Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Permanent Under Secretary of Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs and Head of HM Diplomatic Service
Royal Arms as used by His Majesty's Government
Incumbent Sir Philip Barton since 2 September 2020
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Appointer	Prime Minister
Inaugural holder	George Aust
Formation	1790

Have you ever wondered who helps the UK government talk to other countries? The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the part of the government that handles this. It's like the UK's international relations team. A very important person in this team is the Permanent Under-Secretary. This person is a top civil servant, meaning they work for the government but are not an elected politician. They help make sure the FCDO runs smoothly every day.

This article lists all the Permanent Under-Secretaries who have served in the Foreign Office (and its earlier names) since 1790.

What Does a Permanent Under-Secretary Do?

The Permanent Under-Secretary is the most senior civil servant in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. They are like the chief executive of the department. Their main job is to advise the government ministers on foreign policy. They also manage the entire department, including all the staff and resources.

This role is very important for the UK's relationships with countries around the world. The Permanent Under-Secretary helps carry out the government's plans for diplomacy and international development. They also lead the UK's Diplomatic Service, which includes all the ambassadors and diplomats working in other countries.

Key Leaders of the Foreign Office

Since 1790, many talented individuals have held the important role of Permanent Under-Secretary. These people have helped guide the UK's foreign policy through many historical events. They work behind the scenes to keep the country's international affairs running smoothly.

Here is a list of the people who have served in this key position:

February 1790: George Aust
October 1795: George Hammond (resigned 1806)
March 1807: George Hammond
October 1809: William Richard Hamilton
July 1817: Joseph Planta
April 1827: John Backhouse
1842: Henry Unwin Addington
1854: Edmund Hammond (later Lord Hammond)
1873: Lord Tenterden
1882: Sir Julian Pauncefote (later Lord Pauncefote)
1889: Sir Philip Currie (later Lord Currie)
1894: Sir Thomas Sanderson (later Lord Sanderson)
1906: Sir Charles Hardinge (later Lord Hardinge of Penshurst)
1910: Sir Arthur Nicolson (later Lord Carnock)
1916: Lord Hardinge of Penshurst
1920: Sir Eyre Crowe (died in office)
1925: Sir William Tyrrell (later Lord Tyrrell)
1928: Sir Ronald Lindsay
1930: Sir Robert Vansittart (later Lord Vansittart)
1938: Sir Alexander Cadogan
1946: Sir Orme Sargent (jointly with Sir William Strang, Head of the German Section 1947–1949)
1949: Sir William Strang (jointly with the Heads of the German Section: Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick 1949–1950, Sir D. Gainer 1950–1951) (later Lord Strang)
1953: Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick
1957: Sir Frederick Hoyer Millar (later Lord Inchyra)
1962: Sir Harold Caccia (later Lord Caccia)
1965: Sir Paul Gore-Booth (also Head of the Diplomatic Service from 1968; later Lord Gore-Booth)
1969: Sir Denis Greenhill (later Lord Greenhill of Harrow)
1973: Sir Thomas Brimelow (later Lord Brimelow)
1975: Sir Michael Palliser
1982: Sir Antony Acland
1986: Sir Patrick Wright (later Lord Wright of Richmond)
1991: Sir David Gillmore (later Lord Gillmore of Thamesfield)
1994: Sir John Coles
1997: Sir John Kerr (later Lord Kerr of Kinlochard)
2002: Sir Michael Jay (later Lord Jay of Ewelme)
2006: Sir Peter Ricketts (later Lord Ricketts)
2010: Sir Simon Fraser
2015: Sir Simon McDonald (later Lord McDonald of Salford)
2020: Sir Philip Barton

Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs facts for kids

What Does a Permanent Under-Secretary Do?

Key Leaders of the Foreign Office

See also