1899 | Rt. Hon. Lord George Francis Hamilton |
| 1923 | Field Marshal John French, Earl of Ypres |
| 1925 | Field Marshal Lord Allenby |
| 1927 | Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading |
| 1934 | Field Marshal Lord Birdwood |
| 1951 | Position vacant |
| 1972 | General Sir Norman Tailyour |
| 1980 | Maj. Gen. Ian Harrison | Henceforth tied to the appointment of the Commandant General Royal Marines |
1. ^{{cite web|url=http://webapps.kent.gov.uk/KCC.ExploringKentsPast.Web.Sites.Public/SingleResult.aspx?uid=%27mke7308%27|title=Exploring Kent's Past |publisher= Kent County Council|accessdate= 10 January 2017}}
2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.eastkent.freeuk.com/deal/castle/captains.htm|title=Captains of Deal Castle|publisher=East Kent freeuk|accessdate= 10 January 2017}}
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