Southern Department (Great Britain)
Department overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1660 |
Dissolved | 1782 |
Superseding agency | |
Jurisdiction | Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Great Britain |
Minister responsible |
The Southern Department was a department of the government of the Kingdom of England and later the Kingdom of Great Britain from 1660 until 1782 when its functions were reorganised into the new Home Office and Foreign Office.[1]
History
The Department was initially established in 1660. It had a variety of responsibilities, including domestic and Irish policy, colonial policy and foreign affairs concerning southern European powers such as France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Ottoman Empire.
It was administered by the Secretary of State for the Southern Department. The Southern Department's opposite number within government was the Northern Department, responsible for government dealings in northern Europe. In 1782, the Northern and Southern Departments were reorganized, with the Foreign Office taking over their foreign affairs responsibilities and Home Office taking over their domestic, military affairs, and colonial responsibilities. (Military and colonial affairs were later transferred to a new offices).
See also
- Northern Department
- Secretaries of State for the Southern Department
- Secretaries of State for the Northern Department
- Secretary of State (England)
References
- ^ Sainty, J. C. "Lists of appointments British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Originally published by University of London, London, 1973. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- Defunct departments of the United Kingdom Government
- Secretaries of State for the Southern Department
- Foreign relations of England
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- Government agencies established in 1660
- 1660 establishments in England
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