| England Secretary of State | |
|---|---|
.svg) Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of England from 1603 to 1649 | |
| Member of | Privy Council |
| Seat | Westminster,London |
| Appointer | TheEnglish Monarch |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Formation | 1253–1645 |
| First holder | John Maunsell |
| Final holder | George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol |
In theKingdom of England, the title ofSecretary of State came into being near the end of the reign ofElizabeth I, the usual title before that having beenKing's Clerk,King's Secretary, orPrincipal Secretary.
From the time ofHenry VIII, there were usually two secretaries of state. After therestoration of the monarchy of 1660, the two posts were specifically designated as theSecretary of State for the Northern Department and theSecretary of State for the Southern Department. Both dealt with home affairs and they divided foreign affairs between them.
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The medieval kings of England had aclerical servant, at first known as theirClerk, later as theirSecretary. The primary duty of this office was carrying on the monarch's official correspondence, but in varying degrees the holder also advisedthe Crown, and by the early fourteenth century, the position was in effect the third most powerful office of state in England, ranking after theLord Chancellor.
Meanwhile, most administrative business went through the royal household (particularly theWardrobe), and the secretary's role expanded to include advisory, diplomatic, and military responsibilities. The Privy Seal's warrants increased rapidly in quantity and frequency during the lateMiddle Ages. The Signet warrant, kept by theKeeper of the Privy Seal, could be used to stamp documents on authority of chancery and on behalf of the Chancellor.[1] During wartime, the king took his privy seal with him wherever he went. Its controller was the Secretary, who served on military and diplomatic missions; and the Wardrobe clerks assumed an even greater importance.[2]
Until the reign of KingHenry VIII (1509–1547), there was usually only one such secretary at a time, but by the end of Henry's reign there was also a second secretary. At about the end of the reign of Henry's daughterElizabeth I (1558–1603), the secretaries began to be called "Secretary of State". Subsequently, after theRestoration of 1660, the two posts came to be known as theSecretary of State for the Northern Department and theSecretary of State for the Southern Department (each responsible for different regions of Europe). Both of the secretaries dealt with internal matters, but they also divided foreign affairs between them. One dealt with northern Europe (the mostly Protestant states) and the other with southern Europe. Following theGlorious Revolution of 1688, theCabinet took over the practical direction of affairs previously undertaken by thePrivy Council, and the two secretaries of state gained ever more responsible powers.[3]
For the Secretaries of State following theUnion with Scotland of 1707, seeSecretary of State for the Northern Department,Secretary of State for the Southern Department, andSecretary of State (United Kingdom)
| Date | One | Two | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1540 | Thomas Wriothesley Wriothesley was the first secretary to share the office with a colleague. | Ralph Sadler | |
| 23 April 1543 – April 1548 | William Paget | ||
| January 1544 – March 1557 | William Petre | ||
| 17 April 1548 – 15 October 1549 | Thomas Smith | ||
| 15 October 1549 – 5 September 1550 | Nicholas Wotton | ||
| 5 September 1550 – July 1553 | William Cecil | ||
| June 1553 – July 1553 | John Cheke (served as a third Secretary of State) | ||
| July 1553 – April 1558 | John Bourne | ||
| March 1557 – November 1558 | John Boxall | ||
| sole Secretary - April 1558 – November 1558 | John Boxall | ||
| November 1558 – 13 July 1572 | William Cecil[4] | ||
| 13 July 1572 – March 1576 - sole Secretary until 20 December 1573 | Thomas Smith[5] | ||
| 20 December 1573[6] – April 1590 | Francis Walsingham | ||
| sole Secretary - March 1576-12 November 1577 | Francis Walsingham | ||
| 12 November 1577 – 16 June 1581 | Francis Walsingham | Thomas Wilson | |
| sole Secretary - 16 June 1581-September 158) | Francis Walsingham | ||
| September 1586 – February 1587 | Francis Walsingham | William Davison | |
| sole Secretary - February 1587-April 1590 | Francis Walsingham | ||
| 5 July 1590 – July 1596 - Acting-Secretary[7]) | William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley | ||
For the subsequent period see:
At the Restoration [in 1660] the practice of appointing two Secretaries of State, which was well established before the Civil War, was resumed.
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