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Secretary of State for War

Former position in the government of the United Kingdom (1794–1801, 1854–1964)

Secretary of State for War

Former position in the government of the United Kingdom (1794–1801, 1854–1964)

FieldValue
postSecretary of State for War
insigniaRoyal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
insigniacaptionRoyal Arms as used by His Majesty's Government
departmentWar Office
member_ofBritish Cabinet
Privy Council
seatWestminster, London
appointerThe British Monarch
(on advice of the Prime Minister)
termlengthNo fixed term
formation11 July 1794
firstHenry Dundas
lastJames Ramsden
abolished1 April 1964
deputyUnder-Secretary of State for War

Privy Council (on advice of the Prime Minister)

Edward Cardwell, later Viscount Cardwell, Secretary of State for War from 1868 to 1874; architect of the [[Cardwell Reforms

The Secretary of State for War, commonly called the War Secretary, was a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom. The position existed from 1794 to 1801 and again from 1854 to 1964. The Secretary of State for War headed the War Office and was assisted by an under-secretary, a parliamentary private secretary who was also a member of parliament (MP), and a military secretary, who was a general.

History

The position of Secretary of State for War was first held by Henry Dundas who was appointed in 1794. In 1801, the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The post was re-instated in 1854 when the Secretary of State for the Colonies was created as a separate position.

In the 19th century, the post was twice held by future prime minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman. At the outset of the First World War, prime minister H. H. Asquith was filling the role, but he quickly appointed Lord Kitchener, who became famous while in this position for the "Kitchener Wants You" posters. He was replaced by David Lloyd George, who went on to become prime minister. Between the World Wars, the post was held by future prime minister Winston Churchill for two years.

In 1946, the three posts of Secretary of State for War, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Secretary of State for Air became formally subordinated to that of Minister of Defence, which had itself been created in 1940 for the co-ordination of defence and security issues.

In the 1960s, John Profumo held this post at the time of the Profumo affair.

On 1 April 1964, with the creation of a new united Ministry of Defence headed by the Secretary of State for Defence, the three service ministries as well as the post of Minister of Defence as created in 1940 were abolished.

List of secretaries of state

Secretary of State for War, 1794–1801

SecretaryTerm of officePolitical partyPrime MinisterTories (British political party)}}"
[[File:1stViscountMelville2.jpg75px]]Henry Dundas
(also President of the Board of Control)11 July 179417 March 1801Tory

For 1801–1854 see Secretary of State for War and the Colonies.

Secretaries of state for war, 1854–1964

NamePortraitTerm of officePolitical partyPrime MinisterPeelite}}"Whigs (British political party)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Liberal Unionist Party}}"Irish Unionist Alliance}}"Liberal Unionist Party}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Independent (politician)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Labour Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Labour Party (UK)}}"Liberal Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"P.M.Min.DefenceConservative Party (UK)}}"National Government (United Kingdom)}}"Labour Party (UK)}}"Labour Party (UK)}}"Labour Party (UK)}}"Labour Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"Conservative Party (UK)}}"
[[File:5thDukeOfNewcastle.jpg75px]]Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle12 June 185430 January 1855PeelitePeelite}}"George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen
(Coalition)
[[File:Thomas duncan.jpg75px]]Fox Maule-Ramsay, 2nd Baron Panmure8 February 185521 February 1858WhigConservative Party (UK)}}"Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
[[File:Jonathan Peel.JPG75px]]Jonathan Peel26 February 185811 June 1859Conservative
[[File:Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea.jpg75px]]Sidney Herbert18 June 185922 July 1861LiberalLiberal Party (UK)}}"Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
[[File:Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 2nd Bt.jpg75px]]Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 2nd Baronet23 July 186113 April 1863Liberal
[[File:George Robinson 1st Marquess of Ripon.jpg75px]]George Robinson, 3rd Earl de Grey and 2nd Earl of Ripon28 April 186316 February 1866Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)}}"John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
[[File:Picture of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire.jpg75px]]Spencer Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington16 February 186626 June 1866Liberal
[[File:Jonathan Peel.JPG75px]]Jonathan Peel6 July 18668 March 1867ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"14th Earl of Derby
[[File:John Pakington 1st Baron Hampton (cropped).jpg75px]]John Pakington, 1st Baron Hampton8 March 18671 December 1868Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"Benjamin Disraeli
[[File:1stViscountCardwell.jpg75px]]Edward Cardwell9 December 186817 February 1874LiberalLiberal Party (UK)}}"William Ewart Gladstone
[[File:1st Earl of Cranbrook.jpg75px]]Gathorne Hardy21 February 18742 April 1878ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"Benjamin Disraeli
[[File:Frederick Arthur Stanley.jpg75px]]Frederick Stanley2 April 187821 April 1880Conservative
[[File:Hugh Childers, Lock & Whitfield woodburytype, 1876-83 crop.jpg75px]]Hugh Childers28 April 188016 December 1882LiberalLiberal Party (UK)}}"William Ewart Gladstone
[[File:Picture of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire.jpg75px]]Spencer Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington16 December 18829 June 1885Liberal
[[File:William Henry Smith (1825–1891).jpg75px]]W. H. Smith24 June 188521 January 1886ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
[[File:1st Earl of Cranbrook.jpg75px]]Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook21 January 18866 February 1886Conservative
[[File:Picture of Henry Campbell-Bannerman.jpg75px]]Henry Campbell-Bannerman6 February 188620 July 1886LiberalLiberal Party (UK)}}"William Ewart Gladstone
[[File:William Henry Smith (1825–1891).jpg75px]]W. H. Smith3 August 188614 January 1887ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
[[File:Edward Stanhope.jpg75px]]Edward Stanhope14 January 188711 August 1892Conservative
[[File:Picture of Henry Campbell-Bannerman.jpg75px]]Henry Campbell-Bannerman18 August 189221 June 1895LiberalLiberal Party (UK)}}"William Ewart Gladstone
Liberal Party (UK)}}"Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
[[File:Marquess of Lansdowne crop.jpg75px]]Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne4 July 189512 November 1900Liberal UnionistConservative Party (UK)}}"Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(Unionist Coalition)
[[File:St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton, circa 1910s.jpg75px]]St John Brodrick12 November 19006 October 1903Irish Unionist
Conservative Party (UK)}}"Arthur Balfour
(Unionist Coalition)
[[File:Portrait of H. O. Arnold-Forster.jpg75px]]H. O. Arnold-Forster6 October 19034 December 1905Liberal Unionist
[[File:Portrait of Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane.jpg75px]]Richard Haldane
(Viscount Haldane from 1911)10 December 190512 June 1912LiberalLiberal Party (UK)}}"Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Liberal Party (UK)}}"H. H. Asquith
[[File:JEB Seely 1909.jpg75px]]J. E. B. Seely12 June 191230 March 1914Liberal
[[File:H H Asquith 1908.jpg75px]]H. H. Asquith
(while Prime Minister)30 March 19145 August 1914Liberal
[[File:Lord Kitchener AWM A03547.jpg75px]]Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener5 August 19145 June 1916none
Liberal Party (UK)}}"H. H. Asquith
(Coalition)
[[File:PMLloydGeorge--nsillustratedwar03londuoft.jpg75px]]David Lloyd George6 July 19165 December 1916Liberal
[[File:17th Earl of Derby.jpg75px]]Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby10 December 191618 April 1918ConservativeLiberal Party (UK)}}"David Lloyd George
(Coalition)
[[File:Lord Milner.jpg75px]]Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner18 April 191810 January 1919Conservative
[[File:Churchill 1904 Q 42037.jpg75px]]Winston Churchill10 January 191913 February 1921Liberal
[[File:Worthington-Evans MP.jpg75px]]Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, Bt.13 February 192119 October 1922Conservative
[[File:17th Earl of Derby.jpg75px]]Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby24 October 192222 January 1924ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"Bonar Law
Conservative Party (UK)}}"Stanley Baldwin
[[File:Stephen Walsh MP.png75px]]Stephen Walsh22 January 19243 November 1924LabourLabour Party (UK)}}"Ramsay MacDonald
[[File:Worthington-Evans MP.jpg75px]]Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, Bt.6 November 19244 June 1929ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"Stanley Baldwin
[[File:Tom_Shaw_-_politician.jpg75px]]Thomas Shaw7 June 192924 August 1931LabourLabour Party (UK)}}"Ramsay MacDonald
[[File:Portrait of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe.jpg75px]]Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe25 August 19315 November 1931LiberalNational Labour Organisation}}"Ramsay MacDonald
(1st National Min.)
[[File:Hailsham1.JPG75px]]Douglas Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham5 November 19317 June 1935ConservativeRamsay MacDonald
(2nd National Min.)
[[File:Lord Halifax 1937.jpg75px]]E. F. L. Wood, 3rd Viscount Halifax7 June 193522 November 1935ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"Stanley Baldwin
(3rd National Min.)
[[File:Duff Cooper 1941.jpg75px]]Duff Cooper22 November 193528 May 1937Conservative
[[File:Leslie Hore-Belisha 1951.jpg75px]]Leslie Hore-Belisha28 May 19375 January 1940National LiberalConservative Party (UK)}}"Neville Chamberlain
(4th National Min.;
War Coalition)
[[File:Oliver Stanley.png75px]]Oliver Stanley5 January 194011 May 1940Conservative
[[File:Anthony Eden (retouched).jpg75px]]Anthony Eden11 May 194022 December 1940Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)}}"Winston Churchill
(War Coalition)
[[File:David Margesson.jpg75px]]David Margesson22 December 194022 February 1942Conservative
[[File:Percy James Grigg.jpg75px]]P. J. Grigg22 February 194226 July 1945National
[[File:Lord Lawson of Beamish.jpg75px]]Jack Lawson3 August 19454 October 1946LabourLabour Party (UK)}}"AttleeAttlee
[[File:Frederick Bellenger.jpg75px]]Frederick Bellenger4 October 19467 October 1947LabourA.V. Alexander
[[File:Emanuel Shinwel HU 059765 (crop).jpg75px]]Emanuel Shinwell7 October 194728 February 1950Labour
[[File:John Strachey.jpg75px]]John Strachey28 February 195026 October 1951LabourShinwell
[[File:Blank.png60px]]Antony Head31 October 195118 October 1956ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"ChurchillChurchill
H. Alexander
Macmillan
Conservative Party (UK)}}"EdenLloyd
Monckton
[[File:John Hare 1929.jpg75px]]John Hare18 October 19566 January 1958ConservativeHead
Conservative Party (UK)}}"MacmillanSandys
[[File:Christopher Soames.jpg75px]]Christopher Soames6 January 195827 July 1960Conservative
Watkinson
[[File:John Profumo.jpg75px]]John Profumo27 July 19605 June 1963Conservative
Thorneycroft
[[File:Blank.png75px]]Joseph Godber27 June 196321 October 1963Conservative
[[File:No image.svg75px]]James Ramsden21 October 19631 April 1964ConservativeConservative Party (UK)}}"Douglas-Home

References

References

  1. Times, 7 July 1916
Info: Wikipedia Source

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