John Joseph Benedict Hunt, Baron Hunt of Tanworth, (23 October 1919 – 17 July 2008) was a British civil servant. Born in Minehead,

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to Major A. L. Hunt MC by his wife Daphne (''née'' Ashton Case), he was educated at Downside School and Magdalene College, Cambridge before joining the

Civil Service The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil service personnel hired rather than elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leadership. A civil service offic ...

in 1946. Hunt became

Cabinet Secretary A cabinet secretary is usually a senior official (typically a civil servant) who provides services and advice to a cabinet of ministers as part of the Cabinet Office. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powe ...

from 1973 to 1979, being the first

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to hold this post since its creation in 1916. Lord Hunt of Tanworth married firstly in 1941 The Hon. Magdalen Robinson (died 1971) and, by his second wife Madeleine, Lady Charles (''née'' Hume), was a brother-in-law of the late Basil Hume, Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster.

Honours and awards

Hunt was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1968 Birthday Honours, promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1973 Birthday Honours and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 1977 Birthday Honours. Hunt was created a

Life Peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the D ...

with the

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be ins ...

Baron Hunt of Tanworth, ''of

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in the County of Warwickshire'' on 8 February 1980, Lord Hunt was also appointed Officier de la Légion d'honneur by President François Mitterrand and Knight Commander of the Order of Pius IX by

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In popular culture

Hunt was one of the more powerful cabinet secretaries, and was seen by many political figures (especially in the Second Wilson Ministry) as an "imperialist" who relished expanding the power of his remit. His uncanny mastery of procedure and ability to steer meetings to the conclusion he wished made him a considerable source of inspiration for the character of Sir Humphrey Appleby on the television series '' Yes Minister'' and '' Yes, Prime Minister''.Seldon, A. (2016) The Cabinet Office, 1916–2016, London: Biteback Publishing, pp. 179–192

References

External links

*
''Burke's Peerage & Baronetage''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, John 1919 births 2008 deaths People educated at Downside School People from Minehead Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge English Roman Catholics Hunt of Tanworth Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II Cabinet Secretaries (United Kingdom) Officers of the Legion of Honour Knights Commander with Star of the Order of Pope Pius IX Life peers created by Elizabeth II