Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs facts for kids
The Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs was an important job in the British government. This role was created in 1925. The person in this job helped the main Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs manage Britain's relationships with its "Dominions."
Dominions were countries that were part of the British Empire but had their own governments. These included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland, and the Irish Free State.
In 1947, this specific job changed. It became the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.
Who Were the Under-Secretaries?
These people served as the Under-Secretaries of State for Dominion Affairs between 1925 and 1947. They helped manage the relationships with the Dominions.
- Earl of Clarendon (1925)
- Lord Lovat (1927)
- Earl of Plymouth (1929)
- Arthur Ponsonby (1929)
- William Lunn (1929)
- Malcolm MacDonald (1931)
- Lord Stanley (1935)
- Douglas Hacking (1935)
- Marquess of Hartington (1936)
- Geoffrey Shakespeare (1940)
- Paul Emrys-Evans (1942)
- John Parker (1945)
- Arthur Bottomley (1946)
What is a Permanent Under-Secretary?
Besides the Under-Secretaries, there was also a "Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs." This person was a top civil servant, not a politician. They provided ongoing advice and managed the department's daily work. This role also existed from 1925 to 1947.
The last Permanent Under-Secretary was Sir Eric Machtig. When the office changed in 1947, he moved to the new role. He became the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. He shared this job with A. Carter, who came from the India Office.
Key Permanent Under-Secretaries
Here are the people who held this important permanent role:
| Name | Started Job | Left Job |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Charles Davis | 1925 | 1930 |
| Sir Edward Harding | 1930 | 1939 |
| Sir Eric Machtig (acting) | 1939 | 1940 |
| Sir Cosmo Parkinson | 1940 | 1940 |
| Sir Eric Machtig | 1940 | 1947 |
| Northern Department 1660–1782 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Foreign Office 1782–1968 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1968–2020 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since 2020 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
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| Southern Department 1660–1768 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Colonial Office 1768–1782 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Home Office 1782–1794 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
War Office 1794–1801 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
War and Colonial Office 1801–1854 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Colonial Office 1854–1925 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Colonial Office 1925–1966 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
Commonwealth Office 1966–1968 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
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| Southern Department 1768–1782 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Dominions Office 1925–1947 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Commonwealth Relations Office 1947–1966 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
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| . | India Office 1858–1937 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
India Office and Burma Office 1937–1947 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
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