# Northern Department

The Northern Department was a department of the government of the Kingdom of England from 1660 to 1707 and later the Kingdom of Great Britain from 1707 until 1782 when its functions were reorganised into the new Home Office and Foreign Office.

## History

The Northern Department was, together with the Southern Department, responsible for both foreign and domestic affairs. Foreign affairs were split between the two departments on a geographical basis, with the Northern Department taking responsibility for Russia, Sweden, Denmark-Norway, Poland, the Netherlands, and the German Holy Roman Empire. Responsibility for domestic affairs was shared between the two departments. After England united with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, the two departments also split responsibility for Scottish affairs, except during those times when there was an appointed Secretary of State for Scotland. Responsibility for overseas military strategy was also shared between the two departments.
It was administered by the Secretary of State for the Northern Department.
In 1782, the Northern and Southern Departments were reorganized, with the Foreign Office taking over their foreign responsibilities and the Home Office taking over their domestic responsibilities (including colonies).
History of English and British government departments with responsibility for foreign affairs and those with responsibility for the colonies, dominions and the Commonwealth :
| Northern Department 1660–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | Southern Department 1660–1768 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | Southern Department 1660–1768 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | — |
| Northern Department 1660–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | Southern Department 1768–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries 1782: diplomatic responsibilities transferred to new Foreign Office | Colonial Office 1768–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | — |
| Foreign Office 1782–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries | Home Office 1782–1794 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | Home Office 1782–1794 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | | — |
| Foreign Office 1782–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries | Colonial Office 1854–1925 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | Colonial Office 1854–1925 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | India Office 1858–1937 Secretaries — Undersecretaries |
| Foreign Office 1782–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries | Colonial Office 1925–1966 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries | Dominions Office 1925–1947 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | India Office 1858–1937 Secretaries — Undersecretaries |
| Foreign Office 1782–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries | Colonial Office 1925–1966 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries | Dominions Office 1925–1947 Secretaries — Undersecretaries | India Office and Burma Office 1937–1947 Secretaries — Undersecretaries |
| Commonwealth Relations Office 1947–1966 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries ||
| Commonwealth Office 1966–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries |||
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1968–2020 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries ||||
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Since 2020 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries ||||