User:Brent Ward
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18th century Prime Ministers
Prime Ministers during the 18th century were Prime Minister of the
Act of Union 1707 and comprising England and Wales and Scotland). Robert Harley and Sidney Godolphin had formed governments during the reign of Queen Anne
but are not considered to be Prime Ministers.
Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Other ministerial offices held | Notes and key events | |
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Sir Robert Walpole (from 1742 as Earl of Orford) |
4 April 1721
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11 February 1742
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Whig
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First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | 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 .
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The Earl of Wilmington | 16 February 1742
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2 July 1743
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury | Increased tax on spirits; in poor health for much of his time as Prime Minister, the government was led John Carteret .
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Henry Pelham | 27 August 1743
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6 March 1754
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | Reorganisation of the Marriage Act 1753; helped end the War of the Austrian Succession .
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The Duke of Newcastle (1st term) |
16 March 1754
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16 November 1756
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Led Great Britain into the Seven Years' War with France in North America. | ||
The Duke of Devonshire | 16 November 1756
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25 June 1757
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | The government was largely run by William Pitt the Elder. | ||
The Duke of Newcastle (2nd term) |
2 July 1757
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26 May 1762
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Great Britain gained more influence abroad in the Seven Years' War; the war was largely prosecuted by Pitt the Elder as Secretary of State. | ||
The Earl of Bute | 26 May 1762
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16 April 1763
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Ended the dominance of the Whigs and the Seven Years' War. | ||
George Grenville | 16 April 1763
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13 July 1765
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | Lowered domestic tax at the expense of the colonies; introduced the Stamp Act 1765 (which ultimately led to the American Revolution). | ||
The Marquess of Rockingham (1st term) |
File:Charles-Wentworth.jpg | 13 July 1765
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30 July 1766
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Repealed the controversial Stamp Act, inspired by protests from both American colonists and British manufacturers who were hurt by it. | |
The Earl of Chatham, "William Pitt the Elder" | 30 July 1766
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14 October 1768
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Whig | Lord Privy Seal | The first real Imperialist; credited with the birth of the British Empire; indirectly responsible for the French Revolution (due to Great Britain's defeat of France in Canada).
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The Duke of Grafton | 14 October 1768
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28 January 1770
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Attempted to reconcile with the American colonies. | ||
Lord North | 28 January 1770
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22 March 1782
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | Led Great Britain into the vote of no confidence .
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The Marquess of Rockingham (2nd term) |
File:Charles-Wentworth.jpg | 27 March 1782
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1 July 1782
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Acknowledged the independence of the United States; began a process of political reform (however died in office). | |
The Earl of Shelburne | 4 July 1782
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2 April 1783
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Planned political reform; secured peace with the United States, France and Spain. | ||
The Duke of Portland (1st term) |
2 April 1783
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19 December 1783
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Titular head of the George III .
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William Pitt the Younger (1st term) |
19 December 1783
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14 March 1801
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | Act of Union 1800 .
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19th century Prime Ministers
Prime Ministers during the 19th century were Prime Minister of the
Act of Union 1800 (which merged the Kingdom of Ireland with the Kingdom of Great Britain
).
Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Other ministerial offices held | Notes and key events | |
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Henry Addington
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17 March 1801
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10 May 1804
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | Negotiated the Treaty of Amiens with France in 1802. | ||
William Pitt the Younger (2nd term) |
10 May 1804
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23 January 1806
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | Alliance with . | ||
The Lord Grenville
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11 February 1806
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31 March 1807
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Abolition of the slave trade. | ||
The Duke of Portland (2nd term) |
31 March 1807
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4 October 1809
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury | Headed a Tory government; was old and ill, leaving the Cabinet to their own devices (largely headed by Spencer Perceval). | ||
Spencer Perceval | 4 October 1809
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11 May 1812
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster & Leader of the House of Commons | assassinated .
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The Earl of Liverpool | 8 June 1812
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9 April 1827
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Oversaw the United Kingdom's victory in the 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.
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George Canning | 10 April 1827
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8 August 1827
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | Died shortly after taking office. | ||
The Viscount Goderich
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31 August 1827
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21 January 1828
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Lacked support amongst colleagues; resigned. | ||
The Duke of Wellington (1st term) |
22 January 1828
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16 November 1830
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Tory | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Catholic Emancipation Bill (over which he fought a duel ).
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The Earl Grey | 22 November 1830
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9 July 1834
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire .
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The Viscount Melbourne (1st term) |
16 July 1834
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14 November 1834
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | William IV 's opposition forced him to resign.
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The Duke of Wellington (2nd term) |
14 November 1834
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10 December 1834
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Tory | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies & Leader of the House of Lords
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Caretaker government while Sir Robert Peel was located and returned to London. Held many of the major posts himself. | ||
Sir Robert Peel (1st term) |
10 December 1834
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8 April 1835
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons | Unable to form a majority in Parliament so resigned. | ||
The Viscount Melbourne (2nd term) |
18 April 1835
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30 August 1841
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | A Queen Victoria; Municipal Corporations Act 1835 .
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Sir Robert Peel (2nd term) |
30 August 1841
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29 June 1846
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Irish potato famine );
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The Lord John Russell (1st term) (afterwards PM as Earl Russell) |
30 June 1846
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21 February 1852
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Poor Law ; .
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The Earl of Derby (1st term) |
23 February 1852
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17 December 1852
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Government collapsed when his Chancellor's Budget was defeated. | ||
The Earl of Aberdeen | 19 December 1852
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30 January 1855
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Peelite | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Entered the country into the Crimean War; resigned due to the formation of an enquiry into the conduct of the war. First and last Peelite Prime Minister. | ||
The Viscount Palmerston (1st term) |
6 February 1855
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19 February 1858
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Whig | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Responded to the India Bill 1858 .
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The Earl of Derby (2nd term) |
20 February 1858
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11 June 1859
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Jews to become MPs.
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The Viscount Palmerston (2nd term) |
12 June 1859
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18 October 1865
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Liberal | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Between periods in office he founded the Liberal Party; died in office. | ||
The Earl Russell (2nd term) (previously PM as Lord John Russell) |
29 October 1865
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26 June 1866
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Liberal | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Attempted to introduce a further Reform Bill, but was opposed by his Cabinet. | ||
The Earl of Derby (3rd term) |
28 June 1866
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25 February 1868
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords | Reform Act 1867; considered by some to be the father of the modern Conservative Party. | ||
Benjamin Disraeli (1st term) |
27 February 1868
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1 December 1868
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | The UK's first and, Jewish ancestry; dissolved Parliament as the Conservatives did not have a majority.
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William Ewart Gladstone (1st term) |
3 December 1868
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17 February 1874
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Liberal | 17 February 1874
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Introduced reforms to the flogging illegal; Ballot Act 1872; failed to prevent the Franco-Prussian War .
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Benjamin Disraeli (2nd term) (from 1876 as Earl of Beaconsfield) |
20 February 1874
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21 April 1880
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Conservative | 2 April 1878
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Various reforms including the Zulu War .
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William Ewart Gladstone (2nd term) |
23 April 1880
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9 June 1885
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Liberal | 16 December 1882
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Irish Coercion Act; Redistribution of Seats Act 1885; Reform Act, 1884; failure to rescue General Gordon in Khartoum, Sudan .
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The Marquess of Salisbury (1st term) |
23 June 1885
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28 January 1886
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Conservative | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs & Leader of the House of Lords
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Legislation providing for housing the working class. | ||
William Ewart Gladstone (3rd term) |
1 February 1886
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20 July 1886
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Liberal | First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Privy Seal & Leader of the House of Commons | First introduction of the Home Rule Bill for Ireland , which split the Liberal Party, resulting in the end of Gladstone's government.
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The Marquess of Salisbury (2nd term) |
25 July 1886
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11 August 1892
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Conservative | 11 August 1892
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Opposed ). | ||
William Ewart Gladstone (4th term) |
15 August 1892
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2 March 1894
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Liberal | First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Privy Seal & Leader of the House of Commons | 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.
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The Earl of Rosebery | 5 March 1894
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22 June 1895
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Liberal | First Lord of the Treasury, Lord President of the Council & Leader of the House of Lords | Imperialist; plans for expanding the Royal Navy caused disagreement within the Liberal Party; resigned following a vote of censure over military supplies. | ||
The Marquess of Salisbury (3rd term) |
25 June 1895
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11 July 1902
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Conservative | 11 July 1902
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Workmen's Compensation Act 1897; Second Boer War; Anglo-Japanese Alliance. |
20th century Prime Ministers
There was no change in the
Anglo-Irish War, 26 counties in Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom, forming the Irish Free State. The other six counties, in the northeast of Ireland, remained in the Union, becoming Northern Ireland. The official name of the United Kingdom
became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1927.
Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Other ministerial offices held | Notes and key events | |
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Arthur Balfour | 11 July 1902
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5 December 1905
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Had poor relations with Edward VII; his cabinet was split over free trade; establishment of the Committee of Imperial Defence; Entente Cordiale .
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Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman | 5 December 1905
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7 April 1908
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Liberal | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Restored autonomy to Anglo-Russian Entente ; first Prime Minister to be referred to as such in Parliamentary legislation.
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H. H. Asquith | 7 April 1908
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7 December 1916
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Liberal | Home Rule Act 1914; World War I; Easter Rising .
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David Lloyd George | 7 December 1916
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19 October 1922
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Liberal | First Lord of the Treasury | End of World War I; mother tongue was not English (it was Welsh ).
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Andrew Bonar Law
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23 October 1922
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20 May 1923
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Resigned due to ill health; died six months after leaving office. | ||
Stanley Baldwin (1st term) |
23 May 1923
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16 January 1924
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Conservative | 27 August 1923
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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 (1st term) |
22 January 1924
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4 November 1924
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Labour | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
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First Labour prime minister; did not have a majority so could not introduce radical legislation; settled reparations with Germany following World War I. | ||
Stanley Baldwin (2nd term) |
4 November 1924
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5 June 1929
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | UK General Strike of 1926 .
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Ramsay MacDonald (2nd term) |
5 June 1929
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24 August 1931
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Labour | First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Appointed the first female minister, Margaret Bondfield; economic crises following the Wall Street Crash of 1929. | ||
Ramsay MacDonald (3rd term) |
24 August 1931
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7 June 1935
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National Government )
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First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | 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 (3rd term) |
7 June 1935
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28 May 1937
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Conservative ( National Government )
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First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Managed the abdication crisis of Edward VIII; started rearmament but later criticised for failing to rearm more when Adolf Hitler broke Germany's Treaty of Versailles obligations.
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Neville Chamberlain | 28 May 1937
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10 May 1940
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Conservative ( National Government )
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First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons | Attempted to prevent Coalition Government .
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Winston Churchill (1st term) |
10 May 1940
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23 May 1945
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Conservative (Coalition) | UK .
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Winston Churchill (2nd term) |
23 May 1945
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27 July 1945
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Conservative ( Caretaker )
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Minister of Defence
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Following the ending of his all-party coalition, Churchill formed a "caretaker" government out of Conservatives, 1945 general election .
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Clement Attlee | 27 July 1945
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26 October 1951
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Labour | 27 July 1945 - December 1946
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Initiated the . | ||
Winston Churchill (3rd term) |
26 October 1951
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7 April 1955
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Conservative | Domestic policy interrupted by foreign disputes ( Mau Mau Uprising, Malayan Emergency ).
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Sir Anthony Eden | 7 April 1955
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10 January 1957
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury | Failed to prevent the Egyptian nationalisation of the Suez Canal; invaded Egypt leading to the Suez Crisis. | ||
Harold Macmillan | 10 January 1957
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19 October 1963
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury | The UK applied to join the Profumo Affair .
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Sir Alec Douglas-Home | 19 October 1963
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16 October 1964
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury | Was the 23 October 1963 in order to stand for the House of Commons.
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Harold Wilson (1st term) |
16 October 1964
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19 June 1970
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Labour | First Lord of the Treasury | Social reforms, including legalisation of abortion and decriminalisation of homosexuality; pound; foundation of the Open University; dispute over In Place of Strife trade union reforms.
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Edward Heath | File:Tedheath.jpg | 19 June 1970
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4 March 1974
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury | 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 .
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Harold Wilson (2nd term) |
4 March 1974
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5 April 1976
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Labour | First Lord of the Treasury | Ended dispute with miners; 1975 referendum validated entry; North Sea oil .
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James Callaghan | 5 April 1976
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4 May 1979
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Labour | First Lord of the Treasury & Minister for the Civil Service | referenda stopped them; relations with trade unions broke down in the Winter of Discontent .
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Margaret Thatcher | 4 May 1979
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28 November 1990
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Minister for the Civil Service | First female Prime Minister of the UK; miners' strike 1984-5; privatisation of many previously government-owned industries; decreased the power of trade unions; Anglo-Irish Agreement; Section 28; abolition of GLC; negotiation of the UK rebate towards the European Community budget; fall of the Berlin Wall; the "Poll tax ".
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John Major | 28 November 1990
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2 May 1997
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Conservative | First Lord of the Treasury & Minister for the Civil Service | Global recession; Dangerous Dogs Act .
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Tony Blair | 2 May 1997
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27 June 2007
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Labour | First Lord of the Treasury & Minister for the Civil Service | Independence for the Cash for Peerages
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21st century Prime Ministers
Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Other ministerial offices held | Notes and key events | |
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Gordon Brown | 27 June 2007
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Incumbent | Labour | First Lord of the Treasury & Minister for the Civil Service |