Secretary of State for War and the Colonies

The Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a British cabinet-level position responsible for the army and the British colonies (other than India). The secretary was supported by an Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies.

StyleThe Right Honourable^{[Note 1]}

Member ofCabinet · Privy Council · Parliament

AppointerMonarch of the United Kingdom based on advice of the Prime Minister

Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure

Quick facts Style, Member of ...

Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Royal Arms used by His Majesty's Government
Style	The Right Honourable^{[Note 1]}
Member of	Cabinet · Privy Council · Parliament
Appointer	Monarch of the United Kingdom based on advice of the Prime Minister
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	17 March 1801
First holder	The Lord Hobart
Final holder	The Duke of Newcastle
Abolished	10 June 1854
Succession	Secretary of State for War · Secretary of State for the Colonies
Deputy	Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies

History

The department was created in 1801.^[1] In 1854 it was split into the separate offices of Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Principal political leaders of the English/British Armed Forces:
	Royal Navy	British Army	Royal Air Force	Co-ordination
1628	First Lord of the Admiralty (1628–1964)
1794		Secretary of State for War (1794–1801)
1801		Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (1801–1854)
1854		Secretary of State for War (1854–1964)
1919			Secretary of State for Air (1919–1964)
1936				Minister for Co-ordination of Defence (1936–1940)
1940				Minister of Defence (1940–1964)
1964	Secretary of State for Defence (1964–present)

List of secretaries of state (1801–1854)

More information Term of office, Party ...

Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
	Term of office		Party	Ministry	Monarch (Reign)
Robert Hobart Baron Hobart	17 March 1801	12 May 1804	Tory	Addington	George III (1760–1820) ^{[Note 2]}
John Pratt 2nd Earl Camden	14 May 1804	10 July 1805	Tory	Pitt II
Robert Stewart Viscount Castlereagh MP for Boroughbridge	10 July 1805	5 February 1806	Tory	Pitt II
William Windham MP for New Romney	5 February 1806	25 March 1807	Whig	All the Talents (Whig–Tory)
Robert Stewart Viscount Castlereagh MP for Plympton Erle	25 March 1807	1 November 1809	Tory	Portland II
Robert Jenkinson 2nd Earl of Liverpool	1 November 1809	11 June 1812	Tory	Perceval
Henry Bathurst 3rd Earl Bathurst	11 June 1812	30 April 1827	Tory	Liverpool
Henry Bathurst 3rd Earl Bathurst	11 June 1812	30 April 1827	Tory	Liverpool	George IV
F. J. Robinson 1st Viscount Goderich	30 April 1827	3 September 1827	Tory	Canning (Canningite–Whig)
William Huskisson MP for Liverpool	3 September 1827	30 May 1828	Tory	Goderich (Canningite–Whig)
Sir George Murray MP for Perthshire	30 May 1828	22 November 1830	Tory	Wellington–Peel
Sir George Murray MP for Perthshire	30 May 1828	22 November 1830	Tory	Wellington–Peel	William IV
F. J. Robinson 1st Viscount Goderich	22 November 1830	3 April 1833	Whig	Grey
Edward Smith-Stanley MP for North Lancashire	3 April 1833	5 June 1834	Whig	Grey
Thomas Spring Rice MP for Cambridge	5 June 1834	14 November 1834	Whig	Melbourne I
Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke of Wellington	17 November 1834	9 December 1834	Tory	Wellington Caretaker
George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl of Aberdeen	20 December 1834	8 April 1835	Conservative	Peel I
Charles Grant 1st Baron Glenelg	18 April 1835	20 February 1839	Whig	Melbourne II
Charles Grant 1st Baron Glenelg	18 April 1835	20 February 1839	Whig		Victoria
Constantine Phipps 1st Marquess of Normanby	20 February 1839	30 August 1839	Whig
Lord John Russell MP for Stroud	30 August 1839	30 August 1841	Whig
Edward Smith-Stanley Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe ^{[Note 3]}	3 September 1841	23 December 1845	Conservative	Peel II
William Ewart Gladstone ^{[Note 4]}	23 December 1845	27 June 1846	Conservative	Peel II
Henry Grey 3rd Earl Grey	6 July 1846	21 February 1852	Whig	Russell I
Sir John Pakington, 1st Baronet MP for Droitwich	27 February 1852	17 December 1852	Conservative	Who? Who?
Henry Pelham-Clinton 5th Duke of Newcastle	28 December 1852	10 June 1854	Peelite	Aberdeen (Peelite–Whig)

Notes

[1]
Typical style for members of the Privy Council and peers ranked below Marquess. For peers of the rank Marquess The Most Honourable; for peers of the rank Duke His Grace.
[2]
The Prince of Wales served as prince regent from 5 February 1811.
[3]
MP for North Lancashire until 1844; thereafter summoned to Parliament through a writ in acceleration in respect of his father's title, Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe.
[4]
On appointment to office a ministerial by-election was triggered in the Newark-upon-Trent constituency that Gladstone had represented since 1832. Gladstone did not contest the seat, and was not returned to Parliament until the 1847 general election.

UK History of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

History of English and British government departments with responsibility for foreign affairs and those with responsibility for the colonies, dominions and the Commonwealth
Northern Department 1660–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries	Southern Department 1660–1768 Secretaries — Undersecretaries		—
	Southern Department 1768–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries 1782: diplomatic responsibilities transferred to new Foreign Office	Colonial Office 1768–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
Foreign Office 1782–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries	Home Office 1782–1794 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
	War Office 1794–1801 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
	War and Colonial Office 1801–1854 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
	Colonial Office 1854–1925 Secretaries — Undersecretaries		India Office 1858–1937 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
	Colonial Office 1925–1966 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries	Dominions Office 1925–1947 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
			India Office and Burma Office 1937–1947 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
		Commonwealth Relations Office 1947–1966 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries
	Commonwealth Office 1966–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1968–2020 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Since 2020 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries

Secretary of State for War and the Colonies

History

List of secretaries of state (1801–1854)

UK History of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

References

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