United States Secretary of War
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The secretary of war was a member of the
U.S. president The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
's Cabinet, beginning with
George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
's
administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. ** Administrative assistant, traditionally known as a se ...
. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the
Congress of the Confederation The Congress of the Confederation, or the Confederation Congress, formally referred to as the United States in Congress Assembled, was the governing body of the United States from March 1, 1781, until March 3, 1789, during the Confederation ...
under the
Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement and early body of law in the Thirteen Colonies, which served as the nation's first Constitution, frame of government during the Ameri ...
between 1781 and 1789.
Benjamin Lincoln Benjamin Lincoln (January 24, 1733 ( O.S. January 13, 1733) – May 9, 1810) was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Lincoln was involved in three major surrender ...
and later
Henry Knox Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806) was an American military officer, politician, bookseller, and a Founding Father of the United States. Knox, born in Boston, became a senior general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionar ...
held the position. When Washington was inaugurated as the first President under the
Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...
, he appointed Knox to continue serving as Secretary of War. The secretary of war was the head of the War Department. At first, he was responsible for all military affairs, including naval affairs. In 1798, the
secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department within the United States Department of Defense. On March 25, 2025, John Phelan was confirm ...
was created by statute, and the scope of responsibility for this office was reduced to the affairs of the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
. From 1886 onward, the secretary of war was in the line of succession to the presidency, after the
vice president of the United States The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest ranking office in the Executive branch of the United States government, executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks f ...
, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...
, the president pro tempore of the
Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
and the secretary of state. In 1947, with the passing of the
National Security Act of 1947 The National Security Act of 1947 (Act of Congress, Pub.L.]80-253 61 United States Statutes at Large, Stat.]495 enacted July 26, 1947) was a law enacting major restructuring of the Federal government of the United States, United States governmen ...
, the secretary of war was replaced by the United States Secretary of the Army, secretary of the Army and the
secretary of the Air Force The secretary of the Air Force, sometimes referred to as the secretary of the Department of the Air Force, (SecAF, or SAF/OS) is the head of the Department of the Air Force and the service secretary for the United States Air Force and United Sta ...
, which, along with the secretary of the Navy, have since 1949 been non-Cabinet subordinates under the secretary of defense. The secretary of the Army's office is generally considered the direct successor to the secretary of war's office although the secretary of defense took the secretary of war's position in the Cabinet, and the line of succession to the presidency.


List of secretaries


Secretary at War (1781–1789)

The office of Secretary at War was modeled upon Great Britain's secretary at war, who was William Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington, at the time of the American Revolution. The office of Secretary at War was meant to replace both the commander-in-chief and the
Board of War Board or Boards may refer to: Flat surface * Lumber, or other rigid material, milled or sawn flat ** Plank (wood) ** Cutting board ** Sounding board, of a musical instrument * Cardboard (paper product) * Paperboard * Fiberboard ** Hardboard ...
, and like the president of the board, the secretary wore no special insignia. The inspector general, quartermaster general, commissary general, and adjutant general served on the secretary's staff. However, the Army itself under Secretary Henry Knox only consisted of 700 men. {, class="wikitable sortable" style="clear:right; text-align:center" , - !class=unsortable , Image ! !Name !Home State !Start !End !Appointer , - , 1 , , ,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, {{dts, March 1, 1781 , {{dts, November 2, 1783 , rowspan=2 ,
Congress of the Confederation The Congress of the Confederation, or the Confederation Congress, formally referred to as the United States in Congress Assembled, was the governing body of the United States from March 1, 1781, until March 3, 1789, during the Confederation ...
, - , 2 , , {{sortname, Henry, Knox , Massachusetts , {{dts, March 8, 1785 , {{dts, September 12, 1789


Secretary of War (1789–1947)

; Parties {{legend2, #EA9978,
Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...
, border=1px solid #AAAAAA (4) {{legend2, {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States),
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
, border=1px solid #AAAAAA (8) {{legend2, {{party color, Democratic Party (United States), Democratic, border=1px solid #AAAAAA (14) {{legend2, {{party color, Whig Party (United States), Whig, border=1px solid #AAAAAA (5) {{legend2, {{party color, Republican Party (United States), Republican, border=1px solid #AAAAAA (25) {, class="toccolours" , {{legend, #E6E6AA, Denotes acting capacity. {, class="wikitable sortable" !{{abbr, No., Number !class=unsortable , Image !Name !Start !End !Duration !colspan=2 , Party !Home State !colspan=2 , President(s) , - , 1 , , {{sortname, Henry, Knox , {{dts, September 12, 1789 , {{dts, December 31, 1794 , {{ayd, 1789, 9, 12, 1794, 12, 31 , style="background: {{party color, Federalist Party (United States);" , ,
Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...
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Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color, Independent (United States);" , , rowspan=3 , {{sortname, George, Washington
{{small, (1789–1797) , - , 2 , , {{sortname, Timothy, Pickering , {{dts, January 2, 1795 , {{dts, December 10, 1795 , {{ayd, 1795, 1, 2, 1795, 12, 10 , style="background: {{party color, Federalist Party (United States);" , ,
Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...
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Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, - , rowspan=2 , 3 , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, James, McHenry{{cite web , url=http://wardepartmentpapers.org/document.php?id=39592 , title=Papers of the War Department , publisher=Wardepartmentpapers.org , access-date=2012-05-15 , archive-date=December 29, 2018 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031532/http://wardepartmentpapers.org/document.php?id=39592 , url-status=dead , rowspan=2 , {{dts, January 27, 1796 , rowspan=2 , {{dts, June 1, 1800 , rowspan=2 , {{ayd, 1800, 6, 1, 1796, 1, 27 , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Federalist Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 ,
Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...
, rowspan=2 ,
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
, - , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Federalist Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, John, Adams
{{small, (1797–1801) , - , 4 , , {{sortname, Samuel, Dexter , {{dts, June 1, 1800 , {{dts, January 31, 1801 , {{ayd, 1800, 6, 1, 1801, 1, 31 , style="background: {{party color, Federalist Party (United States);" , ,
Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...
,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, - , 5 , , {{sortname, Henry, Dearborn , {{dts, March 5, 1801 , {{dts, March 4, 1809 , {{ayd, 1801, 3, 5, 1809, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , ,
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Thomas, Jefferson
{{small, (1801–1809) , - , 6 , , {{sortname, William, Eustis , {{dts, March 7, 1809 , {{dts, January 13, 1813 , {{ayd, 1809, 3, 7, 1813, 1, 13 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , ,
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=4 , {{sortname, James, Madison
{{small, (1809–1817) , - , 7 , , {{sortname, John, Armstrong Jr. , {{dts, January 13, 1813 , {{dts, September 27, 1814 , {{ayd, 1813, 1, 13, 1814, 9, 27 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , ,
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, - , 8 , , {{sortname, James, Monroe , {{dts, September 27, 1814 , {{dts, March 2, 1815 , {{ayd, 1814, 9, 27, 1815, 3, 2 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , ,
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
, - , 9 , , {{sortname, William H., Crawford , {{dts, August 1, 1815 , {{dts, October 22, 1816 , {{ayd, 1815, 8, 1, 1816, 10, 22 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , ,
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
, - , 10 , , {{sortname, John C., Calhoun , {{dts, October 8, 1817 , {{dts, March 4, 1825 , {{ayd, 1817, 10, 8, 1825, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , ,
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
,
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, James, Monroe
{{small, (1817–1825) , - , 11 , , {{sortname, James, Barbour , {{dts, March 7, 1825 , {{dts, May 23, 1828 , {{ayd, 1825, 3, 7, 1828, 5, 23 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , ,
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, John Quincy, Adams
{{small, (1825–1829) , - , 12 , , {{sortname, Peter Buell, Porter , {{dts, May 23, 1828 , {{dts, March 9, 1829 , {{ayd, 1828, 5, 23, 1829, 3, 9 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic-Republican Party (United States);" , ,
Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed l ...
,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, - , 13 , , {{sortname, John, Eaton, dab=politician , {{dts, March 9, 1829 , {{dts, June 18, 1831 , {{ayd, 1829, 3, 9, 1831, 6, 18 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Andrew, Jackson
{{small, (1829–1837) , - , 14 , , {{sortname, Lewis, Cass , {{dts, August 1, 1831 , {{dts, October 5, 1836 , {{ayd, 1831, 8, 1, 1836, 10, 5 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
, - , 15 , , {{sortname, Joel Roberts, Poinsett , {{dts, March 7, 1837 , {{dts, March 4, 1841 , {{ayd, 1837, 3, 7, 1841, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Martin, Van Buren
{{small, (1837–1841) , - , rowspan=2 , 16 , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, John, Bell, dab=Tennessee politician , rowspan=2 , {{dts, March 5, 1841 , rowspan=2 , {{dts, September 13, 1841 , rowspan=2 , {{ayd, 1841, 3, 4, 1841, 9, 13 , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , Whig , rowspan=2 ,
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, William Henry, Harrison
{{small, (1841) , - , rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , rowspan=4 , {{sortname, John, Tyler
{{small, (1841–1845) , - , 17 , , {{sortname, John Canfield, Spencer , {{dts, October 12, 1841 , {{dts, March 4, 1843 , {{ayd, 1841, 10, 12, 1843, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , Whig ,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, - , 18 , , {{sortname, James Madison, Porter , {{dts, March 8, 1843 , {{dts, February 14, 1844 , {{ayd, 1843, 3, 4, 1844, 2, 14 , style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , Whig ,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, - , 19 , , {{sortname, William, Wilkins, dab=U.S. politician , {{dts, February 15, 1844 , {{dts, March 4, 1845 , {{ayd, 1844, 2, 15, 1845, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, - , 20 , , {{sortname, William Learned, Marcy , {{dts, March 6, 1845 , {{dts, March 4, 1849 , {{ayd, 1845, 3, 6, 1849, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, James K., Polk
{{small, (1845–1849) , - , 21 , , {{sortname, George W., Crawford , {{dts, March 8, 1849 , {{dts, July 22, 1850 , {{ayd, 1849, 3, 8, 1850, 7, 22 , style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , Whig ,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
, style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Zachary, Taylor
{{small, (1849–1850) , - , 22 , , {{sortname, Charles Magill, Conrad , {{dts, August 15, 1850 , {{dts, March 4, 1853 , {{ayd, 1850, 8, 15, 1853, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , Whig ,
Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
, style="background: {{party color, Whig Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Millard, Fillmore
{{small, (1850–1853) , - , 23 , , {{sortname, Jefferson, Davis , {{dts, March 7, 1853 , {{dts, March 4, 1857 , {{ayd, 1853, 3, 7, 1857, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...
, style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Franklin, Pierce
{{small, (1853–1857) , - , 24 , , {{sortname, John B., Floyd , {{dts, March 6, 1857 , {{dts, December 29, 1860 , {{ayd, 1857, 3, 6, 1860, 12, 29 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, James, Buchanan
{{small, (1857–1861) , - , 25 , , {{sortname, Joseph, Holt , {{dts, January 18, 1861 , {{dts, March 4, 1861 , {{ayd, 1861, 1, 18, 1861, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
, - , 26 , , {{sortname, Simon, Cameron , {{dts, March 5, 1861 , {{dts, January 14, 1862 , {{ayd, 1861, 3, 5, 1862, 1, 14 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Abraham, Lincoln
{{small, (1861–1865) , - , rowspan=2 , 27 , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Edwin M., Stanton , rowspan=2 , {{dts, January 20, 1862
{{small, Suspended: August 12, 1867 – January 14, 1868{{refn, From August 12, 1867 until January 14, 1868, Stanton was suspended from office, and
Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...
served as Acting Secretary of War. For more on President Johnson's attempts to remove Stanton from office, see
impeachment of Andrew Johnson The Federal impeachment in the United States, impeachment of Andrew Johnson for "high crimes and misdemeanors" was initiated by the United States House of Representatives on February 24, 1868. The alleged high crimes and misdemeanors were after ...
. , rowspan=2 , {{dts, May 28, 1868 , rowspan=2 , {{ayd, 1862, 1, 20, 1868, 5, 28 , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , Republican , rowspan=2 ,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, - , rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , rowspan=3 , {{sortname, Andrew, Johnson
{{small, (1865–1869) , - style="background:#e6e6aa;" , – , , ''{{sortname, Ulysses S., Grant
{{small, Acting''{{refn, From August 12, 1867 until January 14, 1868, Stanton was suspended from office, and
Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...
served as Acting Secretary of War. For more on President Johnson's attempts to remove Stanton from office, see
impeachment of Andrew Johnson The Federal impeachment in the United States, impeachment of Andrew Johnson for "high crimes and misdemeanors" was initiated by the United States House of Representatives on February 24, 1868. The alleged high crimes and misdemeanors were after ...
. , ''{{dts, August 12, 1867'' , ''{{dts, January 14, 1868'' , ''{{ayd, 1867, 8, 12, 1868, 1, 14'' , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , '' Republican'' , ''
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
'' , - , 28 , , {{sortname, John McAllister, Schofield , {{dts, June 1, 1868 , {{dts, March 13, 1869 , {{ayd, 1868, 6, 1, 1869, 3, 13 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
, - , 29 , , {{sortname, John Aaron, Rawlins , {{dts, March 13, 1869 , {{dts, September 6, 1869 , {{ayd, 1869, 3, 13, 1869, 9, 6 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
, rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=5 , {{sortname, Ulysses S., Grant
{{small, (1869–1877) , - style="background:#e6e6aa;" , – , , {{sortname, William, Sherman, William Tecumseh Sherman
{{small, Acting , {{dts, September 6, 1869 , {{dts, October 25, 1869 , {{ayd, 1869, 9, 6, 1869, 10, 25 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
, - , 30 , , {{sortname, William W., Belknap , {{dts, October 25, 1869 , {{dts, March 2, 1876 , {{ayd, 1869, 10, 25, 1876, 3, 2 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...
, - , 31 , , {{sortname, Alphonso, Taft , {{dts, March 8, 1876 , {{dts, May 22, 1876 , {{ayd, 1876, 3, 2, 1876, 5, 22 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
, - , 32 , , {{sortname, J. Donald, Cameron , {{dts, May 22, 1876 , {{dts, March 4, 1877 , {{ayd, 1876, 5, 22, 1877, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, - , 33 , , {{sortname, George W., McCrary , {{dts, March 12, 1877 , {{dts, December 10, 1879 , {{ayd, 1877, 3, 12, 1879, 12, 10 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Rutherford B., Hayes
{{small, (1877–1881) , - , 34 , , {{sortname, Alexander, Ramsey , {{dts, December 10, 1879 , {{dts, March 4, 1881 , {{ayd, 1879, 12, 10, 1881, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
, - , rowspan=2 , 35 , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Robert Todd, Lincoln , rowspan=2 , {{dts, March 5, 1881 , rowspan=2 , {{dts, March 4, 1885 , rowspan=2 , {{ayd, 1881, 3, 5, 1885, 3, 4 , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , Republican , rowspan=2 ,
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
, style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, James A., Garfield
{{small, (1881) , - , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Chester A., Arthur
{{small, (1881–1885) , - , 36 , , {{sortname, William Crowninshield, Endicott , {{dts, March 5, 1885 , {{dts, March 4, 1889 , {{ayd, 1885, 3, 5, 1889, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Grover, Cleveland
{{small, (1885–1889) , - , 37 , , {{sortname, Redfield, Proctor , {{dts, March 5, 1889 , {{dts, November 5, 1891 , {{ayd, 1889, 3, 5, 1891, 11, 5 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Benjamin, Harrison
{{small, (1889–1893) , - , 38 , , {{sortname, Stephen Benton, Elkins , {{dts, December 17, 1891 , {{dts, March 4, 1893 , {{ayd, 1891, 12, 17, 1893, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...
, - , 39 , , {{sortname, Daniel S., Lamont , {{dts, March 5, 1893 , {{dts, March 4, 1897 , {{ayd, 1893, 3, 5, 1897, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Grover, Cleveland
{{small, (1885–1889) , - , 40 , , {{sortname, Russell A., Alger , {{dts, March 5, 1897 , {{dts, August 1, 1899 , {{ayd, 1897, 3, 5, 1899, 8, 1 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, William, McKinley
{{small, (1897–1901) , - , rowspan=2 , 41 , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Elihu, Root , rowspan=2 , {{dts, August 1, 1899 , rowspan=2 , {{dts, January 31, 1904 , rowspan=2 , {{ayd, 1899, 8, 1, 1904, 1, 31 , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , Republican , rowspan=2 ,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, - , rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=3 , {{sortname, Theodore, Roosevelt
{{small, (1901–1909) , - , 42 , , {{sortname, William Howard, Taft , {{dts, February 1, 1904 , {{dts, June 30, 1908 , {{ayd, 1904, 2, 1, 1908, 6, 30 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
, - , 43 , , {{sortname, Luke Edward, Wright , {{dts, July 1, 1908 , {{dts, March 4, 1909 , {{ayd, 1908, 7, 1, 1909, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
, - , 44 , , {{sortname, Jacob M., Dickinson , {{dts, March 12, 1909 , {{dts, May 21, 1911 , {{ayd, 1909, 3, 12, 1911, 5, 21 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, William Howard, Taft
{{small, (1909–1913) , - , 45 , , {{sortname, Henry L., Stimson , {{dts, May 22, 1911 , {{dts, March 4, 1913 , {{ayd, 1911, 5, 22, 1913, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, - , 46 , , {{sortname, Lindley Miller, Garrison , {{dts, March 5, 1913 , {{dts, February 10, 1916 , {{ayd, 1913, 3, 5, 1916, 2, 10 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Woodrow, Wilson
{{small, (1913–1921) , - , 47 , , {{sortname, Newton D., Baker , {{dts, March 9, 1916 , {{dts, March 4, 1921 , {{ayd, 1916, 3, 9, 1921, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
, - , rowspan=2 , 48 , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, John W., Weeks , rowspan=2 , {{dts, March 5, 1921 , rowspan=2 , {{dts, October 13, 1925 , rowspan=2 , {{ayd, 1921, 3, 4, 1925, 10, 13 , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , Republican , rowspan=2 ,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , {{sortname, Warren G., Harding
{{small, (1921–1923) , - , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Calvin, Coolidge
{{small, (1923–1929) , - , 49 , , {{sortname, Dwight F., Davis , {{dts, October 14, 1925 , {{dts, March 4, 1929 , {{ayd, 1925, 10, 14, 1929, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
, - , 50 , , {{sortname, James William, Good , {{dts, March 6, 1929 , {{dts, November 18, 1929 , {{ayd, 1929, 3, 6, 1929, 11, 18 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...
, rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Herbert, Hoover
{{small, (1929–1933) , - , 51 , , {{sortname, Patrick J., Hurley , {{dts, December 9, 1929 , {{dts, March 4, 1933 , {{ayd, 1929, 12, 9, 1933, 3, 4 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...
, - , 52 , , {{sortname, George, Dern , {{dts, March 4, 1933 , {{dts, August 27, 1936 , {{ayd, 1933, 3, 4, 1936, 8, 27 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Utah Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...
, rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , rowspan=3 , {{sortname, Franklin D., Roosevelt
{{small, (1933–1945) , - , 53 , , {{sortname, Harry Hines, Woodring , {{dts, September 25, 1936 , {{dts, June 20, 1940 , {{ayd, 1936, 8, 27, 1940, 6, 20 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
, - , rowspan=2 , 54 , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , {{sortname, Henry L., Stimson , rowspan=2 , {{dts, July 10, 1940 , rowspan=2 , {{dts, September 21, 1945 , rowspan=2 , {{ayd, 1940, 7, 10, 1945, 9, 21 , rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , rowspan=2 , Republican , rowspan=2 ,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, - , rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , rowspan=3 , {{sortname, Harry S., Truman
{{small, (1945–1953) , - , 55 , , {{sortname, Robert P., Patterson , {{dts, September 27, 1945 , {{dts, July 18, 1947 , {{ayd, 1945, 9, 27, 1947, 7, 18 , style="background: {{party color, Republican Party (United States);" , , Republican ,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, - , 56 , , {{sortname, Kenneth, Royall, Kenneth Claiborne Royall , {{dts, July 19, 1947 , {{dts, September 18, 1947 , {{ayd, 1947, 7, 19, 1947, 9, 18 , style="background: {{party color, Democratic Party (United States);" , , Democratic ,
North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...


See also

*
Confederate States Secretary of War The Confederate States secretary of war was a member of President of the Confederate States of America, President Jefferson Davis's Cabinet of the Confederate States of America, cabinet during the American Civil War. The Secretary of War was head ...
*
United States Secretary of Defense The United States secretary of defense (acronym: SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the United States federal executive departments, executive department of the United States Armed Forces, U.S. Armed Forces, a ...


References


Footnotes

{{Reflist


Further reading

* {{Cite book , first = William Gardner , last = Bell , title = Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff 1775-2005: Portraits and Biographical Sketches , location = Washington, D.C. , publisher =
United States Army Center of Military History The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Arm ...
, year = 2005 , url = http://www.history.army.mil/books/CG%26CSA/CG-TOC.htm , ref = Bell , access-date = July 9, 2013 , archive-date = April 10, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210410203809/https://history.army.mil/books/cg%26csa/cg-toc.htm , url-status = dead * {{Cite book , first = Mark , last = Grossman , title = Encyclopedia of the United States Cabinet 1789-2010 , location = Armenia, New York , publisher = Greyhouse Publishing , year = 2010 * {{Cite book , last1 = King , first1 = Archibald , title = Command of the Army , series = Military Affairs , location = Charlottesville, Virginia , publisher = The Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army , year = 1960 , orig-year=1949 , url = https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/Command-Army_King.pdf {{USSecArm {{US Cabinet leaders {{USAConfGov {{DEFAULTSORT:United States Secretary Of War 1789 establishments in the United States 1947 disestablishments in the United States
War War is an armed conflict between the armed forces of states, or between governmental forces and armed groups that are organized under a certain command structure and have the capacity to sustain military operations, or between such organi ...
Secretary of War The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...