Matthew Locke ( fl. 1660–1683) was an English administrator, holder of the post of

Secretary at War The Secretary at War was a political position in the English and later British government, with some responsibility over the administration and organization of the Army, but not over military policy. The Secretary at War ran the War Office. Afte ...

from 1666 to 1683, when he sold it. Locke was clerk to the "Irish and Scottish Committee" set up in 1651, and later gave evidence against

Henry Vane the Younger Sir Henry Vane (baptised 26 March 161314 June 1662), often referred to as Harry Vane and Henry Vane the Younger to distinguish him from his father, Henry Vane the Elder, was an English politician, statesman, and colonial governor. He was bri ...

who was on it. He was a nephew of Sir Paul Davis, also concerned in Irish business as administrator, and was then private secretary to

George Monck George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle JP KG PC (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was cruc ...

. He was related also, at some distance, to Robert Southwell. After the death of Monck (who had become the Duke of Albemarle) in 1670, Locke transformed the role of his secretaryship. It took on a significant share of military movement and supply orders. Locke's tenure consolidated the administrative role of the post. The secretaryship was bought from Locke in 1683 by

William Blathwayt William Blathwayt (or Blathwayte) (1649 – 16 August 1717) was an English diplomat, public official and Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1685 and 1710. He established the War Office as a department of ...

, who had royal backing.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Locke, Matthew English politicians 17th-century English people Chief Secretaries for Ireland