The Secretary at War was a political position in the English

Kingdom of England

The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...

 and later British

Kingdom of Great Britain

The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...

 government, with some responsibility over the administration and organization of the Army, but not over military policy. The Secretary at War ran the War Office

War Office

The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...

. It was occasionally a cabinet level position, although it was considered of subordinate rank to the Secretaries of State

Secretary of State (England)

In the Kingdom of England, the title of Secretary of State came into being near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I , the usual title before that having been King's Clerk, King's Secretary, or Principal Secretary....

. The position was combined with that of Secretary of State for War

Secretary of State for War

The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...

 in 1854 and abolished in 1863.

Notable holders of the position include Robert Walpole

Robert Walpole

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....

, the Hon. Henry Pelham

Henry Pelham

Henry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...

, Henry Fox

Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland

Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, of Foxley, MP, PC was a leading British politician of the 18th century. He identified primarily with the Whig faction...

, Lord Palmerston and Lord Macaulay

Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay

Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay PC was a British poet, historian and Whig politician. He wrote extensively as an essayist and reviewer, and on British history...

.

Secretaries at War, 1661-1854

Name	Entered office	Left office
Sir William Clarke William Clarke (English politician) Sir William Clarke was an English politician. Born about 1623 in London of obscure parentage, he was admitted as a student to Inner Temple in 1645 and called to the bar in 1653. On 28 Jan. 1661 he was appointed Secretary at War, after having served for at least the previous twelve years as...	1661	1666
Matthew Locke	1666	1683
William Blathwayt William Blathwayt William Blathwayt was a civil servant and politician who established the War Office as a department of the British Government and played an important part in administering the Thirteen Colonies of North America....	1683	1692
George Clarke George Clarke George Clarke , the son of Sir William Clarke, enrolled at Brasenose College, Oxford in 1676. He was elected a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford in 1680. He became Judge Advocate to the Army and was William III of England's Secretary at War from 1690 to 1704...	1692	1704
Henry St John Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke was an English politician, government official and political philosopher. He was a leader of the Tories, and supported the Church of England politically despite his atheism. In 1715 he supported the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 which sought to overthrow the...	1704	1708
Robert Walpole Robert Walpole Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....	1708	1710
George Granville George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne PC was an English poet, playwright, and politician who served as a Privy Counsellor from 1712.-Early life:...	1710	1712
Sir William Wyndham, Bt Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet , English politician, was the only son of Sir Edward Wyndham, Bart., a grandson of Sir William Wyndham and a great-great-grandson of Sir John Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham, Somerset, who was created a baronet in 1661.Educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, he...	1712	1713
Francis Gwyn Francis Gwyn Francis Gwyn PC , was a Welsh politician and official.-Background:Gwyn was the son and heir of Edward Gwyn of Llansannor, Glamorganshire, who married Eleanor, youngest daughter of Sir Francis Popham of Littlecott, Wiltshire; he was born at Combe Florey in Somerset about 1648...	1713	1714
William Pulteney William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath, PC was an English politician, a Whig, created the first Earl of Bath in 1742 by King George II; he is sometimes stated to have been Prime Minister, for the shortest term ever , though most modern sources reckon that he cannot be considered to have held the...	1714	1717
James Craggs the Younger James Craggs the Younger James Craggs the Younger , son of James Craggs the Elder, was born at Westminster. Part of his early life was spent abroad, where he made the acquaintance of George Louis, Elector of Hanover, afterwards King George I...	1717	1718
The Viscount Castlecomer Christopher Wandesford, 2nd Viscount Castlecomer Christopher Wandesford, 2nd Viscount Castlecomer was a British politician.He was a Member of Parliament for Morpeth from 1710 to 1713.He died aged 35....	1718	1718
Robert Pringle	1718	1718
George Treby	1718	1720
Thomas Trevor Thomas Trevor, 1st Baron Trevor Thomas Trevor, 1st Baron Trevor PC was knighted in 1692 as Solicitor General and in 1695 became Attorney-General....	1720	1724
Hon. Henry Pelham Henry Pelham Henry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...	1724	1730
Sir William Strickland, Bt Sir William Strickland, 4th Baronet Sir William Strickland was an English Member of Parliament and Government Minister in Sir Robert Walpole's administration....	1730	1735
Sir William Yonge, Bt	1735	1741
Thomas Winnington Thomas Winnington Thomas Winnington , of Stanford Court, was an English politician.Winnington was the son of Salwey Winnington of Stanford Court, Member of Parliament for Bewdley, and grandson of Sir Francis Winnington, who had been Solicitor General in the 1670s...	1741	1746
Henry Fox Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, of Foxley, MP, PC was a leading British politician of the 18th century. He identified primarily with the Whig faction...	1746	1755
The Viscount Barrington William Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington William Wildman Shute Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington PC was a British politician best known for his two periods as Secretary at War during Britain's involvement in the Seven Years War and American War of Independence....	1755	1761
Hon. Charles Townshend Charles Townshend Charles Townshend was a British politician. He was born at his family's seat of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, the second son of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend, and Audrey , daughter and heiress of Edward Harrison of Ball's Park, near Hertford, a lady who rivalled her son in...	1761	1762
Welbore Ellis Welbore Ellis, 1st Baron Mendip Welbore Ellis, 1st Baron Mendip PC FRS was a British statesman. He held a number of political offices, including briefly serving as Secretary for the Colonies in 1782 during the American War of Independence.-Background:...	1762	1765
The Viscount Barrington William Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington William Wildman Shute Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington PC was a British politician best known for his two periods as Secretary at War during Britain's involvement in the Seven Years War and American War of Independence....	1765	1778
Charles Jenkinson Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool PC , known as the Lord Hawkesbury between 1786 and 1796, was a British statesman. He was the father of Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool....	1778	1782
Thomas Townshend Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney PC , was a British politician who held several important Cabinet posts in the second half of the 18th century...	1782	1782
Sir George Yonge, Bt	1782	1783
Richard Fitzpatrick Richard FitzPatrick General Richard FitzPatrick , styled The Honourable from birth, was an Anglo-Irish soldier, wit, poet, Whig politician and ‘sworn brother’ of the illustrious statesman of Charles James Fox...	1783	1783
Sir George Yonge, Bt	1783	1794
William Windham William Windham William Windham PC, PC was a British Whig statesman.-Early life:Windham was a member of an ancient Norfolk family and a great-great-grandson of Sir John Wyndham. He was the son of William Windham, Sr. of Felbrigg Hall and his second wife, Sarah Lukin...	1794	1801
Charles Philip Yorke Charles Philip Yorke Charles Philip Yorke PC, FRS, FSA , was a British politician. He notably served as Home Secretary from 1803 to 1804.-Background:...	1801	1803
Charles Bragge Charles Bathurst Charles Bathurst PC , known as Charles Bragge from 1754 to 1804, was a British politician of the early 19th century.-Background and education:...	1803	1804
William Dundas William Dundas William Dundas was a Scottish politician.The son of Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the younger, he became a barrister at Lincoln's Inn in 1788...	1804	1806
Richard Fitzpatrick Richard FitzPatrick General Richard FitzPatrick , styled The Honourable from birth, was an Anglo-Irish soldier, wit, poet, Whig politician and ‘sworn brother’ of the illustrious statesman of Charles James Fox...	1806	1807
Sir James Murray-Pulteney, Bt Sir James Murray-Pulteney, 7th Baronet General Sir James Murray Pulteney, 7th Baronet PC was a Scottish soldier and British politician.-Background and education:...	1807	1809
Lord Granville Leveson-Gower Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville GCB PC , known as Lord Granville Leveson-Gower from 1786 to 1814 and as the Viscount Granville from 1814 to 1833, was a British Whig statesman and diplomat....	1809	1809
The Viscount Palmerston	1809	1828
Sir Henry Hardinge Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge Field Marshal Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge, GCB, PC was a British field marshal and Governor-general of India.-Army career:...	1828	1830
Lord Francis Leveson-Gower Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere KG, PC , known as Lord Francis Leveson-Gower until 1833, was a British politician, writer, traveller and patron of the arts...	1830	1830
Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn	1830	1831
Sir Henry Parnell, Bt	1831	1832
Sir John Hobhouse, Bt John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton John Cam Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton GCB, PC, FRS , known as Sir John Hobhouse, Bt, from 1831 to 1851, was a British politician and memoirist.-Background and education:...	1832	1833
Edward Ellice	1833	1834
John Charles Herries John Charles Herries John Charles Herries PC , known as J. C. Herries, was a British politician and financier and a frequent member of Tory and Conservative cabinets in the early to mid 19th century.-Background and education:...	1834	1835
Viscount Howick Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey Henry George Grey, 3rd Earl Grey , known as Viscount Howick from 1807 until 1845, was an English statesman.-Background:Grey was the eldest son of Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, by his wife the Hon...	1835	1839
Thomas Babington Macaulay Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay PC was a British poet, historian and Whig politician. He wrote extensively as an essayist and reviewer, and on British history...	1839	1841
Sir Henry Hardinge Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge Field Marshal Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge, GCB, PC was a British field marshal and Governor-general of India.-Army career:...	1841	1844
Sir Thomas Fremantle, Bt Thomas Fremantle, 1st Baron Cottesloe Thomas Francis Fremantle, 1st Baron Cottesloe PC, PC , JP , known as Sir Thomas Fremantle, Bt, between 1821 and 1874, was a British Tory politician.-Early life:...	1844	1845
Hon. Sidney Herbert Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea PC was an English statesman and a close ally and confidante of Florence Nightingale.-Early life:...	1845	1846
Hon. Fox Maule Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie KT, GCB, PC , known as Fox Maule before 1852, as The Lord Panmure between 1852 and 1860 and as Earl of Dalhousie after 1860, was a British politician.-Background:...	1846	1852
Robert Vernon Smith	1852	1852
William Beresford William Beresford William Beresford was a British Conservative politician.-Background:He was the only son of Marcus Beresford and his wife Frances Arabella, daughter of Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown. Beresford was educated at St Mary Hall, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1819 and a...	1852	1852
Hon. Sidney Herbert Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea PC was an English statesman and a close ally and confidante of Florence Nightingale.-Early life:...	1852	1854

Secretaries of State for War and Secretaries at War, 1854-1863

Name	Entered office	Left office
The Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne Henry Pelham Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne KG, PC , styled Earl of Lincoln before 1851, was a British politician.-Background:...	1854	1855
The Lord Panmure Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie KT, GCB, PC , known as Fox Maule before 1852, as The Lord Panmure between 1852 and 1860 and as Earl of Dalhousie after 1860, was a British politician.-Background:...	1855	1858
Jonathan Peel Jonathan Peel Jonathan Peel was a British soldier, Conservative politician and racehorse owner.-Background and education:...	1858	1859
The Lord Herbert of Lea Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea PC was an English statesman and a close ally and confidante of Florence Nightingale.-Early life:...	1859	1861
Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Bt	1861	1863