R. A. Cross, 1st Viscount Cross

The Rt. Hon. R.A. Cross

Richard Assheton Cross, 1st Viscount Cross, GCB GCSI PC (30 May 1823 – 8 January 1914) was a British statesman and Conservative politician.

He was born in Red Scar, near Preston, Lancashire. He first came to prominence as Home Secretary in Disraeli's second government (1874–1880). He retained this office in Lord Salisbury's caretaker government (1885–1886), but then moved over to the India Office (1886–1892). He was very briefly Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in Salisbury's third government (1895–1902) before being elevated to the sinecure post Lord Privy Seal. In 1886 he was created a viscount. In 1898 he chaired the Joint Select Committee on Electrical Energy (Generating Stations and Supply), which recommended granting compulsory purchase powers for the building of power stations. He retired in 1900.

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Robert Townley Parker and Sir George Strickland	Member of Parliament for Preston (with Charles Pascoe Grenfell) 1857–1862	Succeeded by Charles Pascoe Grenfell and Thomas Fermor-Hesketh
Preceded by New seat	Member of Parliament for Lancashire South West (with Charles Turner 1868–1875; John Ireland Blackburne 1875–1885) 1868–1885	Succeeded by Abolished
Preceded by New seat	Member of Parliament for Newton 1885–1886	Succeeded by Thomas Wodehouse Legh
Political offices
Preceded by Robert Lowe	Home Secretary 1874–1880	Succeeded by Sir William Harcourt
Preceded by Sir William Harcourt	Home Secretary 1885–1886	Succeeded by Hugh Childers
Preceded by The Earl of Kimberley	Secretary of State for India 1886–1892	Succeeded by The Earl of Kimberley
Preceded by The Lord Tweedmouth	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1895	Succeeded by Sir Henry James
Preceded by The Lord Tweedmouth	Lord Privy Seal 1895–1900	Succeeded by The Marquess of Salisbury
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by New Creation	Viscount Cross 1886–1914	Succeeded by Richard Assheton Cross