United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs

The United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs was a position that existed in the United States government from January 10, 1781, to September 15, 1789.

History

The Articles of Confederation permitted the Confederation Congress to select "such committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the general affairs of the United States."

On January 10, 1780, the Confederation Congress created the Department of Foreign Affairs.

On August 10, 1781, Congress selected Robert R. Livingston, a delegate from New York, as the first Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Livingston was unable to take office until October 20, 1781. He served until June 4, 1783 when he was succeeded by John Jay, who served until March 4, 1789, when the government under the Articles of Confederation gave way to the government under the Constitution.

Secretaries for Foreign Affairs
No.	Portrait	Name	State of Residence	Took Office	Left Office
1		Robert R. Livingston	New York	October 20, 1781	June 4, 1783
2		John Jay	New York	May 7, 1784	March 4, 1789

The office of Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs were reinstated by a law signed by George Washington on July 27, 1789. John Jay retained the post on an interim basis, pending the return of Thomas Jefferson from France. However, on September 15, 1789, before Jefferson could return to take the post, Washington signed into law another act which changed the name of the office from "Secretary of Foreign Affairs" to "Secretary of State," changed the name of the department to the Department of State, and added several domestic powers and responsibilities to both the office of secretary and the department.

No.	Portrait	Name	State of Residence	Took Office	Left Office
–		John Jay	New York	Acting United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs
				July 27, 1789	September 15, 1789
				Acting United States Secretary of State
				September 15, 1789	March 22, 1790

On March 22, 1790, Thomas Jefferson took office as the first United States Secretary of State. For subsequent office holders, see List of Secretaries of State of the United States.