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United States Secretary of War
Flag of the United States Secretary of the Army.svg
Flag of the secretary
Seal of the United States Department of War.png
Official seal
Gilbert Stuart - Major-General Henry Dearborn - 1913.793 - Art Institute of Chicago.jpg
Longest serving
Henry Dearborn

March 5, 1801 – March 4, 1809
United States Department of War
Style Mr. Secretary
Member of Cabinet
Reports to President of the United States
Seat Washington, D.C.
Appointer The president
with Senate advice and consent
Term length No fixed term
Precursor Secretary at War
Formation September 12, 1789
First holder Henry Knox
Final holder Kenneth C. Royall
Abolished September 18, 1947
Succession 6th in the line of succession

The Secretary of War was an important job in the U.S. President's team, called the Cabinet. This role started when George Washington became the first President.

Before that, from 1781 to 1789, there was a similar job called "Secretary at War." This person worked for the Congress of the Confederation, which was the government before the U.S. Constitution was written. Benjamin Lincoln and Henry Knox held this early position. When George Washington became President, he asked Henry Knox to continue as Secretary of War.

The Secretary of War was in charge of the War Department. At first, this person handled all military matters, including the Navy. But in 1798, a new job was created: the Secretary of the Navy. After that, the Secretary of War only focused on the United States Army.

From 1886 onwards, the Secretary of War was part of the line of succession to the presidency. This means if the President couldn't do their job, the Vice President would take over, then the Speaker of the House, and so on. The Secretary of War was sixth in this line.

In 1947, a law called the National Security Act of 1947 changed things. The job of Secretary of War was replaced by two new roles: the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force. These new secretaries, along with the Secretary of the Navy, now work under the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense is the main person in the Cabinet who handles all military matters. The Secretary of the Army's job is often seen as the direct continuation of the old Secretary of War role.

Early Leaders: Secretary at War (1781–1789)

The first "Secretary at War" job was similar to a role in Great Britain. This position was created to replace the military commander and a group called the Board of War. The Secretary at War didn't wear a special uniform. Their team included important military leaders like the inspector general. However, the U.S. Army at that time was very small, with only about 700 soldiers under Secretary Henry Knox.

Image No. Name Home State Start End Appointer
1 General Benjamin Lincoln-restored (3x4 cropped).jpg Lincoln, BenjaminBenjamin Lincoln Massachusetts March 1, 1781 November 2, 1783 Congress of the Confederation
2 Henry Knox by Gilbert Stuart 1806 (3x4 cropped).jpeg Knox, HenryHenry Knox Massachusetts March 8, 1785 September 12, 1789

Secretaries of War (1789–1947)

This section lists the people who served as the Secretary of War from when the U.S. Constitution was adopted until the job was changed in 1947.

Swearing in of Secretary Dwight Davis
Swearing in of Dwight F. Davis as Secretary of War in 1925. Former Secretaries John W. Weeks and Chief Justice William Howard Taft are standing beside him.
Political Parties

      Federalist (4)       Democratic-Republican (8)       Democratic (14)       Whig (5)       Republican (25)

     Denotes acting capacity.
No. Image Name Start End Duration Party Home State President(s)
1 Henry Knox by Gilbert Stuart 1806 (3x4 cropped).jpeg Knox, HenryHenry Knox September 12, 1789 December 31, 1794 5 years, 110 days Federalist Massachusetts Washington, GeorgeGeorge Washington
(1789–1797)
2 PORTRAIT OF TIMOTHY PICKERING, 3RD SECRETARY OF STATE PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JOHN ADAMS (3x4 cropped).jpg Pickering, TimothyTimothy Pickering January 2, 1795 December 10, 1795 342 days Federalist Pennsylvania
3 JMcHenry.jpg McHenry, JamesJames McHenry January 27, 1796 June 1, 1800 −4 years, 125 days Federalist Maryland
Adams, JohnJohn Adams
(1797–1801)
4 Samuel Dexter.jpg Dexter, SamuelSamuel Dexter June 1, 1800 January 31, 1801 244 days Federalist Massachusetts
5 Gilbert Stuart - Major-General Henry Dearborn - 1913.793 - Art Institute of Chicago (3x4 cropped).jpg Dearborn, HenryHenry Dearborn March 5, 1801 March 4, 1809 7 years, 364 days Democratic-Republican Massachusetts Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
(1801–1809)
6 William Eustis.jpg Eustis, WilliamWilliam Eustis March 7, 1809 January 13, 1813 3 years, 312 days Democratic-Republican Massachusetts Madison, JamesJames Madison
(1809–1817)
7 John Wesley Jarvis - John Armstrong - NPG.72.12 - National Portrait Gallery (cropped).jpg Armstrong Jr., JohnJohn Armstrong Jr. January 13, 1813 September 27, 1814 1 year, 257 days Democratic-Republican New York
8 John Vanderlyn - James Monroe - Google Art Project (3x4 cropped).jpg Monroe, JamesJames Monroe September 27, 1814 March 2, 1815 156 days Democratic-Republican Virginia
9 William Harris Crawford by John Wesley Jarvis (PAFA) (3x4 cropped).jpg Crawford, William H.William H. Crawford August 1, 1815 October 22, 1816 1 year, 82 days Democratic-Republican Georgia
10 JCCalhoun-1822 (3x4 cropped).jpg Calhoun, John C.John C. Calhoun October 8, 1817 March 4, 1825 7 years, 147 days Democratic-Republican South Carolina Monroe, JamesJames Monroe
(1817–1825)
11 Portrait of James Barbour, by Chester Harding (3x4 cropped).jpg Barbour, JamesJames Barbour March 7, 1825 May 23, 1828 3 years, 77 days Democratic-Republican Virginia Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams
(1825–1829)
12 Peter Buell Porter.jpg Porter, Peter BuellPeter Buell Porter May 23, 1828 March 9, 1829 290 days Democratic-Republican New York
13 John Eaton.jpg Eaton, JohnJohn Eaton March 9, 1829 June 18, 1831 2 years, 101 days Democratic Tennessee Jackson, AndrewAndrew Jackson
(1829–1837)
14 Lewis Cass (3x4 cropped).jpg Cass, LewisLewis Cass August 1, 1831 October 5, 1836 5 years, 65 days Democratic Ohio
15 JRP-SoW, S.jpg Poinsett, Joel RobertsJoel Roberts Poinsett March 7, 1837 March 4, 1841 3 years, 362 days Democratic South Carolina Van Buren, MartinMartin Van Buren
(1837–1841)
16 John Bell (Restored) (3x4 cropped).png Bell, JohnJohn Bell March 5, 1841 September 13, 1841 193 days Whig South Carolina Harrison, William HenryWilliam Henry Harrison
(1841)
Tyler, JohnJohn Tyler
(1841–1845)
17 SPENCER, John C-Treasury (BEP engraved portrait) (3x4 cropped).jpg Spencer, John CanfieldJohn Canfield Spencer October 12, 1841 March 4, 1843 1 year, 143 days Whig New York
18 PorterJM.jpg Porter, James MadisonJames Madison Porter March 8, 1843 February 14, 1844 347 days Whig Pennsylvania
19 William Wilkins United States Senator - Brady-Handy (3x4 cropped).jpg Wilkins, WilliamWilliam Wilkins February 15, 1844 March 4, 1845 1 year, 17 days Democratic Pennsylvania
20 William L. Marcy - Brady-Handy.jpg Marcy, William LearnedWilliam Learned Marcy March 6, 1845 March 4, 1849 3 years, 363 days Democratic New York Polk, James K.James K. Polk
(1845–1849)
21 GeorgeWCrawford.jpg Crawford, George W.George W. Crawford March 8, 1849 July 22, 1850 1 year, 136 days Whig Georgia Taylor, ZacharyZachary Taylor
(1849–1850)
22 Charles Magill Conrad.jpg Conrad, Charles MagillCharles Magill Conrad August 15, 1850 March 4, 1853 2 years, 201 days Whig Louisiana Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore
(1850–1853)
23 Jefferson Davis 1853 daguerreotype-restored (3x4 cropped).png Davis, JeffersonJefferson Davis March 7, 1853 March 4, 1857 3 years, 362 days Democratic Mississippi Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
(1853–1857)
24 John Buchanan Floyd (3x4 cropped).jpg Floyd, John B.John B. Floyd March 6, 1857 December 29, 1860 3 years, 298 days Democratic Virginia Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
(1857–1861)
25 Judge Joseph Holt - NARA - 526106 (3x4a).jpg Holt, JosephJoseph Holt January 18, 1861 March 4, 1861 45 days Republican Kentucky
26 Smn Cameron-SecofWar (3x4 cropped).jpg Cameron, SimonSimon Cameron March 5, 1861 January 14, 1862 315 days Republican Pennsylvania Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
(1861–1865)
27 Edwin McMasters Stanton Secretary of War (3x4 cropped).jpg Stanton, Edwin M.Edwin M. Stanton January 20, 1862
Suspended: August 12, 1867 – January 14, 1868
May 28, 1868 6 years, 129 days Republican Pennsylvania
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
(1865–1869)
Ulysses S Grant by Brady c1870-restored (3x4 cropped).jpg Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
Acting
August 12, 1867 January 14, 1868 155 days Republican Ohio
28 John Schofield - Brady-Handy (3x4 cropped).jpg Schofield, John McAllisterJohn McAllister Schofield June 1, 1868 March 13, 1869 285 days Republican Illinois
29 John Aaron Rawlins-Brady-Handy Seated (3x4 cropped).jpg Rawlins, John AaronJohn Aaron Rawlins March 13, 1869 September 6, 1869 177 days Republican Illinois Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
(1869–1877)
General William T. Sherman Portrait (3x4 cropped).jpg Sherman, WilliamWilliam Sherman
Acting
September 6, 1869 October 25, 1869 49 days Republican Ohio
30 WWBelknap.jpg Belknap, William W.William W. Belknap October 25, 1869 March 2, 1876 6 years, 129 days Republican Iowa
31 Alphonso Taft - cropped and retouched.jpg Taft, AlphonsoAlphonso Taft March 8, 1876 May 22, 1876 81 days Republican Ohio
32 James Donald Cameron Brady-Handy (3x4 cropped).jpg Cameron, J. DonaldJ. Donald Cameron May 22, 1876 March 4, 1877 286 days Republican Pennsylvania
33 George Washington McCrary, Brady-Handy bw photo portrait, ca1860-1875 (3x4 cropped).jpg McCrary, George W.George W. McCrary March 12, 1877 December 10, 1879 2 years, 273 days Republican Iowa Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
(1877–1881)
34 Alexander Ramsey - Brady-Handy (3x4 cropped).jpg Ramsey, AlexanderAlexander Ramsey December 10, 1879 March 4, 1881 1 year, 84 days Republican Minnesota
35 Robert Todd Lincoln, Brady-Handy bw photo portrait, ca1870-1880-Edit1 (3x4 cropped).jpg Lincoln, Robert ToddRobert Todd Lincoln March 5, 1881 March 4, 1885 3 years, 364 days Republican Illinois Garfield, James A.James A. Garfield
(1881)
Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
(1881–1885)
36 William Endicott, 1886 (cropped).jpg Endicott, William CrowninshieldWilliam Crowninshield Endicott March 5, 1885 March 4, 1889 3 years, 364 days Democratic Massachusetts Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
(1885–1889)
37 Redfield Proctor, bw photo portrait, 1904.jpg Proctor, RedfieldRedfield Proctor March 5, 1889 November 5, 1891 2 years, 245 days Republican Vermont Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
(1889–1893)
38 Stephen Benton Elkins Restore (3x4 cropped).jpg Elkins, Stephen BentonStephen Benton Elkins December 17, 1891 March 4, 1893 1 year, 77 days Republican West Virginia
39 Daniel Lamont, bw photo portrait, 1904 (3x4 cropped).jpg Lamont, Daniel S.Daniel S. Lamont March 5, 1893 March 4, 1897 3 years, 364 days Democratic New York Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
(1885–1889)
40 Russell Alexander Alger by The Detroit Publishing Co. - retouched from older copy.jpg Alger, Russell A.Russell A. Alger March 5, 1897 August 1, 1899 2 years, 149 days Republican Michigan McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
(1897–1901)
41 Elihu Root, bw photo portrait, 1902.jpg Root, ElihuElihu Root August 1, 1899 January 31, 1904 4 years, 183 days Republican New York
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
(1901–1909)
42 William Howard Taft, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front.jpg Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft February 1, 1904 June 30, 1908 4 years, 150 days Republican Ohio
43 Secretary Luke Edward Wright.jpg Wright, Luke EdwardLuke Edward Wright July 1, 1908 March 4, 1909 246 days Republican Tennessee
44 DICKINSON, J.M. JUDGE (3x4 cropped).jpg Dickinson, Jacob M.Jacob M. Dickinson March 12, 1909 May 21, 1911 2 years, 70 days Democratic Tennessee Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft
(1909–1913)
45 Henry Stimson, Harris & Ewing bw photo portrait, 1929 (3x4 cropped).jpg Stimson, Henry L.Henry L. Stimson May 22, 1911 March 4, 1913 1 year, 286 days Republican New York
46 Lindley Garrison, BW photo portrait, 1913.jpg Garrison, Lindley MillerLindley Miller Garrison March 5, 1913 February 10, 1916 2 years, 342 days Democratic New Jersey Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
(1913–1921)
47 BAKER, NEWTON D. HONORABLE (3x4 cropped).jpg Baker, Newton D.Newton D. Baker March 9, 1916 March 4, 1921 4 years, 360 days Democratic Ohio
48 John Wingate Weeks, Bain bw photo portrait.jpg Weeks, John W.John W. Weeks March 5, 1921 October 13, 1925 4 years, 223 days Republican Massachusetts Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding
(1921–1923)
Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge
(1923–1929)
49 Dwight Davis, Bain bw photo portrait.jpg Davis, Dwight F.Dwight F. Davis October 14, 1925 March 4, 1929 3 years, 141 days Republican Missouri
50 Jas. W. Good, Iowa (3x4 cropped).jpg Good, James WilliamJames William Good March 6, 1929 November 18, 1929 257 days Republican Iowa Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover
(1929–1933)
51 Patrick J. Hurley, 1935 (cropped).jpg Hurley, Patrick J.Patrick J. Hurley December 9, 1929 March 4, 1933 3 years, 85 days Republican Oklahoma
52 George Dern, Bain bw photo portrait.jpg Dern, GeorgeGeorge Dern March 4, 1933 August 27, 1936 3 years, 176 days Democratic Utah Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1933–1945)
53 Harry Hines Woodring, 53rd United States Secretary of War.jpg Woodring, Harry HinesHarry Hines Woodring September 25, 1936 June 20, 1940 3 years, 298 days Democratic Kansas
54 Henry Stimson, Harris & Ewing bw photo portrait, 1929 (3x4 cropped).jpg Stimson, Henry L.Henry L. Stimson July 10, 1940 September 21, 1945 5 years, 73 days Republican New York
Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
55 Portrait of Robert P. Patterson 111-C-C2512 (tight crop) (3x4 cropped).jpg Patterson, Robert P.Robert P. Patterson September 27, 1945 July 18, 1947 1 year, 294 days Republican New York
56 Kenneth Claiborne Royall portrait (3x4 cropped).jpg Royall, KennethKenneth Royall July 19, 1947 September 18, 1947 61 days Democratic North Carolina

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Secretario de Guerra de los Estados Unidos para niños

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