Preceded by Hugh Binney Nationality British | Political party Conservative Name Sir Cross, | |
 | ||
Succeeded by Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan Full Name Ronald Hibbert Cross Born 9 May 1896
Pendleton, Lancashire, England ( 1896-05-09 ) Died 3 June 1968(1968-06-03) (aged 72)
Westminster, London Spouse(s) Louise Marion Green-Emmott | ||
Sir Ronald Hibbert Cross, 1st Baronet (9 May 1896 – 3 June 1968) was a British politician and diplomat.
Life
Cross was educated at Ludgrove Preparatory School and then Eton College. He served with the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry and as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps in World War I.
At the 1931 general election, Cross was elected as Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Rossendale. He served successively as government whip (1935), Junior Lord of the Treasury (1937), Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (1937–38) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (1938-39). He was sworn into the Privy Council in 1940.
During World War II, Cross served as Minister of Economic Warfare (1939–40) and Minister of Shipping (1940–41). In 1941, he was removed as Minister of Shipping after his performance was criticized by the press. The same year, he was appointed British High Commissioner to Australia and created a Baronet, of Bolton-le-Moors in the County Palatine of Lancaster. 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 23 August 1951 to 4 June 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.
Cross married Louise Marion Green-Emmott in 1925. They had four daughters and a son who predeceased him.
Mount Ronald Cross in western Tasmania is named after him.