The Colonial Secretary position was first created in 1768 to deal with the increasingly troublesome 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.[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 the Civil List and Secret Service Money Act 1782 (22 Geo. 3, c 82).[4]
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:
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 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.
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 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.
^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.
^"SECRETARY FOR COLONIES VISITS TRAINING CENTRE". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 1 January 1945. p. 2. Colonel the Right Hon. Oliver Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, visited 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. Shortly after 1 o'clock. Colonel Stanley and his entourage arrived at 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 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.
^Chris Cook and John Stevenson, British Historical Facts 1830–1900 (Macmillan Press 1980) 29.
^E.B. Fryde and others, Handbook of British Chronology (3rd edn, Cambridge University Press 1986) 125.
History of English and British government departments with responsibility for foreign affairs and those with responsibility for the colonies, dominions and the Commonwealth
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