United States Secretary of War

The United States secretary of war is the head of the United States Department of War, the executive department of the U.S. Army, and is a high ranking member of the federal cabinet. The secretary of war's position of command and authority over the military is second only to that of the president of the United States, who is the commander-in-chief. The secretary of war is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate, and is by custom a member of the Cabinet.

A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation between 1781 and 1789. Benjamin Lincoln and later Henry Knox held the position. When Washington was inaugurated as the first President under the Constitution, he appointed Knox to continue serving as Secretary of War. The secretary of war, along with the secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, and attorney general, are generally regarded as the four most crucial Cabinet members because of the importance of their respective departments.

At first, the secretary of war was responsible for all military affairs, including naval affairs. In 1798, the secretary of the Navy was created by statute, and the scope of responsibility for this office was reduced to the affairs of the United States Army.

Secretary at War (1781–1789)
The office of Secretary at War was modelled 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, 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.

Secretary of War (from 1789)
Parties Status

Living former Secretaries of War
As of 1861, there are three living former secretaries of war, John Bell (1837-1845), Lewis Cass (1849-1853), and Stephen Kearny (1853-1861). The most recent death of a former secretary of war was that of William L. Marcy (1845–1849) on July 4, 1857. The living former secretaries of war, in order of service, are: