Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs

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The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs was a British Cabinet minister responsible for dealing with the United Kingdom's relations with members of the Commonwealth of Nations (its former colonies). The minister's department was the Commonwealth Office.

The position was created on 1 August 1966 by the merger of the old positions of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and Secretary of State for the Colonies. In 1968 the position was merged with that of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to create the new position of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Secretaries of State for Commonwealth Affairs, 1966–1968[edit]

Name Term of office Political party P.M. F.Sec.
Herbert Bowden 1 August 1966 29 August 1967 Labour Wilson Stewart
G.Brown
George Thomson 29 August 1967 17 October 1968 Labour
Stewart
History of English and British government departments with responsibility for foreign affairs and those with responsibility for the colonies, dominions and the Commonwealth
Northern Department
1660–1782
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Southern Department
1660–1768
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Southern Department
1768–1782
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1782: diplomatic responsibilities transferred to new Foreign Office
Colonial Office
1768–1782
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Foreign Office
1782–1968
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Home Office
1782–1794
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War Office
1794–1801
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War and Colonial Office
1801–1854
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Colonial Office
1854–1925
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India Office
1858–1937
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Colonial Office
1925–1966
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Dominions Office
1925–1947
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India Office and Burma Office
1937–1947
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Commonwealth Relations Office
1947–1966
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Commonwealth Office
1966–1968
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
1968–2020
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Since 2020
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