Confederate States Secretary of State

The Confederate States Secretary of State was the head of the Confederate States State Department from 1861 to 1865 during the American Civil War. There were three people who served the position during this period, and one who served in an acting capacity.

Confederate States Secretary of State
Seal of the Confederate States
Longest serving Judah P. Benjamin March 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865
Confederate States State Department
Style	Mr. Secretary
Status	Abolished
Member of	The Cabinet
Reports to	The president
Seat	Richmond, Virginia
Appointer	The president with Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	25 February 1861
First holder	Robert Toombs
Final holder	Judah P. Benjamin
Abolished	10 May 1865

History

The first Confederate States Secretary of State was Robert Toombs, who took office in February 1861.^[1][2][3] The final individual to hold the office was Judah P. Benjamin, who served in the post until May 1865.^[4][5] The role of Secretary of State was a cabinet-level position appointed by Jefferson Davis and subject to the confirmation of the Confederate Senate.^[6]

List of secretaries of state

No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Term of office			Political Party		Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Robert Toombs (1810–1885)	February 25, 1861	July 25, 1861	150 days		Democrat
2		Robert M. T. Hunter (1809–1887)	July 25, 1861	February 22, 1862	212 days		Democrat
–		William M. Browne (1823–1883) Acting	March 7, 1862	March 18, 1862	11 days		Democrat
3		Judah P. Benjamin (1811–1884)	March 18, 1862	May 10, 1865	3 years, 53 days		Democrat

See also

• United States Secretary of State