Formation July 27, 1789 Website www.state.gov | Succession Fourth | |
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Appointer President of United States Inaugural holder John Jay (acting
Thomas Jefferson | ||
This is a list of Secretaries of State of the United States.
Contents
List of Secretaries of State by time in office
This is a list of United States Secretaries of State by time in office. This is based on the difference between dates; if counted by number of calendar days all the figures would be one greater.
Cordell Hull is the only person to have served as Secretary of State for more than eight years. Daniel Webster and James G. Blaine are the only Secretaries of State to have ever served non-consecutive terms. Elihu B. Washburne served as Secretary of State for less than two weeks before becoming Ambassador to France.
Living former Secretaries of State
As of March 2017, there are eight living former Secretaries of State, the oldest being George P. Shultz (served 1982–1989, born 1920). The most recent Secretary of State to die was Lawrence Eagleburger (served 1992–1993, born 1930), on June 4, 2011.