Secretary of State (Jacobite) facts for kids

The Secretary of State was a very important job in the Jacobite court. This court was like a "government in exile" for the Stuart kings who had lost their throne in Britain. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the Stuart kings and their supporters, called Jacobites, lived in other countries.

Jacobite monarchs in-exile

King James II & VII

King James III & VIII

King Charles III

What Was the Jacobite Secretary of State?

The Jacobites wanted their court to look just like the real British government. So, they created roles like the Secretary of State. This job was similar to a top government minister today. In Britain, there were often two Secretaries of State. The Jacobite court, which moved from Paris to Rome, sometimes had one Secretary and sometimes two.

Life in Exile: The Jacobite Court

The Jacobite kings, like James II and his son James Francis Edward Stuart, lived in exile. This meant they lived outside Britain. Their court was a place where they tried to keep their claim to the throne alive. They hoped to return to power in Britain.

Residences

Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France

Palazzo Muti, Rome, Italy

From 1689 to 1759, the Jacobites tried many times to invade Britain. These attempts were not successful. If they had succeeded, their Secretary of State would have become a very powerful person in Britain again.

Who Held This Important Job?

Many different people served as Secretary of State for the Jacobite court. They helped the exiled kings with their plans and managed their affairs. Here is a list of some of the people who held this important position:

Image	Secretary	From	To	Monarch
	John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort	1688	1694	James II & VII
	Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton	1693	1713	James II & VII / James III & VIII
	Thomas Higgons	1713	1715	James III & VIII
	Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke	1715	1716
	John Erskine, Earl of Mar	1716	1724
	John Hay, Duke of Inverness	1724	1727
	James Murray, Earl of Dunbar	1727	1747
	Daniel O'Brien, Earl of Lismore	1747	1759
	John Graeme, Earl of Alford	1759	1763
	James Edgar	1763	1764
	Andrew Lumisden	1764	1768	James III & VIII / Charles III
	John Baptist Caryll	1768	1777	Charles III