Ministry of Magic
History Ministry of Magic and the Wizard's Council Nineteen years later

Minister for Magic

"You are blinded by the love of the office you hold, Cornelius!"
--Albus Dumbledore (GF36)

Minister for Magic

The Minister for Magic is the executive head of the government for the British Wizarding world. The Minister enjoys a position of great prominence and prestige. He or she represents the British magical community in international affairs and sets the tone for the policies of the Ministry of Magic. In addition to this, the Minister for Magic is known to the Muggle Prime Minister, and the two leaders communicate when necessary.  The Minister for Magic also presides over the Wizengamot.

The post of Minister for Magic was established with the creation of the Ministry of Magic after the International Statute of Secrecy went into effect. The first Minister, Ulick Gamp, took office in 1707.

Many people thought Albus Dumbledore would make a good Minister for Magic, but he was not interested in having the job.

Ministers for Magic

  • 1707-1718: Ulick Gamp (MoM, HBP1)
  • 1718-1726: Damocles Rowle (MoM)
  • 1726-1733: Perseus Parkinson (MoM)
  • 1733-1747: Eldritch Diggory (MoM, Wands)
  • 1747-1752: Albert Boot (MoM)
  • 1752-1752: Basil Flack (MoM)
  • 1752-1770: Hesphaestus Gore (MoM)
  • 1770-1781: Maximilian Crowdy (MoM)
  • 1781-1789: Porteus Knatchbull (MoM)
  • 1789-1798: Unctuous Osbert - said by many to be simply a puppet of powerful Septimus Malfoy (WW, MoM)
  • 1798-1811: Artemisia Lufkin, first witch to become Minister for Magic (FW, MoM)
  • 1811-1819: Grogan Stump, who came up with the Being/Beast/Spirit divisions of the Wizarding World (FB, FW, MoM)
  • 1819-1827: Josephina Flint (MoM)
  • 1827-1835: Ottaline Gambol (MoM, HogEx) instituted the Hogwarts Express
  • 1835-1841: Radolphus Lestrange - tried to shut down the Department of Mysteries (MoM)
  • 1841-1849: Hortensia Milliphutt (MoM)
  • 1849-1855: Evangeline Orpington, created the concealed platform at the newly built King's Cross Station (HogEx, Wands, MoM)
  • 1855-1858: Priscilla Dupont (MoM)
  • 1858-1865: Dugald McPhail (Pm: Hufflepuff House intro, MoM)
  • 1865-1903: Faris "Spout-Hole" Spavin (WOMBAT, MoM), was 147 when he left office
  • 1903-1912: Venusia Crickerly - ex-Auror, died of freak gardening accident (MoM)
  • 1912-1923: Archer Evermonde (MoM)
  • 1923-1925: Lorcan McLaird (Pm: Ravenclaw House intro, MoM)
  • 1925-1939: Hector Fawley (MoM)
  • 1939-1948: Leonard Spencer-Moon (MoM)
  • 1948-1959: Wilhemina Tuft (MoM)
  • 1959-1962: Ignatius Tuft (MoM) son of the previous Minister
  • 1962-1968: Nobby Leach (WOMBAT) The first Muggle-born Minister for Magic, Leach left office prematurely in 1968, many believe due to a shady plot involving Abraxas Malfoy (WW, MoM)
  • 1968-1975: Eugenia Jenkins (MoM)
  • 1975-1980: Harold Minchum (MoM)
  • 1980-1990: Millicent Bagnold (MoM)
  • 1990-1996: Cornelius Oswald Fudge
  • 1996-1997: Rufus Scrimgeour
  • 1997-1998: Pius Thicknesse (under the Imperius Curse and controlled by Death Eaters throughout his tenure)
  • 1998-unknown: Kingsley Shacklebolt (ushered in a new era of accountability for the Ministry)
  • unknown, serving in office during 2016-2020: Hermione Granger (CC)

An ugly portrait of the first Minister for Magic, Ulick Gamp, is stuck - magically and permanently - to a wall in the Muggle Prime Minister's office and acts as a messenger between the two leaders (HBP1).

The meetings between the Minister for Magic and the Muggle Prime Minister tend to be uneasy. The Prime Minister with whom Cornelius Fudge speaks in HBP1 is still struggling with the idea of magic being real, and Fudge remembers how the Prime Minister before this one tried to throw him out a window.

Related Entries

Commentary

Etymology

"Minister for ___" is a title commonly used within the bureaucracy of the real-life Muggle government of the United Kingdom for the top authority in a particular area of government activity (e.g. defense, transportation, etc.).

Notes

Rowling is a strong supporter of the Labour Party (source: Wikipedia). The opposing Conservative Party was in power when Rowling began writing the first book and all throughout Harry's life up to May 2nd, 1997 (exactly one year before the Battle of Hogwarts, as it happens). Rowling's frustration with her country's government through most of the 1990s may be reflected in her harsh, critical portrayal of Cornelius Fudge and other Ministry personnel. -BB

From the Web

Writing by J K Rowling on Pottermore: Ministers for Magic

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Ministry of Magic
Accidental Magic Reversal Squad Apparition Test Centre Auror Headquarters Beast Division Being Division Brain Room British and Irish Quidditch League Broom Regulatory Control Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures Committee on Experimental Charms Council of Magical Law Court Scribe Death Chamber Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures Department of International Magical Co-operation Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes Department of Magical Equipment Control Department of Magical Games and Sports Department of Magical Law Enforcement Department of Magical Transportation Department of Mysteries
Enchanted Window Extraordinary General Meeting Floo Network Authority Floo Regulation Panel Fountain of Magical Brethren Ghoul Task Force Goblin Liaison Office Hall of Prophecy Improper Use of Magic Office Invisibility Task-force Locked Room Magic is Might Statue Magical Law Enforcement Squad Magical Maintenance Department Minister for Magic Ministry of Magic licenses Ministry personnel Ministry regulations Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office Muggle-born Registration Commission Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee
Obliviator Headquarters Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects Office for the Removal of Curses, Jinxes, and Hexes Office of House Elf Relocation Office of Misinformation Official Gobstones Club Paper Aeroplanes / Paper Airplanes Planet Room Portkey Office Portrait of Ulick Gamp Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects Spirit Division Time Room Werewolf Capture Unit Werewolf Register Werewolf Registry Werewolf Support Services Wizarding Examinations Authority Wizengamot Wizengamot Administration Services
Timeline
Sources
Philosopher's Stone Chapter 5 Half-Blood Prince Chapter 1 Deathly Hallows Chapter 1
Daily Prophet newsletters Issue 2 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Famous Wizard Cards Cursed Child Cursed Child Act I
Cursed Child Act 2 Cursed Child Act 3 Cursed Child Act 4 MoM: Ministers of Magic (essay)