Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (formerly the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and previously Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. Its secondary title is the President of the Board of Trade. The Secretary of State

Secretary of State (United Kingdom)

In the United Kingdom, a Secretary of State is a Cabinet Minister in charge of a Government Department ....

is responsible for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...

(formerly the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and previously the Department of Trade and Industry).

History

The idea of a Board of Trade

Board of Trade

The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...

was first translated into action by Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....

in 1655 when he appointed his son Richard Cromwell

Richard Cromwell

At the same time, the officers of the New Model Army became increasingly wary about the government's commitment to the military cause. The fact that Richard Cromwell lacked military credentials grated with men who had fought on the battlefields of the English Civil War to secure their nation's...

to head a body of Lords of the Privy Council

Privy Council of the United Kingdom

Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...

, judges and merchants to consider measures to promote trade. Charles II

Charles II of England

Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...

established a Council of Trade on 7 November 1660 followed by a Council of Foreign Plantations on 1 December that year. The two were united on 16 September 1672 as the Board of Trade and Plantations.

After the Board was re-established in 1696, there were 15 (and later 16) members of the Board - the 7 (later 8) Great Officers of State, and 8 unofficial members, who did the majority of the work. The senior unofficial member of the board was the President of the Board, commonly known as the First Lord of Trade. The board was abolished on 11 July 1782, but a Committee of the Privy Council was established on 5 March 1784 for the same purposes. On 23 August 1786 a new Committee was set up, more strongly focused on commercial functions than the previous boards of trade. At first the President of the Board of Trade only occasionally sat in the Cabinet

Cabinet of the United Kingdom

The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....

, but from the early 19th century it was usually a cabinet level position.

During the government of Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Alec Douglas-Home

Alexander 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...

, the then President of the Board of Trade Edward Heath

Edward Heath

Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....

was given in addition the job of Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development. This title was not continued under Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson

James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...

, but when Heath became Prime Minister in 1970 he decided to merge the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Technology

Minister of Technology

The Minister of Technology was a position in the government of the United Kingdom, sometimes abbreviated as "MinTech". The Ministry of Technology was established by the incoming government of Harold Wilson in October 1964 as part of Wilson's ambition to modernise the state for what he perceived to...

to create the Department of Trade and Industry. The head of this department became known as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade.

When Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson

re-entered office in March 1974, the office was split into the Department of Trade, the Department of Industry and the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection

Department of Prices and Consumer Protection

The Department of Prices and Consumer Protection was a short-lived United Kingdom government department created by the incoming Labour government in 1974 when the functions of the Department of Trade and Industry were divided between three new departments...

. The title President of the Board of Trade became the secondary title of the Secretary of State for Trade. In 1979 the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection was abolished by the incoming Conservative government and its responsibilities were reintegrated into the Department of Trade. In 1983 the offices of trade and industry were remerged and the title of Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was recreated. When Michael Heseltine

Michael Heseltine

Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC is a British businessman, Conservative politician and patron of the Tory Reform Group. He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001 and was a prominent figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major...

held this office, he preferred to be known by the older title of President of the Board of Trade, and this practice was also followed by Ian Lang

Ian Lang

Ian Bruce Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton PC is a former British Conservative MP for Galloway from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale from 1983 to 1997....

and Margaret Beckett

Margaret Beckett

Margaret Mary Beckett is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Derby South since 1983, rising to become the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under John Smith, from 18 July 1992 to 12 May 1994, and briefly serving as Leader of the Party following Smith's death...

. Heseltine's decision to reuse the old title caused some comment and it was discovered that the Board of Trade had not in fact met since the mid-nineteenth century.

First Lord of Trade (1672–1782)

	Took office	Left office
The Earl of Shaftesbury	16 September 1672	1676
The Earl of Bridgewater John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater was the eldest son of John Egerton, 2nd Earl of Bridgewater and his wife Elizabeth Cavendish. His maternal grandparents were William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle and his first wife Elizabeth Basset.He served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire as...	16 December 1695	9 June 1699
The Earl of Stamford Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford PC was a British peer and politician.He was the only son of Thomas, Lord Grey of Groby, and inherited his title from his grandfather....	9 June 1699	8 January 1702
The Viscount Weymouth	8 January 1702	1705
The Earl of Stamford Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford PC was a British peer and politician.He was the only son of Thomas, Lord Grey of Groby, and inherited his title from his grandfather....	1705	12 June 1711
The Earl of Winchilsea Charles Finch, 4th Earl of Winchilsea Charles Finch, 4th Earl of Winchilsea PC was a British peer and Member of Parliament, styled Viscount Maidstone until 1689. He was the son of William Finch, Lord Maidstone and Elizabeth Wyndham....	12 June 1711	15 September 1713
The Lord Guilford Francis North, 2nd Baron Guilford Francis North, 2nd Baron Guilford PC was a British peer and member of the House of Lords.-Life:In 1685, he succeeded his father as Baron Guilford. From 1703 to 1705, Guilford was Lord Lieutenant of Essex. In 1712, he was appointed to the Privy Council, and was First Lord of Trade from 1713 to...	15 September 1713	September 1714
The Lord Berkeley of Stratton William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton PC, PC , was a British politician and judge. He was Master of the Rolls in Ireland between 16896 and 1731 and also held political office as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1710 to 1714 and as First Lord of Trade from 1714 to...	September 1714	12 May 1715
The Earl of Suffolk Henry Howard, 6th Earl of Suffolk Henry Howard, 6th Earl of Suffolk, 1st Earl of Bindon PC was an English nobleman, styled Lord Walden from 1691 to 1706....	12 May 1715	31 January 1718
The Earl of Holderness Robert Darcy, 3rd Earl of Holderness Robert Darcy, 3rd Earl of Holderness, PC was a British peer and politician.Darcy was the second son of John Darcy, Lord Conyers, himself the eldest son of Conyers Darcy, 2nd Earl of Holderness. He was styled Lord Conyers when his father died in 1688 and later inherited his grandfather's earldom...	31 January 1718	11 May 1719
The Earl of Westmorland Thomas Fane, 6th Earl of Westmorland Thomas Fane, 6th Earl of Westmorland was a British peer and member of the House of Lords.He was a Privy Counsellor, First Lord of Trade, Custos Rotulorum of Northamptonshire, Justice in Eyre and Gentleman of the Bedchamber. His titles included Earl of Westmorland, Baron le Despencer, andBaron...	11 May 1719	May 1735
The Earl Fitzwalter Benjamin Mildmay, 1st Earl FitzWalter Benjamin Mildmay, 1st Earl FitzWalter PC , styled The Honourable Benjamin Mildmay until 1728 and known as The Lord FitzWalter between 1728 and 1730, was a British politician...	May 1735	June 1737
The Lord Monson John Monson, 1st Baron Monson John Monson, 1st Baron Monson PC , known as Sir John Monson, 5th Baronet, from 1727 to 1728, was a British politician....	June 1737	1 November 1748
The Earl of Halifax George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, KG, PC was a British statesman of the Georgian era.-Early life:...	1 November 1748	21 March 1761
The Lord Sandys Samuel Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys Samuel Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys, PC was a British politician in the 18th century. He held numerous posts within the government of the United Kingdom, namely Chancellor of the Exchequer, Leader of the House of Commons, Cofferer of the Household and First Lord of Trade...	21 March 1761	1 March 1763
Hon. Charles Townshend Charles Townshend Charles Townshend was a British politician. He was born at his family's seat of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, the second son of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, and Audrey , daughter and heiress of Edward Harrison of Ball's Park, near Hertford, a lady who rivalled her son in...	1 March 1763	20 April 1763
The Earl of Shelburne William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne William Petty-FitzMaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, PC , known as The Earl of Shelburne between 1761 and 1784, by which title he is generally known to history, was an Irish-born British Whig statesman who was the first Home Secretary in 1782 and then Prime Minister 1782–1783 during the final...	20 April 1763	9 September 1763
The Earl of Hillsborough Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire PC , known as the Viscount Hillsborough from 1742 to 1751 and as the Earl of Hillsborough from 1751 to 1789, was a British politician of the Georgian era...	9 September 1763	20 July 1765
The Earl of Dartmouth William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth William Legge 2nd Earl of Dartmouth PC, FRS , styled as Viscount Lewisham from 1732 to 1750, was a British statesman who is most remembered for his part in the government before and during the American Revolution....	20 July 1765	16 August 1766
The Earl of Hillsborough Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire PC , known as the Viscount Hillsborough from 1742 to 1751 and as the Earl of Hillsborough from 1751 to 1789, was a British politician of the Georgian era...	16 August 1766	December 1766
The Viscount Clare Robert Nugent, 1st Earl Nugent Robert Craggs-Nugent, 1st Earl Nugent PC was an Irish politician and poet.-Background:The son of Michael Nugent and Mary, daughter of Robert Barnewall, 9th Baron Trimlestown, he was born at Carlanstown, County Westmeath...	19 January 1767	20 January 1768
The Earl of Hillsborough Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire PC , known as the Viscount Hillsborough from 1742 to 1751 and as the Earl of Hillsborough from 1751 to 1789, was a British politician of the Georgian era...	20 January 1768	31 August 1772
The Earl of Dartmouth William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth William Legge 2nd Earl of Dartmouth PC, FRS , styled as Viscount Lewisham from 1732 to 1750, was a British statesman who is most remembered for his part in the government before and during the American Revolution....	31 August 1772	10 November 1775
Lord George Sackville-Germain	10 November 1775	6 November 1779
The Earl of Carlisle Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle, KG, KT, PC was a British diplomat and the son of Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle and his second wife Isabella Byron....	6 November 1779	9 December 1780
The Lord Grantham Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron Grantham Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron Grantham PC was a British politician and statesman. He notably served as Foreign Secretary between 1782 and 1783.-Background and education:...	9 December 1780	11 July 1782

President of the Committee on Trade and Foreign Plantations (1784–1786)

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office
	The Lord Sydney Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney PC , was a British politician who held several important Cabinet posts in the second half of the 18th century...		5 March 1784	23 August 1786

President of the Board of Trade (1786–1900)

	Took office	Left office
The Earl of Liverpool Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool PC , known as the Lord Hawkesbury between 1786 and 1796, was a British statesman. He was the father of Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool....	23 August 1786	7 June 1804
The Duke of Montrose James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose KG, KT, PC , styled Marquess of Graham until 1790, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman.-Background:...	7 June 1804	5 February 1806
The Lord Auckland	5 February 1806	31 March 1807
The Earl Bathurst Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst KG PC was a British politician.-Background and education:Lord Bathurst was the elder son of Henry Bathurst, 2nd Earl Bathurst, by his wife Tryphena, daughter of Thomas Scawen...	31 March 1807	29 September 1812
The Earl of Clancarty	29 September 1812	24 January 1818
Hon. F. J. Robinson	24 January 1818	21 February 1823
William Huskisson William Huskisson William Huskisson PC was a British statesman, financier, and Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Liverpool...	21 February 1823	4 September 1827
Charles Grant Charles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg Charles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg PC FRS was a Scottish politician and colonial administrator.-Background and education:...	4 September 1827	11 June 1828
Hon. William Vesey-FitzGerald William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey PC, PC , FRS, FSA was an Irish statesman.-Background and education:...	11 June 1828	2 February 1830
John Charles Herries John Charles Herries John Charles Herries PC , known as J. C. Herries, was a British politician and financier and a frequent member of Tory and Conservative cabinets in the early to mid 19th century.-Background and education:...	2 February 1830	22 November 1830
The Lord Auckland George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, GCB, PC was a British Whig politician and colonial administrator. He was thrice First Lord of the Admiralty and also served as Governor-General of India between 1836 and 1842....	22 November 1830	5 June 1834
Charles Poulett Thomson Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham PC was a British politician and the first Governor of the united Province of Canada.-Background:...	5 June 1834	14 November 1834
Alexander Baring Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton PC was a British politician and financier.-Background:Baring was the second son of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, and of Harriet, daughter of William Herring...	15 December 1834	8 April 1835
Charles Poulett Thomson Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham PC was a British politician and the first Governor of the united Province of Canada.-Background:...	8 April 1835	29 August 1839
Henry Labouchere Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton PC was a prominent British Whig and Liberal Party politician of the mid-19th century.-Background and education:...	29 August 1838	30 August 1841
The Earl of Ripon	3 September 1841	15 May 1843
William Ewart Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...	15 May 1843	5 February 1845
The Earl of Dalhousie James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie KT, PC was a Scottish statesman, and a colonial administrator in British India....	5 February 1845	27 June 1846
The Earl of Clarendon George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon KG, GCB, PC , was an English diplomat and statesman.-Background and education:...	6 July 1846	22 July 1847
Henry Labouchere Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton PC was a prominent British Whig and Liberal Party politician of the mid-19th century.-Background and education:...	22 July 1847	21 February 1852
J. W. Henley	27 February 1852	17 December 1852
Edward Cardwell Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell PC, PC , FRS was a prominent British politician in the Peelite and Liberal parties during the middle of the 19th century...	28 December 1852	31 March 1855
The Lord Stanley of Alderley Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley Edward John Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley PC , known as The Lord Eddisbury between 1848 and 1850, was a British politician.-Background:...	31 March 1855	21 February 1858
J. W. Henley	26 February 1858	3 March 1859
The Earl of Donoughmore Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore Richard John Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore PC , styled Viscount Suirdale between 1832 and 1851, was a British Conservative politician.-Background:...	3 March 1859	11 June 1859
Thomas Milner Gibson Thomas Milner Gibson Thomas Milner Gibson PC was a British politician.-Background and education:Thomas Milner Gibson came of a Suffolk family, but was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where his father was serving as an officer in the army...	6 July 1859	26 June 1866
Sir Stafford Northcote, Bt Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh GCB, PC , known as Sir Stafford Northcote, Bt, from 1851 to 1885, was a British Conservative politician...	6 July 1866	8 March 1867
The Duke of Richmond Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, and 1st Duke of Gordon KG PC , styled Lord Settrington until 1819 and Earl of March between 1819 and 1860, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:Born at Richmond House, London, he was the son of Charles...	8 March 1867	1 December 1868
John Bright John Bright John Bright , Quaker, was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with Richard Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was one of the greatest orators of his generation, and a strong critic of British foreign policy...	9 December 1868	14 January 1871
Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford Chichester Samuel Parkinson-Fortescue, 2nd Baron Clermont and 1st Baron Carlingford KP, PC , known as Chichester Fortescue until 1863 and as Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue between 1863 and 1874, Lord Carlingford from 1874 to 1887 and Lord Clermont after 1887, was a British statesman and Liberal...	14 January 1871	17 February 1874
Sir Charles Adderley	21 February 1874	4 April 1878
Viscount Sandon Dudley Ryder, 3rd Earl of Harrowby Dudley Francis Stuart Ryder, 3rd Earl of Harrowby PC, DL, JP , known as Viscount Sandon from 1847 to 1882, was a British peer and politician.-Political career:...	4 April 1878	21 April 1880
Joseph Chamberlain Joseph Chamberlain Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....	3 May 1880	9 June 1885
The Duke of Richmond Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, and 1st Duke of Gordon KG PC , styled Lord Settrington until 1819 and Earl of March between 1819 and 1860, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:Born at Richmond House, London, he was the son of Charles...	24 June 1885	19 August 1885
Hon. Edward Stanhope Edward Stanhope Edward Stanhope was a British Conservative Party politician.-Background and education:Born in London, Stanhope was the second son of Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope, by his wife Emily Harriet, daughter of General Sir Edward Kerrison, 1st Baronet...	19 August 1885	28 January 1886
A. J. Mundella	17 February 1886	20 July 1886
The Lord Stanley of Preston Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, PC , known as Frederick Stanley until 1886 and as Lord Stanley of Preston between 1886 and 1893, was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom who served as Colonial Secretary from 1885 to 1886 and the sixth Governor General...	3 August 1886	21 February 1888
Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bt	21 February 1888	11 August 1892
A. J. Mundella	18 August 1892	28 May 1894
James Bryce James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce OM, GCVO, PC, FRS, FBA was a British academic, jurist, historian and Liberal politician.-Background and education:...	28 May 1894	21 June 1895
Charles Ritchie	29 June 1895	7 November 1900

President of the Board of Trade (1900–1963)

	Took office	Left office
Gerald Balfour Gerald Balfour, 2nd Earl of Balfour Gerald William Balfour, 2nd Earl of Balfour PC , known as Gerald Balfour until 1930, was a British nobleman and Conservative politician.-Background and education:...	7 November 1900	12 March 1905
The Marquess of Salisbury James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, CB, PC , known as Viscount Cranborne from 1868 to 1903, was a British statesman.-Background and education:...	12 March 1905	4 December 1905
David Lloyd George David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...	10 December 1905	12 April 1908
Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...	12 April 1908	14 February 1910
Sydney Buxton Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton Sydney Charles Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton GCMG, PC was a British Liberal politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-Background and education:...	14 February 1910	11 February 1914
John Burns John Burns John Elliot Burns was an English trade unionist and politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly associated with London politics. He was a socialist and then a Liberal Member of Parliament and Minister. He was anti-alcohol and a keen sportsman...	11 February 1914	5 August 1914
Walter Runciman Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford PC was a prominent Liberal, later National Liberal politician in the United Kingdom from the 1900s until the 1930s.-Background:...	5 August 1914	5 December 1916
Sir Albert Stanley Albert Stanley, 1st Baron Ashfield Albert Henry Stanley, 1st Baron Ashfield, PC, TD , born Albert Henry Knattriess, was a British-American who was managing director, then chairman of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London from 1910 to 1933 and chairman of the London Passenger Transport Board from 1933 to 1947.Although...	10 December 1916	26 May 1919
Sir Auckland Geddes Auckland Geddes, 1st Baron Geddes Auckland Campbell-Geddes, 1st Baron Geddes GCMG, KCB, PC was a British academic, soldier, politician and diplomat...	26 May 1919	19 March 1920
Sir Robert Horne Robert Horne, 1st Viscount Horne of Slamannan Robert Stevenson Horne, 1st Viscount Horne of Slamannan GBE, PC, KC was a Scottish businessman, advocate and Unionist politician. He served under David Lloyd George as Minister of Labour between 1919 and 1920, as President of the Board of Trade between 1920 and 1921 and as Chancellor of the...	19 March 1920	1 April 1921
Stanley Baldwin Stanley Baldwin Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...	1 April 1921	19 October 1922
Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton Philip 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 October 1922	22 January 1924
Sidney Webb	22 January 1924	3 November 1924
Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton Philip 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...	6 November 1924	4 June 1929
William Graham	7 June 1929	24 August 1931
Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton Philip 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...	25 August 1931	5 November 1931
Walter Runciman Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford PC was a prominent Liberal, later National Liberal politician in the United Kingdom from the 1900s until the 1930s.-Background:...	5 November 1931	28 May 1937
Hon. Oliver Stanley Oliver Stanley Oliver Frederick George Stanley MC, PC was a prominent British Conservative politician who held many ministerial posts before his early death when it was expected he would soon assume higher office....	28 May 1937	5 January 1940
Sir Andrew Duncan	5 January 1940	3 October 1940
Oliver Lyttelton Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos KG, PC, DSO, MC was a British businessman who was brought into government during the Second World War, holding a number of ministerial posts.-Background, education and military career:...	3 October 1940	29 June 1941
Sir Andrew Duncan	29 June 1941	4 February 1942
John Jestyn Llewellin John Jestyn Llewellin, 1st Baron Llewellin Colonel John Jestyn Llewellin, 1st Baron Llewellin GBE, PC, MC, TD was a British army officer, Conservative Party politician and minister in Winston Churchill's war government.-Background:...	4 February 1942	22 February 1942
Hugh Dalton Hugh Dalton Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton, Baron Dalton PC was a British Labour Party politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1945 to 1947, when he was implicated in a political scandal involving budget leaks....	22 February 1942	23 May 1945
Oliver Lyttelton Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos KG, PC, DSO, MC was a British businessman who was brought into government during the Second World War, holding a number of ministerial posts.-Background, education and military career:...	25 May 1945	26 July 1945
Hon. Sir Stafford Cripps Stafford Cripps Sir Richard Stafford Cripps was a British Labour politician of the first half of the 20th century. During World War II he served in a number of positions in the wartime coalition, including Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Minister of Aircraft Production...	27 July 1945	29 September 1947
Harold Wilson Harold Wilson James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...	29 September 1947	23 April 1951
Sir Hartley Shawcross	24 April 1951	26 October 1951
Peter Thorneycroft Peter Thorneycroft George Edward Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft CH, PC , was a British Conservative Party politician. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1957 and 1958.-Biography:...	30 October 1951	13 January 1957
Sir David Eccles David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles David McAdam Eccles, 1st Baron Eccles and 1st Viscount Eccles, CH, KCVO, MP, PC was an English Conservative politician....	13 January 1957	14 October 1959
Reginald Maudling Reginald Maudling Reginald Maudling was a British politician who held several Cabinet posts, including Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had been spoken of as a prospective Conservative leader since 1955, and was twice seriously considered for the post; he was Edward Heath's chief rival in 1965...	14 October 1959	9 October 1961
Frederick Erroll Frederick Erroll, 1st Baron Erroll of Hale Frederick James Erroll, 1st Baron Erroll of Hale TD PC was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:...	9 October 1961	20 October 1963

Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development and President of the Board of Trade (1963–1964)

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office
	Edward Heath Edward Heath Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....		20 October 1963	16 October 1964

President of the Board of Trade (1964–1970)

	Took office	Left office
Douglas Jay Douglas Jay, Baron Jay Douglas Patrick Thomas Jay, Baron Jay, PC was a British Labour Party politician.Educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, Jay became a Fellow of All Souls between 1930 and 1937...	18 October 1964	29 August 1967
Anthony Crosland Anthony Crosland Charles Anthony Raven Crosland , otherwise Tony Crosland or C.A.R. Crosland, was a British Labour Party politician and author. He served as Member of Parliament for South Gloucestershire and later for Great Grimsby...	29 August 1967	6 October 1969
Roy Mason Roy Mason Roy Mason, Baron Mason of Barnsley, PC is a British Labour politician and former Cabinet minister.He was born in Royston, and grew up in Carlton, Barnsley in South Yorkshire...	6 October 1969	19 June 1970
Michael Noble Michael Noble, Baron Glenkinglas Michael Antony Cristobal Noble, Baron Glenkinglas PC was a Scottish Tory politician.Noble was the youngest son of Sir John Noble, 1st Baronet, and the grandson of Sir Andrew Noble, 1st Baronet, and was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford...	20 June 1970	15 October 1970

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade (1970–1974)

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office
	John Davies John Davies (businessman) John Emerson Harding Harding-Davies, MBE, PC was a successful British businessman who served as Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry during the 1960s...		15 October 1970	5 November 1972
	Peter Walker Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester Peter Edward Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester, MBE, PC , was British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet as the Environment Secretary , Trade and Industry Secretary , Agriculture Minister , Energy Secretary and Welsh Secretary...		5 November 1972	4 March 1974

Secretary of State for TradePresident of the Board of Trade

Tony Benn

Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...

Peter Shore

Peter David Shore, Baron Shore of Stepney PC was a British Labour politician and former Cabinet Minister, noted in part for his opposition to the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community. His idiosyncratic left-wing nationalism led to comparison with the French politician...

Edmund Dell

Edmund Emanuel Dell was a British politician and businessman.Dell was born in London, the son of a Jewish manufacturer. In World War II he served in the Rifle Corps and the Royal Artillery, leaving as a first lieutenant...

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Roy Hattersley

Roy Sydney George Hattersley, Baron Hattersley is a British Labour politician, author and journalist from Sheffield. He served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992.-Early life:...

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Keith Joseph

Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...

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John Nott

Sir John William Frederic Nott KCB is a former British Conservative Party politician prominent in the late 1970s and early 1980s...

John Biffen

William John Biffen, Baron Biffen, PC, DL , was a Conservative member of the House of Lords, who previously spent 36 years in the House of Commons.-Early life:...

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Patrick Jenkin, Baron Jenkin of Roding

Charles Patrick Fleeming Jenkin, Baron Jenkin of Roding, PC is a British Conservative politician and the great-grandson of the scientist Fleeming Jenkin....

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| 12 June 1983
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Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade (1983–2007)

	Took office	Left office
Cecil Parkinson Cecil Parkinson Cecil Parkinson, Baron Parkinson, PC , is a British Conservative politician and former Cabinet Minister.-Early life:...	12 June 1983	11 October 1983
Norman Tebbit Norman Tebbit Norman Beresford Tebbit, Baron Tebbit, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1981 to 1987 as Secretary of State for Employment...	16 October 1983	2 September 1985
Leon Brittan Leon Brittan, Baron Brittan of Spennithorne Sir Leon Brittan, Baron Brittan of Spennithorne, QC, PC, DL is a British barrister, politician and former Conservative Member of Parliament, as well as former member of the European Commission and former Home Secretary of the United Kingdom...	2 September 1985	22 January 1986
Paul Channon	24 January 1986	13 June 1987
The Lord Young of Graffham David Young, Baron Young of Graffham David Ivor Young, Baron Young of Graffham, PC DL is a British Conservative politician and businessman.-Early life:Young is the elder son of a businessman who imported flour and later set up as a manufacturer of coats for children...	13 June 1987	24 July 1989
Hon. Nicholas Ridley Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, PC was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Personal life:...	24 July 1989	13 July 1990
Peter Lilley Peter Lilley Peter Bruce Lilley MP is a British Conservative Party politician who has been a Member of Parliament MP since 1983. He currently represents the constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden and, prior to boundary changes, represented St Albans...	14 July 1990	10 April 1992
Michael Heseltine Michael Heseltine Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC is a British businessman, Conservative politician and patron of the Tory Reform Group. He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001 and was a prominent figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major... †	10 April 1992	5 July 1995
Ian Lang†	5 July 1995	2 May 1997
Margaret Beckett Margaret Beckett Margaret Mary Beckett is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Derby South since 1983, rising to become the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under John Smith, from 18 July 1992 to 12 May 1994, and briefly serving as Leader of the Party following Smith's death... †	2 May 1997	27 July 1998
Peter Mandelson Peter Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...	27 July 1998	23 December 1998
Stephen Byers Stephen Byers Stephen John Byers is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for North Tyneside from 1997 to 2010; in the previous parliament, from 1992, he represented Wallsend...	23 December 1998	8 June 2001
Patricia Hewitt Patricia Hewitt Patricia Hope Hewitt is an Australian-born British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Leicester West from 1997 until 2010. She served in the Cabinet until 2007, most recently as Health Secretary....	8 June 2001	6 May 2005
Alan Johnson Alan Johnson Alan Arthur Johnson is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that, he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was... ††	6 May 2005	5 May 2006
Alistair Darling Alistair Darling Alistair Maclean Darling is a Scottish Labour Party politician who has been a Member of Parliament since 1987, currently for Edinburgh South West. He served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2007 to 2010...	5 May 2006	27 June 2007

† - Primarily referred to as President of the Board of Trade, and not as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

†† - Alan Johnson

Alan Johnson

Alan Arthur Johnson is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that, he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was...

was initially announced on 6 May 2005, after the general election

United Kingdom general election, 2005

The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....

, as being "Secretary of State for Productivity, Energy and Industry and President of the Board of Trade", but after just a week, on 13 May, it was declared that the new title would not be used, after widespread derision of the new name, because the abbreviation for Johnson's title, Productivity, Energy and Industry Secretary, would have been "PENIS"

Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and President of the Board of Trade (2007–2009)

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office
	John Hutton		28 June 2007	3 October 2008
	The Lord Mandelson Peter Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...		3 October 2008	5 June 2009

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade (since 2009)

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office
	The Lord Mandelson Peter Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...		5 June 2009	11 May 2010
	Vince Cable		12 May 2010	Incumbent

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