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Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom cabinet position, responsible for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The post was originally named President of the Board of Agriculture and was created in 1889. In 1903, an Act was passed to transfer to the new styled Board of Agriculture and Fisheries certain powers and duties relating to the fishing industry, and the post was renamed President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.

In 1919, it was renamed Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. In 1954, the separate position of Minister of Food was merged into the post and it was renamed Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Successive Prime Ministers asked the Minister to upgrade the Ministry to a Department of State taking the title 'Secretary of State', but all refused.

On 8 June 2001, the Ministry merged with Secretary of State for the Environment into the office of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. However, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was not formally abolished until The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Dissolution) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/794) came into force on 27 March 2002.

Until the Dissolution Order also made the necessary amendments to the law when it did come into force, many statutory functions were still vested in the holder of the office of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, rather in the Secretary of State at large. For that reason, in a final twist, Margaret Beckett had to be appointed formally as the last ever Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as well as becoming the first Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

List of Agriculture Ministers and Board Presidents

Presidents of the Board of Agriculture (1889–1903)

Post created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889.[2]

President of the Board of Agriculture [[CITE|3|https://openlibrary.org/search?q=Cook%2C%20Chris%3B%20Keith%2C%20Brendan%20%281975%29.%20*British%20Histo]]
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePartyMinistry
Young1stViscountChaplin.jpgThe Right Honourable Henry Chaplin
MP for Sleaford
(1840–1923)
9 September
1889
11 August
1892
ConservativeSalisbury II
Herbert Gardner, Vanity Fair, 1886-04-07.jpgThe Right Honourable Herbert Gardner
MP for Saffron Walden
(1846–1921)
25 August
1892
21 June
1895
LiberalGladstone IV
Rosebery
Walter Hume Long, 1st Viscount Long portrait.jpgThe Right Honourable Walter Long
MP for Liverpool West Derby
(1854–1924)
4 July
1895
16 November
1900
ConservativeSalisbury (III & IV)
(Con.–Lib.U.)
Robert Hanbury.JPGThe Right Honourable Robert William Hanbury
MP for Preston
(1845–1903)
16 November
1900
28 April
1903
Conservative
Balfour
(Con.–Lib.U.)

Presidents of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (1903–1919)

Board of Agriculture superseded by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1903.

President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries [[CITE|3|https://openlibrary.org/search?q=Cook%2C%20Chris%3B%20Keith%2C%20Brendan%20%281975%29.%20*British%20Histo]][[CITE|4|https://openlibrary.org/search?q=Butler%2C%20David%3B%20Butler%2C%20Gareth%20%281994%29.%20*British%20Pol]]
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePartyMinistry
4thEarlOfOnslow.jpgThe Right Honourable William Onslow 4th Earl of Onslow GCMG PC DL
(1853–1911)
19 May
1903
12 March
1905
ConservativeBalfour
(Con.–Lib.U.)
Ailwyn Fellowes.JPGThe Right Honourable Ailwyn Fellowes
MP for Ramsey
(1855–1924)
12 March
1905
4 December
1905
Conservative
1stMarquessOfLincolnshire.jpgThe Right Honourable Charles Wynn-Carington 1st Earl Carrington KG GCMG PC JP DL
(1843–1928)
10 December
1905
23 October
1911
Liberal  Campbell-Bannerman  
Asquith (I–III)
Portrait of Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford.jpgThe Right Honourable Walter Runciman
MP for Dewsbury
(1870–1949)
23 October
1911
6 August
1914
Liberal
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Auberon Herbert 9th Baron Lucas PC
(1876–1916)
6 August
1914
25 May
1915
Liberal
Caricature of William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne (1859-1942).jpgThe Right Honourable William Palmer 2nd Earl of Selborne KG GCMG PC
(1859–1942)
25 May
1915
11 July
1916
ConservativeAsquith Coalition
(Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
Crawford27.JPGThe Right Honourable David Lindsay 27th Earl of Crawford PC FSA
(1871–1940)
11 July
1916
10 December
1916
Conservative
The Right Honourable Rowland Prothero MVO
MP for Oxford University
(1851–1937)
10 December
1916
15 August
1919
ConservativeLloyd George (I & II)
(Lib.–Con.–Lab.)

Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries, (1919–1954)

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries [[CITE|4|https://openlibrary.org/search?q=Butler%2C%20David%3B%20Butler%2C%20Gareth%20%281994%29.%20*British%20Pol]]
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePartyMinistry
Viscount Lee of Fareham.JPGThe Right Honourable Arthur Lee 1st Baron Lee of Fareham GBE KCB PC
(1868–1947)
15 August
1919
13 February
1921
ConservativeLloyd George (I & II)
(Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
Arthur Griffith-Boscawen Westminster1899.jpgThe Right Honourable Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen
MP for Taunton
(1865–1946)
13 February
1921
24 October
1922
Conservative
Robert Sanders.JPGThe Right Honourable Sir Robert Sanders Bt
MP for Wells
(1867–1940) [1]
24 October
1922
22 January
1924
ConservativeLaw
Baldwin I
Noel Noel-Buxton.jpgThe Right Honourable Noel Buxton
MP for North Norfolk
(1869–1948)
22 January
1924
3 November
1924
LabourMacDonald I
Lord Halifax 1937.jpgThe Right Honourable E. F. L. Wood
MP for Ripon
(1881–1959)
6 November
1924
4 November
1925
ConservativeBaldwin II
Walter Guinness, Lord Moyne.jpgThe Right Honourable Walter Guinness DSO
MP for Ripon
(1880–1944)
4 November
1925
4 June
1929
Conservative
Noel Noel-Buxton.jpgThe Right Honourable Noel Buxton
MP for North Norfolk
(1869–1948)
7 June
1929
5 June
1930
LabourMacDonald II
Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison.jpgThe Right Honourable Christopher Addison FRCS
MP for Swindon
(1869–1951)
5 June
1930
24 August
1931
Labour
SirJohnGilmour.jpgThe Right Honourable Sir John Gilmour Bt DSO TD JP DL
MP for Glasgow Pollok
(1876–1940)
25 August
1931
28 September
1932
ConservativeNational I
(N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
National II
(N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Walter Elliot MC FRSE
MP for Glasgow Kelvingrove
(1888–1958)
28 September
1932
29 October
1936
Conservative
National III
(Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
WilliamMorrisonDunrossil cropped.jpgThe Right Honourable William Morrison MC QC
MP for Cirencester and Tewkesbury
(1893–1961)
29 October
1936
29 January
1939
Conservative
National IV
(Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith GBE
MP for Petersfield
(1899–1977)
29 January
1939
14 May
1940
Conservative
Chamberlain War
(Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Robert Hudson CH
MP for Southport
(1886–1957)
14 May
1940
26 July
1945
ConservativeChurchill War
(All parties)
Churchill Caretaker
(Con.–N.Lib.)
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Tom Williams
MP for Don Valley
(1888–1967)
3 August
1945
26 October
1951
LabourAttlee (I & II)
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Sir Thomas Dugdale Bt TD
MP for Richmond
(1897–1977)
31 October
1951
20 July
1954
ConservativeChurchill III
Derick Heathcoat-Amory cropped.pngThe Right Honourable Derick Heathcoat-Amory TD
MP for Tiverton
(1899–1981)
28 July
1954
18 October
1954
Conservative

Ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1954–2001)

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food [[CITE|4|https://openlibrary.org/search?q=Butler%2C%20David%3B%20Butler%2C%20Gareth%20%281994%29.%20*British%20Pol]]
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePartyMinistryRef.
Derick Heathcoat-Amory cropped.pngThe Right Honourable Derick Heathcoat-Amory TD
MP for Tiverton
(1899–1981)
18 October
1954
6 January
1958
ConservativeChurchill III[5]
Eden
Macmillan (I & II)
No image.svgThe Right Honourable John Hare OBE
MP for Sudbury and Woodbridge
(1911–1982)
6 January
1958
27 July
1960
Conservative[6]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Christopher Soames CBE
MP for Bedford
(1920–1987)
27 July
1960
16 October
1964
Conservative[7]
Douglas-Home
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Fred Peart
MP for Workington
(1914–1988)
16 October
1964
6 April
1968
LabourWilson (I & II)[8]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Cledwyn Hughes
MP for Anglesey
(1916–2001)
6 April
1968
19 June
1970
Labour[9]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Jim Prior
MP for Lowestoft
(1927–2016)
20 June
1970
5 November
1972
ConservativeHeath[10]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Joseph Godber
MP for Grantham
(1914–1980)
5 November
1972
4 March
1974
Conservative[11]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Fred Peart
MP for Workington
(1914–1988)
5 March
1974
10 September
1976
LabourWilson (III & IV)
Callaghan
No image.svgThe Right Honourable John Silkin
MP for Worcester
(1923–1987)
10 September
1976
4 May
1979
Labour[12]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Peter Walker MBE
MP for Worcester
(1932–2010)
5 May
1979
11 June
1983
ConservativeThatcher I[13]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Michael Jopling
MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale
(1930–)
11 June
1983
13 June
1987
ConservativeThatcher II[14]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable John MacGregor OBE
MP for South Norfolk
(1937–)
13 June
1987
24 July
1989
ConservativeThatcher III[15]
John Gummer 2006-03-01.jpgThe Right Honourable John Gummer
MP for Suffolk Coastal
(1939–)
24 July
1989
27 May
1993
Conservative[16]
Major I
Major II
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Gillian Shephard
MP for South West Norfolk
(1940–)
27 May
1993
20 July
1994
Conservative[17]
William Waldegrave visiting University of Salford 1981 cropped.jpgThe Right Honourable William Waldegrave
MP for Bristol West
(1946–)
20 July
1994
5 July
1995
Conservative[18]
DouglasHogg 20040917.jpgThe Right Honourable Douglas Hogg QC
MP for Grantham
(1945–)
5 July
1995
2 May
1997
Conservative[19]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Jack Cunningham DL
MP for Copeland
(1939–)
3 May
1997
27 July
1998
LabourBlair (I–III)[20]
No image.svgThe Right Honourable Nick Brown
MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
(1950–)
27 July
1998
8 June
2001
Labour[21]
Margaret Beckett May 2007.jpgThe Right Honourable Margaret Beckett
MP for Derby South
(1943–)
8 June
2001
27 March
2002
Labour[22]

From 2002 the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was dissolved and ministerial responsibility formerly transferred to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

References

[1]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgMP for Bridgwater until 1923; MP for Wells from 1924.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgBoard of Agriculture Act 1889 (52 and 53 Vict c 30)
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgCook, Chris; Keith, Brendan (1975). British Historical Facts 1830–1900. London and Basingstoke: The Macmillan Press Ltd. p. 52.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[4]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgButler, David; Butler, Gareth (1994). British Political Facts 1900–1994. London and Basingstoke: The Macmillan Press Ltd. pp. 53–54.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[5]
Citation Linkhansard.millbanksystems.com"Mr Derick Heathcoat-Amory". Hansard 1803–2005. UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[6]
Citation Linkhansard.millbanksystems.com"Mr John Hare". Hansard 1803–2005. UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[7]
Citation Linkhansard.millbanksystems.com"Mr Christopher Soames". Hansard 1803–2005. UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[8]
Citation Linkhansard.millbanksystems.com"Mr Thomas Peart". Hansard 1803–2005. UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[9]
Citation Linkhansard.millbanksystems.com"Mr Cledwyn Hughes". Hansard 1803–2005. UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Lord Prior". UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[11]
Citation Linkhansard.millbanksystems.com"Mr Joseph Godber". Hansard 1803–2005. UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Rt Hon John Silkin". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"The Lord Walker of Worcester". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Lord Jopling". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[15]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Lord Deben". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[17]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Baroness Shephard of Northwold". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Lord Waldegrave of North Hill". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Viscount Hailsham". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.parliament.uk"Lord Cunningham of Felling". UK Parliament. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
Oct 1, 2019, 3:52 AM