The president of the Board of Trade is head of the Board of Trade. A committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, it was first established as a temporary committee of inquiry in the 17th century that evolved gradually into a government department with diverse functions.[1] The current holder of the post is Jonathan Reynolds,[2] who is concurrently the secretary of state for business and trade.
| United Kingdom President of the Board of Trade | |
|---|---|
.svg) Royal Arms as used by His Majesty's Government | |
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| Board of Trade UK Export Finance | |
| Style | The Right Honourable (Formal prefix) President of the Board of Trade |
| Member of | British Cabinet Privy Council |
| Reports to | The Prime Minister |
| Seat | Westminster, London |
| Appointer | The Sovereign on advice of the Prime Minister |
| Term length | No fixed term |
History
editThe idea of a Board of Trade was first translated into action by Oliver Cromwell in 1655 when he appointed his son Richard Cromwell to head a body of Lords of the Privy Council, judges and merchants to consider measures to promote trade. Charles II 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 eight unofficial members, who did the majority of the work. The senior unofficial board member was the board president, 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. Still, from the early 19th century, it was usually a cabinet-level position.
In 2020, there was an unusual appointment of a deputy president to assist the president. Still, the holder remained only an adviser to the Board.[3] This appears to have been a one-off appointment, and this role no longer exists.[4] However, the president was previously assisted by the vice president.[5]
List of presidents of the Board of Trade
editFirst Lord of Trade (1672–1782)
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President of the Committee on Trade and Foreign Plantations (1784–1786)
edit| President of the Committee | Term of office | Party | Ministry | Monarch | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Townshend 1st Viscount Sydney |
5 March 1784 |
23 August 1786 |
Whig | Pitt I | George III (1760–1820) | ||
President of the Board of Trade (1786–1963)
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President of the Board of Trade (1963–present)
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Timeline
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Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Olson, Alison G. "The Board of Trade and Colonial Virginia". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ Diver, Tony (6 September 2022). "Liz Truss Cabinet latest: Kwasi Kwarteng appointed as Chancellor and Suella Braverman becomes Home Secretary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ Stuart, Graham. "Board of Trade: Membership". UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Board of Trade". UK Government. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 3, Officials of the Boards of Trade 1660-1870". British History Online. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Officials of the Boards of Trade 1660-1870 - Council of trade and plantations 1696-1782". Office-Holders in Modern Britain. Vol. 3.
- ^ May, Callum (22 July 2016). "Minister Greg Clark was briefly given wrong job". BBC News. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Tilbrook, Richard (15 July 2016). "Business Transacted and Orders Approved at the Privy Council Held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 15th July 2016" (PDF). Privy Council Office. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Tilbrook, Richard (19 July 2016). "Business Transacted and Orders Approved at the Privy Council Held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 19th July 2016" (PDF). Privy Council Office. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Liam Fox [@LiamFox] (24 July 2019). "Sadly, I will be leaving the Government. It has been a privilege to have served as Secretary of State for International Trade these past 3 years" (Tweet) – via Twitter.