Assistant Postmasters General

A new position

In April 1906, Sydney Buxton, then the Postmaster General, wrote to the Prime Minister. He asked for assistance in dealing with the increasing volume of questions being submitted for the Postmaster General's personal attention.

The Earl of Granard, who was dealing with all Post Office business in the House of Lords, was asked to assist. The Earl agreed to help in any way he could, and this paved the way for the creation of the position of ‘Assistant Postmaster General’. No salary was paid to the Earl of Granard.

In August 1909, a bill was introduced in Parliament to create the office of ‘Post Office Parliamentary Secretary’ (this title was changed to ‘Assistant Postmaster General’ in the final draft). The holder of this position would be entitled to sit in the House of Commons. The Bill received Royal Assent in October 1909, and the position of Assistant Postmaster General was officially created.

Assistant Postmaster Generals: 1910-1969

The first person to become Assistant Postmaster General was Sir Henry Norman, who was appointed on 3 January 1910. In 1922, Herbert Pike Pease resigned when a new government entered Parliament. There was no Assistant Postmaster General from that time until November 1924 when Viscount Wolmer was appointed. The office of Assistant Postmaster General ceased to exist in September 1969 when the Post Office Corporation was established.

Further details of Post Office administration after 1969 are available here.

Sources

POST 58: Staff Nomination and Appointment 1737-1972

POST 59: Staff Establishments 1691-1983

POST 122: Registered Files, Minuted and Decentralised Papers 1895-1973

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