Northern Department
The Northern Department was one of two ministries responsible for foreign and home affairs, alongside the Southern Department.
Contents
Composition
The department was led by the secretary of state for the Southern Department.
History
The Northern Department was established when Charles II was restored to the throne. It was responsible for affairs with Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, and the Holy Roman Empire. It had a counterpart in the Southern Department, which was tasked with France, Spain, Portugal, the Ottomans, and the New World colonies.
Until the Hanoverian succession, the Northern Department was considered the less important of the pair. The junior minister would hold this position until the Southern secretaryship became vacant, at which point they would be would be 'promoted' there. This began to change during Townshend's term as the Northern secretary owing to the new focus on Hanover.
In 1782, George III and Watson-Wentworth reformed the two departments; they were replaced with the Home Office and Foreign Office.