List of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom
The list of British Prime Minister includes all persons who clothed this office since 1721.
In the 18th century was often unclear who should be considered as prime minister, the "First Lord of the Treasury" ( First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer ), the " Lord Privy Seal" ( Lord Privy Seal ), the " Secretary of State" (Secretary of State ) or someone else, who acted as the most important ministers in the government.
Lord Carteret, the Secretary of State for the north (in charge of the north of England, Scotland and the Protestant states in Northern Europe ) from 1742 to 1744, and William Pitt the Elder, the secretary of state for the south ( southern England, Wales, Ireland, the American colonies and the Catholic and Muslim states in Europe) from 1756 to 1757 and again from 1757 to 1761, had much of the power of a prime minister, although other Chancellor of the Exchequer were. William Ewart Gladstone was in 1886 and 1892 to 1894 as Lord Privy Seal, the Prime Minister, as Lord Salisbury from 1895 to 1902. First Lord of the Treasury in these terms of office each was Arthur Balfour.
The list follows the general practice to see these people not as Prime Minister. When in 1766 William Pitt, now Earl of Chatham, was asked by the king to put together a government, he preferred the lesser office of Lord Privy Seal against the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Nevertheless, he is, as he was commissioned to form a government by the king, generally regarded as prime minister. Such considerations make the first part of the list is less clear in the question of who was at what time exactly prime minister.
The list of Prime Minister (since 1721)
When Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, 1718 First Lord Treasurer ( First Lord of the Treasury) and the same Lord President of the Council was, he was de facto Prime Minister, even if this name is used only for his successor Sir Robert Walpole for the first time been. In April 1721 the then Earl of Sunderland resigned from all offices. Here begins this listing.
Former Prime Minister
Currently still living three former prime ministers:
- John Major
- Tony Blair
- Gordon Brown
Prime Minister and the reigning Monarch
When Victoria became Queen in June 1837, was William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne for over 2 years, Prime Minister. His successor was appointed in August 1841; up to the death of the Queen in 1901 was followed by 18 other vocations. Overall, ranging in time from 1837 to 1901 twenty of office of British Prime Minister in; However, there were enough of ten men to fill these, because only the 4th Earl of Aberdeen and the 5th Earl of Rosebery was in each case only granted a term. Edward Geoffrey Smith Stanley (Derby ) and Robert Gascoyne - Cecil (Salisbury ) was three times Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, four times. The other four politicians were appointed each twice by the Queen, among them was the famous Disraeli.
Even after the death of Victoria in 1901 the terms of office of the Prime Minister went each about the throne change also:
- In July 1902 Arthur Balfour of King Edward VII, was appointed prime minister. He thus became the successor of his uncle, Robert Gascoyne - Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, the even Queen Victoria had called. Salisbury was the last Prime Minister, who was also a member of the Upper House.
- Herbert Henry Asquith, appointed by King Edward, served until December 1916, more than six years under King George V.
- Stanley Baldwin, appointed by King George in June 1935 remained during the brief episode with King Edward VIII in 1936 in office and also served under George VI. to May 1937.
- Sir Anthony Eden is finally the first prime minister in a long line, who was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II in April 1955, but since Elizabeth British monarch was already over three years.; since October 1951 filled Sir Winston Churchill from his last term of office, appointed by Elizabeth's father.