The Principal Secretary of State, or Principal Secretary of the Council, was a government office in the Kingdom of Ireland. It was abolished in 1801 when Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Acts of Union 1800.

Ireland
Secretary of State
Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Ireland from 1542 to 1800
Member ofPrivy Council of Ireland
SeatDublin Castle, Dublin
AppointerChief governor of Ireland
Term lengthNo fixed term
Formation1560–1801
First holderJohn Challoner
Final holderCharles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester

The post was created in May 1560 by the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex. Sussex created the role to help re-establish English governance in Ireland, as part of the wider Tudor conquest of Ireland. The role was modelled in part on the role of Secretary of State in England, and was intended to be distinct from the clerks of the Irish Privy Council or the Governor's Private Secretary.[1] Whilst the nature of the role evolved other time, originally the holder was expected to:[2]

Other, less common functions included:[2]

In part due to the absence of the Southwells during their time in the role, it became largely ceremonial, with more correspondence being managed directly by the Lord Lieutenant and his Chief Secretary, or alternatively the Lords Justices (who themselves became defunct after 1765). Richard Cooke, for instance, acted as both Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland and Secretary of State at the same time.[2] The last three Secretaries of State also held the more powerful position of Chief Secretary. No Secretary of State was appointed after the 1800 Acts of Union; in 1802 the last appointee resigned to become Speaker of the UK House of Commons.[2]

List of secretaries

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Barry, Judith (2006). "Sir Geoffrey Fenton and the Office of Secretary of State for Ireland, 1580-1608". Irish Historical Studies. 35 (138): 137–159. doi:10.1017/S0021121400004855. ISSN 0021-1214. JSTOR 20547425. S2CID 159783776.
  2. ^ a b c d Wood, Herbert (1928). "The Offices of Secretary of State for Ireland and Keeper of the Signet or Privy Seal". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature. 38: 51–68. ISSN 0035-8991. JSTOR 25515934.