Editing Chief Secretary for Ireland

{{Short description|Important political office in the British administration of Ireland (1566–1922)}}
{{distinguish|Secretary of State (Ireland)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2011}}
{{Infobox political post
|post            = Chief Secretary for Ireland
|body            = 
|nativename      =
|insignia        = Arms of Ireland (historical).svg
|insigniasize    = 
|insigniacaption = Arms of the Kingdom of Ireland
|department      =
|image           = 
|alt             = 
|incumbent       = 
|incumbentsince  = 
|style           = [[The Right Honourable]]<br/>{{small|as a member of the [[Privy Council]]}}
|residence       = [[Deerfield Residence|Chief Secretary's Lodge]] (from 1776)
|nominator       =
|nominatorpost   =
|appointer       = [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland|The Lord Lieutenant]]
|appointerpost   = 
|termlength      = At the pleasure of the Lord Lieutenant
|inaugural       = [[Edward Waterhouse]] 
|formation       = 20 January 1566
|last            = [[Hamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount Greenwood|Sir Hamar Greenwood]]
|abolished       = 19 October 1922
|succession      = 
|deputy          = 
|salary          = 
|website         = 
}}

[[Image:Chiefsecoffice.jpg|thumb|The Chief Secretary's office in [[Dublin Castle]].<br>The Chief Secretary's residence was the [[Chief Secretary's Lodge]] in the [[Phoenix Park]], next to the [[Áras an Uachtaráin|Viceregal Lodge]].]]

The '''Chief Secretary for Ireland''' was a key political office in the British [[Dublin Castle administration|administration in Ireland]].  Nominally subordinate to the [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland|Lord Lieutenant]], and officially the "Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant",<ref>The National Archives. [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C520 "Irish administration".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015110/http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C520 |date=17 November 2015 }} Last retrieved 12 November 2015.</ref> from the early 19th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the [[government minister]] with responsibility for governing Ireland, roughly equivalent to the role of a [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State]], such as the similar role of [[Secretary of State for Scotland]]. Usually it was the Chief Secretary, rather than the Lord Lieutenant, who sat in the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|British Cabinet]].<ref name="Quinlan">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.ie/topics/Chief_secretary/CS.htm|title=The Registered Papers of the Chief Secretary's Office|last=Quinlan|first=Tom|publisher=[[National Archives of Ireland]]|access-date=7 June 2011|archive-date=27 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927041554/http://www.nationalarchives.ie/topics/Chief_secretary/CS.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Chief Secretary was ''ex officio'' President of the [[Local Government Board for Ireland]] from its creation in 1872.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1872/act/69/section/2/enacted/en/html |title=Local Government Board (Ireland) Act, 1872 sec.2 |work=[[Irish Statute Book]] |access-date=13 October 2016 |archive-date=18 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018202257/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1872/act/69/section/2/enacted/en/html |url-status=live }}</ref>

British rule over much of Ireland came to an end as the result of the [[Irish War of Independence]], which culminated in the establishment of the [[Irish Free State]].  In consequence the office of Chief Secretary was abolished, as well as that of Lord Lieutenant.  Executive responsibility within the Irish Free State and [[Northern Ireland]] was effectively transferred to the [[President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State|President of the Executive Council]] (i.e. the prime minister) and the [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland]] respectively.

==History of the office==
[[File:Chief Secretary's Lodge now Deerfield, Phoenix Park, Dublin. - Flickr - National Library of Ireland on The Commons.jpg|thumb|right|Chief Sectretary's Lodge, Phoenix Park, now the Deerfield Residence of the U.S. Ambassador]]
The dominant position of the Lord Lieutenant at [[Dublin Castle administration in Ireland|Dublin Castle]] had been central to the British administration of the [[Kingdom of Ireland]] for much of its history. [[Poynings' Law (on certification of acts)|Poynings' Law]] in particular meant that the [[Parliament of Ireland]] lacked an independent power of legislation, and the [[British monarchy|Crown]] kept control of executive authority in the hands of the Lord Lieutenant and its own appointees, rather than in the hands of ministers [[responsible government|responsible]] to the Irish parliament.

In 1560, Queen [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I of England and Ireland]] ordered the Lord Lieutenant, the [[Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex|Earl of Sussex]], to appoint [[John Challoner]] of [[Dublin]] as [[Secretary of State for Ireland]] "because at this present there is none appointed to be Clerk of our Council there, and considering how more meet it were, that in our realm there were for our honour one to be our Secretary there for the affairs of our Realm".<ref>Herbert Wood, The Offices of Secretary of State for Ireland and Keeper of the Royal Privy Seal, in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature (1928), p. 51</ref> The appointment of a Secretary was intended to both improve Irish administration, and to keep the Lord Lieutenant in line.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} The role of Secretary of State for Ireland and Chief Secretary of Ireland were originally distinct positions, [[Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester|Thomas Pelham]] being the first individual appointed to both offices concurrently in 1796.<ref>Herbert Wood, The Offices of Secretary of State for Ireland and Keeper of the Royal Privy Seal, in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature (1928), p. 55</ref>

Over time, the post of Chief Secretary gradually increased in importance, particularly because of his role as manager of legislative business for the Government in the [[Irish House of Commons]], in which he sat as an [[Member of Parliament (pre-Union Ireland)|MP]]. While the Irish administration was not [[Westminster System|responsible]] to the parliament, it nevertheless needed to manage and influence it in order to ensure the passage of legislation.

Chief Secretary [[Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh|Viscount Castlereagh]] played a key role in the enactment of the [[Acts of Union 1800|Act of Union]] which passed in the Irish Parliament on its second attempt in 1800 through the exercise of patronage and direct bribery.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Upon the Union on 1 January 1801, the Kingdom of Ireland was merged into the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] and the Irish parliament ceased to exist. However, the existing system of administration in Ireland continued broadly in place, with the offices of Lord Lieutenant and Chief Secretary retaining their respective roles.

The last Chief Secretary to represent an Irish constituency while in office was [[Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford|Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue]], MP for [[County Louth (UK Parliament constituency)|County Louth]], who served from 1868 to 1871.

The last Chief Secretary was Sir [[Hamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount Greenwood|Hamar Greenwood]], who left office in October 1922. The [[Irish Free State]], comprising the greater part of Ireland, would become independent on 6 December 1922. In [[Northern Ireland]], a new [[Government of Northern Ireland (1921–1972)|Government of Northern Ireland]] was established, with a [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland]]. This government was suspended in 1972, and the position of [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]] was created as a position in the [[British cabinet]].

==List of chief secretaries for Ireland==
This list includes holders of a key [[Politician|political office]] in the British administration in Ireland.  Nominally subordinate to the [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland|Lord Lieutenant]], from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the [[government minister]] with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually it was the Chief Secretary, rather than the Lord Lieutenant, who sat in the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|British Cabinet]].<ref name="Quinlan" /> Exceptions were the periods from 29 June 1895 to 8 August 1902, when the Lord Lieutenant [[George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan|Lord Cadogan]] sat in the Cabinet and the Chief Secretaries [[Gerald Balfour, 2nd Earl of Balfour|Gerald Balfour]] until 9 November 1900 did not sit there and [[George Wyndham]] from that date also sat there,<ref>Chris Cook and Brendan Keith, ''British Historical Facts 1830–1900'', Macmillan, 1975, pages 45–46</ref> and from 28 October 1918 to 2 April 1921, when both the Lord Lieutenant [[John French, 1st Earl of Ypres|Lord French]] and the Chief Secretaries [[Edward Shortt]], [[Ian Macpherson, 1st Baron Strathcarron|Ian Macpherson]] and [[Hamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount Greenwood|Sir Hamar Greenwood]] sat in the Cabinet.<ref>''British Political Facts 1900–1994'', by David Butler and Gareth Butler (Macmillan Press, 7th edition 1994) Page7.</ref>

===Kingdom of Ireland===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan=5|

====1566–1660====
|-
! Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Served under
|-
| [[Edward Waterhouse]]<ref name=EW>Handbook of British Chronology calls him 'Sir Edward Waterhouse', but he was not knighted until 1584</ref>
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 20 January 1566
| 9 October 1567
| Sir [[Henry Sidney]]
|-
| [[Edward Waterhouse]]<br/>(second time)<ref name=EW/>
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 28 October 1568
| 
| Sir [[Henry Sidney]]
|-
| [[Edmund Tremayne]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 15 July 1569
| 31 March 1571
| Sir [[Henry Sidney]]
|-
| [[Philip Williams (Chief Secretary)|Philip Williams]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| post March 1571
| 17 September 1575
| Sir [[William FitzWilliam (Lord Deputy)|William Fitzwilliam]]
|-
| [[Edmund Molyneux]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 18 September 1575
|
| Sir [[Henry Sidney]]
|-
| [[Edmund Spenser]]
| [[image:Edmund Spenser oil painting.JPG|75px]]
| 7 September 1580
| 30 August 1582
| [[Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey of Wilton|The Lord Grey de Wilton]]
|-
| [[Philip Williams (Chief Secretary)|Philip Williams]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 21 June 1584
| 10 August 1594
| [[John Perrot|Sir John Perrot]]<br>[[William FitzWilliam (Lord Deputy)|Sir William FitzWilliam]]
|-
| [[Richard Cooke (MP for Lymington)|Richard Cooke]]<ref>Handbook of British Chronology calls him 'Sir Richard Cooke', but he was not knighted until 1603 – see [http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/cooke-richard-ii-1561-1616 History of Parliament – Member Biographies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404180119/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/cooke-richard-ii-1561-1616 |date=4 April 2019 }}</ref>
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 11 August 1594
| 21 May 1597
| [[William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh|Sir William Russell]]
|-
| [[Philip Williams (Chief Secretary)|Philip Williams]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 22 May 1597
| 13 October 1597
| [[Thomas Burgh, 3rd Baron Burgh|The Lord Burgh]]
|-
| [[Henry Wotton]]
| [[Image:SirHenryWotton.jpg|75px]]
| 15 April 1599
| 4 September 1599
| [[Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex|The Earl of Essex]]
|-
| [[Francis Mitchell (knight)|Francis Mitchell]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 28 February 1600
| March 1600
| [[Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy|The Lord Mountjoy]]
|-
| [[George Cranmer]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| March 1600
| Died 16 July 1600
| [[Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy|The Lord Mountjoy]]
|-
| [[Fynes Moryson]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 14 November 1600
| 31 May 1603
| [[Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy|The Lord Mountjoy]]
|-
| [[John Bingley (MP)|John Bingley]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1 June 1603
| 2 February 1605
| [[George Carey (c. 1541–1616)|Sir George Carey]]
|-
| [[Henry Piers]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 3 February 1605
| 10 February 1616
| [[Arthur Chichester|Sir Arthur Chichester]]
|-
| [[Henry Holcroft]]<ref>knighted 1 May 1622 – see [http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/holcroft-sir-henry-1586-1650 History of Parliament – Member Biographies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404180129/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/holcroft-sir-henry-1586-1650 |date=4 April 2019 }}</ref>
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 30 August 1616
| 3 May 1622
| [[Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison|Sir Oliver St John]]
|-
| Sir John Veele
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 8 September 1622
| 25 October 1629
| [[Henry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland|The Viscount Falkland]]
|-
| [[George Lane, 1st Viscount Lanesborough|George Lane]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 21 January 1644
| April 1646
| [[James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde|The Marquess of Ormonde]]
|-
| colspan=5|

====1660–1701====
|-
! Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Served under
|-
| [[Matthew Locke (administrator)|Matthew Locke]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1660
| 1660
| [[John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor|The Lord Robartes]]
|-
| [[Thomas Page (politician)|Sir Thomas Page]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1662
| 1669
| [[James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde|The Duke of Ormonde]]:<br>[[Thomas Butler, 6th Earl of Ossory|The Earl of Ossory]]
|-
| [[Henry Ford (secretary of state)|Henry Ford]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1669
| 1670
| [[John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor|The Lord Robartes]]
|-
| [[Ellis Leighton|Sir Ellis Leighton]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1670
| 1672
| [[John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton|The Lord Berkeley of Stratton]]
|-
| [[Henry Ford (secretary of state)|Sir Henry Ford]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1672
| 1673
| [[Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex|The Earl of Essex]]
|-
| [[William Harbord (politician)|William Harbord]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1673
| 1676
| [[Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex|The Earl of Essex]]
|-
| [[Cyril Wyche|Sir Cyril Wyche]]
| [[File:Sir Cyril Wyche (c.1632–1707).jpg|75px]]
| 1677
| 1682
| [[James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde|The Duke of Ormonde]]
|-
| [[William Ellis (Secretary of State)|Sir William Ellis]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1682
| 1685
| [[James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde|The Duke of Ormonde]]
|-
| [[Paul Rycaut|Sir Paul Rycaut]]
| [[File:Sir Paul Rycaut by Sir Peter Lely.jpg|75px]]
| 1686
| 1687
| [[Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon|The Earl of Clarendon]]
|-
| [[Thomas Sheridan (politician)|Thomas Sheridan]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1687
| 1688<ref>'removed from his offices on 20 January 1688' [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/25368 John Miller, ‘Sheridan, Thomas (1646–1712)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Oct 2006, accessed 3 Aug 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925014516/https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-25368;jsessionid=670A8BEF4E5325C94F527275A08B5E45 |date=25 September 2021 }}</ref>
| [[Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell|The Earl of Tyrconnell]]
|-
| Bishop [[Patrick Tyrrell]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1688
| 1689
| [[Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell|The Earl of Tyrconnell]]
|-
| [[John Davis (politician)|John Davis]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1690
| 1692
|
|-
| [[Cyril Wyche|Sir Cyril Wyche]]
| [[File:Sir Cyril Wyche by Unknown artist.jpg|75px]]
| 1692
| 1693<ref>'Following Sidney's removal as lord lieutenant in 1693 Wyche was appointed one of three lords justices to take over the chief governorship of Ireland.'[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/30117 C. I. McGrath, ‘Wyche, Sir Cyril (c.1632–1707)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 3 Aug 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925014514/https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-30117;jsessionid=109A5A2ED219B91840473CE99EDF3BB0 |date=25 September 2021 }}</ref>
| [[Henry Sydney, 1st Earl of Romney|The Viscount Sydney]]
|-
| [[Richard Aldworth (MP for Dublin University)|Sir Richard Aldworth]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1693
| 1696
| [[Henry Capell, 1st Baron Capell|The Lord Capell]]
|-
| [[William Palmer (Irish politician)|William Palmer]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1696
| 1697
| 
|-
| [[Matthew Prior]]
| [[Image:Matthew Prior by Thomas Hudson.jpg|75px]]
| 1697
| 1699
|
|-
| [[Humphrey May (Chief Secretary)|Humphrey May]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1699
| 1701
| 
|-
| colspan=5|

====1701–1750====
|-
! Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Served under
|-
| [[Francis Gwyn]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1701
| 1703
| [[Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester|The Earl of Rochester]]
|-
| [[Edward Southwell (1671–1730)|Edward Southwell]]
| [[Image:Edward Southwell.jpg|75px]]
| 1703
| 1707
| [[James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde|The Duke of Ormonde]]
|-
| [[George Dodington (died 1720)|George Dodington]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1707
| 1708
| [[Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke|The Earl of Pembroke]]
|-
| [[Joseph Addison]]
| [[Image:Joseph Addison by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg|75px]]
| 1708
| 1710
| [[Thomas Wharton, 1st Marquess of Wharton|The Earl of Wharton]]
|-
| [[Edward Southwell (1671–1730)|Edward Southwell]]
| [[Image:Edward Southwell.jpg|75px]]
| 1710
| 1713
| [[James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde|The Duke of Ormonde]]
|-
| [[Sir John Stanley, 1st Baronet|Sir John Stanley, Bt]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1713
| 1714
| [[Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury|The Duke of Shrewsbury]]
|-
| [[Joseph Addison]]
| [[Image:Joseph Addison by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg|75px]]
| 1714
| 1715
|[[Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland|The Earl of Sunderland]]
|-
| [[Martin Bladen]] and<br/> [[Charles Delafaye]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1715
| 1717
| 
|-
| [[Edward Webster]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1717
| 1720
| [[Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton|The Duke of Bolton]]
|-
| [[Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole|Horatio Walpole]]
| [[File:Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton by Christian Friedrich Zincke.jpg|75px]]
| 1720
| 1721
| [[Charles Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Grafton|The Duke of Grafton]]
|-
| [[Edward Hopkins (MP)|Edward Hopkins]]
| [[Image:Portrait of Edward Hopkins Esqr (4670902).jpg|75px]]
| 1721
| 1724
| [[Charles Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Grafton|The Duke of Grafton]]
|-
| [[Thomas Clutterbuck]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1724
| 1730
| [[John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville|The Lord Carteret]]
|-
| [[Walter Carey (Parliament of Ireland)|Walter Cary]]<br/>(also spelt 'Carey')
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1730
| 1737
| [[Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset|The Duke of Dorset]]
|-
| [[Edward Walpole|Sir Edward Walpole]]
| [[File:Thomas Hudson Portrait of Sir Edward Walpole.jpg|75px]]
| 1737
| 1739
| [[William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire|The Duke of Devonshire]]
|-
| [[Thomas Townshend (MP)|Thomas Townshend]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1739
| 1739
| [[William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire|The Duke of Devonshire]]
|-
| [[Henry Bilson Legge|Hon. Henry Bilson Legge]]
| [[Image:HenryBilsonLegge.jpg|75px]]
| 1739
| 1741
| [[William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire|The Duke of Devonshire]]
|-
| [[William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough|Viscount Duncannon]]
| [[Image:Joshua Reynolds, Portrait of William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough (c. 1760).jpg|75px]]
| 1741
| 1745
| [[William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire|The Duke of Devonshire]]
|-
| [[Richard Liddell]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1745
| 1746
| [[Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield|The Earl of Chesterfield]]
|-
| [[Sewallis Shirley (1709–1765)|Sewallis Shirley]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1746
| 1746
| [[Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield|The Earl of Chesterfield]]
|-
| [[Edward Weston (politician)|Edward Weston]]
| 
| 1746
| 1750
| [[William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington|The Earl of Harrington]]
|-
| colspan=5|

====1750–1801====
|-
! Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Served under
|-
| [[George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville|Lord George Sackville]]{{refn|name=courtesy|Styled "Lord" as a [[Courtesy titles in the United Kingdom|courtesy]].}}
| [[File:MarshGeorge1800George Germain.jpg|75px]]
| 1750
| 1755
| [[Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset|The Duke of Dorset]]
|-
| [[Henry Seymour Conway|Hon. Henry Seymour Conway]]
| [[File:Henryseymour.jpg|75px]]
| 1755
| 1757
| [[William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire|The Duke of Devonshire]]
|-
| [[Richard Rigby]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1757
| 1761
| [[John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford|The Duke of Bedford]]
|-
| [[William Gerard Hamilton]]
| [[Image:Right_Honourable_William_Gerard_Hamilton,_one_of_his_Majesty's_Most_Honourable_Privy_Council_and_chancellor_of_the_Exchequer,_in_Ireland.jpg|75px]]
| 1761
| 1764
| [[George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax|The Earl of Halifax]];<br> [[Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland|The Earl of Northumberland]] 
|-
| [[Charles Moore, 1st Marquess of Drogheda|The Earl of Drogheda]]
| [[Image:Charles_Moore,_1st_Marquess_of_Drogheda.jpg|75px]]
| 1764
| 1765
| [[Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland|The Earl of Northumberland]]
|-
| [[Sir Charles Bunbury, 6th Baronet|Sir Charles Bunbury]]
| [[File:Sir-Thomas-Charles-Bunbury-6th-Bt.jpg|75px]]
| 1765
| 1765
| [[Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath|The Viscount Weymouth]]
|-
| [[Francis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Marquess of Hertford|Viscount Conway]]
| [[Image:Francis_Seymour_Conway,_2nd_Marquess_of_Hertford_NPG_D9798.jpg|75px]]
| 1765
| 1766
| [[Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford|The Earl of Hertford]]
|-
| [[Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol|Hon. Augustus Hervey]]
| [[Image:Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol by Sir Joshua Reynolds.jpg|75px]]
| 1766
| 1767<ref>In July 1767 he resigned, having quarrelled with his brother over his own continuing attachment to George Grenville. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/13109 Ruddock Mackay, ‘Hervey, Augustus John, third earl of Bristol (1724–1779)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2010, accessed 3 Aug 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714154305/http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/13109 |date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> 
| [[George Hervey, 2nd Earl of Bristol|The Earl of Bristol]]
|-
| [[Theophilus Jones (1729–1811)|Theophilus Jones]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1767
| 1767
| [[George Hervey, 2nd Earl of Bristol|The Earl of Bristol]]
|-
| [[Lord Frederick Campbell]]{{refn|name=courtesy}}
| [[Image:Lord Frederick Campbell (1729–1816) by Henry Raeburn.jpg|75px]]
| 1767
| 1768
| [[George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend|The Viscount Townshend]]
|-
| [[George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney|Sir George Macartney]]
| [[Image:George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney by Lemuel Francis Abbott.jpg|75px]]
| 1769
| 1772
| [[George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend|The Viscount Townshend]]
|-
| [[John Blaquiere, 1st Baron de Blaquiere|Sir John Blaquiere]]
| [[Image:1stLordDeBlaquiere.jpg|75px]]
| 1772
| 1776
| [[Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt|The Earl Harcourt]]
|-
| [[Richard Heron|Sir Richard Heron]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1776
| 1780
| [[John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire|The Earl of Buckinghamshire]]
|-
| [[William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland|William Eden]]
| [[File:Sir Thomas Lawrence - William Eden, First Lord Auckland, M. P. - 2005.201 - Museum of Fine Arts.jpg|75px]]
| 1780
| 1782
| [[Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle|The Earl of Carlisle]]
|-
| [[Richard FitzPatrick|Hon. Richard FitzPatrick]]
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1782
| 1782
| [[William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland|The Duke of Portland]]
|-
| [[William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville|William Grenville]]
| [[Image:1st Baron Grenville-cropped.jpg|75px]]
| 1782
| 1783
| [[George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham|The Earl Temple]]
|-
| [[William Windham]]
| [[Image:WilliamWindham.jpg|75px]]
| 1783
| 1783
| [[Robert Henley, 2nd Earl of Northington|The Earl of Northington]]
|-
| [[Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester|Hon. Thomas Pelham]]
| [[Image:2ndEarlOfChichester.jpg|75px]]
| 1783
| 1784
| [[Robert Henley, 2nd Earl of Northington|The Earl of Northington]]
|-
| [[Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton|Thomas Orde]]
| [[Image:Thomas Orde-Powlett 1st Baron Bolton.jpg|75px]]
| 1784
| 1787
| [[Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland|The Duke of Rutland]]
|-
| [[Alleyne FitzHerbert, 1st Baron St Helens|Alleyne FitzHerbert]]
| [[Image:Alleyne FitzHerbert04738.jpg|75px]]
| 1787
| 1789
| [[George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham|The Marquess of Buckingham]]
|-
| [[Robert Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire|Hon. Robert Hobart]]
| [[Image:4thEarlOfBuckinghamshire.jpg|75px]]
| 1789
| 1793
| [[George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham|The Marquess of Buckingham]];<br> [[John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland|The Earl of Westmorland]]
|-
| [[Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie|Sylvester Douglas]]
| [[Image:1stLordGlenbervie.jpg|75px]]
| 1793
| 1794
| [[John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland|The Earl of Westmorland]]
|-
| [[George Damer, 2nd Earl of Dorchester|Viscount Milton]]
| [[File:Thomas Beach - George Damer, Viscount Milton 8607.jpg|75px]]
| 1794
| 1795
| [[William Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 2nd Earl FitzWilliam|The Earl FitzWilliam]]
|-
| [[Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester|Hon. Thomas Pelham]]
| [[Image:2ndEarlOfChichester.jpg|75px]]
| 1795
| 1798
| [[John Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden|The Earl Camden]]
|-
| [[Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh|Viscount Castlereagh]]
| [[Image:Lord Castlereagh Marquess of Londonderry.jpg|75px]]
| 1798
| 1801
| [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|The Marquess Cornwallis]]
|}

===United Kingdom===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan=6|

====1801–1852====
|-
! colspan=2|Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Political party
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester|Charles Abbot]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Helston (UK Parliament constituency)|Helston]]}}
| [[Image:Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester by John Hoppner.jpg|75px]]
| 1801
| 1802
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[William Wickham (1761–1840)|William Wickham]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Cashel (UK Parliament constituency)|Cashel]]}}
| [[File:William Wickham (1761-1840) Chief Secretary Ireland.jpg|75px]]
| 1802
| 1804
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Evan Nepean|Sir Evan Nepean, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Bridport (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridport]]}}
| [[Image:SirEvanNepean.JPG|75px]]
| 1804
| 1805
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley|Nicholas Vansittart]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Old Sarum (UK Parliament constituency)|Old Sarum]]}}
| [[Image:Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley.jpg|75px]]
| 1805
| 1805
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Charles Long, 1st Baron Farnborough|Charles Long]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Wendover (UK Parliament constituency)|Wendover]]}}
| [[Image:1stLordFarnborough.jpg|75px]]
| 1805
| 1806
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[William Elliot (Irish politician)|William Elliot]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Peterborough]]}}
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 1806
| 1807
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Sir Arthur Wellesley]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Tralee (UK Parliament constituency)|Tralee]] (1807)}}<br>{{small|MP for [[Mitchell (UK Parliament constituency)|Mitchell]] (1807)}}<br>{{small|MP for [[Newport (Isle of Wight) (UK Parliament constituency)|Newport]] (1807–09)}}
| [[Image:Lord Arthur Wellesley the Duke of Wellington.jpg|75px]]
| 1807
| 1809
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville|Robert Dundas]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency) (1708–1918)|Midlothian]]}}
| [[Image:Robert Saunders Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville.jpg|75px]]
| 1809
| 1809
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[William Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington|William Wellesley-Pole]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Queen's County (UK Parliament constituency)|Queen's County]]}}
| [[Image:William Wellesley-Pole, later 1st Baron Maryborough, by Thomas Lawrence.jpg|75px]]
| 1809
| 1812
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Robert Peel]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Chippenham (UK Parliament constituency)|Chippenham]] (1812–17)}}<br>{{small|MP for [[Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford University]] (1817–29)}}
| [[Image:Robert Peel by RR Scanlan detail.jpg|75px]]
| 1812
| 1818
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Charles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg|Charles Grant]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Inverness-shire (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverness-shire]]}}
| [[Image:Lord-glenelg.jpg|75px]]
| 1818
| 1821
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Henry Goulburn]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[West Looe (UK Parliament constituency)|West Looe]] (1818–26)}}<br>{{small|MP for [[Armagh City (UK Parliament constituency)|Armagh City]] (1826–31)}}
| [[Image:HenryGoulburn.jpg|75px]]
| 29 December 1821 
| 29 April 1827
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne|William Lamb]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Bletchingley (UK Parliament constituency)|Bletchingley]]}}
| [[Image:William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, painted by John Partridge.jpg|75px]]
| 29 April 1827
| 21 June 1828
| [[Whig (British political faction)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere|Lord Francis Leveson-Gower]]'''{{refn|name=courtesy}}<br>{{small|MP for [[Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency)|Sutherland]]}}
| [[Image:Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere by Edwin Longsden Long.jpg|75px]]
| 21 June 1828
| 30 July 1830
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge|Sir Henry Hardinge]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[St Germans (UK Parliament constituency)|St Germans]]}}
| [[Image:Henryhardinge.jpg|75px]]
| 30 July 1830
| 15 November 1830
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward Smith-Stanley]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Windsor (UK Parliament constituency)|Windsor]] (1831–32)}}<br>{{small|MP for [[North Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Lancashire]] (1832–44)}}
| [[Image:14th Earl of Derby.jpg|75px]]
| 29 November 1830
| 29 March 1833
| [[Whig (British political faction)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton|Sir John Hobhouse, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Westminster]]}}
| [[Image:John Cam Hobhouse.jpg|75px]]
| 29 March 1833
| May 1833
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Edward Littleton, 1st Baron Hatherton|Edward Littleton]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[South Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Staffordshire]]}}
| [[Image:Edward John Littleton, 1st Baron Hatherton by Sir George Hayter.jpg|75px]]
| May 1833
| 14 November 1834
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge|Sir Henry Hardinge]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Launceston (UK Parliament constituency)|Launceston]]}}
| [[Image:Henryhardinge.jpg|75px]]
| 16 December 1834
| 8 April 1835
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[George Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle|Viscount Morpeth]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[West Riding of Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)|West Riding of Yorkshire]]}}
| [[Image:7th Earl of Carlisle.jpg|75px]]
| 22 April 1835
| 30 August 1841
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Edward Eliot, 3rd Earl of St Germans|Lord Eliot]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[East Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|East Cornwall]]}}{{refn|Styled "Lord" as a [[Courtesy titles in the United Kingdom|courtesy]] until 19 January 1845, when he inherited his father's earldom and thus became disqualified from the House of Commons.}}
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 6 February 1841
| 1 February 1845
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Thomas Fremantle, 1st Baron Cottesloe|Sir Thomas Fremantle, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Buckingham (UK Parliament constituency)|Buckingham]]}}
| [[Image:1st Baron Cottesloe.png|75px]]
| 1 February 1845
| 14 February 1846
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle|The Earl of Lincoln]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Falkirk Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Falkirk Burghs]]}}
| [[Image:5thDukeOfNewcastle.jpg|75px]]
| 14 February 1846
| June 1846
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton|Henry Labouchere]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)|Taunton]]}}
| [[Image:Charles Baugniet00a.jpg|75px]]
| 6 July 1846
| 22 July 1847
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[William Somerville, 1st Baron Meredyth|Sir William Somerville, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Drogheda (UK Parliament constituency)|Drogheda]]}}
| [[Image:No image.svg|75px]]
| 22 July 1847
| 21 February 1852
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
| colspan=6|

====1852–1900====
|-
! colspan=2|Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Political party
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo|Lord Naas]]'''{{refn|name=courtesy}}<br>{{small|MP for [[Coleraine (UK Parliament constituency)|Coleraine]]}}
| [[Image:6th Earl of Mayo.jpg|75px]]
| 1 March 1852
| 17 December 1852
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Peelite}}" |
| '''[[John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar|Sir John Young, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Cavan (UK Parliament constituency)|Cavan]]}}
| [[Image:John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar.png|75px]]
| 6 January 1853
| 30 January 1855
| [[Peelite]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Edward Horsman]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Stroud (UK Parliament constituency)|Stroud]]}}
| [[Image:Horsman, Edward (1807-1876), by Southwell Brothers, c.1862-4.jpg|75px]]
| 1 March 1855
| 27 May 1857
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
| '''[[Henry Arthur Herbert (1815–1866)|Henry Arthur Herbert]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Kerry (UK Parliament constituency)|Kerry]]}}
| [[Image:Henry Arthur Herbert sr.PNG|75px]]
| 27 May 1857
| 21 February 1858
| [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo|Lord Naas]]'''{{refn|name=courtesy}}<br>{{small|MP for [[Cockermouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Cockermouth]]}}
| [[Image:6th Earl of Mayo.jpg|75px]]
| 4 March 1858
| 11 June 1859
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell|Edward Cardwell]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Oxford (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford]]}}
| [[Image:1stViscountCardwell.jpg|75px]]
| 24 June 1859
| 29 July 1861
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Sir Robert Peel, 3rd Baronet|Sir Robert Peel, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Tamworth]]}}
| [[Image:Peel, Sir Robert, third baronet (1822-1895), by Camille Silvy.jpg|75px]]
| 29 July 1861
| 7 December 1865
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford|Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[County Louth (UK Parliament constituency)|County Louth]]}}
| [[Image:1st Baron Carlingford.jpg|75px]]
| 7 December 1865
| 26 June 1866
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo|The Earl of Mayo]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Cockermouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Cockermouth]]}}{{refn|Became disqualified as an MP in 1867 when he inherited his father's earldom.}}
| [[Image:6th Earl of Mayo.jpg|75px]]
| 10 July 1866
| 29 September 1868
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] 
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[John Wilson-Patten, 1st Baron Winmarleigh|John Wilson-Patten]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[North Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Lancashire]]}}
| [[Image:John Wilson-Patten.jpg|75px]]
| 29 September 1868
| 1 December 1868
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford|Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[County Louth (UK Parliament constituency)|County Louth]]}}
| [[Image:1st Baron Carlingford.jpg|75px]]
| 16 December 1868
| 12 January 1871
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire|Marquess of Hartington]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Radnor (UK Parliament constituency)|Radnor]]}}
| [[Image:Picture of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire.jpg|75px]]
| 12 January 1871
| 17 February 1874
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn|Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[East Gloucestershire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Gloucestershire]]}}
| [[Image:St Aldwyn Michael Edward Hicks-Beach (1st Earl).jpg|75px]]
| 27 February 1874
| 15 February 1878
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[James Lowther (1840–1904)|James Lowther]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[City of York (UK Parliament constituency)|City of York]]}}
| [[Image:James Lowther Vanity Fair 8 December 1877.jpg|75px]]
| 15 February 1878
| 21 April 1880
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[William Edward Forster]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Bradford (UK Parliament constituency)|Bradford]]}}
| [[Image:William Edward Forster - Project Gutenberg eText 13789.jpg|75px]]
| 30 April 1880
| 6 May 1882
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Lord Frederick Cavendish]]'''{{refn|name=courtesy}}<br>{{small|MP for [[West Riding of Yorkshire North (UK Parliament constituency)|West Riding of Yorkshire North]]}}
| [[Image:Cavendish, Lord Frederick Charles (1836-1882), by John D. Miller, pubd 1883 (after Sir William Blake Richmond, exh. RA 1874).jpg|75px]]
| 6 May 1882
| 6 May 1882
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet|George Trevelyan]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Hawick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Hawick Burghs]]}}
| [[Image:George Otto Trevelyan portrait early career.jpg|75px]]
| 9 May 1882
| 23 October 1884
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Henry Campbell-Bannerman]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Stirling Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Stirling Burghs]]}}
| [[Image:Sir-Henry-Campbell-Bannerman.jpg|75px]]
| 23 October 1884
| 9 June 1885
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Sir William Hart Dyke, 7th Baronet|Sir William Hart Dyke, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Mid Kent (historic UK Parliament constituency)|Mid Kent]]}}
| [[Image:William Hart Dyke by George W Baldry.jpg|75px]]
| 25 June 1885
| 23 January 1886
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[William Henry Smith (1825–1891)|William Henry Smith]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Strand (UK Parliament constituency)|Strand]]}}
| [[Image:William Henry Smith (1825–1891).jpg|75px]]
| 23 January 1886
| 28 January 1886
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn|John Morley]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK Parliament constituency)|Newcastle-upon-Tyne]]}}
| [[Image:John Morley 2.jpg|75px]]
| 6 February 1886
| 20 July 1886
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn|Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Bristol West (UK Parliament constituency)|Bristol West]]}}
| [[Image:St Aldwyn Michael Edward Hicks-Beach (1st Earl).jpg|75px]]
| 5 August 1886
| 7 March 1887
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Arthur Balfour]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Manchester East (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester East]]}}
| [[Image:A.J. Balfour LCCN2014682753 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| 7 March 1887
| 9 November 1891
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[William Jackson, 1st Baron Allerton|William Jackson]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Leeds North (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds North]]}}
| [[Image:William Lawies Jackson.JPG|75px]]
| 9 November 1891
| 11 August 1892
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn|John Morley]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK Parliament constituency)|Newcastle-upon-Tyne]]}}
| [[Image:John Morley 2.jpg|75px]]
| 22 August 1892
| 21 June 1895
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Gerald Balfour, 2nd Earl of Balfour|Gerald Balfour]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Leeds Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds Central]]}}
| [[Image:GeraldBalfour.jpg|75px]]
| 1895
| 1900
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
| colspan=6|

====1900–1922====
|-
! colspan=2|Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Political party
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[George Wyndham]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Dover (UK Parliament constituency)|Dover]]}}
| [[Image:George Wyndham.jpg|75px]]
| 9 November 1900
| 12 March 1905
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Walter Long, 1st Viscount Long|Walter Long]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Bristol South (UK Parliament constituency)|Bristol South]]}}
| [[Image:Walter Hume Long, 1st Viscount Long portrait.jpg|75px]]
| 12 March 1905
| 4 December 1905
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce|James Bryce]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen South]]}}
| [[Image:1st Viscount Bryce 1902b.jpg|75px]]
| 10 December 1905
| 23 January 1907
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Augustine Birrell]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Bristol North (UK Parliament constituency)|Bristol North]]}}
| [[Image:Augustine Birrell.jpg|75px]]
| 23 January 1907
| 3 May 1916
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Henry Duke, 1st Baron Merrivale|Henry Duke]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)|Exeter]]}}
| [[Image:1stLordMerrivale.jpg|75px]]
| 31 July 1916
| 5 May 1918
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Edward Shortt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Newcastle upon Tyne West (UK Parliament constituency)|Newcastle upon Tyne West]]}}
| [[Image:Edward_Shortt.jpg|75px]]
| 5 May 1918
| 10 January 1919
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Ian Macpherson, 1st Baron Strathcarron|Ian Macpherson]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Ross and Cromarty (UK Parliament constituency)|Ross and Cromarty]]}}
| [[Image:1923 Ian Macpherson.jpg|75px]]
| 10 January 1919
| 2 April 1920
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| '''[[Hamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount Greenwood|Sir Hamar Greenwood, Bt]]'''<br>{{small|MP for [[Sunderland (UK Parliament constituency)|Sunderland]]}}
| [[Image:Hamar Greenwood (Bain Collection).jpg|75px]]
| 2 April 1920
| 19 October 1922
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]], similar position in the [[British cabinet]] from 1972.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* ''British Historical Facts 1760–1830'', by Chris Cook and John Stevenson (The Macmillan Press 1980) {{ISBN|0-333-21512-5}} (includes list of Chief Secretaries on page 31)
* ''British Historical Facts 1830–1900'', by Chris Cook and Brendan Keith (The Macmillan Press 1975) {{ISBN|0-333-13220-3}} (includes list of Chief Secretaries on pages 52–53)
* ''Twentieth-Century British Political Facts 1900–2000'', by David Butler and Gareth Butler (Macmillan Press, Eighth edition 2000) {{ISBN|0-333-77222-9}} paperback (includes list of Chief Secretaries on page 61)

{{Dublin Castle administration}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chief Secretary For Ireland}}
[[Category:Early modern history of Ireland]]
[[Category:Political office-holders in pre-partition Ireland]]
[[Category:Irish heads of government]]
[[Category:Chief secretaries (British Empire)|Ireland]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Ireland|Chief Secretaries for Ireland]]
[[Category:History of Ireland (1801–1923)]]