In 1794 the position of Secretary of State for War was created. The Secretary's department was at first unofficially known as the War Department. Colonial affairs were later added and it became the Colony Department. After the outbreak of war with revolutionary France it became Colony and War Department and on the restoration of peace in 1815 the Colonial Department. In February 1855 the offices of the Secretary of State for War, and Secretary at War were merged and the new department and became the War Department once again until in 1857 when it became the War Office. In 1964 the department became the Ministry of Defence.