| Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
|---|---|
_(St_Edwards_Crown).svg) | |
| Colonial Office | |
| Style | The Right Honourable |
| Type | Secretary of state |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | Prime Minister |
| Nominator | Prime Minister |
| Appointer | The Monarch (on the advice of the Prime Minister) |
| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Formation |
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| First holder |
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| Final holder |
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| Abolished |
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| Superseded by | Foreign Secretary |
| Deputy | Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies |
Thesecretary of state for the colonies orcolonial secretary was theCabinet of the United Kingdom'sminister in charge of managing certain parts of theBritish Empire.
The colonial secretary never had responsibility for theprovinces andprincely states ofIndia, which hadits own secretary of state.
From 1768 until 1966, the secretary of state was supported by anunder-secretary of state for the colonies (at times anunder-secretary of state for war and the colonies), and latterly by aminister of state.
Colonial responsibilities were previously held jointly by thelords of trade and plantations (board) and thesecretary of state for the Southern Department,[1] who was responsible forIreland, the American colonies, and relations with theCatholic andMuslim states ofEurope, as well as being jointly responsible for domestic affairs with theSecretary of State for the Northern Department.[2]
The Colonial Secretary position was first created in 1768 to deal with the increasingly troublesomeNorth American colonies, following passage of theTownsend Acts. Joint responsibility between the secretary and board first continued at this time, but subsequent diminution of the board's status led it to became an adjunct to the new secretary's department.[3]
Following the loss of the American colonies, both the board and the short-lived secretaryship were dismissed by the king on 2 May 1782; both were abolished later by theCivil List and Secret Service Money Act 1782 (22 Geo. 3, c 82).[4] Following this, colonial duties were given to theHome Secretary, thenLord Sydney.
Responsibility for the Colonies in the years between 1782 and 1854 included:
Following theTreaty of Paris 1783, a new board, named the Committee of Council on Trade and Plantations (later known as 'the First Committee') was established underWilliam Pitt the Younger, by anOrder in Council in 1784.[3] In 1794, a new office was created forHenry Dundas – thesecretary of state for war, which now took responsibility for the Colonies. The office was renamed theSecretary of State for War and the Colonies in 1801.
In 1854, military reforms led to the colonial and military responsibilities of this secretary of state being split into two separate offices, withSir George Grey becoming the first secretary of state for the colonies under the new arrangement.
In the latter part of the nineteenth century, Britain gained control over a number of territories with the status of "protectorate". The ministerial responsibility for these territories was initially held by theForeign Secretary.
By the early years of the twentieth century the responsibility for each of the protectorate territories had been transferred to the colonial secretary as well. TheLeague of Nations mandated territories acquired as a result of theTreaty of Versailles in 1919 became a further responsibility of the Colonial Office in the aftermath of theFirst World War.
In 1925, part of theColonial Office was separated out as theDominions Office, with its ownsecretary of state. The new office was responsible for dealing with theDominions together with a small number of other territories (most notablySouthern Rhodesia).
In the twenty years following the end of theSecond World War, much of the British Empire was dismantled as its various territories gained independence. In consequence, the Colonial Office was merged in 1966 with theCommonwealth Relations Office (which until 1947 had been the Dominions Office) to form theCommonwealth Office, while ministerial responsibility was transferred to thesecretary of state for Commonwealth affairs (previously known as thesecretary of state for Commonwealth relations). In 1968, the Commonwealth Office was subsumed into the Foreign Office, which was renamed theForeign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Sometimes referred to as Secretary of State for the American Colonies.
| Secretary | Term of office | Ministry | Monarch (Reign) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Wills Hill 1stEarl of Hillsborough | 27 February 1768 | 27 August 1772 | Grafton | George III.svg) (1760–1820) | |
| North | ||||||
 | William Legge 2ndEarl of Dartmouth | 27 August 1772 | 10 November 1775 | |||
 | LordGeorge Germain MP forEast Grinstead | 10 November 1775 | February 1782 | |||
 | Welbore Ellis MP forWeymouth and Melcombe Regis | February 1782 | 8 March 1782 | |||
Office abolished in 1782 after the loss of the American Colonies.[7]
Responsibility for the colonies held by:
Following theBritish Nationality Act 1981, the term "colony" ceased to be used; Britain's rule overHong Kong, the last significant colony, ceased in 1997. Britain retains certainoverseas territories.
A few title holders were born in colonies under their portfolio and some beyond:
Colonel the Right Hon. Oliver Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, visitedWarwick Battery on Saturday morning where he inspected the Vocational Training Centre. Accompanied by Mr T.I.K. Lloyd, an Assistant Under-Secretary of State at the Colonial Office, by his private secretary, Mr. C. H. Thornley, and by Brigadier the Hon. H. D. Maconochie, Officer Commanding British Troops, Colonel Stanley inspected a guard of honour commanded by Captain A. L. Flitcroft, Adjutant,Bermuda Militia. Shortly after 1 o'clock. Colonel Stanley and his entourage arrived atProspect where they were greeted by Brigadier Maconochie and Lieut.-Col. J. C. Astwood, O.C, B.V.R.C Colonel Stanley inspected a guard of honour provided by the B.V.R.C. under the command of Captain W. J. Williams, following which he visited the Garrison Officers' Mess where he was introduced to the Officers of theBermuda Command and refreshments wen served. The Colonial Secretary's visit to Prospect marked the first formal parade attended by the newly reorganised B.V.R.C. Band.
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