Who was Sir Eric James Drummond?

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Delegates in formal attire seated closely together at an international League of Nations conference, circa 1930. — League of Nations Delegates attending a League of Nations meeting, c. 1930.

Sir Eric James Drummond (1876–1951) was the first secretary-general of the League of Nations, serving in that capacity from 1919 to 1933.1

He is credited with establishing the Secretariat as a strictly international institution. By working with his French and U.S. deputies, he ensured that officials acted independently of their own national authorities. Under his leadership, the Secretariat achieved a high standard of efficiency and developed a strong corporate spirit, maintaining a reputation for impartiality despite the political challenges and financial constraints faced by the League.1