View source for Secretary of State for War and the Colonies

{{Short description|British cabinet position (1801–1854)}}{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}}{{Infobox official post
| post                     = Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
| insignia                 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
| insigniacaption          = [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] used by [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]]
| style                    = [[The Right Honourable]]<ref group=Note>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 ''[[Grace (style)|His Grace]]''.</ref>
| member_of                = [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] · [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] · [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]
| appointer                = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch of the United Kingdom]]<br><small>based on advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]</small>
| termlength               = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]]
| formation                = 17 March 1801
| first                    = [[Robert Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire|The Lord Hobart]]
| last                     = [[Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle|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]]
}}

The '''Secretary of State for War and the Colonies''' was a [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|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.<ref>{{Cite book |title=An Oxford Companion to the Romantic Age |date=2009 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=9780191726996 |editor-last=McCalman |editor-first=Iain |chapter=Empire |editor-last2=Mee |editor-first2=Jon |editor-last3=Russell |editor-first3=Gillian |editor-last4=Tuite |editor-first4=Clara |editor-last5=Fullagar |editor-first5=Kate |editor-last6=Hardy |editor-first6=Patsy}}</ref> 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 British Armed Forces}}

==List of secretaries of state (1801–1854)==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:Center"
|+Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
! colspan=3 | Secretary
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! Ministry
! Monarch<br/>{{Small|(Reign)}}

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:4thEarlOfBuckinghamshire.jpg|75px]]
| [[Robert Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire|Robert Hobart<br/>'''{{Small|Baron Hobart}}''']]
| {{Small|17 March}}<br/>1801
| {{Small|12 May}}<br/>1804
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Addington ministry|Addington]]
| rowspan=7 style="background:#eaecf0" | [[George III of Great Britain|'''George III''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg|60px]]<br/>{{Small|(1760–[[Regency era|1820]])}}<br/><br/><ref group=Note>The [[George IV of the United Kingdom|Prince of Wales]] served as [[prince regent]] from 5 February 1811.</ref>

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:John Jeffreys Pratt (1759–1840), Marquis Camden by William Salter.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden|John Pratt<br/>{{Small|2nd '''Earl Camden'''}}]]
| {{Small|14 May}}<br/>1804
| {{Small|10 July}}<br/>1805
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Second Pitt ministry|Pitt II]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Castlereagh Marquess of Londonderry.jpg|75px]]
| [[Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh|Robert Stewart<br/>'''{{Small|Viscount Castlereagh}}''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Boroughbridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Boroughbridge]]}}
| {{Small|10 July}}<br/>1805
| {{Small|5 February}}<br/>1806
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:William Windham by Sir Thomas Lawrence.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[William Windham]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[New Romney (UK Parliament constituency)|New Romney]]}}
| {{Small|5 February}}<br/>1806
| {{Small|25 March}}<br/>1807
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Ministry of All the Talents|All the Talents]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]{{Ndash}}[[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]'')}}

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Castlereagh Marquess of Londonderry.jpg|75px]]
| [[Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh|Robert Stewart<br/>'''{{Small|Viscount Castlereagh}}''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Plympton Erle (UK Parliament constituency)|Plympton Erle]]}}
| {{Small|25 March}}<br/>1807
| {{Small|1 November}}<br/>1809
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Second Portland ministry|Portland II]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool by Sir Thomas Lawrence (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool|Robert Jenkinson<br/>{{Small|2nd '''Earl of Liverpool'''}}]]
| {{Small|1 November}}<br/>1809
| {{Small|11 June}}<br/>1812
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Perceval ministry|Perceval]]

|-
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst by William Salter.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst|Henry Bathurst<br/>{{Small|3rd '''Earl Bathurst'''}}]]
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|11 June}}<br/>1812
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|30 April}}<br/>1827
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Liverpool ministry|Liverpool]]
|-
| rowspan=4 style="background:#eaecf0" | [[George IV of the United Kingdom|'''George IV''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg|60px]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon by Sir Thomas Lawrence cropped.jpg|75px]]
| [[F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich|F. J. Robinson<br/>'''{{Small|1st Viscount Goderich}}''']]
| {{Small|30 April}}<br/>1827
| {{Small|3 September}}<br/>1827
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Canningite government, 1827–1828|Canning]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Canningite]]–[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]'')}}

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:William Huskisson by Richard Rothwell.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[William Huskisson]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Liverpool (UK Parliament constituency)|Liverpool]]}}
| {{Small|3 September}}<br/>1827
| {{Small|30 May}}<br/>1828
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Canningite government, 1827–1828|Goderich]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Canningite]]–[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]'')}}

|-
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:George Murray Portrait.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[George Murray (British Army officer)|George Murray]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Perthshire]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|30 May}}<br/>1828
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|22 November}}<br/>1830
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Wellington–Peel ministry|Wellington–Peel]]
|-
| rowspan=7 style="background:#eaecf0" | [[William IV of the United Kingdom|'''William IV''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg|60px]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon by Sir Thomas Lawrence cropped.jpg|75px]]
| [[F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich|F. J. Robinson<br/>'''{{Small|1st Viscount Goderich}}''']]
| {{Small|22 November}}<br/>1830
| {{Small|3 April}}<br/>1833
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whig government, 1830–1834|Grey]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward Smith-Stanley]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[North Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Lancashire]]}}
| {{Small|3 April}}<br/>1833
| {{Small|5 June}}<br/>1834
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:1stBaronMonteagle.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Thomas Spring Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon|Thomas Spring Rice]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Cambridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Cambridge]]}}
| {{Small|5 June}}<br/>1834
| {{Small|14 November}}<br/>1834
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whig government, 1830–1834|Melbourne I]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Sir Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington.jpg|75px]]
| [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley<br/>'''{{Small|1st Duke of Wellington}}''']]
| {{Small|17 November}}<br/>1834
| {{Small|9 December}}<br/>1834
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Tory (British political party)|Tory]]
| {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[Wellington caretaker ministry|Wellington Caretaker]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Earlofaberdeen.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen|George Hamilton-Gordon<br/>{{Small|4th '''Earl of Aberdeen'''}}]]
| {{Small|20 December}}<br/>1834
| {{Small|8 April}}<br/>1835
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[First Peel ministry|Peel I]]

|-
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Lord-glenelg.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Charles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg|Charles Grant<br/>{{Small|1st '''Baron Glenelg'''}}]]
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|18 April}}<br/>1835
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|20 February}}<br/>1839
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Second Melbourne ministry|Melbourne II]]
|-
| rowspan=8 style="background:#eaecf0" | [[Queen Victoria|'''Victoria''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Constantine Henry Phipps, 1st Marquess of Normanby by John Jackson.jpg|75px]]
| [[Constantine Phipps, 1st Marquess of Normanby|Constantine Phipps<br/>{{Small|1st '''Marquess of Normanby'''}}]]
| {{Small|20 February}}<br/>1839
| {{Small|30 August}}<br/>1839
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Lord john russell.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[John Russell, 1st Earl Russell|John Russell]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Stroud (UK Parliament constituency)|Stroud]]}}
| {{Small|30 August}}<br/>1839
| {{Small|30 August}}<br/>1841
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward Smith-Stanley<br/>'''{{Small|Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe}}''']]<br/><ref group=Note>MP for [[North Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Lancashire]] until 1844; thereafter summoned to Parliament through a writ in acceleration in respect of his [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby|father's]] title, Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe.</ref>
| {{Small|3 September}}<br/>1841
| {{Small|23 December}}<br/>1845
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Peel ministry|Peel II]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:William Ewart Gladstone CDV 1861 for infobox.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[William Ewart Gladstone]]'''<br/><ref group=Note>On appointment to office a [[ministerial by-election]] was triggered in the [[Newark (UK Parliament constituency)|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.</ref>
| {{Small|23 December}}<br/>1845
| {{Small|27 June}}<br/>1846
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:3rdEarlGrey.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey|Henry Grey<br/>{{Small|3rd '''Earl Grey'''}}]]
| {{Small|6 July}}<br/>1846
| {{Small|21 February}}<br/>1852
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[First Russell ministry|Russell I]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:John Pakington 1st Baron Hampton (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| '''[[John Pakington, 1st Baron Hampton|John Pakington]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Droitwich]]}}
| {{Small|27 February}}<br/>1852
| {{Small|17 December}}<br/>1852
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Who? Who? ministry|Who? Who?]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Peelite}}" |
| [[File:5thDukeOfNewcastle.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle|Henry Pelham-Clinton<br/>{{Small|5th '''Duke of Newcastle'''}}]]
| {{Small|28 December}}<br/>1852
| {{Small|10 June}}<br/>1854
| {{Party shading/Peelite}} | [[Peelite]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Aberdeen ministry|Aberdeen]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Peelite]]–[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]'')}}

|}

;Notes:
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

== UK History of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ==
{{Uk-fco-history}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary Of State For War And The Colonies}}
[[Category:Ministers of defence of the United Kingdom|War and the Colonies]]
[[Category:1801 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1854 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct ministerial offices in the United Kingdom]]