MI6 | |
Leader | M |
Headquarters | London |
Status | Active |
Appearances |
MI6 (originally Military Intelligence Section 6), more commonly known as Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), or the Secret Service or simply Six, is the United Kingdom's external intelligence agency.
SIS is responsible for the United Kingdom's espionage activities overseas, as opposed to MI5 which is charged with internal security within the UK. It was founded in October 1909 (along with MI5) as the Foreign Section of the Secret Service Bureau. Its first director was Captain Sir George Mansfield Smith-Cumming, who, often dropping the "Smith", used his initial "C" as a code name which was also used by all subsequent directors of SIS including current head, Admiral Sir Miles Messervy "M".