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The term "minister" comes from a Latin word meaning a "servant" (or first servant). In some countries (such as the US, Philippines and the UKThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly), such a person can instead known as a secretaryA secretary is a person who performs routine, administrative, or personal tasks for a superior. These office employees perform duties such as typing, computer processing, and scheduling for an executive. Secretaries are often hard-working, important membe or secretary of state.
Until the early 20th century, heads of legations were also called ministers, ie: "Minister for Cuba" or "Minister for France." For example, Sir Ernest Satow was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan, 1895-1900, then the top British diplomat in Japan. His successor, Sir Claude MacDonald, was Minister and then Ambassador from 1905 when relations between Britain and Japan were upgraded.
Some examples of ministers, see the lists below for more.