Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
Encyclopedia
The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations was a British Cabinet office existing between 1947 and 1966, responsible for dealing with British relationship with members of the Commonwealth of Nations
(its former colonies). The position was created out of the old position of Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
. In 1966, the position was merged with that of the Secretary of State for the Colonies
to form that of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs
, which was in turn merged with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1968 to create the new position of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
.
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
(its former colonies). The position was created out of the old position of Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
The position of Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs was a British cabinet level position created in 1925 responsible for British relations with the Dominions — Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland, and the Irish Free State, as well as the self-governing colony of...
. In 1966, the position was merged with that of the Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
to form that of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs
The position of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs was created on 1 August 1966 by the merger of the old positions of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and Secretary of State for the Colonies. The position dealt with British relations with members of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, which was in turn merged with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1968 to create the new position of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...
.
Secretaries of State for Commonwealth Relations, 1947-1966
- Viscount Addison (7 July 1947 - 7 October 1947)
- Philip Noel-Baker (7 October 1947 - 28 February 1950)
- Patrick Gordon WalkerPatrick Gordon WalkerPatrick Chrestien Gordon Walker, Baron Gordon-Walker CH, PC was a British Labour Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament for nearly thirty years, and served twice as a Cabinet minister...
(28 February 1950 - 26 October 1951) - Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron IsmayHastings Ismay, 1st Baron IsmayGeneral Hastings Lionel "Pug" Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay, KG, GCB, CH, DSO, PC was a British Indian Army officer and diplomat, remembered primarily for his role as Winston Churchill's chief military assistant during the Second World War and his service as the first Secretary General of NATO from 1952...
(28 October 1951 - 12 March 1952) - Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury (12 March 1952 - 24 November 1952)
- Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Viscount SwintonPhilip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of SwintonPhilip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton GBE, CH, MC, PC , known as Philip Lloyd-Greame until 1924 and as The Viscount Swinton from 1935 until 1955, was a prominent British Conservative politician from the 1920s until the 1950s.-Background and early life:Born as Philip Lloyd-Graeme, he was the...
(24 November 1952 - 7 April 1955) - Alexander Douglas-Home, 14th Earl of HomeAlec Douglas-HomeAlexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
(7 April 1955 - 27 July 1960) - Duncan SandysDuncan SandysEdwin Duncan Sandys, Baron Duncan-Sandys CH PC was a British politician and a minister in successive Conservative governments in the 1950s and 1960s...
(27 July 1960 - 16 October 1964) - Arthur BottomleyArthur BottomleyArthur George Bottomley, Baron Bottomley, OBE, PC was a British Labour politician, Member of Parliament and minister....
(18 October 1964 - 1 August 1966)