List of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom

Current Prime Minister David Cameron was appointed on 11 May 2010

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom and the Head of Her Majesty's Government. The office holder is responsible for nominating all other members of the government, chairing Cabinet meetings and deciding when to call a new general election for the House of Commons.[1][2] The Prime Minister can also make nominations to senior positions in the Church of England, nominate judges and propose the creation of new life peers.[3]

There is no specific date when the office of Prime Minister first appeared, as the role was not created but evolved over a period of time.[4] However, modern historians generally apply the title of First Prime Minister to Sir Robert Walpole, who led Great Britain for 21 years from 1721 to 1742.[5][6] As of 2010, Walpole is the longest serving Prime Minister of the country.[7]

Colour key
(for political parties)

     Whig      Tory      Conservative      Peelite/Whig      Liberal      Labour      National Labour

Contents

Prime Ministers under George I (1714–1727) and George II (1727–1760)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
Robertwalpole cropped cropped.jpg Sir Robert Walpole
(1676–1745)
MP for King's Lynn until 1742
Earl of Orford from 1742		 4 April
1721		 11 February
1742		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Whig
(Walpole/Townshend 1721–30;
Walpole Ministry 1730–42)		 [5][7]
1722, 1727, 1734, 1741
Regarded as the first Prime Minister in the modern sense; The South Sea Company bubble; criticised for Great Britain's poor performance in the War of Jenkins' Ear.
Spencer Compton 1st Earl of Wilmington cropped.jpg Spencer Compton,
1st Earl of Wilmington
(1673–1743)		 16 February
1742		 2 July
1743		 First Lord of the Treasury Whig Carteret [8]
 —
Increased tax on spirits; in poor health for much of his time as Prime Minister, the government was led de facto by John Carteret. Died in office.
Henry Pelham cropped.jpg Henry Pelham
(1694–1754)
MP for Sussex		 27 August
1743		 6 March
1754		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Whig
(Carteret Ministry 1743–44;
Broad Bottom Ministry 1744–54)		 [9]
1747
Reorganisation of the Royal Navy; 1745 Jacobite Rebellion; adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; Marriage Act 1753; helped end the War of the Austrian Succession. Died in office.
ThomasPelham-Holles.jpg Thomas Pelham-Holles,
1st Duke of Newcastle
(1693–1768)		 16 March
1754		 16 November
1756		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig Newcastle I [8]
1754
Led Great Britain into the Seven Years' War with France in North America.
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire cropped.JPG William Cavendish,
4th Duke of Devonshire
(1720–1764)		 16 November
1756		 25 June
1757		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig
(Devonshire-Pitt Ministry;
1757 Caretaker Ministry)		 [8]
 —
The government was largely run by William Pitt the Elder.
ThomasPelham-Holles.jpg Thomas Pelham-Holles,
1st Duke of Newcastle
(1693–1768)		 2 July
1757		 26 May
1762		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig Newcastle II [8]
1761
Great Britain gained more influence abroad in the Seven Years' War; the war was largely prosecuted by Pitt the Elder as Secretary of State.

Prime Ministers under George III (1760–1820)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute cropped cropped.jpg John Stuart,
3rd Earl of Bute
(1713–1792)		 26 May
1762		 8 April
1763		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Tory Bute [10]
 —
First Scottish Prime Minister. Ended the dominance of the Whigs; Treaty of Paris (1763) ending the Seven Years' War; resigned after fierce criticism of Treaty of Paris concessions.
George Grenville cropped.jpg George Grenville
(1712–1770)
MP for Buckingham		 16 April
1763		 13 July
1765		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Whig (Grenvillite) Grenville [11]
 —
Lowered domestic tax at the expense of the colonies; introduced the Stamp Act 1765 (which ultimately led to the American Revolution).
2nd Marquess of Rockingham cropped.jpg Charles Watson-Wentworth,
2nd Marquess of Rockingham
(1730–1782)		 13 July
1765		 30 July
1766		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig (Rockingham) Rockingham I [12]
 —
Repealed the controversial Stamp Act, inspired by protests from both American colonists and British manufacturers who were hurt by it; introduced the Declaratory Act 1766.
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham by Richard Brompton cropped cropped.jpg William Pitt the Elder,
1st Earl of Chatham
(1708–1778)		 30 July
1766		 14 October
1768		 Lord Privy Seal Whig (Chathamite) Chatham [13]
 —
The first real Imperialist; credited with the birth of the British Empire; defeated France in Canada, thereby indirectly precipitating the French Revolution.
Grafton3 cropped.JPG Augustus FitzRoy,
3rd Duke of Grafton
(1735–1811)		 14 October
1768		 28 January
1770		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig (Chathamite) Grafton [14]
1768
Attempted to reconcile with the American colonies.
Nathaniel Dance Lord North cropped cropped.jpg Frederick North,
Lord North
(1732–1792)
MP for Banbury		 28 January
1770		 22 March
1782		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Tory North [15]
1774, 1780
Led Great Britain into the American Revolution, making a number of tactical errors; the Gordon Riots; attempted reform in Ireland; resigned after a vote of no confidence against the will of the King.
2nd Marquess of Rockingham cropped.jpg Charles Watson-Wentworth,
2nd Marquess of Rockingham
(1730–1782)		 27 March
1782		 1 July
1782		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig (Rockingham) Rockingham II [8]
 —
Acknowledged the independence of the United States; began a process of economic reform. Died in office.
Shelburne cropped.jpg William Petty-FitzMaurice,
2nd Earl of Shelburne
(1737–1805)		 4 July
1782		 2 April
1783		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig (Chathamite) Shelburne [8]
 —
Planned political reform; secured peace with the United States, France and Spain.
3rd Duke of Portland 1804 cropped cropped.jpg William Cavendish-Bentinck,
3rd Duke of Portland
(1738–1809)		 2 April
1783		 19 December
1783		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig Fox-North Coalition [8]
 —
Titular head of the Fox-North Coalition. Attempted to reform the British East India Company, but was blocked by George III.
Pitt the Younger.jpg William Pitt the Younger
(1759–1806)
MP for Appleby until 1784
MP for Cambridge University from 1784		 19 December
1783		 14 March
1801		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Tory (Pittite) Pitt the Younger I [16]
1784, 1790, 1796
Youngest Prime Minister. India Act 1784; attempted to remove rotten boroughs; personally opposed to the slave trade; reduced the national debt due to the rebellion in the North American colonies; formed the Triple Alliance; Constitutional Act of 1791; war with France starting in 1793; Cape Colony (South Africa) taken 1795; introduced the first income tax; Act of Union 1800.
John Singleton Copley - Henry Addington, First Viscount Sidmouth cropped cropped.jpg Henry Addington
(1757–1844)
MP for Devizes		 17 March
1801		 10 May
1804		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Tory (Pittite) Addington [8]
1801 co-option, 1802
Negotiated the Treaty of Amiens with France in 1802.
Pitt the Younger.jpg William Pitt the Younger
(1759–1806)
MP for Cambridge University		 10 May
1804		 23 January
1806		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Tory (Pittite) Pitt the Younger II [8]
 —
Alliance with Russia, Austria and Sweden against France (Third Coalition); Battle of Trafalgar; Battle of Ulm; Battle of Austerlitz. Died in office.
1st Baron Grenville cropped.jpg William Wyndham Grenville,
1st Lord Grenville
(1759–1834)		 11 February
1806		 31 March
1807		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig Ministry of All the Talents [8]
1806
Abolition of the slave trade.
3rd Duke of Portland 1804 cropped cropped.jpg William Cavendish-Bentinck,
3rd Duke of Portland
(1738–1809)		 31 March
1807		 4 October
1809		 First Lord of the Treasury nominally Tory Portland II [8]
1807
He headed a Tory government; was old and ill, leaving the Cabinet to their own devices (largely headed by Spencer Perceval).
Spencerperceval.jpg Spencer Perceval
(1762–1812)
MP for Northampton		 4 October
1809		 11 May
1812		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Tory Perceval [17]
 —
Descent of George III into madness; his administration was notable for the lack of senior statesmen (Perceval also served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer); Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars. The only Prime Minister to have been assassinated.
Earl jenkinson.jpg Robert Banks Jenkinson,
2nd Earl of Liverpool
(1770–1828)		 8 June
1812		 9 April
1827		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Tory Liverpool [18]
1812, 1818, 1820, 1826
Oversaw the United Kingdom's victory in the Napoleonic Wars; the Congress of Vienna; an economic recession in 1817; the Luddite movement; The War of 1812 (in Britain, the American War of 1812 to 1815); Peterloo Massacre in 1819; return to the gold standard in 1819; the Cato Street Conspiracy to assassinate Liverpool in 1820.

Prime Ministers under George IV (1820–1830)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
George Canning by Richard Evans - detail.jpg George Canning
(1770–1827)
MP for Seaham		 10 April
1827		 8 August
1827		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Tory (Canningite) Canning [8]
 —
Died shortly after taking office.
Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon by Sir Thomas Lawrence cropped.jpg Frederick John Robinson,
1st Viscount Goderich
(1782–1859)		 31 August
1827		 21 January
1828		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Tory (Canningite) Goderich [8]
 —
Lacked support amongst colleagues; resigned.
1st Duke of Wellington 1831 cropped cropped.jpg Arthur Wellesley,
1st Duke of Wellington
(1769–1852)		 22 January
1828		 16 November
1830		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Tory Wellington [8]
1830
Catholic Emancipation Bill (over which he fought a duel).

Prime Ministers under William IV (1830–1837)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey by Sir Thomas Lawrence cropped.jpg Charles Grey,
2nd Earl Grey
(1764–1845)		 22 November
1830		 9 July
1834		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig Grey [19]
1831, 1832
Reform Act 1832; quelled Swing Riots; restriction of employment of children; reform of the Poor Laws; abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire.
2nd V Melbourne.jpg William Lamb,
2nd Viscount Melbourne
(1779–1848)		 16 July
1834		 14 November
1834		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig Melbourne I [20]
 —
William IV's opposition forced him to resign.
1st Duke of Wellington 1831 cropped cropped.jpg Arthur Wellesley,
1st Duke of Wellington
(1769–1852)		 14 November
1834		 10 December
1834		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Secretary of State for the Home Department,
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Tory Conservative Provisional [21]
 —
Caretaker government while Sir Robert Peel was located and returned to London. Held many of the major posts himself.
Robert Peel.jpg Sir Robert Peel
(1788–1850)
MP for Tamworth		 10 December
1834		 8 April
1835		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Conservative Peel I [22][23]
1835†
†Minority government. Unable to form a majority in Parliament so resigned.
2nd V Melbourne.jpg William Lamb,
2nd Viscount Melbourne
(1779–1848)		 18 April
1835		 30 August
1841		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Whig Melbourne II [24]
1835, 1837
A father figure to Queen Victoria; Municipal Corporations Act 1835; Bedchamber Crisis; Treaty of Waitangi.

Prime Ministers under Victoria (1837–1901)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
Robert Peel.jpg Sir Robert Peel
(1788–1850)
MP for Tamworth		 30 August
1841		 29 June
1846		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Conservative Peel II [25]
1841
Mines Act 1842; reintroduction of income tax; Factory Act 1844; Railway Regulation Act 1844; repeal of the Corn Laws (triggered by the Great Irish Potato Famine) and other tariffs; Maynooth Grant.
Lord John Russell.jpg Lord John Russell
(1792–1878)
MP for City of London		 30 June
1846		 21 February
1852		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Whig Russell I [26]
1847†
†Minority government, but with the Conservatives split between Protectionists and Peelites, the Whigs held power. Education Act 1847; Don Pacifico affair; Chartist demonstrations; Australian Colonies Government Act; The Great Exhibition; improved the Poor laws.
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg Edward Smith-Stanley,
14th Earl of Derby
(1799–1869)		 23 February
1852		 17 December
1852		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Conservative Derby I [27]
1852
Government collapsed when his Chancellor's Budget was defeated.
Earlofaberdeen.jpg George Hamilton-Gordon,
4th Earl of Aberdeen
(1784–1860)		 19 December
1852		 30 January
1855		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Peelite Aberdeen [28]
 —
Led the country into the Crimean War; resigned after defeat in the vote for an inquiry into the conduct of the war.
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston.jpg Henry John Temple,
3rd Viscount Palmerston
(1784–1865)
MP for Tiverton		 6 February
1855		 19 February
1858		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Whig Palmerston I [29]
1857
Responded to the Indian mutiny of 1857; introduced the India Bill.
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg Edward Smith-Stanley,
14th Earl of Derby
(1799–1869)		 20 February
1858		 11 June
1859		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Conservative Derby II [30]
 —
Government of India Act 1858, transferring ownership of the East India Company to the Crown; Jews Relief Act, allowing Jews to become MPs.
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston.jpg Henry John Temple,
3rd Viscount Palmerston
(1784–1865)
MP for Tiverton		 12 June
1859		 18 October
1865		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Liberal Palmerston II [31]
1859, 1865
Between periods in office he founded the Liberal Party; term dominated by policy concerning the American Civil War; attempts to alleviate suffering caused by the Lancashire Cotton Famine. Died in office.
Lord John Russell.jpg John Russell,
1st Earl Russell
(1792–1878)		 29 October
1865		 26 June
1866		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Liberal Russell II [32]
 —
Attempted to introduce a further Reform Bill, but was opposed by his Cabinet.
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg Edward Smith-Stanley,
14th Earl of Derby
(1799–1869)		 28 June
1866		 25 February
1868		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Conservative Derby III [33]
 —
Reform Act 1867; considered by some to be the father of the modern Conservative Party.
Disraeli.jpg Benjamin Disraeli
(1804–1881)
MP for Buckinghamshire		 27 February
1868		 1 December
1868		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Conservative Disraeli I [34]
 —
Only ethnically Jewish Prime Minister; dissolved Parliament as the Conservatives did not have a majority.
William Ewart Gladstone - 1866.jpg William Ewart Gladstone
(1809–1898)
MP for Greenwich		 3 December
1868		 17 February
1874		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1873–74)		 Liberal Gladstone I [35]
1868
Introduced reforms to the British Army, Civil Service and local government; made peacetime flogging illegal; Irish Church Disestablishment Act 1869; Irish Land Act 1870; Education Act 1870; Trade Union Act 1871; Ballot Act 1872; Licensing Act 1872; failed to prevent the Franco-Prussian War.
Disraeli.jpg Benjamin Disraeli
(1804–1881)
MP for Buckinghamshire until 1876
Earl of Beaconsfield from 1876		 20 February
1874		 21 April
1880		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons (1874–76),
Lord Privy Seal (1876–78)
& Leader of the House of Lords (1876–80)		 Conservative Disraeli II [36]
1874
Various social reforms including the Climbing Boys Act 1875, the Public Health Act 1875 and the Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act 1875; purchase of shares in the Suez Canal Company; Congress of Berlin; reintroduction of Queen Victoria to public life, including bestowing the title Empress of India; Second Anglo-Afghan War; breaking up of the League of the Three Emperors; the Zulu War; start of Long Depression.
William Ewart Gladstone - 1866.jpg William Ewart Gladstone
(1809–1898)
MP for Midlothian		 23 April
1880		 9 June
1885		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1880–82)		 Liberal Gladstone II [37]
1880
First Boer War; Irish Coercion Act; Kilmainham Treaty; Phoenix Park Murders; Married Women's Property Act 1882; Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act 1883; Reform Act 1884, Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (sometimes known collectively as the Third Reform Act); failure to rescue General Gordon in Khartoum, Sudan.
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil,
3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(1830–1903)		 23 June
1885		 28 January
1886		 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Conservative Salisbury I [38]
1885†
†Minority government. Legislation providing for housing the working class.
William Ewart Gladstone - 1866.jpg William Ewart Gladstone
(1809–1898)
MP for Midlothian		 1 February
1886		 20 July
1886		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Lord Privy Seal
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Liberal Gladstone III [39]
1885
First introduction of the Home Rule Bill for Ireland, which split the Liberal Party, resulting in the end of Gladstone's government.
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil,
3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(1830–1903)		 25 July
1886		 11 August
1892		 Leader of the House of Lords,
First Lord of the Treasury (1886–87)
& Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1887–92)		 Conservative Salisbury II [40]
1886
Opposed Irish home rule; repeal of final Contagious Diseases Act; Local Government Act 1888; Partition of Africa; Free Education Act 1891; creation of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe); New Unionism and London Dock Strike of 1889.
William Ewart Gladstone - 1866.jpg William Ewart Gladstone
(1809–1898)
MP for Midlothian		 15 August
1892		 2 March
1894		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Lord Privy Seal
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Liberal Gladstone IV [41]
1892†
†Minority government. Reintroduction of the Home Rule Bill, which was passed by the House of Commons but rejected by the House of Lords leading to his resignation.
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery - 1890s.jpg Archibald Primrose,
5th Earl of Rosebery
(1847–1929)		 5 March
1894		 22 June
1895		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Lord President of the Council
& Leader of the House of Lords		 Liberal Rosebery [42]
 —
Imperialist; plans for expanding the Royal Navy caused disagreement within the Liberal Party; resigned following a vote of censure over military supplies.
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil,
3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(1830–1903)		 25 June
1895		 11 July
1902		 Leader of the House of Lords,
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1895–1900)
& Lord Privy Seal (1900–02)		 Conservative Salisbury Unionist [43]
1895, 1900
Workmen's Compensation Act 1897; Anglo-Zanzibar War; Second Boer War and Khaki election; Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

Prime Ministers under Edward VII (1901–1910)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
Arthur Balfour, photo portrait facing left.jpg Arthur Balfour
(1848–1930)
MP for Manchester East		 11 July
1902		 5 December
1905		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Conservative Balfour Unionist [8]
 —
Had poor relations with Edward VII; his cabinet was split over free trade; establishment of the Committee of Imperial Defence; Entente Cordiale; Education Act 1902; Taff Vale case.
Henry Campbell-Bannerman photo.jpg Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
(1836–1908)
MP for Stirling Burghs		 5 December
1905		 7 April
1908		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Liberal Campbell-Bannerman [8]
1906
Restored autonomy to Transvaal and the Orange Free State; Anglo-Russian Entente; first Prime Minister to be referred to as such in Parliamentary legislation.
Herbert Henry Asquith.jpg Herbert Henry Asquith
(1852–1928)
MP for East Fife		 7 April
1908		 25 May
1915		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Secretary of State for War (1914)		 Liberal Asquith I [8]
Jan.1910†, Dec.1910†
†Hung Parliaments. Liberal Welfare Reforms; People's Budget; Old Age Pensions Act 1908 and National Insurance Act 1911; Parliament Act 1911; Suffragettes and the Cat and Mouse Act; Home Rule Act 1914; World War I.

Prime Ministers under George V (1910–1936) and Edward VIII (1936)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
Herbert Henry Asquith.jpg Herbert Henry Asquith
(1852–1928)
MP for East Fife		 25 May
1915		 7 December
1916		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Liberal Coalition [8]
 —
Easter Rising.
David Lloyd George.jpg David Lloyd George
(1863–1945)
MP for Caernarvon Boroughs		 7 December
1916		 19 October
1922		 First Lord of the Treasury Liberal Coalition [44]
1918
Welsh-speaking: only Prime Minister whose mother tongue was not English. End of World War I; Paris Peace Conference; attempted to extend conscription to Ireland during the First World War; granted women over 30 the vote; formation of the Irish Free State.
Andrew Bonar Law 02.jpg Andrew Bonar Law
(1858–1923)
MP for Glasgow Central		 23 October
1922		 20 May
1923		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Conservative Bonar Law [45]
1922
Canadian-born: only Prime Minister born outside the British Isles. Resigned due to ill health; died six months after leaving office.
Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233.jpg Stanley Baldwin
(1867–1947)
MP for Bewdley		 23 May
1923		 16 January
1924		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1923)		 Conservative Baldwin I [46]
 —
Called a general election to gain a mandate for protectionist tariffs but failed to gain a majority; resigned after losing a vote of confidence.
Ramsay MacDonald ggbain.29588.jpg Ramsay MacDonald
(1866–1937)
MP for Aberavon		 22 January
1924		 4 November
1924		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs		 Labour MacDonald I [47]
1923†
†Hung Parliament; minority government reliant on Liberal support. First Labour Prime Minister; did not have a majority so could not introduce radical legislation; settled reparations with Germany following World War I; Zinoviev letter.
Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233.jpg Stanley Baldwin
(1867–1947)
MP for Bewdley		 4 November
1924		 5 June
1929		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Conservative Baldwin II [48]
1924
Treaty of Locarno; signatory of the Kellogg-Briand Pact; Pensions Act; enfranchisement of women over 21; UK General Strike of 1926.
Ramsay MacDonald ggbain.29588.jpg Ramsay MacDonald
(1866–1937)
MP for Seaham		 5 June
1929		 24 August
1931		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Labour MacDonald II [49]
1929†
†Hung Parliament. Appointed the first female minister, Margaret Bondfield; economic crises following the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
24 August
1931		 7 June
1935		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 National Labour [[First National Government 1931|1 National]];
[[Second National Government 1931–1935|2 National]]		 [50]
1931
Unable to retain the support of the Labour Party, MacDonald officially resigned and was then re-appointed to form a National Government with the support of the Conservative and Liberal parties. He was expelled from the Labour Party.
Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233.jpg Stanley Baldwin
(1867–1947)
MP for Bewdley		 7 June
1935		 28 May
1937		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Conservative [[Third National Ministry|3 National]] [51]
1935
Edward VIII abdication crisis; started rearmament but later criticised for failing to rearm more when Adolf Hitler broke Germany's Treaty of Versailles obligations.

Prime Ministers under George VI (1936–1952)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
Arthur-Neville-Chamberlain.jpg Neville Chamberlain
(1869–1940)
MP for Birmingham Edgbaston		 28 May
1937		 10 May
1940		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons		 Conservative [[Fourth National Ministry|4 National]];
Chamberlain War		 [8]
 —
Attempted to maintain "peace for our time" through appeasement of Germany, settling the Munich Agreement; widely criticised following the German Invasion of Poland and consequent outbreak of World War II; resigned after failing to form a Coalition Government.
Churchill HU 90973.jpg Winston Churchill
(1874–1965)
MP for Epping		 10 May
1940		 23 May
1945		 First Lord of the Treasury,
Minister of Defence
& Leader of the House of Commons (1940–42)		 Conservative Churchill War [52]
 —
World War II; led a Coalition Government; foundation of the United Nations; proposed what would eventually lead to the European Union; Beveridge Report.
23 May
1945		 26 July
1945		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister of Defence		 Conservative Churchill Caretaker [53]
 —
Following the ending of his all-party coalition, Churchill formed a "caretaker" government out of Conservatives, Liberal Nationals and non-party figures. However after two months it was defeated in the 1945 general election.
Attlee BW cropped.jpg Clement Attlee
(1883–1967)
MP for Limehouse until 1950
MP for Walthamstow West from 1950		 26 July
1945		 26 October
1951		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister of Defence (1945–46)		 Labour Attlee [54]
1945, 1950
Initiated the post-war consensus; introduced nationalisation of utilities; foundation of the National Health Service; extended national insurance scheme; independence of India and the end of the British role in Palestine; foundation of NATO; beginning of the Cold War; the Berlin Blockade and the resulting Berlin Airlift; the start of British involvement in the Korean War.
Churchill HU 90973.jpg Sir Winston Churchill
(1874–1965)
MP for Woodford		 26 October
1951		 7 April
1955		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister of Defence (1951–52)		 Conservative Churchill III [55]
1951
Domestic policy interrupted by foreign disputes (Korean War, Operation Ajax, Mau Mau Uprising, Malayan Emergency).

Prime Ministers under Elizabeth II (1952–Present)

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office
—
Electoral mandates		 Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister		 Political party
of PM		 Government Refs
AREden.jpg Sir Anthony Eden
(1897–1977)
MP for Warwick and Leamington		 7 April
1955		 10 January
1957		 First Lord of the Treasury Conservative Eden [56]
1955
Failed to prevent the Egyptian nationalisation of the Suez Canal; invaded Egypt, leading to the Suez Crisis.
Macmillan cph.3b40592.jpg Harold Macmillan
(1894–1986)
MP for Bromley		 10 January
1957		 19 October
1963		 First Lord of the Treasury Conservative Macmillan [57]
1959
The UK applied to join the European Economic Community for the first time, the application split the Conservatives and was vetoed by Charles de Gaulle; acceptance of Keynesianism; Rent Act 1957; Wind of Change speech; Notting Hill race riots and New Commonwealth immigration; beginning of Beeching Axe; Night of the Long Knives; Cuban missile crisis; Profumo Affair.
Alec Douglas Home Allan Warren cropped.jpg Sir Alec Douglas-Home
(1903–1995)
Earl of Home until 1963
MP for Kinross and Western Perthshire from 1963		 19 October
1963		 16 October
1964		 First Lord of the Treasury Conservative Douglas-Home [58]
 —
Was the Earl of Home when he became Prime Minister, and renounced his peerage on 23 October 1963 in order to stand for the House of Commons.
Dodwilson.JPG Harold Wilson
(1916–1995)
MP for Huyton		 16 October
1964		 19 June
1970		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service (1968–70)		 Labour Wilson I [59]
1964, 1966
Social reforms, including legalisation of abortion and decriminalisation of homosexuality; Rhodesian U.D.I.; adopted, then abandoned, the National Plan for the economy; Devaluation of the pound; foundation of the Open University; dispute over In Place of Strife trade union reforms.
Heathdod.JPG Edward Heath
(1916–2005)
MP for Bexley		 19 June
1970		 4 March
1974		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service		 Conservative Heath [60]
1970
U-turned over intervention in industry; negotiated Britain's entry to the European Community; Violence due to Northern Ireland's "Troubles" peaked; the Sunningdale Agreement agreed; Three-Day Week; called early election in backfiring attempt to confront striking miners.
Dodwilson.JPG Harold Wilson
(1916–1995)
MP for Huyton		 4 March
1974		 5 April
1976		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service		 Labour Wilson II [61]
Feb.1974†, Oct.1974
†Hung parliament. Ended dispute with miners; Social Contract with trade unions over the economy; Health and Safety at Work Act; Renegotiated terms for EC membership, then 1975 referendum validated entry; North Sea oil; Cod War.
James Callaghan.JPG James Callaghan
(1912–2005)
MP for Cardiff South East		 5 April
1976		 4 May
1979		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service		 Labour Callaghan [62][63]
 —
International Monetary Fund loan to support the pound; the Lib-Lab pact; enacted devolution to Scotland and Wales but referendums stopped them; breakdown of relations with trade unions and Winter of Discontent.
Margaret Thatcher 1983.jpg Margaret Thatcher
(1925– )
MP for Finchley		 4 May
1979		 28 November
1990		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service		 Conservative Thatcher [64][65]
1979, 1983, 1987
First female Prime Minister of the UK. Falklands War; sold council housing to tenants (right to buy); miners' strike 1984–85; privatisation of many previously government-owned industries; decreased the power of trade unions; negotiation of the UK rebate towards the European Community budget; Brighton hotel bombing; Sino-British joint declaration; Anglo-Irish Agreement; Westland Affair; abolition of GLC; Section 28; the "Poll tax"; Lockerbie bombing; the end of the Cold War.
John Major 1996.jpg John Major
(1943– )
MP for Huntingdon		 28 November
1990		 2 May
1997		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service		 Conservative Major [66][67]
1992
Early 1990s recession; Gulf War; ratification of the Maastricht Treaty and the Maastricht Rebels; forced exit from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism ("Black Wednesday"); the Downing Street Declaration (initiating the Northern Ireland peace process); Privatisation of British Rail;The National Lottery; Citizen's Charter; Sunday Shopping; "Back to Basics" campaign; Cones Hotline; Dangerous Dogs Act.
TonyBlairBasra.JPG Tony Blair
(1953– )
MP for Sedgefield		 2 May
1997		 27 June
2007		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service		 Labour Blair [68][69]
1997, 2001, 2005
Hong Kong handover; Death of Diana, Princess of Wales; Independence for the Bank of England; Ecclestone tobacco controversy; Belfast Agreement; Human Rights Act; devolution to Scotland and Wales; House of Lords Reform; Minimum wage introduced; 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia; Fuel protests; creation of Greater London Authority and Mayoralty of London; 2001 foot and mouth crisis; War in Afghanistan; Iraq War; top-up fees introduced for university tuition; Civil Partnership Act; Constitutional Reform Act; 2005 London bombings; Cash for Honours scandal; Identity Cards Act.
GordonBrown1234 cropped .jpg Gordon Brown
(1951– )
MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath		 27 June
2007		 11 May
2010		 First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service		 Labour Brown [70]
 —
London car bombs; Glasgow Airport attack; foot-and-mouth outbreak (2007); national floods of 2007; child benefit data misplaced; Donorgate; Northern Rock nationalisation; Treaty of Lisbon; 42 Days detention; 10p Tax rate; Financial crisis of 2007–2010; Parliamentary expenses scandal; arrest of Damian Green; 2009 flu pandemic; national floods of 2009; Chilcot Inquiry.
David Cameron - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2010.jpg David Cameron
(1966– )
MP for Witney		 11 May
2010		 Incumbent First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service		 Conservative Cameron [71]
2010†
†Hung parliament; leading a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats. U.S. Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill; Bloody Sunday apology; June 2010 "emergency" Budget; leak of Afghanistan War Logs.

See also

Timelines

References

  1. ↑ "Government and Opposition roles". Parliament of the United Kingdom. http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/principal/government_opposition.cfm. Retrieved 25 October 2008. 
  2. ↑ "Prime minister". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). 16 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/82559.stm. Retrieved 25 October 2008. 
  3. ↑ "Glossary — Parliamentary Jargon Explained; Prime Minister". Parliament of the United Kingdom. http://www.parliament.uk/about/glossary.cfm?ref=primemi_9901. Retrieved 25 October 2008. 
  4. ↑ Hennessy (2001), pp. 39–40
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Clarke (1993), p. 266
  6. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 39
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Parties and Prime Ministers". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). 19 May 1998. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/talking_politics/95690.stm. Retrieved 12 October 2008. 
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 "PMs through history". Telegraph.co.uk (London: Telegraph Media Group). 21 September 2007. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1399627/PMs-through-history.html. Retrieved 16 October 2008. 
  9. ↑ "Leaders of the House; Henry Pelham". Office and Ministers. Office of the Leader of the House of Commons. http://www.commonsleader.gov.uk/OutPut/Page751.asp. Retrieved 16 October 2008. 
  10. ↑ Thomas (2002), pp. 66–94
  11. ↑ Thomas (2002), pp. 95–124
  12. ↑ Thomas (2002), pp. 125–147
  13. ↑ Thomas (2002), pp. 148–196
  14. ↑ Thomas (2002), pp. 197–218
  15. ↑ Clarke (1993), pp. 278–279
  16. ↑ Clarke (1993), p. 281
  17. ↑ Priestley (2002), p. 62
  18. ↑ Priestley (2002), p. 65
  19. ↑ Clarke (1993), pp. 293–294
  20. ↑ Black (2006), p. 180
  21. ↑ Anderson (1856), pp. 442–443
  22. ↑ Black (2006), pp. 180–181
  23. ↑ Clarke (1993), p. 294
  24. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 63
  25. ↑ Longford (1998), pp. 156–157
  26. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 187
  27. ↑ Longford (1998), pp. 228–231
  28. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 232
  29. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 246
  30. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 281
  31. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 282
  32. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 346
  33. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 351
  34. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 353
  35. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 357
  36. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 396
  37. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 433
  38. ↑ Hunt, William; Poole, Reginald Lane (1907). The Political History of England. Longmans, Green and co.. p. 505. 
  39. ↑ Longford (1998), p. 484
  40. ↑ Longford (1998), pp. 492–493
  41. ↑ Longford (1998), pp. 518–519
  42. ↑ Longford (1998), pp. 527–528
  43. ↑ Longford (1998), pp. 533–534
  44. ↑ Rose (1983), pp. 196–198
  45. ↑ Rose (1983), p. 265
  46. ↑ Rose (1983), p. 272
  47. ↑ Rose (1983), p. 326
  48. ↑ Rose (1983), p. 337
  49. ↑ Rose (1983), p. 361
  50. ↑ Rose (1983), pp. 373–374
  51. ↑ Rose (1983), p. 398
  52. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 179
  53. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 158
  54. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 147
  55. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 178
  56. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 207
  57. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 248
  58. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 272
  59. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 286
  60. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 331
  61. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 357
  62. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 376
  63. ↑ "Lord Callaghan of Cardiff". The Times (London: Times Newspapers Ltd). 28 March 2005. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article438724.ece. Retrieved 13 October 2008. 
  64. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 397
  65. ↑ Ballantyne, Aileen (5 May 1979). "Crowd's long cold wait for lady of the hour". The Guardian (London: Guardian and Manchester Evening News Ltd). http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/1979/may/05/greatinterviews. Retrieved 13 October 2008. 
  66. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 437
  67. ↑ "'John Major? Who's he?' asks Thatcher". The Independent (Newspaper Publishing PLC). 6 August 1995. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19950806/ai_n13998865. Retrieved 13 October 2008. 
  68. ↑ Hennessy (2001), p. 476
  69. ↑ "The Blair Years: 1997-2007". Telegraph.co.uk (London: Telegraph Media Group). 28 June 2007. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555734/The-Blair-Years-1997-2007.html. Retrieved 13 October 2008. 
  70. ↑ Summers, Deborah; Mulholland , Hélène (27 June 2007). "Brown declared prime minister". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News & Media. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jun/27/politics.labourparty. Retrieved 12 October 2008. 
  71. ↑ "BBC News - David Cameron is UK's new prime minister". news.bbc.co.uk (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8675265.stm. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 

Bibliography

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