Secretary of State (England)

England Secretary of State
Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of England from 1603 to 1649
Member of	Privy Council
Seat	Westminster, London
Appointer	The English Monarch
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	1253–1645
First holder	John Maunsell
Final holder	George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol

In the Kingdom of England, the title of Secretary of State came into being near the end of the reign of Elizabeth I, the usual title before that having been King's Clerk, King's Secretary, or Principal Secretary.

From the time of Henry VIII, there were usually two secretaries of state. After the restoration of the monarchy of 1660, the two posts were specifically designated as the Secretary of State for the Northern Department and the Secretary of State for the Southern Department. Both dealt with home affairs and they divided foreign affairs between them.