Document Record

Creator

Great Britain. Colonial Office.

Title

Great Britain. Colonial Office : America and West Indies, original correspondence, etc. (CO 5)

Identifier

lac_mikan_103905
MG 11 CO 5
R10976-2-8-E
Government
Foreign relations
Business and commerce
oocihm.lac_mikan_103905

Document source

Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada

Language

English
French

Description

The Colonial Office was a government department of the United Kingdom, first created to deal with the colonial affairs of British North America. It was headed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, known as the Colonial Secretary. Prior to 1768, responsibility for the affairs of the British colonies was overseen by the Secretary of State for the Southern Department and a Privy Council committee called the Board of Trade and Plantations. In 1768, the separate American or Colonial Department was established to deal with British North America. The department was abolished in 1782 with the loss of the American colonies. Responsibility for the remaining colonies were first given to the Home Office, then, in 1801, it was transferred to the War Office. In 1854, this office was divided into two and a new Colonial Office was created to deal with colonial needs, and this new office was assigned to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
This collection consists of selected volumes consisting of original correspondence of the Secretary of State and the Board of Trade, entry books of letters, instructions, commissions and warrants, sessional papers and miscellaneous documents.

URL

https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_103905