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.
History 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.
List of secretaries of state (1801–1854)
+Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Secretary Term of office Party Ministry Monarch Robert Hobart 1801 1804 Tory Addington George IIIThe Prince of Wales served as prince regent from 5 February 1811. John Pratt 1804 1805 Tory Pitt II Robert Stewart 1805 1806 Tory William Windham 1806 1807 Whig All the Talents Robert Stewart 1807 1809 Tory Portland II Robert Jenkinson 1809 1812 Tory Perceval Henry Bathurst 1812 1827 Tory Liverpool George IV F. J. Robinson 1827 1827 Tory Canning William Huskisson 1827 1828 Tory Goderich Sir George Murray 1828 1830 Tory Wellington–Peel William IV F. J. Robinson 1830 1833 Whig Grey Edward Smith-Stanley 1833 1834 Whig Thomas Spring Rice 1834 1834 Whig Melbourne I Arthur Wellesley 1834 1834 Tory Wellington Caretaker George Hamilton-Gordon 1834 1835 Conservative Peel I Charles Grant 1835 1839 Whig Melbourne II Victoria Constantine Phipps 1839 1839 Whig Lord John Russell 1839 1841 Whig Edward Smith-StanleyMP 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. 1841 1845 Conservative Peel II William Ewart GladstoneOn 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. 1845 1846 Conservative Henry Grey 1846 1852 Whig Russell I Sir John Pakington, 1st Baronet 1852 1852 Conservative Who? Who? Henry Pelham-Clinton 1852 1854 Peelite Aberdeen
Notes
UK History of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
References