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List of secretaries of state of the United States

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United States Secretary of State
Official seal
since January 26, 2021
United States Department of State
AppointerPresident of United States
Inaugural holderJohn Jay (acting)
Thomas Jefferson
FormationJuly 27, 1789
SuccessionFourth
Websitewww.state.gov

This is a list of secretaries of state of the United States.

Secretaries of foreign affairs (1781–1789)

On January 10, 1780, the Confederation Congress created the Department of Foreign Affairs.[1]

On August 10, 1781, Congress selected Robert R. Livingston, a delegate from New York, as the first Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Livingston was unable to take office until October 20, 1781. He served until June 4, 1783, when he was succeeded by John Jay, who served until March 4, 1789, when the government under the Articles of Confederation gave way to the government under the Constitution.

The office of Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs were reinstated by a law signed by George Washington on July 27, 1789. John Jay retained the post on an interim basis, pending the return of Thomas Jefferson from France.

No. Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office
1 Robert R. Livingston New York October 20, 1781 June 4, 1783
2 John Jay New York June 4, 1783 March 4, 1789
— John Jay

Acting

New York July 27, 1789 September 15, 1789

Secretaries of state

On September 15, 1789, before Jefferson could return to take the post, Washington signed into law another act which changed the name of the office from Secretary of Foreign Affairs to Secretary of State, changed the name of the department to the Department of State, and added several domestic powers and responsibilities to both the office of secretary and the department. Thomas Jefferson took office as the first Secretary of State on March 22, 1790.

  Denotes acting Secretary of State
No. Secretary State of residence Senate confirmation vote Took office Left office President(s)
— John Jay John Jay

Acting

New York September 15, 1789 March 22, 1790 George Washington
(Unaffiliated)
1 Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Virginia March 22, 1790 December 31, 1793
2 Edmund Randolph Edmund Randolph Virginia January 2, 1794 August 20, 1795
3 Timothy Pickering Timothy Pickering Pennsylvania[2] August 20, 1795 December 10, 1795[B]
December 10, 1795 March 4, 1797
March 4, 1797 May 12, 1800 John Adams
(Federalist)
— Charles Lee[C]
Acting 		Virginia May 13, 1800 June 5, 1800
4 John Marshall John Marshall Virginia June 13, 1800 March 4, 1801
— Levi Lincoln Sr.[C]
Acting 		Massachusetts March 5, 1801 May 1, 1801 Thomas Jefferson
(Democratic-Republican)
5 James Madison James Madison Virginia May 2, 1801 March 3, 1809
6 Robert Smith Robert Smith Maryland March 6, 1809 April 1, 1811 James Madison
(Democratic-Republican)
7 James Monroe James Monroe Virginia April 2, 1811 March 3, 1817
— John Graham

Acting

Kentucky March 4, 1817 March 9, 1817 James Monroe
(Democratic-Republican)
— Richard Rush[C]
Acting 		Pennsylvania March 10, 1817 September 22, 1817
8 John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams Massachusetts September 22, 1817 March 3, 1825
— Daniel Brent
Acting 		Virginia March 4, 1825 March 7, 1825 John Quincy Adams
(Democratic-Republican)
9 Henry Clay Henry Clay Kentucky March 7, 1825 March 3, 1829
— James Alexander Hamilton
Acting 		New York March 4, 1829 March 27, 1829 Andrew Jackson
(Democratic)
10 Martin Van Buren Martin Van Buren New York March 28, 1829 May 23, 1831
11 Edward Livingston Edward Livingston Louisiana May 24, 1831 May 29, 1833
12 Louis McLane Louis McLane Delaware May 29, 1833 June 30, 1834
13 John Forsyth John Forsyth Georgia July 1, 1834 March 4, 1837
March 4, 1837 March 3, 1841 Martin Van Buren
(Democratic)
— Jacob L. Martin
Acting 		District of Columbia March 4, 1841 March 5, 1841 William Harrison
(Whig)
14 Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Massachusetts March 6, 1841 April 4, 1841
April 4, 1841 May 8, 1843 John Tyler
(Whig)
— Hugh S. Legaré
Acting 		South Carolina May 9, 1843 June 20, 1843
— William S. Derrick
Acting 		Pennsylvania June 21, 1843 June 23, 1843
15 Abel P. Upshur Abel P. Upshur Virginia June 24, 1843 July 23, 1843[D]
July 24, 1843 February 28, 1844
— John Nelson John Nelson[C]
Acting 		Maryland February 29, 1844 March 31, 1844
16 John C. Calhoun John C. Calhoun South Carolina April 1, 1844 March 10, 1845[E]
17 James Buchanan James Buchanan Pennsylvania March 10, 1845 March 7, 1849[E] James K. Polk[E]
(Democratic)
18 John M. Clayton John M. Clayton Delaware March 8, 1849 July 9, 1850 Zachary Taylor
(Whig)
July 9, 1850 July 22, 1850 Millard Fillmore
(Whig)
19 Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Massachusetts July 23, 1850 October 24, 1852
— Charles M. Conrad[B]
Acting 		Louisiana October 25, 1852 November 5, 1852
20 Edward Everett Edward Everett Massachusetts November 6, 1852 March 3, 1853
— William Hunter[F]
Acting 		Rhode Island March 4, 1853 March 7, 1853 Franklin Pierce
(Democratic)
21 William L. Marcy William L. Marcy New York March 7, 1853 March 6, 1857[E]
22 Lewis Cass Lewis Cass Michigan March 6, 1857 December 14, 1860 James Buchanan
(Democratic)
— William Hunter[F]
Acting 		Rhode Island December 15, 1860 December 16, 1860
23 Jermiah S. Black Jeremiah S. Black Pennsylvania December 17, 1860 March 5, 1861[E]
24 William H. Seward William H. Seward New York March 5, 1861 April 15, 1865 Abraham Lincoln
(Republican)
April 15, 1865 March 4, 1869 Andrew Johnson
(Democratic)
25 Elihu B. Washburne Elihu B. Washburne Illinois March 5, 1869 March 16, 1869 Ulysses S. Grant
(Republican)
26 Hamilton Fish Hamilton Fish New York March 17, 1869 March 4, 1877
March 4, 1877 March 12, 1877[E] Rutherford B. Hayes[E]
(Republican)
27 William M. Evarts William M. Evarts New York March 12, 1877 March 7, 1881
28 James G. Blaine James G. Blaine Maine March 7, 1881 September 19, 1881 James A. Garfield
(Republican)
September 19, 1881 December 19, 1881 Chester A. Arthur
(Republican)
29 Frederick T. Frelinghuysen Frederick T. Frelinghuysen New Jersey December 19, 1881 March 6, 1885[E]
30 Thomas F. Bayard Thomas F. Bayard Delaware March 7, 1885 March 6, 1889 Grover Cleveland[E]
(Democratic)
31 James G. Blaine James G. Blaine Maine March 7, 1889 June 4, 1892 Benjamin Harrison
(Republican)
— William F. Wharton[G]
Acting 		Massachusetts June 4, 1892 June 29, 1892
32 John W. Foster John W. Foster Indiana June 29, 1892 February 23, 1893
— William F. Wharton[G]
Acting 		Massachusetts February 24, 1893 March 6, 1893
Grover Cleveland
(Democratic)
33 Walter Q. Gresham Walter Q. Gresham Illinois[3] March 7, 1893 May 28, 1895
– Edwin F. Uhl Edwin F. Uhl[G]
Acting 		Michigan May 28, 1895 June 9, 1895
34 Richard Olney Richard Olney Massachusetts June 10, 1895 March 5, 1897[E]
35 John Sherman John Sherman Ohio March 6, 1897 April 27, 1898 William McKinley
(Republican)
36 William R. Day William R. Day Ohio April 28, 1898 September 16, 1898
— Alvey A. Adee[H]
Acting 		New York September 17, 1898 September 29, 1898
37 John Hay District of Columbia September 30, 1898 September 14, 1901
September 14, 1901 July 1, 1905 Theodore Roosevelt
(Republican)
— Francis B. Loomis[G]
Acting 		Ohio July 1, 1905 July 18, 1905
38 Elihu Root Elihu Root New York July 19, 1905 January 27, 1909
39 Robert Bacon Robert Bacon New York January 27, 1909 March 5, 1909[E]
40 Philander C. Knox Philander C. Knox Pennsylvania March 6, 1909 March 5, 1913 William Howard Taft[E]
(Republican)
41 William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan Nebraska March 5, 1913 June 9, 1915 Woodrow Wilson
(Democratic)
42 Robert Lansing Robert Lansing New York June 9, 1915 June 23, 1915
June 24, 1915 February 13, 1920
— Frank Polk Frank Polk[I]
Acting 		New York February 14, 1920 March 12, 1920
43 Bainbridge Colby Bainbridge Colby New York March 23, 1920 March 4, 1921
44 Charles Evans Hughes Charles Evans Hughes New York March 5, 1921 August 2, 1923 Warren G. Harding
(Republican)
August 2, 1923 March 4, 1925 Calvin Coolidge
(Republican)
45 Frank B. Kellogg Frank B. Kellogg Minnesota March 5, 1925 March 4, 1929
March 4, 1929 March 28, 1929 Herbert Hoover
(Republican)
46 Henry L. Stimson Henry L. Stimson New York March 28, 1929 March 4, 1933
47 Cordell Hull Cordell Hull Tennessee March 4, 1933 November 30, 1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt
(Democratic)
48 Edward Stettinius Jr. Edward Stettinius Jr. Virginia December 1, 1944 April 12, 1945
April 12, 1945 June 27, 1945 Harry S. Truman
(Democratic)
— Joseph Grew[I]
Acting 		New Hampshire June 28, 1945 July 3, 1945
49 James F. Byrnes James F. Byrnes South Carolina July 3, 1945 January 21, 1947
50 George C. Marshall George Marshall Pennsylvania January 21, 1947 January 20, 1949
51 Dean G. Acheson Dean Acheson Maryland[4] January 21, 1949 January 20, 1953
— H. Freeman Matthews[I]
Acting 		Maryland January 20, 1953 January 21, 1953 Dwight D. Eisenhower
(Republican)
52 John Foster Dulles John Foster Dulles New York January 21, 1953 April 22, 1959
53 Christian A. Herter Christian Herter Massachusetts April 22, 1959 January 20, 1961
— Livingston T. Merchant
Acting 		District of Columbia January 20, 1961 January 21, 1961 John F. Kennedy
(Democratic)
54 Dean Rusk Dean Rusk New York[5] January 21, 1961 November 22, 1963
November 22, 1963 January 20, 1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
(Democratic)
— Charles E. Bohlen
Acting 		District of Columbia January 20, 1969 January 22, 1969 Richard Nixon
(Republican)
55 William P. Rogers William P. Rogers Maryland January 22, 1969 September 3, 1973
— Kenneth Rush
Acting 		Florida September 3, 1973 September 22, 1973
56 Henry A. Kissinger Henry Kissinger District of Columbia 78–7 September 22, 1973 August 9, 1974
August 9, 1974 January 20, 1977[6] Gerald Ford
(Republican)
— Philip Habib
Acting 		California January 20, 1977 January 23, 1977 Jimmy Carter
(Democratic)
57 Cyrus R. Vance Cyrus Vance New York[7] Voice Vote January 23, 1977 April 28, 1980[8]
— Warren Christopher[K][9]
Acting 		California April 28, 1980 May 2, 1980
— David D. Newsom[L][9]
Acting 		May 2, 1980 May 3, 1980
— May 3, 1980 May 3, 1980
— David D. Newsom[L][9]
Acting 		May 3, 1980 May 4, 1980
— Warren Christopher[K][9]
Acting 		California May 4, 1980 May 8, 1980
58 Edmund Muskie Edmund Muskie Maine 94–2 May 8, 1980 January 20, 1981[10]
59 Alexander Haig Alexander Haig Connecticut 93–6 January 22, 1981 July 5, 1982[11] Ronald Reagan
(Republican)
— Walter J. Stoessel Jr. Walter J. Stoessel Jr.[K]
Acting 		California July 5, 1982 July 16, 1982
60 George P. Shultz George Shultz California 97–0 July 16, 1982 January 20, 1989[12]
— Michael Armacost Michael Armacost[L]
Acting 		Maryland January 20, 1989 January 25, 1989 George H. W. Bush
(Republican)
61 James Baker James Baker Texas 99–0 January 25, 1989 August 23, 1992[13]
62 Lawrence Eagleburger Lawrence Eagleburger Florida[14] August 23, 1992 December 8, 1992[K][15]
Recess Appointment December 8, 1992 January 20, 1993[16]
— File:Arnold Kanter Photo.jpg Arnold Kanter[L][17]
Acting 		Virginia January 20, 1993 Bill Clinton
(Democratic)
— Frank G. Wisner[N][17]
Acting 		District of Columbia January 20, 1993
63 Warren Christopher Warren Christopher California Voice Vote January 20, 1993 January 17, 1997[18]
64 Madeleine Albright Madeleine Albright District of Columbia 99–0 January 23, 1997 January 20, 2001[19]
65 Colin Powell Colin Powell Virginia Voice Vote January 20, 2001 January 26, 2005[20] George W. Bush
(Republican)
66 Condoleezza Rice Condoleezza Rice California 85–13 January 26, 2005 January 20, 2009[21]
— William Joseph Burns[L]
Acting 		District of Columbia January 20, 2009 January 21, 2009[22] Barack Obama
(Democratic)
67 Hillary Clinton New York 94–2 January 21, 2009 February 1, 2013[23]
68 John Kerry Massachusetts 94–3 February 1, 2013 January 20, 2017[24]
— Thomas Shannon Tom Shannon[L]
Acting 		Minnesota January 20, 2017 February 1, 2017[25][26][27] Donald Trump
(Republican)
69 Rex Tillerson Rex Tillerson Texas 55–43 February 1, 2017 March 31, 2018
— John J. Sullivan John J. Sullivan[K]
Acting 		Massachusetts April 1, 2018 April 26, 2018
70 Mike Pompeo Kansas 57–42 April 26, 2018 January 20, 2021
— Daniel Bennett Smith
Acting 		Virginia January 20, 2021 January 26, 2021 Joe Biden
(Democratic)
71 Antony Blinken New York 78–22 January 26, 2021 —

List of secretaries of state by time in office

11 years, 271 days
Cordell Hull from 1933 to 1944
7 years, 364 days
Dean Rusk from 1961 to 1969
7 years, 364 days
William H. Seward from 1861 to 1869
43 days
Lawrence Eagleburger from 1992 to 1993
37 days
Robert Bacon in 1909
11 days
Elihu B. Washburne in 1869

This is a list of United States secretaries of state by time in office. This is based on the difference between dates; if counted by number of calendar days all the figures would be one greater. Cordell Hull is the only person to have served as Secretary of State for more than eight years. Daniel Webster and James G. Blaine are the only secretaries of state to have ever served non-consecutive terms. Warren Christopher served very briefly as Acting Secretary of State non-consecutively with his later tenure as full-fledged Secretary of State. Elihu B. Washburne served as Secretary of State for less than two weeks before becoming Ambassador to France.

No. in office Secretary Length of service
(days) 		Rank
47 Cordell Hull 4289 1
54 Dean Rusk 2921 2
24 William H. Seward 2921
8 John Quincy Adams 2920 4
26 Hamilton Fish 2917 5
5 James Madison 2862 6
37 John Hay 2465 7
13 John Forsyth 2437 8
60 George P. Shultz 2380 9
52 John Foster Dulles 2282 10
7 James Monroe 2011 11
42 Robert Lansing 1695 12
55 William P. Rogers 1685 13
14/19 Daniel Webster 1617 14
3 Timothy Pickering 1614 15
45 Frank B. Kellogg 1484 16
28/31 James G. Blaine 1472 17
67 Hillary Clinton 1472
65 Colin Powell 1467 19
51 Dean Acheson 1460 20
21 William L. Marcy 1460
30 Thomas F. Bayard Sr. 1460
40 Philander C. Knox 1460
44 Charles Evans Hughes 1460
63 Warren Christopher 1458 25
64 Madeleine Albright 1458
17 James Buchanan 1458
9 Henry Clay 1457 28
27 William M. Evarts 1456 29
66 Condoleezza Rice 1455 30
68 John Kerry 1449 31
46 Henry L. Stimson 1437 32
1 Thomas Jefferson 1380 33
22 Lewis Cass 1379 34
61 James Baker 1306 35
38 Elihu Root 1288 36
56 Henry Kissinger 1216 37
57 Cyrus Vance 1191 38
29 Frederick T. Frelinghuysen 1173 39
70 Mike Pompeo 1000 40
41 William Jennings Bryan 826 41
33 Walter Q. Gresham 812 42
10 Martin Van Buren 786 43
6 Robert Smith 756 44
11 Edward Livingston 736 45
50 George Marshall 730 46
53 Christian Herter 639 47
34 Richard Olney 634 48
2 Edmund Randolph 595 49
49 James F. Byrnes 567 50
59 Alexander Haig 529 51
18 John M. Clayton 501 52
69 Rex Tillerson 423 53
35 John Sherman 417 54
12 Louis McLane 397 55
43 Bainbridge Colby 346 56
16 John C. Calhoun 343 57
4 John Marshall 264 58
58 Edmund Muskie 257 59
32 John W. Foster 239 60
15 Abel P. Upshur 219 61
48 Edward Stettinius Jr. 208 62
36 William R. Day 141 63
20 Edward Everett 117 64
23 Jeremiah S. Black 78 65
71 Antony Blinken 1,376 66
62 Lawrence Eagleburger 43 67
39 Robert Bacon 37 68
25 Elihu B. Washburne 11 69

Living former secretaries of state

See also: List of living former members of the United States Cabinet

As of November 2024, there are nine living former secretaries of state (with all Secretaries that have served since 1997 still living), the oldest being Henry Kissinger (served 1973–1977, born 1923). The most recent Secretary of State to die was George Shultz (served 1982–1989, born 1920) on February 6, 2021.

  • Living former secretaries of state
  • Henry Kissinger served 1973–1977, born May 27, 1923 (age 101)
    Henry Kissinger
    served 1973–1977, born May 27, 1923 (age 101)
  • James Baker served 1989–1992, born April 28, 1930 (age 94)
    James Baker
    served 1989–1992, born April 28, 1930 (age 94)
  • Madeleine Albright served 1997–2001, born May 15, 1937 (age 87)
    Madeleine Albright
    served 1997–2001, born May 15, 1937 (age 87)
  • Colin Powell served 2001–2005, born April 5, 1937 (age 87)
    Colin Powell
    served 2001–2005, born April 5, 1937 (age 87)
  • Condoleezza Rice served 2005–2009, born November 14, 1954 (age 69)
    Condoleezza Rice
    served 2005–2009, born November 14, 1954 (age 69)
  • Hillary Clinton served 2009–2013, born October 26, 1947 (age 77)
    Hillary Clinton
    served 2009–2013, born October 26, 1947 (age 77)
  • John Kerry served 2013–2017, born December 11, 1943 (age 80)
    John Kerry
    served 2013–2017, born December 11, 1943 (age 80)
  • Rex Tillerson served 2017–2018, born March 23, 1952 (age 72)
    Rex Tillerson
    served 2017–2018, born March 23, 1952 (age 72)
  • Mike Pompeo served 2018–2021, born December 30, 1963 (age 60)
    Mike Pompeo
    served 2018–2021, born December 30, 1963 (age 60)

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Secret Committee of Correspondence/Committee for Foreign Affairs, 1775–1777". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  2. ^ Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Timothy Pickering
  3. ^ Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Walter Quintin Gresham
  4. ^ Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Dean Gooderham Acheson
  5. ^ Biographies of the Secretaries of State: David Dean Rusk
  6. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Henry A. (Heinz Alfred) Kissinger (1923–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  7. ^ Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Cyrus Roberts Vance
  8. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Cyrus Roberts Vance (1917–2002)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  9. ^ a b c d Allexperts.com – Secretary of State Archived 2012-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Edmund Sixtus Muskie (1914–1996)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  11. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. (1924–2010)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  12. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: George Pratt Shultz (1920–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  13. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Addison Baker III (1930–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  14. ^ Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger
  15. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger (1930–2011)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian. Served as Acting Secretary of State, Aug 23 – Dec 8, 1992.
  16. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger (1930–2011)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  17. ^ a b and, Thomas L. Friedman. "Clinton Rounds Out State Dept. Team". nytimes.com. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  18. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Warren Minor Christopher (1925–2011)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  19. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Madeleine Korbel Albright (1937–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  20. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Colin Luther Powell (1937–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  21. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Condoleezza Rice (1954–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  22. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Condoleezza Rice (1954–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian. Under Secretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns served as Acting Secretary of State, January 20–21, 2009.
  23. ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  24. ^ "John Forbes Kerry (1943–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian.
  25. ^ Herman, Steve. "Career Diplomat Becomes Acting Secretary of State with Trump Inauguration". voanews.com. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "ABC News". ABC News. Retrieved March 14, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  27. ^ "Under Secretary of State Shannon meets Tillerson: U.S. official". January 19, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2018 – via Reuters.

Further reading

  • Bemis, Samuel Flagg, ed. The American secretaries of state and their diplomacy (19 vol., 1963) scholarly biographies. partly online
  • Graebner, Norman A., ed. An Uncertain Tradition: American Secretaries of State in the Twentieth Century (1961) scholarly essays on John Hay through John Foster Dulles. online
  • Hopkins, Michael F. "President Harry Truman's Secretaries of State: Stettinius, Byrnes, Marshall and Acheson." Journal of Transatlantic Studies 6.3 (2008): 290–304.
  • Mihalkanin Edward, ed. American Statesmen: Secretaries of State from John Jay to Colin Powell (2004); short scholarly articles by experts; 572pp online
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