The establishment of a state funding body for the social sciences in the United Kingdom, had been under discussion since the Second World War;[1] however, it was not until the 1964 election of Prime Minister Harold Wilson that the political climate for the creation of the SSRC became sufficiently favourable.

Subsequent holders of the post have included Michael Posner, later Secretary General of the European Science Foundation.

In 1981, the Education Secretary Sir Keith Joseph asked Lord Rothschild to lead a review into the future of the SSRC.

[2] It was ultimately decided (due in no small part to the efforts of Michael Posner, chief executive of the SSRC at the time[3]) that the Council should remain, but that its remit should be expanded beyond the social sciences, to include more 'empirical' research and research of 'more public concern'.

[citation needed] Chairman: Chief Executive: Executive Chair: The ESRC funded two projects at the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership: from 2009 to 2012, the Legacies of British Slave-ownership project, and from 2013 to 2015 the Structure and significance of British Caribbean slave-ownership 1763-1833 project (co-funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council).