# Jean Nunn

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**Jean Josephine Nunn**, [CB](/source/Order_of_the_Bath), [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) (21 July 1916 – 24 November 1982) was a senior British [civil servant](/source/Civil_servant). She served as [Principal Private Secretary](/source/Principal_Private_Secretary) to [James Chuter Ede](/source/James_Chuter_Ede) and [Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe](/source/Sir_David_Maxwell-Fyfe), during their time as [Home Secretary](/source/Home_Secretary). She later served as Deputy Secretary of the [Cabinet Office](/source/Cabinet_Office). She was the first woman to be admitted to the [Order of the Bath](/source/Order_of_the_Bath).[1]

## Early life

Nunn was born on 21 July 1916 in [Abbotsham](/source/Abbotsham), Devon, to John Henry Nunn, and his wife, Doris Josephine Nunn (née Gregory). Her father, an officer in the Royal Field Artillery died during [World War I](/source/World_War_I). She was educated at St Leonard's School in [Ealing](/source/Ealing), and at the [Royal School for Daughters of Officers of the Army](/source/Royal_School_for_Daughters_of_Officers_of_the_Army), a girls [boarding school](/source/Boarding_school) in [Bath, Somerset](/source/Bath,_Somerset).[1]

In 1934, she [matriculated](/source/Matriculated) into [Girton College](/source/Girton_College,_Cambridge), [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge). She studied the History [Tripos](/source/Tripos) for both Part I and Part II. She graduated in 1937 [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) (BA), which was later promoted to [Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts_(Oxbridge_and_Dublin)) (MA).[1]

## Career

In 1938, Nunn joined the [Home Office](/source/Home_Office), having passed the examination for the administrative grade of [Civil Service](/source/Civil_Service_(United_Kingdom)). In 1941, she was appointed [private secretary](/source/Private_secretary) to [Sir Alexander Maxwell](/source/Alexander_Maxwell_(civil_servant)), the [Permanent Under-Secretary of State](/source/Permanent_Under-Secretary_of_State) of the Home Office. From 1947 to 1949, she served as Secretary to the [Royal Commission on the Press](/source/Royal_Commission_on_the_Press,_United_Kingdom).[1]

From 1949 to 1951, she served as [Principal Private Secretary](/source/Principal_Private_Secretary) to [James Chuter Ede](/source/James_Chuter_Ede), the then [Home Secretary](/source/Home_Secretary). She was the first woman to hold this appointment. When [Sir David Maxwell Fyfe](/source/David_Maxwell_Fyfe,_1st_Earl_of_Kilmuir) became Home Secretary, she remained on as his Principal Private Secretary.[1][2] In 1961, she was promoted to [Assistant Under-Secretary of State](/source/Permanent_Secretary) and appointed head of the Children's Department. In 1963, she moved to the [Cabinet Office](/source/Cabinet_Office).[1]

In 1963, she was promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Office.[1] She was the first woman to be appointed to that rank.[3] In 1970, she became ill and had to take early retirement. Had she not been, she was heading ultimately towards the leadership of one of the departments.[1]

## Later life

Having retired in 1970, she spent the next few years being cared for by a friend. The illness that ended her Civil Service career was [cerebral arteriosclerosis](/source/Cerebral_arteriosclerosis).[1]

On 24 November 1982, after years of declining health, she died in Oakhill House Nursing Home, [Horsham](/source/Horsham), Sussex.[1] A memorial service was held for her at [St Margaret's, Westminster](/source/St_Margaret's,_Westminster), on 18 January 1983. Attendees included senior civil servants and politicians.[4]

## Honours

In the 1966 [New Year Honours](/source/New_Year_Honours), she was appointed [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (CBE) for her services as Under-Secretary of the Cabinet Office.[5] In the 1970 New Year Honours, she was appointed [Companion of the Order of the Bath](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) (CB), for her services as Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Office.[6] This made her the first woman to be appointed to the Order of the Bath.[1][7]

## References

1. Allen, Philip (2004). ["Nunn, Jean Josephine (1916–1982)"](http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/66883). *Oxford Dictionary of National Biography*. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

1. "Latest Wills". *The Times*. 12 March 1983. p. 10.

1. Allen, Philip (6 November 1992). "Woman at the top.". *The Times*. p. 21.

1. "Memorial Services". *The Times*. 19 January 1983. p. 14.

1. No. 43854. 31 December 1965. pp. 9–10.

1. No. 45262. 31 December 1970. p. 3.

1. "New Year Honours for 20 Tory officials.". *The Times*. 1 January 1971. p. 1.

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