The secretary of a corporation or association is an officer charged with the direction and management of that part of the business of the company which is concerned with keeping the records, the official correspondence, with giving and receiving notices, countersigning documents, etc.
The name “secretary” is also given to several of the heads of executive departments” in the government of the United States; as the “Secretary of War,” “Secretary of the Interior,” etc. It is also the style of some of the members of the English cabinet; as the “Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.” There are also secretaries of embassies and legations. Secretary of decrees and injunctions. An officer of the English court of chancery. The office was abolished by St. 15 A 16 Vict c. 87, 23. Secretary of embassy. A diplomatic officer appointed as secretary or assistant to an ambassador or minister plenipotentiary. Secretary of legation. An officer employed to attend a foreign mission and to perform certain duties as clerk. Secretary of state. In American law. This is the title of the chief of the executive bureau of the United States called the “Department of State.” Ie is a member of the cabinet, and is charged with the general administration of the international and diplomatic affairs of the government. In many of the state governments there is an executive officer bearing the same title and exercising important functions. In English law. The secretaries of state are cabinet ministers attending the sovereign for the receipt and dispatch of letters, grants, petitions, and many of the most important affairs of the kingdom, both foreign and domestic. There are five principal secretaries, one for the home department, another for foreign affairs, a third for the colonies, a fourth for war, and a fifth for India. Wharton.