Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party 

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

Sir RobertWalpole

4 April 

15 May 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Whig

Walpole/Townshend

(1676-1745) 

1721

1730

Chancellor of the Exchequer

MP for King's Lynn until 1742 

15 May 

11 February 

& Leader of the House of Commons

Walpole

Earl of Orford from 1742

1730

1742

1722, 1727, 1734, 1741

Regarded as the first Prime Minister in the modern sense; the crash of the South Sea Bubble in 1720; the Licensing Act 1737; resigned after a failing performance in dealing with the War of Jenkins' Ear, which began in 1739, and accusations of corruption in 1742.

Spencer Compton, 

16 February 

2 July 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Carteret

1st Earl ofWilmington

1742

1743†

(1673-1743)

-

Titular head of the Carteret Ministry; Increased tax on spirits; in poor health for much of his time as Prime Minister. †Died in office.

Henry Pelham

27 August 

6 March 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Whig

Carteret; 

(1694-1754) 

1743

1754†

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Broad Bottom

MP for Sussex

1747

& Leader of the House of Commons

Etered and saw to completion British involvement in the War of the Austrian Succession from 1744 to 1748; Jacobite Rising from 1745-1746; First Carnatic War (1746-1748); Reorganisation of the Royal Navy in the Consolidation Act 1749; Second Carnatic War (1749-1754); adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752; Jewish Naturalization Act 1753;Marriage Act 1753. †Died in office.

Thomas Pelham-Holles, 

16 March 

16-Nov

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Newcastle I

1st Duke ofNewcastle

1754

1756

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1693-1768)

1754

Took over government from after his brother died in office; Controversially attempted to reduce interest on National Debt; Led Britain into the French and Indian War in 1754, absorbed, after the Fall of Minorca into the Seven Years War; replaced due to poor performance in the war.

William Cavendish, 

16-Nov

25 June 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Devonshire/Pitt; 

4th Duke ofDevonshire

1756

1757

& Leader of the House of Lords

1757 Caretaker

(1720-1764)

-

Replaced Newcastle; The court-martial and execution of Admiral Byng; The government was largely run by William Pitt the Elder until dismissed for his opposition to the course of the continental war and the execution of Byng; Resigned at will of the King and due to public outrage at the execution of Byng.

Thomas Pelham-Holles, 

2 July 

26 May 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Newcastle II

1st Duke ofNewcastle

1757

1762

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1693-1768)

1761

Focused on the Seven Years War, prosecuted largely by Pitt the Elder as Secretary of State; Executed a strategy of continental war combined with expeditions against French colonies; Annus Mirabilis of 1759- Captured Senegal, Gambia, Louisbourg, Quebec, defended Madras and prevented a French invasion of Britain with naval victories at Lagosand Quiberon; George III's personal opposition led to a change of ministry.

Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

John Stuart, 

26 May 

8 April 

First Lord of the Treasury

Tory

Bute

3rd Earl of Bute

1762

1763

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1713-1792)

-

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

16 April 

13 July 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Whig (Grenvillite)

Grenville

(1712-1770) 

1763

1765

Chancellor of the Exchequer

MP for Buckingham

-

& Leader of the House of Commons

Briefly lowered domestic tax at the expense of the colonies, though this was rapidly repealed; introduced the unenforceable Stamp Act 1765 (which is popularly cited as one of the causes of the American Revolution). His repealing of the taxes he rolled out were for all except that on tea, which was used as a reason for the Boston Tea Party.

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 

13 July 

30 July 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig (Rockingham)

Rockingham I

2nd Marquess ofRockingham

1765

1766

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1730-1782)

-

Repealed the controversial Stamp Act 1765, inspired by protests from both American colonists and British manufacturers who were affected by it and its difficulty to enforce; introduced the Declaratory Act 1766.

William Pitt the Elder, 

30 July 

14 October 

Lord Privy Seal

Whig (Chathamite)

Chatham

1st Earl ofChatham

1766

1768

(1708-1778)

-

The first real Imperialist; credited with the birth of the British Empire; defeated France in Canada, thereby indirectly precipitating the French Revolution.

Augustus FitzRoy, 

14 October 

28 January 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig (Chathamite)

Grafton

3rd Duke ofGrafton

1768

1770

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1735-1811)

1768

Attempted to reconcile with the American colonies.

Frederick North, 

28 January 

22 March 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Tory

North

Lord North

1770

1782

Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1732-1792) 

1774, 1780

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Banbury

Led Great Britain into the American Revolution; the Gordon Riots; attempted reform in Ireland; resigned after a vote of no confidence against the will of the King.

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 

27 March 

1 July 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig (Rockingham)

Rockingham II

2nd Marquess ofRockingham

1782

1782†

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1730-1782)

-

Acknowledged the independence of the United States; began a process of economic reform. †Died in office.

William Petty-FitzMaurice, 

4 July 

2 April 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig (Chathamite)

Shelburne

2nd Earl ofShelburne

1782

1783

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1737-1805)

-

Planned political reform; secured peace with the United States, France and Spain.

William Cavendish-Bentinck, 

2 April 

19-Dec

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Fox-North Coalition

3rd Duke ofPortland

1783

1783

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1738-1809)

-

Titular head of the Fox-North Coalition. Attempted to reform the British East India Company, but was blocked by George III.

William Pitt the Younger

19-Dec

14 March 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Tory (Pittite)

Pitt the Younger I

(1759-1806) 

1783

1801

Chancellor of the Exchequer

MP for Appleby until 1784 

1784, 1790, 1796

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Cambridge University from 1784

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; the Macartney Embassy (1792-1794), first of its kind to China; war with France starting in 1793; Cape Colony (South Africa) taken 1795; introduced the first income tax; Act of Union 1800.

Henry Addington

17 March 

10 May 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Tory (Pittite)

Addington

(1757-1844) 

1801

1804

Chancellor of the Exchequer

MP for Devizes

1801 co-option, 1802

& Leader of the House of Commons

Negotiated the Treaty of Amiens with France in 1802.

William Pitt the Younger

10 May 

23 January 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Tory (Pittite)

Pitt the Younger II

(1759-1806) 

1804

1806†

Chancellor of the Exchequer

MP for Cambridge University

-

& Leader of the House of Commons

Alliance with Russia, Austria and Sweden against France (Third Coalition); Battle of Trafalgar; Battle of Ulm; Battle of Austerlitz. †Died in office.

William Wyndham Grenville, 

11 February 

31 March 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Ministry of All the Talents

1st Lord Grenville

1806

1807

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1759-1834)

1806

Abolition of the slave trade.

William Cavendish-Bentinck, 

31 March 

04-Oct

First Lord of the Treasury

nominallyTory

Portland II

3rd Duke ofPortland

1807

1809

(1738-1809)

1807

He headed a Tory government; was old and ill, leaving the Cabinet to their own devices (largely headed by Spencer Perceval).

Spencer Perceval

04-Oct

11 May 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Tory

Perceval

(1762-1812) 

1809

1812†

Chancellor of the Exchequer, 

MP for Northampton

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

-

& Leader of the House of Commons

Descent of George III into madness and the outset of the Regency era; 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.

Robert Banks Jenkinson, 

8 June 

9 April 

First Lord of the Treasury

Tory

Liverpool

2nd Earl ofLiverpool

1812

1827

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1770-1828)

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; victory over the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1819; the Cato Street Conspiracy to assassinate Liverpool in 1820.

Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party 

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

George Canning

10 April 

8 August 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Tory (Canningite)

Canning

(1770-1827) 

1827

1827†

Chancellor of the Exchequer

(Canningite-Whig)

MP for Seaford

-

& Leader of the House of Commons

†Died shortly after taking office.

Frederick John Robinson, 

31 August 

21-Jan

First Lord of the Treasury

Tory (Canningite)

Goderich

1st ViscountGoderich

1827

1828

& Leader of the House of Lords

(Canningite-Whig)

(1782-1859)

-

Lacked support amongst colleagues; resigned.

Arthur Wellesley, 

22 January 

16-Nov

First Lord of the Treasury

Tory

Wellington

1st Duke ofWellington

1828

1830

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1769-1852)

1830

First Irish Prime Minister; Catholic Emancipation Bill (over which he fought a duel).

Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party 

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

Charles Grey, 

22-Nov

9 July 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Grey

2nd Earl Grey

1830

1834

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1764-1845)

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.

William Lamb, 

16 July 

14-Nov

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Melbourne I

2nd ViscountMelbourne

1834

1834

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1779-1848)

-

William IV's opposition forced him to resign.

Arthur Wellesley, 

14-Nov

10-Dec

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Tory

Wellington Caretaker

1st Duke ofWellington

1834

1834

Secretary of State for the Home Department, 

(1769-1852)

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 

Secretary of State for War and the Colonies

-

& Leader of the House of Lords

Caretaker government while Sir Robert Peel was located and returned to London. Held many of the major posts himself.

Sir Robert Peel

10-Dec

8 April 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Conservative

Peel I

(1788-1850) 

1834

1835

Chancellor of the Exchequer

MP for Tamworth

1835§

& Leader of the House of Commons

§Minority government. Unable to form a majority in Parliament so resigned.

William Lamb, 

18 April 

30 August 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Melbourne II; 

2nd ViscountMelbourne

1835

1841

& Leader of the House of Lords

Melbourne III

(1779-1848)

1835, 1837

A father figure to Queen Victoria; Municipal Corporations Act 1835; Bedchamber Crisis; Treaty of Waitangi.

Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party 

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

Sir Robert Peel

30-Aug

29 June 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Peel II

(1788-1850) 

1841

1846

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Tamworth

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

30 June 

21 February 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Russell I

(1792-1878) 

1846

1852

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for City of London

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; the John Russell Ministry was ended by a vote of "no confidence" on a militia bill.

Edward Smith-Stanley, 

23 February 

17-Dec

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Derby I

14th Earl ofDerby

1852

1852

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1799-1869)

1852

Government collapsed when his Chancellor's Budget was defeated.

George Hamilton-Gordon, 

19-Dec

30 January 

First Lord of the Treasury

Peelite

Aberdeen

4th Earl ofAberdeen

1852

1855

& Leader of the House of Lords

(Peelite-Whig)

(1784-1860)

-

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, 

6 February 

19 February 

First Lord of the Treasury

Whig

Palmerston I

3rd ViscountPalmerston

1855

1858

& Leader of the House of Commons

(1784-1865) 

1857

MP for Tiverton

Responded to the Indian mutiny of 1857; introduced the India Bill.

Edward Smith-Stanley, 

20 February 

11 June 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Derby II

14th Earl ofDerby

1858

1859

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1799-1869)

-

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, 

12 June 

18 October 

First Lord of the Treasury

Liberal

Palmerston II

3rd ViscountPalmerston

1859

1865†

& Leader of the House of Commons

(1784-1865) 

1859, 1865

MP for Tiverton

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.

John Russell, 

29 October 

26 June 

First Lord of the Treasury

Liberal

Russell II

1st Earl Russell

1865

1866

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1792-1878)

-

Attempted to introduce a further Reform Bill, but was opposed by his Cabinet.

Edward Smith-Stanley, 

28 June 

25 February 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Derby III

14th Earl ofDerby

1866

1868

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1799-1869)

-

Reform Act 1867; considered by some to be the father of the modern Conservative Party.

Benjamin Disraeli

27 February 

01-Dec

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Disraeli I

(1804-1881) 

1868

1868

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Buckinghamshire

-

Only ethnically Jewish Prime Minister; dissolved Parliament as the Conservatives did not have a majority.

William EwartGladstone

03-Dec

17 February 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Liberal

Gladstone I

(1809-1898) 

1868

1874

Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Greenwich

1868

& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1873-74)

Introduced reforms to the British Army, Civil Service and local government; made peacetime flogging illegal; Irish Church 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.

Benjamin Disraeli

20 February 

21 April 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Conservative

Disraeli II

(1804-1881) 

1874

1880

Leader of the House of Commons (1874-76), 

MP for Buckinghamshire until 1876 

Lord Privy Seal (1876-78) 

Earl of Beaconsfield from 1876

1874

& Leader of the House of Lords (1876-80)

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 theSuez 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 theLeague of the Three Emperors; the Zulu War; start of Long Depression.

William EwartGladstone

23 April 

9 June 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Liberal

Gladstone II

(1809-1898) 

1880

1885

Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Midlothian

1880

& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1880-82)

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, 

23 June 

28 January 

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Conservative

Salisbury I

3rd Marquess ofSalisbury

1885

1886

& Leader of the House of Lords

(1830-1903)

1885§

§Minority government. Legislation providing for housing the working class.

William EwartGladstone

1 February 

20 July 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Liberal

Gladstone III

(1809-1898) 

1886

1886

Lord Privy Seal

MP for Midlothian

1885

& 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.

Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 

25 July 

11-Aug

Leader of the House of Lords, 

Conservative

Salisbury II

3rd Marquess ofSalisbury

1886

1892

First Lord of the Treasury (1886-87) 

(1830-1903)

1886

& Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1887-92)

Opposed Irish home rule; repeal of final Contagious Diseases Act; Local Government Act 1888; Partition of Africa; Prevention of Cruelty to, and Protection of, Children Act 1889; Free Education Act 1891; creation of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe); New Unionism and London Dock Strike of 1889.

William EwartGladstone

15-Aug

2 March 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Liberal

Gladstone IV

(1809-1898) 

1892

1894

Lord Privy Seal

MP for Midlothian

1892§

& Leader of the House of Commons

§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, 

5 March 

22 June 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Liberal

Rosebery

5th Earl ofRosebery

1894

1895

Lord President of the Council

(1847-1929)

-

& 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.

Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 

25 June 

11 July 

Leader of the House of Lords, 

Conservative

Salisbury III

3rd Marquess ofSalisbury

1895

1902

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1895-1900) 

(Cons.-Lib.U.)

(1830-1903)

1895, 1900

& Lord Privy Seal (1900-02)

Workmen's Compensation Act 1897; Anglo-Zanzibar War; Second Boer War and Khaki election; Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Last Prime Minister to serve entirely from the House of Lords

Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party 

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

Arthur Balfour

11 July 

05-Dec

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Balfour

(1848-1930) 

1902

1905

& Leader of the House of Commons

(Cons.-Lib.U.)

MP for Manchester East

-

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.

Sir HenryCampbell-Bannerman

05-Dec

7 April 

First Lord of the Treasury

Liberal

Campbell-Bannerman

(1836-1908) 

1905

1908

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Stirling Burghs

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 HenryAsquith

7 April 

25 May 

First Lord of the Treasury,

Liberal

Asquith I

(1852-1928) 

1908

1915

Leader of the House of Commons

MP for East Fife

25 May 

07-Dec

& Secretary of State for War (1914)

Asquith II

1915

1916

(Lib.-Cons.-Lab.)

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; Easter Rising.

Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party 

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

David Lloyd George

07-Dec

19 October 

First Lord of the Treasury

Liberal

Lloyd George

(1863-1945) 

1916

1922

(Lib.-Cons.-Lab.)

MP for Caernarvon Boroughs

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; Chanak Crisis.

Andrew BonarLaw

23 October 

20 May 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Bonar Law

(1858-1923) 

1922

1923

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Glasgow Central

1922

Canadian-born: only Prime Minister born outside the British Isles. Became Prime Minister following Conservative backbenchers' decision at the Carlton Club meeting to withdraw from the Lloyd George Coalition. Resigned due to ill health; died six months after leaving office.

Stanley Baldwin

23 May 

16-Jan

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Conservative

Baldwin I

(1867-1947) 

1923

1924

Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Bewdley

-

& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1923)

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

22-Jan

04-Nov

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Labour

MacDonald I

(1866-1937) 

1924

1924

Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Aberavon

1923§

& Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

§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

04-Nov

5 June 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Baldwin II

(1867-1947) 

1924

1929

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Bewdley

1924

Treaty of Locarno; signatory of the Kellogg-Briand Pact; Pensions Act; enfranchisement of women over 21; UK General Strike of 1926.

Ramsay MacDonald

5 June 

24 August 

First Lord of the Treasury

Labour

MacDonald II

(1866-1937) 

1929

1931

& Leader of the House of Commons

MP for Seaham

1929§

§Hung Parliament. Appointed the first female minister, Margaret Bondfield; economic crises following the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

24 August 

7 June 

First Lord of the Treasury

National Labour

1st National; 

1931

1935

& Leader of the House of Commons

2nd National

(Lab.Nat.-Cons.-Lib.Nat.

1931

-Lib. until 1932)

The Labour Government split on measures to resolve a budget crisis; MacDonald resigned, but was reappointed at the head of a National Government with the support of the Conservative and Liberal parties. He was subsequently expelled from the Labour Party; the National Government fought and won the election on the basis of a 'Doctor's Mandate'.Ottawa Conference supports protectionism, after which the free trade Ministers (Liberal and Viscount Snowden) resign.

Stanley Baldwin

7 June 

28 May 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

3rd National

(1867-1947) 

1935

1937

& Leader of the House of Commons

(Cons.-Lab.Nat.-Lib.Nat.)

MP for Bewdley

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.

Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party 

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

NevilleChamberlain

28 May 

03-Sep

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

4th National

(1869-1940) 

1937

1939

& Leader of the House of Commons

(Cons.-Lab.Nat.-Lib.Nat.)

MP for Birmingham Edgbaston

03-Sep

10 May 

Chamberlain War

1939

1940

(Cons.-Lab.Nat.-Lib.Nat.)

-

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.

Winston Churchill

10 May 

23 May 

First Lord of the Treasury, 

Conservative

Churchill War

(1874-1965) 

1940

1945

Minister of Defence

(All parties)

MP for Epping

23 May 

26 July 

& Leader of the House of Commons (1940-42)

Churchill Caretaker

1945

1945

(Cons.-Lib.Nat.)

-

World War II; led a Coalition Government; foundation of the United Nations; proposed what would eventually lead to the European Union; Beveridge Report. 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.

Clement Attlee

26 July 

26-Oct

First Lord of the Treasury

Labour

Attlee

(1883-1967) 

1945

1951

& Minister of Defence (1945-46)

MP for Limehouse until 1950 

1945, 1950

MP for Walthamstow West from 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.

Sir WinstonChurchill

26-Oct

7 April 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Churchill III

(1874-1965) 

1951

1955

& Minister of Defence (1951-52)

MP for Woodford

1951

Domestic policy interrupted by foreign disputes (Korean War, Operation Ajax, Mau Mau Uprising, Malayan Emergency).

Name 

Term of office 

Other ministerial offices 

Political party 

Government

(Birth-Death) 

- 

held while Prime Minister

of PM

Constituency/Title

Electoral mandates

Sir Anthony Eden

7 April 

10 January 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Eden

(1897-1977) 

1955

1957

MP for Warwick and Leamington

1955

Egyptian nationalisation of the Suez Canal; which sparked the Suez Crisis. Resigned due to ill health.

HaroldMacmillan

10 January 

19-Oct

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Macmillan

(1894-1986) 

1957

1963

MP for Bromley

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.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

19-Oct

16-Oct

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Douglas-Home

(1903-1995) 

1963

1964

14th Earl of Home until 1963 

-

MP for Kinross and Western Perthshire from 1963

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.

Harold Wilson

16-Oct

19 June 

First Lord of the Treasury

Labour

Wilson I

(1916-1995) 

1964

1970

& Minister for the Civil Service (1968-70)

MP for Huyton

1964, 1966

Social reforms, including legalisation of abortion, abolition of capital punishment 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; disputes with trade unions over In Place of Strife and prices and incomes policy.

Edward Heath

19 June 

4 March 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Heath

(1916-2005) 

1970

1974

& Minister for the Civil Service

MP for Bexley

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; Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; called early election in backfiring attempt to confront striking miners.

Harold Wilson

4 March 

5 April 

First Lord of the Treasury

Labour

Wilson II

(1916-1995) 

1974

1976

& Minister for the Civil Service

MP for Huyton

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

5 April 

4 May 

First Lord of the Treasury

Labour

Callaghan

(1912-2005) 

1976

1979

& Minister for the Civil Service

MP for Cardiff South East

-

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.

MargaretThatcher

4 May 

28 November 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Thatcher

(1925- ) 

1979

1990

& Minister for the Civil Service

(I, II, III)

MP for Finchley

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" and Poll Tax Riots; Lockerbie bombing; the end of the Cold War.

Sir John Major

28 November 

2 May 

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Major

(1943- ) 

1990

1997

& Minister for the Civil Service

MP for Huntingdon

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"); theDowning 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.

Tony Blair

2 May 

27 June 

First Lord of the Treasury

Labour

Blair

(1953- ) 

1997

2007

& Minister for the Civil Service

MP for Sedgefield

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 toScotland 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; All forms of Magic Mushroom Class A; All forms of Cannabis moved from Class B to C; Constitutional Reform Act; 2005 London bombings; Cash for Honours scandal; Identity Cards Act; introduced student fees.

Gordon Brown

27 June 

11 May 

First Lord of the Treasury

Labour

Brown

(1951- ) 

2007

2010

& Minister for the Civil Service

MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

-

London car bombs prevented from detonating; Glasgow Airport attack; child benefit data misplaced; Donorgate; Northern Rock and other banks nationalised; Treaty of Lisbon ratified;10p Tax rate abolished; Financial crisis of 2007-2010; Cannabis moved back to Class B; Mephedrone, Naphyrone and other Cathinones placed in Class B after pressure from The Sun;Professor David Nutt sacked from the ACMD for actions surrounding lecture on 'Equasy'; Parliamentary expenses scandal; Release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi; arrest of Damian Green;Chilcot Inquiry established.

David Cameron

11 May 

Incumbent

First Lord of the Treasury

Conservative

Cameron

(1966-) 

2010

& Minister for the Civil Service

(Cons-Lib.Dem.)

MP for Witney

2010

Hung parliament; leading a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats. Bloody Sunday apology; Spending and Strategic Defence reviews (budget cuts to public services with ensuing anti-austerity protests and strikes); 2010 student protests; Arab Spring; Military intervention in Libya (Operation Ellamy); Alternative Vote (AV) referendum; News International phone hacking scandal; Welfare Reform Act, Health and Social Care Act; 2011 riots; European Fiscal Union veto; Cash for access scandal; London 2012 Summer Olympics; Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal.