President of the Local Government Board facts for kids

The President of the Local Government Board was an important job in the United Kingdom government. This role was often part of the Cabinet, which is a group of the most important ministers. The job was created in 1871 when the Local Government Board was set up. This new board took over tasks from other government departments, like the Board of Trade and the Home Office. It also took over from the Poor Law Board, which helped people in need.

The position of President of the Local Government Board ended in 1919. This happened after the First World War. Its responsibilities were then given to a new job: the Minister of Health.

What Was the Local Government Board?

The Local Government Board was created in 1871. Its main purpose was to oversee how local areas in the UK were run. Before this, different government groups handled these tasks. The new board brought many of these responsibilities together.

What Did the Board Do?

The Local Government Board had many important jobs. It looked after public health, making sure towns and cities were clean and healthy. It also managed laws about helping people who were poor or struggling. This included overseeing workhouses and providing support to those in need. The board also dealt with local government rules and how local councils operated.

Who Were the Presidents?

Many different people held the job of President of the Local Government Board. These leaders were often Members of Parliament (MPs). They came from different political parties, like the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. The first president was James Stansfeld. The last person to hold the role was Christopher Addison.

Presidents of the Local Government Board (1871–1919)

Liberal           Conservative           Liberal Unionist
Picture		Name	Time in Office		Political Party	Government	Ref
	James Stansfeld, the first President	James Stansfeld	August 1871	March 1874	Liberal	Gladstone I
	George Sclater-Booth	George Sclater-Booth	March 1874	May 1880	Conservative	Disraeli II
	John George Dodson	John George Dodson	May 1880	1882	Liberal	Gladstone II
	Sir Charles Dilke	Sir Charles Dilke	1882	1885	Liberal
	Arthur Balfour	Arthur Balfour	1885	1886	Conservative	Salisbury I
	Joseph Chamberlain	Joseph Chamberlain	1886	1886	Liberal Unionist	Gladstone III
	James Stansfeld	James Stansfeld	1886	1886	Liberal
	Charles Ritchie	Charles Ritchie	1886	1892	Conservative	Salisbury II
	Henry Fowler	Henry Fowler	1892	1894	Liberal	Gladstone IV
	George Shaw-Lefevre	George Shaw-Lefevre	1894	1895	Liberal	Rosebery
	Henry Chaplin	Henry Chaplin	1895	1900	Conservative	Salisbury (III & IV) (Cons.–Lib.U.)
	Walter Long	Walter Long	1900	1905	Conservative
						Balfour (Cons.–Lib.U.)
	Gerald Balfour	Gerald Balfour	1905	11 December 1905	Conservative
	John Burns	John Burns	11 December 1905	1914	Liberal (Lib-Lab)	Campbell-Bannerman
						Asquith (I–III)
	Herbert Samuel	Herbert Samuel	1914	1915	Liberal
	Walter Long	Walter Long	1915	1916	Conservative	Asquith Coalition (Lib.–Cons.–Lab.)
	David Alfred Thomas	The Lord Rhondda	13 December 1916	1917	Liberal	Lloyd George (I & II) (Lib.–Cons.–Lab.)
	William Hayes Fisher	William Hayes Fisher	2 July 1917	1918	Conservative
	Auckland Geddes	Auckland Geddes	1918	1919	Conservative
	Christopher Addison, the last President	Christopher Addison	1919	1919	Liberal (Coalition)

Why Was the Role Abolished?

The job of President of the Local Government Board ended in 1919. This was a time of big changes after the First World War. The government decided to create a new department called the Ministry of Health. This new ministry took over all the important health and local government tasks. It was a way to make sure public health was a top priority after the war.