Secretary of State for War and the Colonies - Definition and Overview

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 Department was created in 1801. In 1854 it was split into the separate offices of Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for the Colonies

Secretaries of State for War and the Colonies, 1801-1854

• Robert Hobart, 4th Lord Hobart (March 17, 1801 - May 12, 1804)
• John Jeffreys Pratt, 2nd Earl Camden (May 14, 1804 - July 10, 1805)
• Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (July 10, 1805 - February 5, 1806)
• William Windham (February 5, 1806 - March 25, 1807)
• Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (March 25, 1807 - November 1, 1809)
• Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool (November 1, 1809 - June 11, 1812)
• Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst (June 11, 1812 - April 30, 1827)
• Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich (April 30, 1827 - September 3, 1827)
• William Huskisson (September 3, 1827 - May 30, 1828)
• Sir George Murray (May 30, 1828 - November 22, 1830)
• Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich November 22, 1830 - April 3, 1833)
• Edward Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, Lord Stanley (April 3, 1833 - June 5, 1834)
• Thomas Spring Rice (June 5, 1834 - November 14, 1834)
• The Duke of Wellington served as a Secretary of State pro tem (November 15 1834 - December 15 1834)
• George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (December 20, 1834 - April 8, 1835)
• Charles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg (April 18, 1835 - February 20, 1839)
• Constantine Henry Phipps, 1st Marquess of Normanby (February 20, 1839 - August 30, 1839)
• Lord John Russell (August 30, 1839 - August 30, 1841)
• Edward Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, Lord Stanley (September 3, 1841 - December 23, 1845)
• William Ewart Gladstone (December 23, 1845 - June 27, 1846)
• Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey (July 6, 1846 - February 21, 1852)
• Sir John Pakington (February 27, 1852 - December 17, 1852)
• Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle (December 28, 1852 - June 10, 1854)