United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Encyclopedia
The United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs was a position that existed in the United States
government from January 10, 1781, to September 15, 1789.
permitted the Confederation Congress to select "such committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the general affairs of the United States."
On January 10, 1780, the Confederation Congress created the Department of Foreign Affairs.
On August 10, 1781, Congress selected Robert R. Livingston, a delegate from New York
, as the first Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Livingston was unable to take office until October 20, 1781. He served until June 4, 1783 when he was succeeded by John Jay
, who served until March 4, 1789, when the government under the Articles of Confederation
gave way to the government under the Constitution
.
The office of Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs were reinstated by a law signed by George Washington
on July 27, 1789. John Jay
retained the post on an interim basis, pending the return of Thomas Jefferson
from France. However, on September 15, 1789, before Jefferson could return to take the post, Washington signed into law another act which changed the name of the office from "Secretary of Foreign Affairs" to "Secretary of State
," changed the name of the department to the Department of State
, and added several domestic powers and responsibilities to both the office of secretary and the department.
On March 22, 1790, Thomas Jefferson
took office as the first United States Secretary of State
. For subsequent office holders, see List of Secretaries of State of the United States.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government from January 10, 1781, to September 15, 1789.
History
The Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
permitted the Confederation Congress to select "such committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the general affairs of the United States."
On January 10, 1780, the Confederation Congress created the Department of Foreign Affairs.
On August 10, 1781, Congress selected Robert R. Livingston, a delegate from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, as the first Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Livingston was unable to take office until October 20, 1781. He served until June 4, 1783 when he was succeeded by John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
, who served until March 4, 1789, when the government under the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
gave way to the government under the Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
.
Secretaries for Foreign Affairs |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name | State of Residence | Took Office | Left Office |
| 1 | Robert R. Livingston | New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... |
October 20, 1781 | June 4, 1783 | |
| 2 | .jpg) |
John Jay John Jay John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States .... |
New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... |
May 7, 1784 | March 4, 1789 |
The office of Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs were reinstated by a law signed by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
on July 27, 1789. John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
retained the post on an interim basis, pending the return of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
from France. However, on September 15, 1789, before Jefferson could return to take the post, Washington signed into law another act which changed the name of the office from "Secretary of Foreign Affairs" to "Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
," changed the name of the department to the Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, and added several domestic powers and responsibilities to both the office of secretary and the department.
| No. | Portrait | Name | State of Residence | Took Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | |
John Jay John Jay John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States .... |
New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... |
Acting United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs |
|
| July 27, 1789 | September 15, 1789 | ||||
Acting United States Secretary of State |
|||||
| September 15, 1789 | March 22, 1790 | ||||
On March 22, 1790, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
took office as the first United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
. For subsequent office holders, see List of Secretaries of State of the United States.