Ronald Cross

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Ronald Cross, as United Kingdom High Commissioner to Australia, meeting with RAAF personnel, ca. 1944.  Cross is second from the right.
Sir Ronald Cross, as United Kingdom High Commissioner to Australia, meeting with RAAF personnel, ca. 1944. Cross is second from the right.

Sir Ronald Hibbert Cross, 1st Baronet, KCMG, KCVO, PC (May 9, 1896June 3, 1968) was a British politician and diplomat.

Cross was educated at Eton College and served in World War I.

At the 1931 general election, Cross was elected as Conservative Member of Parliament for Rossendale. He was sworn into the Privy Council in 1940.

Cross held a number of ministerial posts including Minister of Shipping and Minister of Economic Warfare during World War II. In 1941 he was sent to be High Commissioner in Australia. Cross returned to the United Kingdom in 1945 but lost his seat at that year's election.

In 1950, Cross was elected in the seat of Ormskirk, Lancashire. He later served as Governor of Tasmania from August 23, 1951 to June 4, 1958. He was appointed KCVO by Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Hobart during her Coronation Tour in 1954. He was later appointed KCMG. He was a popular Governor, well regarded in the island State.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Arthur Law
Member of Parliament for Rossendale
1931–1945
Succeeded by
George Henry Walker
Preceded by
Harold Wilson
Member of Parliament for Ormskirk
19501951
Succeeded by
Arthur Salter
Political offices
Preceded by
Hon. Arthur Hope
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
1937–1938
Succeeded by
Robert Grimston
New Title
New Office
Minister of Economic Warfare
1939–1940
Succeeded by
Hugh Dalton
Preceded by
Robert Hudson
Minister of Shipping
1940
Office Abolished
Government offices
Preceded by
Sir Hugh Binney
Governor of Tasmania
1951–1958
Succeeded by
The Lord Rowallan
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New Title
New Creation
Baronet
(of Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire)
1941–1968
Extinct