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The post was created on 1 April 1964 and combined the former cabinet positions of First Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Air. The separate offices of the Admiralty, War Office and the Air Ministry were abolished and their functions transferred to an expanded Ministry of Defence.

• Peter Thorneycroft ( April 1, 1964– October 16, 1964)
• Denis Healey ( October 16, 1964– June 19June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining. Events 1306 Forces of Earl of Pembroke defeat Bruce's Scottish army at the Battle of Methven 1846 First baseball game under recognizable modern, 1970Events January events January 1 Construction begins on Arcosanti, by Paolo Soleri, in Mayer, Arizona, located 65, miles north of Phoenix, Arizona. January 1 Unix epoch at 00:00:00 UTC. January 12 Biafra capitulates, ending the Nigerian civil war. January)
• Peter Carington, Lord Carrington ( June 20June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. Events 1214 University of Oxford receives its charter. 1685 Monmouth Rebellion: The Duke of Monmouth declared himself King of England at Bridgwa, 1970– January 8, 1974)
• Ian Gilmour ( January 8, 1974– March 4, 1974)
• Roy Mason ( March 5, 1974– September 10, 1976)
• Frederick Mulley ( September 10, 1976– May 4, 1979)
• Francis Pym ( May 5, 1979– January 5, 1981)
• John Nott ( January 5, 1981– January 6, 1983)
• Michael Heseltine ( January 6, 1983– January 7, 1986) (Resigned)
• George Younger ( January 9, 1986– July 24, 1989)
• Tom King ( July 24, 1989– April 10, 1992)
• Malcolm Rifkind ( April 10, 1992– July 5, 1995)
• Michael Portillo ( July 5, 1995– May 2, 1997)
• George Robertson (Lord Robertson of Port Ellen) ( May 3, 1997– October 11, 1999)
• Geoff Hoon ( October 11, 1999—)