Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
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The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Swedish: utrikesminister) is the foreign minister of Sweden and the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The office was instituted in 1809 as a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs (Swedish: statsminister för utrikes ärendena, commonly known as utrikesstatsminister), similar to the office of Prime Minister for Justice (Swedish: justitiestatsminister). The Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs initially served as head of the Cabinet of Foreign Mail Exchange at the Royal Office. Following the ministry reform in 1840, the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs became head of the newly instituted Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In 1876 the office proper of Prime Minister of Sweden was created and at the same time the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs was nominally demoted to a mere Minister. The holder of the office did however continue to be styled as "Your excellency", until 1974 when the new Instrument of Government came into force. Before the parliamentary breakthrough in the early 20th century, that title had been granted exclusively to members of the most prominent noble families.
[edit] Prime Ministers for Foreign Affairs (1809–1876)
Swedish Cabinet Holding Parties - Color key:
| Name | Took office | Left office | Political party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lars von Engeström | 9 June 1809 | 8 June 1824 | Independent |
| Gustaf af Wetterstedt | 8 June 1824 | 15 May 1837 | Independent |
| Adolf Mörner (acting) | 15 May 1837 | 30 January 1838 | Independent |
| Gustaf Algernon Stierneld | 30 January 1838 | 11 July 1842 | Independent |
| Albrecht Elof Ihre (acting) | 5 September 1840 | 29 December 1842 | Independent |
| Albrecht Elof Ihre | 29 December 1842 | 10 April 1848 | Independent |
| Gustaf Algernon Stierneld | 10 April 1848 | 8 September 1856 | Independent |
| Elias Lagerheim | 8 September 1856 | 16 March 1858 | Independent |
| Christofer Rutger Ludvig Manderström | 16 March 1858 | 4 June 1868 | Independent |
| Carl Wachtmeister | 4 June 1868 | 14 October 1871 | Independent |
| Baltzar von Platen | 10 November 1871 | 17 December 1872 | Independent |
| Oscar Björnstjerna | 17 December 1872 | 20 March 1876 | Independent |
