The Minister of Shipping was a British government post created in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fighti ...

and again in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. In 1941 it was merged into the position of

Minister of Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government ag ...

which was then renamed Minister of War Transport.

Minister of Shipping (1916-21)

* Sir Joseph Maclay, Bt (16 December 1916 – 31 March 1921), Shipping Controller

Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping (1916-21)

As Sir Joseph Maclay was not a Member of Parliament, it was necessary to appoint a Parliamentary Secretary to represent him in the Commons. He was made Baron Maclay after he left office. *Sir Leo Chiozza Money (22 December 1916 – 10 January 1919) * Leslie Orme Wilson (10 January 1919 – 31 March 1921)

Ministers of Shipping (1939-41)

* Sir John Gilmour (13 October 1939 – 30 March 1940) (died) * Robert Hudson (3 April – 14 May 1940) * Ronald Cross (14 May 1940 – 1 May 1941)

Departmental history

Royal Navy

The responsibilities overseen by the minister included what had been the Transport Board that was part of the Navy Board until 1832. Oversight for the provision of naval transportation then passed to the Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services until 1862 when it was transferred to the

Board of Admiralty The Board of Admiralty (1628–1964) was established in 1628 when Charles I put the office of Lord High Admiral into commission. As that position was not always occupied, the purpose was to enable management of the day-to-day operational requi ...

who set up a

Transport Department The Transport Department of the Government of Hong Kong is a department of the civil service responsible for transportation-related policy in Hong Kong. The department is under the Transport and Logistics Bureau. The Transport Department was cr ...

. By 1890 it was renamed as the Department of the Director of Transports. In 1917 once again as the Transport Department it was temporarily absorbed into the Ministry of Shipping, and the Admiralty seconded an officer to the ministry with the title of Director of Transports and Shipping. In 1916 a Shipping Controller was appointed to regulate merchant shipping for government purposes and to coordinate wartime shipping requirements. A Ministry of Shipping was established following the Defence Regulations of June 1917. The Ministry of Shipping, had responsibility for 'sea transport of military forces and supplies, food and raw materials for industry, Atlantic, Gibraltar and Russian convoys, shipping losses and tonnage requirements, shipbuilding and other matters relating to wartime British and allied control of merchant shipping'. In 1917, the ministry embarked on a large scale requisitioning scheme of British ships and became responsible for the maintenance and operation of a vast merchant fleet. After the end of the war in November 1918 the main functions of the ministry were the transport of troops, prisoners of war and material back to the United Kingdom, the disposal or release of requisitioned ships, and the reconditioning of vessels for release back to their private owners. The ministry was dissolved on 31 March 1921. The Ministry of Shipping was reinstated with the outbreak of war in September 1939; it assumed responsibility for specific Sea Transport Department under auspice of the Admiralty till 1941 when it was merged with the

Ministry of Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government age ...

to form the

Ministry of War Transport The Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) was a department of the British Government formed early in the Second World War to control transportation policy and resources. It was formed by merging the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Transport ...

. In 1946 the

was reestablished; it then became responsible for naval transportation until 1970 when that responsibility was assumed once more by the

Board of Trade The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for International Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...

References

{{Reflist Defunct ministerial offices in the United Kingdom

Shipping Freight transport, also referred as ''Freight Forwarding'', is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ex ...

1916 establishments in the United Kingdom 1921 disestablishments in the United Kingdom 1939 establishments in the United Kingdom 1941 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Shipping in the United Kingdom Shipping ministers