Famous British Prime Ministers
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Over the past few centuries, Great Britain has not just evolved as one of the most developed nations in the world, but is also known for its charismatic leaders. Although the royal family of Britain has a say in the political affairs of the nation, leaders belonging to political parties have also contributed greatly towards Great Britain’s development. The country’s tradition of appointing a Prime Minister has existed even in the 18th century, with Spencer Compton, Henry Pelham and Thomas Pelham Holles being some of the first few leaders of their kind. The legendary Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill is recognized for being the leader who steered his nation to victory during the Second World War. British Prime Ministers of the modern era, such as Gordon Brown and Tony Blair have been praised for addressing global issues such as initiating the Climate Change. They also tried their best to maintain friendly relations with other countries. We present you a collection of biographies of famous Briton Prime Ministers. Read more to know details about their timelines, life stories, and interesting trivia & facts related to their lives.
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Birthdate: October 13, 1925
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
Died: April 8, 2013
United Kingdom’s first female Prime Minister and also the longest serving Prime Minister in the 20th century, Margaret Thatcher served three consecutive terms in the office from 1979 till 1990. Her political views and leadership approach, known as Thatcherism, got her the nickname of Iron Lady. Though controversial, she prominently ranks high in the list of the best British Prime Ministers.
Birthdate: November 30, 1874
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Blenheim Palace, England, United Kingdom
Died: January 24, 1965
The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdoms, Winston Churchill, is known for successfully leading his country during the Second World War against the Nazi Germany. An officer in the British army, he also served as a war correspondent before venturing into politics. One of the most influential peoples in British history, Churchill was also an accomplished painter.
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Theresa May(Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
Birthdate: October 1, 1956
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Eastbourne, United Kingdom
Theresa May is a British politician who became the United Kingdom's second female prime minister. She served as prime minister from 2016 to 2019. During her prime ministership, May's involvement in the Brexit negotiations gave rise to the Brexit withdrawal agreement. She is also credited with co-founding Women2Win, which promotes women empowerment.
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Anthony Eden(Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1955 - 1957))
Birthdate: June 12, 1897
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Windlestone Hall, England
Died: January 14, 1977
Conservative politician Anthony Eden was the prime minister of England from 1955 to 1957. He had also served as the youngest British Army brigade-major during World War I. He earned a lot of criticism for his handling of the Suez Canal issue during his tenure as the prime minister.
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Harold Wilson(Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1964-1970, 1974-1976))
Birthdate: March 11, 1916
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Huddersfield, England, United Kingdom
Died: May 24, 1995
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for two non-consecutive terms, Harold Wilson was a British Labour politician. Historians commend him for leading his party through difficult political issues with considerable skill. With a moderate approach to socialism, he was a popular politician during his first tenure as the prime minister; his second tenure wasn’t as successful.
Birthdate: March 29, 1943
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: St Helier, London
John Major served as the British prime minister from 1990 to 1997. He initiated the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Citizen's Charter. He also sent British troops to the Gulf War. He was also the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer under Margaret Thatcher.
Birthdate: May 1, 1769
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Died: September 14, 1852
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, served as the British prime minister twice. He also served as the governor of Seringapatam and Mysore, and won the Battle of Assaye. He led the Hundred Days War and along with the Prussian army, won the Battle of Waterloo, defeating Napoleon.
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Tony Blair(Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
Birthdate: May 6, 1953
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Former Labour Party leader Tony Blair was the prime minister of the U.K. from 1997 to 2007. He supported the U.S.’s “War on Terror.” Blair was the youngest British PM since 1812 and the longest-tenured from his party. He is known for introducing the “New Labour” and the “Third Way.”
Birthdate: January 3, 1883
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Putney
Died: October 8, 1967
Clement Attlee was a British politician. As the Prime Minister of the UK, Attlee organized the granting of independence to Pakistan and India. in 1947. He also oversaw the independence of Ceylon and Burma. Regarded as one of the greatest prime ministers of the UK, Clement Attlee has been the subject of several plays and TV series.
Birthdate: December 21, 1804
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bloomsbury, London
Died: April 19, 1881
Benjamin Disraeli was a British politician who served two terms as prime minister of the UK. Disraeli is credited with playing a key role in the formation of the modern Conservative Party. Apart from being an influential politician, Benjamin Disraeli was also a prolific novelist; he wrote and published works of fiction even while serving as the prime minister.
Birthdate: February 10, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cadogan Place, London
Died: December 29, 1986
Harold Macmillan, also known as “Supermac” because of his witty personality, served as the British prime minister from 1957 to 1963. He was injured and rendered partially immobile while serving in World War I. He was known for supporting the nuclear test ban and for association with the Suez Crisis.
Birthdate: March 18, 1869
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Birmingham
Died: November 9, 1940
Neville Chamberlain was a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, Chamberlain served as UK's prime minister from 1937 to 1940. Known for his signing of the Munich Agreement, which is also called the Munich Betrayal, Neville Chamberlain is regarded by many as one of the most controversial prime ministers of the UK.
Birthdate: January 17, 1863
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Chorlton-on-Medlock
Died: March 26, 1945
David Lloyd George, or the 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, was the British prime minister from 1916 to 1922 and the first Welsh to hold the position. Though he was a Liberal, he was initially supported by the Conservatives. He was a key figure in the Paris Peace Conference.
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Robert Peel(Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834 – 1835, 1841 – 1846))
Birthdate: February 5, 1788
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bury, Lancashire, England
Died: July 2, 1850
Statesman Robert Peel had been the prime minister of the U.K twice. He was also a two-time home secretary. He established the Metropolitan Police Service and also introduced the Tamworth Manifesto, thus co-founding the modern Conservative Party. He died of injuries after a horse he was riding fell on him.
Birthdate: December 29, 1809
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died: May 19, 1898
William Ewart Gladstone was a British politician and statesman. During a career that spanned six decades, Gladstone served as prime minister of the UK for 12 years, which included four different terms. Often counted among Britain's greatest leaders, Gladstone has been portrayed in several films and television series, such as Parnell, The Prime Minister, Edward the Seventh, and Number 10.
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William Pitt the Younger(The Youngest & Last Prime Minister of Great Britain and the First Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
Birthdate: May 28, 1759
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bromley, England, United Kingdom
Died: January 23, 1806
British statesman, William Pitt the Younger, became the youngest prime minister of Great Britain in 1783 when he was just 24. During his stint as the prime minister, he was also Chancellor of the Exchequer. Several major political events, including the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, happened during his tenure. He is ranked highly among all British Prime Ministers.
Birthdate: August 3, 1867
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bewdley
Died: December 14, 1947
Stanley Baldwin was a British Conservative statesman. He served as prime minister of the United Kingdom on three occasions during the interwar period. Baldwin's second government, which was formed by him after winning the 1924 general election, saw tenures of office by important personalities like Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain, and Sir Austen Chamberlain.
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Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
(Politician)
Birthdate: October 20, 1784
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Westminster, Middlesex, England
Died: October 18, 1865
Birthdate: August 26, 1676
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Houghton, Norfolk, England
Died: March 18, 1745
Birthdate: March 13, 1764
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Fallodon, Northumberland, England
Died: July 17, 1845
Birthdate: October 12, 1866
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lossiemouth
Died: November 9, 1937
Birthdate: November 15, 1708
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England
Died: May 11, 1778
Birthdate: October 9, 1966
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Marylebone, London, England
British politician David Cameron served as the prime minister of the UK from 2010 to 2016. During his prime ministership, Cameron's government introduced large-scale changes to education, healthcare, immigration policy, and welfare. His administration also legalized same-sex marriage in Wales and England and privatized the Royal Mail.
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John Prescott
(Former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997 - 2007))
Birthdate: May 31, 1938
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Prestatyn, Flintshire, Wales
Renowned British politician John Prescott had not just been the deputy leader of the Labour Party but had also served as deputy prime minister of the UK. Born to a railway signalman in Wales, he moved to England at age 4. He had also initially worked as a steward on passenger liners.
Birthdate: September 16, 1858
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rexton, Canada
Died: October 30, 1923
Birthdate: July 2, 1903
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mayfair, London
Died: October 9, 1995
Alec Douglas-Home was a British politician. He served as the United Kingdom's prime minister for 363 days, becoming the second briefest prime minister of the 20th century. During his premiership, his government passed the abolition of resale price maintenance legislation in 1964.
Birthdate: March 15, 1779
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, England
Died: November 24, 1848
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, or Lord Melbourne, was a Whig and a close advisor of Queen Victoria. Apart from being the leader of the opposition, he had also been the British prime minister. However, he was known more for his love for theology and literature than his political exploits.
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Spencer Perceval
(Politician, Lawyer)
Birthdate: November 1, 1762
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London
Died: May 11, 1812
Spencer Perceval was an English barrister and statesman who served as the United Kingdom's Prime Minister from 1809 to 1812. The only solicitor-general to have served as UK's prime minister, Perceval was also the only British PM to have been murdered. His assassination inspired poems like Universal sympathy on the martyr'd statesman, which was published in 1812.
Birthdate: June 19, 1964
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Upper East Side, New York, United States
The current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson has been active in politics for over two decades. Prior to joining politics, he worked as a journalist. His supporters hail him for unconventional image and sense of humor while his detractors criticize him for being “ruthless, elitist, and biased".
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Edward Heath(Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1970-1974))
Birthdate: July 9, 1916
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Broadstairs, England, United Kingdom
Died: July 17, 2005
Edward Heath served as the British prime minister from 1970 to 1974. He reformed the local governments and introduced many metropolitan counties. He supported the European Communities and attempted to curb trade unions, with a view to deregulate the economy. He was the Father of the House for 9 years.
Birthdate: August 18, 1792
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Mayfair, Middlesex, England
Died: May 28, 1878
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Lord North(Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782)
Birthdate: April 13, 1732
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Piccadilly
Died: August 5, 1792
Birthdate: April 9, 1906
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Died: January 18, 1963
Birthdate: September 7, 1836
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Died: April 22, 1908
Birthdate: July 25, 1848
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Whittinghame, Scotland
Died: March 19, 1930
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William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland
(Politician)
Birthdate: April 14, 1738
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Nottinghamshire, England
Died: October 30, 1809
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Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool
(Politician)
Birthdate: June 7, 1770
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: London, England
Died: December 4, 1828
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William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
(Prime Minister)
Birthdate: May 8, 1720
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: October 2, 1764
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George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen
(Former British Prime Minister)
Birthdate: January 28, 1784
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Edinburgh
Died: December 14, 1860
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John Stuart, 3rd earl of Bute
(Prime Minister)
Birthdate: May 25, 1713
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Parliament Square, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: March 10, 1792
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Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
(Politician)
Birthdate: March 29, 1799
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Knowsley Hall, Knowsley, England
Died: October 23, 1869
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Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington
(Politician)
Birthdate: 1673 AD
Birthplace: Compton Wynyates
Died: July 2, 1743
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Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham
(Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
Birthdate: May 13, 1730
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Wentworth, Yorkshire, England
Died: July 1, 1782
Birthdate: September 25, 1694
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Laughton
Died: March 6, 1754
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William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne
(Political Leaders)
Birthdate: May 2, 1737
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: County Dublin, Ireland
Died: May 7, 1805
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William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville
(Former British Prime Minister)
Birthdate: October 25, 1759
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Wotton Underwood, Buckinghamshire, England
Died: January 12, 1834
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James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
(Politician)
Birthdate: January 8, 1871
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Belfast, Ireland
Died: November 24, 1940
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Mackenzie Bowell
(Canadian Politician and Newspaper Publisher)
Birthdate: December 27, 1823
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rickinghall, England
Died: December 10, 1917
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George Grey
(11th Premier of New Zealand (1877 - 1879) )
Birthdate: April 14, 1812
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lisbon, Portugal
Died: September 19, 1898
George Grey was a British explorer, soldier, writer, and colonial administrator. He served as the 11th Premier of New Zealand from 1877 to 1879. He also served as the Governor of New Zealand from 1845 to 1854 and again from 1861 to 1868. George Grey's life and career inspired a miniseries titled The Governor.
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Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton
(Politician)
Birthdate: September 28, 1735
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: England
Died: March 14, 1811