ADMINISTRATOR, in law, he to whom the ordinary commits the administration of the goods of a person deceased, in default of an executor.—An action lies for, or against an administrator, as for, or against an executor; and he shall be accountable to the value of the goods of the deceased, and no farther:—unless there be waste, or other abuse chargeable on him. If the administrator die, his executors are not administrators; but the court is to grant a new administration.—If a stranger, who is neither administrator nor executor, take the goods of the deceased, and administer, he shall be charged, and sued as an executor, not as an administrator. The origin of administrators is derived from the civil law. Their establishment in England is owing to a statute made in the 31st year of Edw. III. Till then, no office of this kind was known beside that of executor: in case of a want of which, the ordinary had the disposal of goods of persons intestate, &c.