View source for Secretary of State for Air

{{short description|Former cabinet-level position in British government}}
{{For|the RAF personnel management appointment|Air Secretary}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                     = Secretary
| body                     = State for Air
| native_name              = 
| insignia                 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
| insigniasize             = 
| insigniacaption          = Royal Arms as used by [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]]
| flag                     = 
| flagsize                 = 
| flagborder               = 
| flagcaption              = 
| image                    = The Air Ministry, 1939-1945. CH10270 – Edit 1.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| alt                      = 
| imagecaption             = '''Longest serving<br />[[Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso]]'''<br/>11 May 1940 – 23 May 1945
| department               = [[Air Ministry]]
| style                    = 
| type                     = 
| status                   = Abolished<br/>Formerly, [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of state]]
| abbreviation             = 
| member_of                = [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|British Cabinet]]<br />[[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|Privy Council]]
| reports_to               = 
| residence                = 
| seat                     = [[Westminster]], [[London]]
| nominator                = 
| appointer                = The [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British Monarch]]<br />{{small|on advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]}}
| appointer_qualified      = 
| termlength               = No fixed term
| termlength_qualified     = 
| constituting_instrument  = 
| precursor                = [[President of the Air Council]]
| formation                = 10 January 1919
| first                    = [[Winston Churchill]]
| last                     = [[Hugh Fraser (British politician)|Hugh Fraser]]
| abolished                = 1 April 1964
| succession               = [[Secretary of State for Defence]]
| unofficial_names         = 
| deputy                   = 
| salary                   = 
| website                  = 
}}
[[File:Air Council in session WWII IWM CH 966.jpg|thumb|Air Council in session at the Air Ministry in July 1940.]]
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[File:Archibaldsinclair.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso|Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bt]], later Viscount Thurso, who served as Secretary of State for Air between 1940 and 1945.]] -->
The '''Secretary of State for Air''' was a [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|secretary of state]] position in the [[British government]] that existed from 1919 to 1964. The person holding this position was in charge of the [[Air Ministry]]. The Secretary of State for Air was supported by the [[Under-Secretary of State for Air]].

==History==
The position was created on 10 January 1919 to manage the [[Royal Air Force]]. In 1946, the three posts of [[Secretary of State for War]], [[First Lord of the Admiralty]], and Secretary of State for Air became formally subordinated to that of [[Minister of Defence (UK)|Minister of Defence]], which had itself been created in 1940 for the co-ordination of defence and security issues.  On 1 April 1964, the Air Ministry was incorporated into the newly created united [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], and the position of Secretary of State for Air was abolished.

{{Principal political leaders of the British Armed Forces}}

== List of leaders ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|-
! colspan=99 | 

===Chairman of the Joint War Air Committee, 1916===

|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2| Chairman
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| Political party
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:17th Earl of Derby.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|Edward Stanley<br/>17th '''Earl of Derby''']]
| {{Small|February}}<br/>1916
| {{Small|February}}<br/>1916{{Efn|name=resigned|Resigned.}}
| {{age in years, months and days|15 May 1916|3 January 1917}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! colspan=99 | 

===Presidents of the Air Board, 1916–1917===

|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2| President
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| Political party
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Curzon2.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|George Curzon<br/>1st '''Earl Curzon of Kedleston''']]
| {{Small|15 May}}<br/>1916
| {{Small|3 January}}<br/>1917
| {{age in years, months and days|3 January 1917|26 November 1917}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:CowdrayViscount.jpg|75px]]
| [[Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray|Weetman Pearson<br/>1st '''Viscount Cowdray''']]
| {{Small|3 January}}<br/>1917
| {{Small|26 November}}<br/>1917
| {{age in years, months and days|3 January 1917|26 November 1917}}
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|-
! colspan=99 | 

===Presidents of the Air Council, 1917–1919===

|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2| President
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| Political party
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
|
| [[File:Lord Rothermere.jpg|75px]]
| [[Harold Sidney Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere|Harold Harmsworth<br/>1st '''Baron Rothermere''']]
| {{Small|26 November}}<br/>1917
| {{Small|26 April}}<br/>1918
| {{age in years, months and days|26 November 1917|26 April 1918}}
|
|-
|
| [[File:Lord Weir LCCN2014707575 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[William Weir, 1st Viscount Weir|William Weir<br/>1st '''Baron Weir''']]
| {{Small|26 April}}<br/>1918
| {{Small|10 January}}<br/>1919
| {{age in years, months and days|26 April 1918|10 January 1919}}
|
|-
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Jack Seely.jpg|75px]]
| [[J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone|'''J. E. B. Seely''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Ilkeston (UK Parliament constituency)|Ilkeston]]}}
| {{Small|January}}<br/>1919
| {{Small|November}}<br/>1919{{Efn|name=resigned}}
| {{age in years, months and days|January 1919|November 1919}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! colspan=99 | 

===Secretaries of State for Air, 1919–1964===

|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2| Secretary
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| Political party
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Churchill 1904 Q 42037.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Winston Churchill]]'''{{Efn|Also [[Secretary of State for War]].}}<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee]]}}
| {{Small|10 January}}<br/>1919
| {{Small|1 April}}<br/>1921
| {{age in years, months and days|10 January 1919|1 April 1921}}
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Frederick Edward Guest old photo-crop.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Frederick Edward Guest]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[East Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|East Dorset]]}}
| {{Small|1 April}}<br/>1921
| {{Small|19 October}}<br/>1922
| {{age in years, months and days|1 April 1921|19 October 1922}}
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain.jpg|75px]]
| [[Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood|Sir '''Samuel Hoare''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Chelsea (UK Parliament constituency)|Chelsea]]}}
| {{Small|31 October}}<br/>1922
| {{Small|22 January}}<br/>1924
| {{age in years, months and days|31 October 1922|22 January 1924}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:LordBirdwood.jpg|75px]]
| [[Christopher Birdwood Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson|Christopher Thomson<br/>1st '''Baron Thomson''']]
| {{Small|22 January}}<br/>1924
| {{Small|3 November}}<br/>1924
| {{age in years, months and days|22 January 1924|3 November 1924}}
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain.jpg|75px]]
| [[Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood|Sir '''Samuel Hoare''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Chelsea (UK Parliament constituency)|Chelsea]]}}
| {{Small|6 November}}<br/>1924
| {{Small|4 June}}<br/>1929
| {{age in years, months and days|6 November 1924|4 June 1929}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:LordBirdwood.jpg|75px]]
| [[Christopher Birdwood Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson|Christopher Thomson<br/>1st '''Baron Thomson''']]
| {{Small|7 June}}<br/>1929
| {{Small|5 October}}<br/>1930[[R101|†]]
| {{age in years, months and days|7 June 1929|5 October 1930}}
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sir Wm. MacKenzie LCCN2014717249.jpg|102x102px]]
| [[William Warrender Mackenzie, 1st Baron Amulree|William Mackenzie<br/>1st '''Baron Amulree''']]
| {{Small|14 October}}<br/>1930
| {{Small|5 November}}<br/>1931
| {{age in years, months and days|14 October 1930|5 November 1931}}
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Charles (Charlie) Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry.jpg|75px]]
| [[Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry|Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart<br/>7th '''Marquess of Londonderry''']]
| {{Small|5 November}}<br/>1931
| {{Small|7 June}}<br/>1935
| {{age in years, months and days|5 November 1931|7 June 1935}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Swinton.jpg|75px]]
| [[Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton|Philip Cunliffe-Lister<br/>1st '''Viscount Swinton''']]
| {{Small|7 June}}<br/>1935
| {{Small|16 May}}<br/>1938
| {{age in years, months and days|7 June 1935|16 May 1938}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Kingsley Wood cropped.jpg|75px]]
| [[Kingsley Wood|Sir '''Kingsley Wood''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Woolwich West (UK Parliament constituency)|Woolwich West]]}}
| {{Small|16 May}}<br/>1938
| {{Small|3 April}}<br/>1940
| {{age in years, months and days|16 May 1938|3 April 1940}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain.jpg|75px]]
| [[Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood|Sir '''Samuel Hoare''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Chelsea (UK Parliament constituency)|Chelsea]]}}
| {{Small|3 April}}<br/>1940
| {{Small|11 May}}<br/>1940
| {{age in years, months and days|3 April 1940|11 May 1940}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:The Air Ministry, 1939-1945. CH10270 – Edit 1.jpg|75px]]
| [[Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso|Sir '''Archibald Sinclair''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Caithness and Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness and Sutherland]]}}
| {{Small|11 May}}<br/>1940
| {{Small|23 May}}<br/>1945
| {{age in years, months and days|11 May 1940|23 May 1945}}
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Harold Macmillan in 1942.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Harold Macmillan]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Stockton-on-Tees (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockton-on-Tees]]}}
| {{Small|25 May}}<br/>1945
| {{Small|26 July}}<br/>1945
| {{age in years, months and days|25 May 1945|26 July 1945}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:William Wedgewood-Benn.jpg|75px]]
| [[William Wedgwood Benn, 1st Viscount Stansgate|William Wedgwood Benn<br/>1st '''Viscount Stansgate''']]
| {{Small|3 August}}<br/>1945
| {{Small|4 October}}<br/>1946
| {{age in years, months and days|3 August 1945|4 October 1946}}
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Philip Noel-Baker 1942.jpg|75px]]
| [[Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker|'''Philip Noel-Baker''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Derby (UK Parliament constituency)|Derby]]}}
| {{Small|4 October}}<br/>1946
| {{Small|7 October}}<br/>1947
| {{age in years, months and days|4 October 1946|7 October 1947}}
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|
| [[Arthur Henderson, Baron Rowley|'''Arthur Henderson''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Kingswinford (UK Parliament constituency)|Kingswinford]] before 1950<br/>MP for [[Rowley Regis and Tipton (UK Parliament constituency)|Rowley Regis and Tipton]]  after 1950}}
| {{Small|7 October}}<br/>1947
| {{Small|26 October}}<br/>1951
| {{age in years, months and days|7 October 1947|26 October 1951}}
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord De L'Isle.jpg|75px]]
| [[William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle|William Sidney<br/>6th '''Baron De L'Isle and Dudley''']]
| {{Small|31 October}}<br/>1951
| {{Small|20 December}}<br/>1955
| {{age in years, months and days|31 October 1951|20 December 1955}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|
| [[Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl|'''Nigel Birch''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[West Flintshire (UK Parliament constituency)|West Flintshire]]}}
| {{Small|20 December}}<br/>1955
| {{Small|16 January}}<br/>1957
| {{age in years, months and days|20 December 1955|16 January 1957}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| [[George Ward, 1st Viscount Ward of Witley|'''George Ward''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Worcester (UK Parliament constituency)|Worcester]]}}
| {{Small|16 January}}<br/>1957
| {{Small|28 October}}<br/>1960
| {{age in years, months and days|16 January 1957|28 October 1960}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Julian Amery 1965-11-10 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Julian Amery]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston North]]}}
| {{Small|28 October}}<br/>1960
| {{Small|16 July}}<br/>1962
| {{age in years, months and days|28 October 1960|16 July 1962}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.svg|75px]]
| [[Hugh Fraser (British politician)|'''Hugh Fraser''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Stafford and Stone (UK Parliament constituency)|Stafford and Stone]]}}
| {{Small|16 July}}<br/>1962
| {{Small|1 April}}<br/>1964
| {{age in years, months and days|16 July 1962|1 April 1964}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==External links==
*[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/offices/secretary-of-state-for-air Hansard – Secretary of State for Air]

[[Category:Secretaries of state for air (UK)| ]]
[[Category:Ministers of defence of the United Kingdom|Air]]
[[Category:20th-century history of the Royal Air Force]]
[[Category:1919 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1964 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct ministerial offices in the United Kingdom]]