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{{Short description|British Cabinet minister}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Secretary
| body = State for the Colonies
| native_name = <!--{{native name||}} -->
| insignia = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government, 1952-2022).svg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = [[Royal arms]] of [[His Majesty's Government]]
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = 
| flagsize = 
| flagalt = 
| flagborder = 
| flagcaption = 
| image = Joseph Chamberlain in colour.jpg
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| imagecaption = '''Longest serving<br />[[Joseph Chamberlain]]'''<br />29 June
1895–16 September 1903
| department = [[Colonial Office]]
| style = [[The Right Honourable]]
| type = [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of state]]
| status = 
| abbreviation = 
| member_of = {{ubl|[[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]]|[[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]]}}
| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]
| residence = 
| seat = 
| nominator = Prime Minister
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The Monarch]]
| appointer_qualified = {{small|(on the advice of the Prime Minister)}}
| termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]]
| termlength_qualified = 
| constituting_instrument = 
| precursor = 
| formation = {{ubl|27 February 1768 {{small|(1st time)}}|12 June 1854 {{small|(2nd time)}}}}
| first = {{ubl|[[Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire|The Earl of Hillsborough]] {{small|(1st time)}}|[[Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet|Sir George Grey]] {{small|(2nd time)}}}}
| last = {{ubl|[[Welbore Ellis, 1st Baron Mendip|Welbore Ellis]] {{small|(1st time)}}|[[Frederick Lee, Baron Lee of Newton|Frederick Lee]] {{small|(2nd time)}}}}
| abolished = {{ubl|8 March 1782 {{small|(1st time)}}|1 August 1966 {{small|(2nd time)}}}}
| superseded_by = [[Foreign Secretary]]
| succession = 
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]]
| salary = 
| website = <!-- {{url|example.com}}-->
| footnotes = 
}}

The '''secretary of state for the colonies''' or '''colonial secretary''' was the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]]'s [[government minister|minister]] in charge of managing the [[British Empire]].

The colonial secretary never had responsibility for the [[British India|provinces]] and [[princely state]]s of [[British Raj|India]], which had [[Secretary of State for India|its own secretary of state]].

From 1768 until 1966, the secretary of state was supported by an [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies|under-secretary of state for the colonies]] (at times an [[Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies|under-secretary of state for war and the colonies]]), and latterly by a [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies|minister of state]].

==History==

Colonial responsibilities were previously held jointly by the [[Board of Trade|lords of trade and plantations (board)]] and the [[Secretary of State for the Southern Department|secretary of state for the Southern Department]],<ref>[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/american-west-indian-colonies.htm American and West Indian colonies before 1782], National Archives</ref> 
who was responsible for [[Ireland]], the American colonies, and relations with the [[Roman Catholicism in Europe|Catholic]] and [[Islam in Europe|Muslim]] states of [[Europe]], as well as being jointly responsible for domestic affairs with the [[Secretary of State for the Northern Department]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Secretaries of State: 1681–1782 |first=Mark A. |last=Thomson |url=https://archive.org/details/secretariesofsta00thom_0/page/2/mode/2up |publisher=Frank Cass |location=London |year=1932 |page=2}}</ref> 

===Colonial Secretary 1768–1782===
The Colonial Secretary position was first created in 1768 to deal with the increasingly troublesome [[Thirteen Colonies|North American]] colonies, following passage of the [[Townsend Acts]]. 
Joint responsibility between the secretary and board first continued at this time, but subsequent diminution of the board's status let it to became an adjunct to the new secretary's department.<ref name="NatArc2">[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100915133842/http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=1&CATID=38&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=BT Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies], Department code BT, The National Archives</ref>

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 the [[Civil List and Secret Service Money Act 1782]] (22 Geo. 3, c 82).<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol3/pp28-37#fnn3 Council of trade and plantations 1696–1782], in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 3, Officials of the Boards of Trade 1660–1870, pp. 28–37.  University of London, London, 1974.</ref> 
Following this, colonial duties were given to the [[Home Secretary]], then [[Lord Sydney]]. 

===1782–1854===

Responsibility for the Colonies in the years between 1782 and 1854 included'':''
* [[Home Secretary]] ''1782–1801''
* [[Secretary of State for War and the Colonies]] ''1801–1854''
* Secretary of State for the Colonies ''from 1854''

Following the [[Treaty of Paris 1783]], a new board, named the Committee of Council on Trade and Plantations (later known as 'the First Committee') was established under [[William Pitt the Younger]], by an [[Order in Council]] in 1784.<ref name="NatArc2"/> In 1794, a new office was created for [[Henry Dundas]] – the [[secretary of state for war]], which now took responsibility for the Colonies. The office was renamed the [[Secretary of State for War and the Colonies]] in 1801. 

===1854–present===
In 1854, military reforms led to the colonial and military responsibilities of this secretary of state being split into two separate offices, with [[Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet|Sir 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 the [[Foreign Secretary]].  

[[File:1944-12-30 Secretary-of-State for the Colonies Oliver Stanley & Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps at Imperial Fortress of Bermuda.jpg|thumb|[[Oliver Stanley]] inspects the [[Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps]] at the [[Imperial Fortress]] of [[Bermuda]], 30th December, 1944.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1945-01-01 |title=SECRETARY FOR COLONIES VISITS TRAINING CENTRE |page=2 |work=The Royal Gazette |location=City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda |quote=Colonel the Right Hon. Oliver Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, visited [[Warwick Camp (Bermuda)|Warwick 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 Artillery|Bermuda Militia]]. Shortly after 1 o'clock. Colonel Stanley and his entourage arrived at [[Prospect Camp, Bermuda|Prospect]] 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 the [[Bermuda Garrison|Bermuda 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.}}</ref>]]
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.  The [[League of Nations mandate|League of Nations mandated territories]] acquired as a result of the [[Treaty of Versailles]] in 1919 became a further responsibility of the Colonial Office in the aftermath of the [[First World War]].

In 1925, part of the [[Colonial Office]] was separated out as the [[Dominions Office]], with its own [[Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs|secretary of state]]. The new office was responsible for dealing with the [[Dominion]]s together with a small number of other territories (most notably [[Southern Rhodesia]]).

In the twenty years following the end of the [[Second 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 the [[Commonwealth Relations Office]] (which until 1947 had been the Dominions Office) to form the [[Commonwealth Office]], while ministerial responsibility was transferred to the [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs|secretary of state for Commonwealth affairs]] (previously known as the [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations|secretary of state for Commonwealth relations]]).  In 1968, the Commonwealth Office was subsumed into the Foreign Office, which was renamed the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] (FCO).

==List of secretaries of state for the colonies==

===Secretaries of State for the Colonies (1768–1782)===

Sometimes referred to as Secretary of State for the American Colonies.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Secretary of State for the Colonies<ref>Chris Cook and John Stevenson, ''British Historical Facts 1830–1900'' (Macmillan Press 1980) 29.</ref>
! colspan=3 | Secretary
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Ministry
! Monarch<br/>{{Small|(Reign)}}

|-
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:1stMarquessOfDownshire.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire|Wills Hill<br/>{{Small|1st '''Earl of Hillsborough'''}}]]
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|27 February}}<br/>1768
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|27 August}}<br/>1772
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | &nbsp;<br/>[[Grafton ministry|Grafton]]<br/>&nbsp;
| rowspan=5 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[George III of Great Britain|'''George III''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg|60px]]<br/>{{Small|(1760–1820)}}
|-
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Tories}} | [[North ministry|North]]

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
| [[File:William Legge, Second Earl of Dartmouth, by Nathaniel Hone I, 1777, from the Hood Museum of Art - P.960.100.jpg|75px]]
| [[William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth|William Legge<br/>{{Small|2nd '''Earl of Dartmouth'''}}]]
| {{Small|27 August}}<br/>1772
| {{Small|10 November}}<br/>1775

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
| [[File:MarshGeorge1800George Germain.jpg|75px]]
| '''Lord [[George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville|George Germain]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[East Grinstead (UK Parliament constituency)|East Grinstead]]}}
| {{Small|10 November}}<br/>1775
| {{Small|February}}<br/>1782

|-
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
| [[File:Welbore Ellis.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Welbore Ellis, 1st Baron Mendip|Welbore Ellis]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (UK Parliament constituency)|Weymouth and Melcombe Regis]]}}
| {{Small|February}}<br/>1782
| {{Small|8 March}}<br/>1782

|}

Office abolished in 1782 after the loss of the American Colonies.<ref>E.B. Fryde and others, ''Handbook of British Chronology'' (3rd edn, Cambridge University Press 1986) 125.</ref>

===Secretaries of State for the Colonies (1854–1966)===

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

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Sir George Grey, 2nd Bt.jpg|75px]]
| Sir [[Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet|'''George Grey''']], Bt.<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Morpeth (UK Parliament constituency)|Morpeth]]}}
| {{Small|12 June}}<br/>1854
| {{Small|8 February}}<br/>1855
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Aberdeen ministry|Aberdeen]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Peelite]]–[[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]'')}}
| rowspan=25 style="background:#EAECF0" | [[Queen Victoria|'''Victoria''']]<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]<br/>{{Small|(1837–1901)}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea.jpg|75px]]
| [[Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea|'''Sidney Herbert''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[South Wiltshire]]}}
| {{Small|8 February}}<br/>1855
| {{Small|23 February}}<br/>1855
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[First Palmerston ministry|Palmerston I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Lord john russell.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Russell, 1st Earl Russell|Lord '''John Russell''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[City of London (UK Parliament constituency)|City of London]]}}
| {{Small|23 February}}<br/>1855
| {{Small|21 July}}<br/>1855
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Radicals (UK)}}" |
| [[File:WilliamMolesworth.jpg|75px]]
| [[Sir William Molesworth, 8th Baronet|Sir '''William Molesworth''']], Bt.<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Southwark (UK Parliament constituency)|Southwark]]}}
| {{Small|21 July}}<br/>1855
| {{Small|21 November}}<br/>1855
| {{Party shading/Radicals}} | [[Radicals (UK)|Radical]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| [[File:Henry Labouchere, Baron Taunton by William Menzies Tweedie.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton|'''Henry Labouchere''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)|Taunton]]}}
| {{Small|21 November}}<br/>1855
| {{Small|21 February}}<br/>1858
| {{Party shading/Whigs}} | [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby|Edward Stanley<br/>'''Lord Stanley''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[King's Lynn (UK Parliament constituency)|King's Lynn]]}}
| {{Small|26 February}}<br/>1858
| {{Small|5 June}}<br/>1858
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Derby–Disraeli ministry|Derby–Disraeli II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton by Henry William Pickersgill.jpg|75px]]
| Sir [[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton|'''Edward Bulwer-Lytton''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Hertfordshire]]}}
| {{Small|5 June}}<br/>1858
| {{Small|11 June}}<br/>1859
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:5thDukeOfNewcastle.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle|<br/>Henry Pelham-Clinton<br/>5th '''Duke of Newcastle''']]<br/>{{Small|(1811–1864)}}
| {{Small|18 June}}<br/>1859
| {{Small|7 April}}<br/>1864
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1859–1866|Palmerston II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:1stViscountCardwell.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell|'''Edward Cardwell''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Oxford (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|7 April}}<br/>1864
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|26 June}}<br/>1866
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1859–1866|Russell II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:4th Earl of Carnarvon.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon|Henry Herbert<br/>4th '''Earl of Carnarvon''']]<br/>{{Small|(1831–1890)}}
| {{Small|6 July}}<br/>1866
| {{Small|8 March}}<br/>1867
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Third Derby–Disraeli ministry|Derby–Disraeli III]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.jpg|75px]]
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | [[Richard Temple-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos|<br/>Richard Temple-Grenville<br/>3rd '''Duke of Buckingham and Chandos''']]<br/>{{Small|(1823–1889)}}
| {{Small|8 March}}<br/>1867
| {{Small|1 December}}<br/>1868
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Second Earl Granville.jpg|75px]]
| [[Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville|Granville Leveson-Gower<br/>2nd '''Earl Granville''']]<br/>{{Small|(1815–1891)}}
| {{Small|9 December}}<br/>1868
| {{Small|6 July}}<br/>1870
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[First Gladstone ministry|Gladstone I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:1st Earl of Kimberley 1868.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley|John Wodehouse<br/>1st '''Earl of Kimberley''']]<br/>{{Small|(1826–1902)}}
| {{Small|6 July}}<br/>1870
| {{Small|17 February}}<br/>1874
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:4th Earl of Carnarvon.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon|Henry Herbert<br/>4th '''Earl of Carnarvon''']]
| {{Small|21 February}}<br/>1874
| {{Small|4 February}}<br/>1878
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Disraeli ministry|Disraeli II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:St Aldwyn Michael Edward Hicks-Beach (1st Earl).jpg|75px]]
| Sir [[Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn|'''Michael Hicks Beach''']], Bt.<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Gloucestershire East (UK Parliament constituency)|Gloucestershire East]]}}
| {{Small|4 February}}<br/>1878
| {{Small|21 April}}<br/>1880
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:1st Earl of Kimberley 1868.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley|John Wodehouse<br/>1st '''Earl of Kimberley''']]<br/>{{Small|(1826–1902)}}
| {{Small|21 April}}<br/>1880
| {{Small|16 December}}<br/>1882
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Second Gladstone ministry|Gladstone II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby|Edward Stanley<br/>15th '''Earl of Derby''']]<br/>{{Small|(1826–1893)}}
| {{Small|16 December}}<br/>1882
| {{Small|9 June}}<br/>1885
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Frederick Arthur Stanley.jpg|75px]]
| [[Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby|'''Frederick Stanley''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Blackpool (UK Parliament constituency)|Blackpool]]}}
| {{Small|24 June}}<br/>1885
| {{Small|28 January}}<br/>1886
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[First Salisbury ministry|Salisbury I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Second Earl Granville.jpg|75px]]
| [[Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville|Granville Leveson-Gower<br/>2nd '''Earl Granville''']]<br/>{{Small|(1815–1891)}}
| {{Small|6 February}}<br/>1886
| {{Small|20 July}}<br/>1886
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Third Gladstone ministry|Gladstone III]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Edward Stanope.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Edward Stanhope]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Horncastle (UK Parliament constituency)|Horncastle]]}}
| {{Small|3 August}}<br/>1886
| {{Small|14 January}}<br/>1887
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} rowspan=2 | [[Second Salisbury ministry|Salisbury II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Henry Holland, 1st Viscount Knutsford.png|75px]]
| [[Henry Holland, 1st Viscount Knutsford|Henry Holland<br/>1st '''Baron Knutsford''']]<br/>
| {{Small|14 January}}<br/>1887
| {{Small|11 August}}<br/>1892
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:George Robinson 1st Marquess of Ripon.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon|George Robinson<br/>1st '''Marquess of Ripon''']]<br/>{{Small|(1827–1909)}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|18 August}}<br/>1892
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|21 June}}<br/>1895
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1892–1895|Gladstone IV]]
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1892–1895|Rosebery]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Unionist Party}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:Joseph Chamberlain in colour.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | '''[[Joseph Chamberlain]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Birmingham West (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham West]]}}
| rowspan=3 | {{Small|29 June}}<br/>1895
| rowspan=3 | {{Small|16 September}}<br/>1903
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Liberal Unionist}} | [[Liberal Unionist]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Unionist government, 1895–1905|Salisbury<br/>{{Small|(III & IV)}}]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Liberal Unionist Party|Lib.U.]]'')}}
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=5 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[Edward VII]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]<br/>{{Small|(1901–1910)}}
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Unionist government, 1895–1905|Balfour]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Liberal Unionist Party|Lib.U.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Unionist Party}}" |
| [[File:Alfred Lyttelton.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Alfred Lyttelton]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Warwick and Leamington]]}}
| {{Small|11 October}}<br/>1903
| {{Small|4 December}}<br/>1905
| {{Party shading/Liberal Unionist}} | [[Liberal Unionist]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Picture of Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin.jpg|75px]]
| [[Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin|Victor Bruce<br/>9th '''Earl of Elgin''']]<br/>{{Small|(1849–1917)}}
| {{Small|10 December}}<br/>1905
| {{Small|12 April}}<br/>1908
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1905–1915|Campbell-Bannerman]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Portrait of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe|Robert Crewe-Milnes<br/>1st '''Marquess of Crewe''']]<br/>{{Small|(1858–1945)}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|12 April}}<br/>1908
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|3 November}}<br/>1910
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1905–1915|Asquith<br/>{{Small|(I–III)}}]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=15 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[George V]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]<br/>{{Small|(1910–1936)}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lewis Viscount Harcourt by Solomon J Solomon.jpg|75px]]
| [[Lewis Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt|'''Lewis Vernon Harcourt''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Rossendale (UK Parliament constituency)|Rossendale]]}}
| {{Small|3 November}}<br/>1910
| {{Small|25 May}}<br/>1915
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:A. Bonar Law LCCN2014715818 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Bonar Law]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Bootle (UK Parliament constituency)|Bootle]]}}
| {{Small|25 May}}<br/>1915
| {{Small|10 December}}<br/>1916
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Asquith coalition ministry|Asquith Coalition]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]–[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Labour Party (UK)|Lab.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Long .jpg|75px]]
| [[Walter Long, 1st Viscount Long|'''Walter Long''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Westminster St George's]]<ref group=nb>MP for [[Strand (UK Parliament constituency)|Strand]] until 1918; thereafter MP for [[Westminster St George's]].</ref>}}<br/>{{Small|(1854–1924)}}
| {{Small|10 December}}<br/>1916
| {{Small|10 January}}<br/>1919
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Lloyd George ministry|Lloyd George<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]–[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Labour Party (UK)|Lab.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Milner.jpg|75px]]
| [[Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner|Alfred Milner<br/>1st '''Viscount Milner''']]<br/>{{Small|(1854–1925)}}
| {{Small|10 January}}<br/>1919
| {{Small|13 February}}<br/>1921
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Churchill 1904 Q 42037.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Winston Churchill]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee]]}}
| {{Small|13 February}}<br/>1921
| {{Small|19 October}}<br/>1922
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:GG Duke of Devonshire.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire|<br/>Victor Cavendish<br/>9th '''Duke of Devonshire''']]<br/>{{Small|(1868–1938)}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|24 October}}<br/>1922
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|22 January}}<br/>1924
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1922–1924|Law]]
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1922–1924|Baldwin I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:James Henry Thomas circa 1920.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[James Henry Thomas]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Derby (UK Parliament constituency)|Derby]]}}
| {{Small|22 January}}<br/>1924
| {{Small|3 November}}<br/>1924
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[First MacDonald ministry|MacDonald I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Leopold Amery MP.png|75px]]
| '''[[Leo Amery]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Birmingham Sparkbrook]]}}
| {{Small|6 November}}<br/>1924
| {{Small|4 June}}<br/>1929
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Baldwin ministry|Baldwin II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sidney Webb 01.jpg|75px]]
| [[Sidney Webb, 1st Baron Passfield|Sidney Webb<br/>1st '''Baron Passfield''']]<br/>{{Small|(1859–1947)}}
| {{Small|7 June}}<br/>1929
| {{Small|24 August}}<br/>1931
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Second MacDonald ministry|MacDonald II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|National Labour Organisation}}" |
| [[File:James Henry Thomas circa 1920.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[James Henry Thomas]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Derby (UK Parliament constituency)|Derby]]}}
| {{Small|25 August}}<br/>1931
| {{Small|5 November}}<br/>1931
| {{Party shading/National Labour}} | [[National Labour Organisation|National Labour]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[National Government (1931)|National I]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]–[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Swinton.jpg|75px]]
| [[Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton|'''Philip Cunliffe-Lister''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hendon (UK Parliament constituency)|Hendon]]}}
| {{Small|5 November}}<br/>1931
| {{Small|7 June}}<br/>1935
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[National Government (1931–1935)|National II]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]–[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|National Labour Organisation}}" |
| [[File:Malcolmmacdonald.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Malcolm MacDonald]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Bassetlaw (UK Parliament constituency)|Bassetlaw]]}}
| {{Small|7 June}}<br/>1935
| {{Small|22 November}}<br/>1935
| {{Party shading/National Labour}} | [[National Labour Organisation|National Labour]]
| rowspan=5 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[National Government (1935–1937)|National III]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]''}})

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|National Labour Organisation}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:James Henry Thomas circa 1920.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[James Henry Thomas]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Derby (UK Parliament constituency)|Derby]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|22 November}}<br/>1935
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|22 May}}<br/>1936
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/National Labour}} | [[National Labour Organisation|National Labour]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[Edward VIII]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]<br/>{{Small|(1936)}}

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron Harlech.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron Harlech|'''William Ormsby-Gore''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Stafford (UK Parliament constituency)|Stafford]]}}
| rowspan=3 | {{Small|28 May}}<br/>1936
| rowspan=3 | {{Small|16 May}}<br/>1938
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=13 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[George VI]]'''<br/>[[File:Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg|60px]]<br/>{{Small|(1936–1952)}}
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[National Government (1937–1939)|National IV]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]''}})

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|National Labour Organisation}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Malcolmmacdonald.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Malcolm MacDonald]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Ross and Cromarty (UK Parliament constituency)|Ross and Cromarty]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|16 May}}<br/>1938
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|12 May}}<br/>1940
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/National Labour}} | [[National Labour Organisation|National Labour]]
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Chamberlain war ministry|Chamberlain War]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]''}})

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Lloyd, 1st Baron Lloyd.png|75px]]
| [[George Lloyd, 1st Baron Lloyd|George Lloyd<br/>1st '''Baron Lloyd''']]<br/>{{Small|(1879–1941)}}
| {{Small|12 May}}<br/>1940
| {{Small|4 February}}<br/>1941
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Churchill war ministry|Churchill War]]<br/>{{Small|(''All parties'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Walter Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne.png|75px]]
| [[Walter Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne|Walter Guinness<br/>1st '''Baron Moyne''']]<br/>{{Small|(1880–1944)}}
| {{Small|8 February}}<br/>1941
| {{Small|22 February}}<br/>1942
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury.jpg|75px]]
| [[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil<br/>'''Viscount Cranborne''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[South Dorset]]}}
| {{Small|22 February}}<br/>1942
| {{Small|22 November}}<br/>1942
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan =2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Oliver Stanley.png|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Oliver Stanley]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Westmorland (UK Parliament constituency)|Westmorland]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|22 November}}<br/>1942
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|26 July}}<br/>1945
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Churchill caretaker ministry|Churchill Caretaker]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|N.Lib.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:George Hall, 1st Viscount Hall.png|75px]]
| [[George Hall, 1st Viscount Hall|'''George Henry Hall''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Aberdare (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdare]]}}
| {{Small|3 August}}<br/>1945
| {{Small|4 October}}<br/>1946
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Attlee ministry|Attlee<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| '''[[Arthur Creech Jones]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Shipley (UK Parliament constituency)|Shipley]]}}
| {{Small|4 October}}<br/>1946
| {{Small|28 February}}<br/>1950
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| '''[[Jim Griffiths]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Llanelli (UK Parliament constituency)|Llanelli]]}}
| {{Small|28 February}}<br/>1950
| {{Small|26 October}}<br/>1951
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Oliver Lyttelton Visc Chandos.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos|'''Oliver Lyttelton''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Aldershot (UK Parliament constituency)|Aldershot]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|28 October}}<br/>1951
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|28 July}}<br/>1954
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Third Churchill ministry|Churchill III]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=11 style="background:#EAECF0" | '''[[Elizabeth II]]'''<br/>[[File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (St Edward's Crown).svg|60x60px]]<br/>{{Small|(1952–2022)}}

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:Lennox-Boyd.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=3 | [[Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton|'''Alan Lennox-Boyd''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Mid Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Mid Bedfordshire]]}}
| rowspan=3 | {{Small|28 July}}<br/>1954
| rowspan=3 | {{Small|14 October}}<br/>1959
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Eden ministry|Eden]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Macmillan<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-166-17 Macleod crop.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Iain Macleod]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Enfield West]]}}
| {{Small|14 October}}<br/>1959
| {{Small|9 October}}<br/>1961
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 
| '''[[Reginald Maudling]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Barnet (UK Parliament constituency)|Barnet]]}}
| {{Small|9 October}}<br/>1961
| {{Small|13 July}}<br/>1962
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Duncan Sandys 1975.png|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Duncan Sandys]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Streatham (UK Parliament constituency)|Streatham]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|13 July}}<br/>1962
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|16 October}}<br/>1964
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|- style="height:1em"
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Douglas-Home]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Anthony Greenwood.jpg|75px]]
| [[Anthony Greenwood, Baron Greenwood of Rossendale|'''Anthony Greenwood''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Rossendale (UK Parliament constituency)|Rossendale]]}}
| {{Small|18 October}}<br/>1964
| {{Small|23 December}}<br/>1965
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour government, 1964–1970|Wilson<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Longford 4 Allan Warren.jpg|75px]]
| [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|Frank Pakenham<br/>7th '''Earl of Longford''']]<br/>{{Small|(1905–2001)}}
| {{Small|23 December}}<br/>1965
| {{Small|6 April}}<br/>1966
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| [[Frederick Lee, Baron Lee of Newton|'''Frederick Lee''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Newton (UK Parliament constituency)|Newton]]}}
| {{Small|6 April}}<br/>1966
| {{Small|1 August}}<br/>1966
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|}

Responsibility for the colonies held by:
* [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs]] 1966–1968
* [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs]] 1968–present
Following the [[British Nationality Act 1981]], the term "colony" ceased to be used; Britain's rule over [[Hong Kong]], the last significant colony, ceased in 1997. Britain retains certain [[British overseas territories|overseas territories]].

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

==Secretaries from the Colonies==

A few title holders were born in colonies under their portfolio and some beyond:

* [[Bonar Law]] – born in pre-[[Canada]] colony of [[New Brunswick]] and later moved to the United Kingdom
* [[Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin]] – born in Canada during his father's, [[James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin]], term as [[Governor General of Canada]] and a British appointee
* [[Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner]] – born in [[Grand Duchy of Hesse]] (now in [[Germany]]) to Charles Milner (who had English roots from his father)
* [[Leo Amery]] – born in [[British India]] to an English father serving in India

==See also==
*[[Colonial Land and Emigration Commission]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Uk-fco-history}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary of State for the Colonies}}
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of the United Kingdom|Colonies]]
[[Category:History of the Thirteen Colonies]]
[[Category:Governance of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Defunct ministerial offices in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1768 establishments in Great Britain]]
[[Category:1966 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Foreign Office during World War II]]
[[Category:Secretaries of State for the Colonies| ]]
[[Category:Colonial ministries|United Kingdom]]

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