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List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom

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File:HaroldSaxonakathemaster.jpg
Gordon Brown was appointed Prime Minister in May 2008

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 selecting 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 appointments to senior positions in the Church of England, appoint 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 the country for 21 years from 1721 to 1742.[5][6] As of 2009, Walpole is the longest serving Prime Minister of the country.[7] The office is currently held by Harold Saxon, the Leader of the Saxon Party.[8]

Colour key
(for political parties)

  Whig
  Tory
  Conservative
  Peelite/Whig
  Liberal
  Labour
  National Labour

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

  Portrait Name Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Sir Robert Walpole 4 April 1721
11 Feb. 1742 		1722, 1727, 1734, 1741 Whig
(Walpole/Townshend 1721–30;
Walpole Ministry 1730–42) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[9][7]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Spencer Compton
The Earl of Wilmington 		16 Feb. 1742
2 July 1743 		 — Whig
(Carteret Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury [10]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Henry Pelham 27 Aug. 1743
6 March 1754 		1747 Whig
(Carteret Ministry 1743–44;
Broad Bottom Ministry 1744–46;
Second Pelham Ministry 1746–54) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[11]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Thomas Pelham-Holles
The Duke of Newcastle
(1st ministry) 		16 March 1754
16 Nov. 1756 		1754 Whig
(First Newcastle Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
Led Great Britain into the Seven Years' War with France in North America.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | William Cavendish
The Duke of Devonshire 		16 Nov. 1756
25 June 1757 		 — Whig
(1757 Caretaker Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
The government was largely run by William Pitt the Elder.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Thomas Pelham-Holles
The Duke of Newcastle
(2nd ministry) 		2 July 1757
26 May 1762 		1761 Whig
(Second Newcastle Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
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 Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | John Stuart
The Earl of Bute 		26 May 1762
8 April 1763 		 — Tory
(Bute Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[12]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | George Grenville 16 April 1763
13 July 1765 		 — Whig (Grenvillite)
(Grenville Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[13]
Lowered domestic tax at the expense of the colonies; introduced the Stamp Act 1765 (which ultimately led to the American Revolution).
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Charles Watson-Wentworth
The Marquess of Rockingham
(1st ministry) 		13 July 1765
30 July 1766 		 — Whig (Rockinghamite)
(First Rockingham Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[14]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | William Pitt the Elder
The Earl of Chatham 		30 July 1766
14 Oct. 1768 		 — Whig (Chathamite) Lord Privy Seal [15]
The first real Imperialist; credited with the birth of the British Empire; defeated France in Canada, thereby indirectly precipitating the French Revolution.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Augustus FitzRoy
The Duke of Grafton 		14 Oct. 1768
28 Jan. 1770 		1768 Whig (Chathamite) First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[16]
Attempted to reconcile with the American colonies.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | Frederick North
Lord North 		28 Jan. 1770
22 March 1782 		1774, 1780 Tory
(North Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[17]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Charles Watson-Wentworth
The Marquess of Rockingham
(2nd ministry) 		27 March 1782
1 July 1782 		 — Whig (Rockinghamite)
(Second Rockingham Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
Acknowledged the independence of the United States; began a process of economic reform. Died in office.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | William Petty
The Earl of Shelburne 		4 July 1782
2 April 1783 		Whig (Rockinghamite)
(Shelburne Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
Planned political reform; secured peace with the United States, France and Spain.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | William Cavendish-Bentinck
The Duke of Portland
(1st ministry) 		2 April 1783
19 Dec. 1783 		 — Whig
(Fox-North Coalition) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
Titular head of the Fox-North Coalition. Attempted to reform the British East India Company, but was blocked by George III.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | William Pitt the Younger
(1st ministry) 		19 Dec. 1783
14 March 1801 		1784, 1790, 1796 Pittite (Tory)
 First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[18]
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; introduced the first income tax; Act of Union 1800.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | Henry Addington 17 March 1801
10 May 1804 		1801 co-option, 1802 Pittite (Tory)
(Addington Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[10]
Negotiated the Treaty of Amiens with France in 1802.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | William Pitt the Younger
(2nd ministry) 		10 May 1804
23 Jan. 1806 		 — Pittite (Tory)
(Second Pitt the Younger Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[10]
Alliance with Russia, Austria and Sweden against France (Third Coalition); Battle of Trafalgar; Battle of Ulm; Battle of Austerlitz. Died in office.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | William Wyndham Grenville
The Lord Grenville 		11 Feb. 1806
31 March 1807 		1806 Whig
(Ministry of All the Talents) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
Abolition of the slave trade.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | William Cavendish-Bentinck
The Duke of Portland
(2nd ministry) 		31 March 1807
4 Oct. 1809 		1807 Tory First Lord of the Treasury [10]
He headed a Tory government; was old and ill, leaving the Cabinet to their own devices (largely headed by Spencer Perceval).
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | Spencer Perceval 4 Oct. 1809
11 May 1812 		 — Tory First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[19]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | Robert Banks Jenkinson
Lord Liverpool 		8 June 1812
9 April 1827 		1812, 1818, 1820, 1826 Tory
(Liverpool Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[20]
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 Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | George Canning 10 April 1827
8 Aug 1827 		 — Tory (Canningite)
(Canning Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[10]
Died shortly after taking office.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | Frederick John Robinson
The Viscount Goderich 		31 Aug. 1827
21 Jan. 1828 		 — Tory (Canningite)
(Goderich Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
Lacked support amongst colleagues; resigned.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | Arthur Wellesley
The Duke of Wellington
(1st ministry) 		22 Jan. 1828
16 Nov. 1830 		1830 Tory
(First Wellington Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[10]
Catholic Emancipation Bill (over which he fought a duel).

Prime Ministers under William IV (1830–1837)

  Portrait Name Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Charles Grey
The Earl Grey 		22 Nov. 1830
9 July 1834 		1831, 1832 Whig
(Grey Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[21]
Reform Act 1832; quelled Swing Riots; restriction of employment of children; reform of the Poor Laws; abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | William Lamb
The Viscount Melbourne
(1st ministry) 		16 July 1834
14 Nov. 1834 		 — Whig
(First Melbourne Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[22]
William IV's opposition forced him to resign.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Tory Party/meta/color" | Arthur Wellesley
The Duke of Wellington
(2nd ministry) 		14 Nov. 1834
10 Dec. 1834 		 — Tory
(Conservative Provisional Government) 		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 		[23]
Caretaker government while Sir Robert Peel was located and returned to London. Held many of the major posts himself.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Sir Robert Peel
(1st ministry) 		10 Dec. 1834
8 April 1835 		1835† Conservative
(First Peel Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Chancellor of the Exchequer
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[24][25]
†Minority government. Unable to form a majority in Parliament so resigned.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | William Lamb
The Viscount Melbourne
(2nd ministry) 		18 April 1835
30 Aug. 1841 		1835, 1837 Whig
(Second Melbourne Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[26]
A father figure to Queen Victoria; Municipal Corporations Act 1835; Bedchamber Crisis; Treaty of Waitangi.

Prime Ministers under Victoria (1837–1901)

  Portrait Name Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Sir Robert Peel
(2nd ministry) 		30 Aug. 1841
29 June 1846 		1841 Conservative
(Second Peel Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[27]
Mines Act 1842; reintroduction of income tax; Factory Act 1844; Railway Act 1844; repeal of the Corn Laws (triggered by the Great Irish Potato Famine) and other tariffs; Maynooth Grant.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Lord John Russell
(1st ministry) 		30 June 1846
21 Feb. 1852 		1847† Whig
(First Russell Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[28]
†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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Edward Smith-Stanley
The Earl of Derby
(1st ministry) 		23 Feb. 1852
17 Dec. 1852 		1852 Conservative
(First Derby Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[29]
Government collapsed when his Chancellor's Budget was defeated.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Peelite/meta/color" | George Hamilton-Gordon
The Earl of Aberdeen 		19 Dec. 1852
30 Jan. 1855 		 — Peelite
(Coalition Government) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[30]
Only Peelite Prime Minister. Led the country into the Crimean War; resigned after defeat in the vote for an inquiry into the conduct of the war.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:British Whig Party/meta/color" | Henry John Temple
The Viscount Palmerston
(1st ministry) 		6 Feb. 1855
19 Feb. 1858 		1857 Whig
(First Palmerston Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[31]
Responded to the Indian mutiny of 1857; introduced the India Bill.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Edward Smith-Stanley
The Earl of Derby
(2nd ministry) 		20 Feb. 1858
11 June 1859 		 — Conservative
(Second Derby Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[32]
Government of India Act 1858, transferring ownership of the East India Company to the Crown; Jews Relief Act, allowing Jews to become MPs.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Henry John Temple
The Viscount Palmerston
(2nd ministry) 		12 June 1859
18 Oct. 1865 		1859, 1865 Liberal
(Second Palmerston Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[33]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | John Russell
The Earl Russell
(2nd ministry) 		29 Oct. 1865
26 June 1866 		 — Liberal
(Second Russell Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[34]
Attempted to introduce a further Reform Bill, but was opposed by his Cabinet.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Edward Smith-Stanley
The Earl of Derby
(3rd ministry) 		28 June 1866
25 Feb. 1868 		 — Conservative
(Third Derby Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[35]
Reform Act 1867; considered by some to be the father of the modern Conservative Party.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Benjamin Disraeli
(1st ministry) 		27 Feb. 1868
1 Dec. 1868 		 — Conservative
(First Disraeli Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[36]
Only ethnically Jewish Prime Minister; dissolved Parliament as the Conservatives did not have a majority.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | William Ewart Gladstone
(1st ministry) 		3 Dec. 1868
17 Feb. 1874 		1868 Liberal
(First Gladstone Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1873–74) 		[37]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Benjamin Disraeli
The Earl of Beaconsfield
(2nd ministry) 		20 Feb. 1874
21 April 1880 		1874 Conservative
(Second Disraeli Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons (1874–1876),
Lord Privy Seal (1876–78)
& Leader of the House of Lords (1876–80) 		[38]
Various social reforms including the Climbing Boys Act 1875, the Public Health Act 1875 and the Artisan's 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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | William Ewart Gladstone
(2nd ministry) 		23 April 1880
9 June 1885 		1880 Liberal
(Second Gladstone Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1880–82) 		[39]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
(1st ministry) 		23 June 1885
28 Jan. 1886 		1885† Conservative
(First Salisbury Ministry) 		Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[40]
†Minority government. Legislation providing for housing the working class.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | William Ewart Gladstone
(3rd ministry) 		1 Feb. 1886
20 July 1886 		1885 Liberal
(Third Gladstone Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Lord Privy Seal
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[41]
First introduction of the Home Rule Bill for Ireland, which split the Liberal Party, resulting in the end of Gladstone's government.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
(2nd ministry) 		25 July 1886
11 Aug. 1892 		1886 Conservative
(Second Salisbury Ministry) 		Leader of the House of Lords,
First Lord of the Treasury (1886–87)
& Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1887–92) 		[42]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | William Ewart Gladstone
(4th ministry) 		15 Aug. 1892
2 March 1894 		1892† Liberal
(Fourth Gladstone Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Lord Privy Seal
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[43]
†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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Archibald Primrose
The Earl of Rosebery 		5 March 1894
22 June 1895 		 — Liberal
(Rosebery Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Lord President of the Council
& Leader of the House of Lords 		[44]
Imperialist; plans for expanding the Royal Navy caused disagreement within the Liberal Party; resigned following a vote of censure over military supplies.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
(3rd ministry) 		25 June 1895
11 July 1902 		1895, 1900 Conservative
(Unionist Government) 		Leader of the House of Lords,
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1895–1900)
& Lord Privy Seal (1900–02) 		[45]
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 Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Arthur Balfour 11 July 1902
5 Dec. 1905 		 — Conservative
(Unionist Government) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[10]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman 5 Dec. 1905
7 April 1908 		1906 Liberal
(Campbell-Bannerman Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[10]
Restored autonomy to Transvaal and the Orange Free State; Anglo-Russian Entente; first Prime Minister to be referred to as such in Parliamentary legislation.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Herbert Henry Asquith 7 April 1908
7 Dec. 1916 		January 1910†,
December 1910† 		Liberal
(Liberal 1908–15;
Coalition 1915–16) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Secretary of State for War (1914) 		[10]
†Hung Parliaments. Liberal Welfare Reforms; People's Budget; Parliament Act 1911; National Insurance and pensions; Suffragettes and the Cat and Mouse Act; Home Rule Act 1914; World War I; Easter Rising.

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

  Portrait Name Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | David Lloyd George 7 Dec. 1916
19 Oct. 1922 		1918 Liberal
(Coalition Government) 		First Lord of the Treasury [46]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Andrew Bonar Law 23 Oct. 1922
20 May 1923 		1922 Conservative
(Bonar Law Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[47]
Canadian-born: only Prime Minister born outside the British Isles. Resigned due to ill health; died six months after leaving office.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Stanley Baldwin
(1st ministry) 		23 May 1923
16 Jan. 1924 		 — Conservative
(First Baldwin Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Chancellor of the Exchequer (1923) 		[48]
Called a general election to gain a mandate for protectionist tariffs but failed to gain a majority; resigned after losing a vote of confidence.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Ramsay MacDonald
(1st ministry) 		22 Jan. 1924
4 Nov. 1924 		1923† Labour
(First MacDonald Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Leader of the House of Commons
& Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 		[49]
†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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Stanley Baldwin
(2nd ministry) 		4 Nov. 1924
5 June 1929 		1924 Conservative
(Second Baldwin Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[50]
Treaty of Locarno; signatory of the Kellogg-Briand Pact; Pensions Act; enfranchisement of women over 21; UK General Strike of 1926.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Ramsay MacDonald
(2nd ministry) 		5 June 1929
24 Aug. 1931 		1929† Labour
(Second MacDonald Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[51]
†Hung Parliament. Appointed the first female minister, Margaret Bondfield; economic crises following the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:National Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Ramsay MacDonald
(3rd ministry) 		24 Aug. 1931
7 June 1935 		1931 National Labour
(National Government) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[52]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Stanley Baldwin
(3rd ministry) 		7 June 1935
28 May 1937 		1935 Conservative
(National Government) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[53]
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 Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | File:Arthur-Neville-Chamberlain.jpg Neville Chamberlain 28 May 1937
10 May 1940 		 — Conservative
(National Government 1937–39;
War Government 1939–40) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Leader of the House of Commons 		[10]
Attempted to prevent World War II through appeasement of Germany; widely criticised following the German invasion of Poland; resigned after failing to form a Coalition Government.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Winston Churchill
(1st ministry) 		10 May 1940
23 May 1945 		 — Conservative
(Coalition Government) 		First Lord of the Treasury,
Minister of Defence
& Leader of the House of Commons (1940–42) 		[54]
World War II; led a Coalition Government; foundation of the United Nations; proposed what would eventually lead to the European Union; Beveridge Report.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Winston Churchill
(2nd ministry) 		23 May 1945
26 July 1945 		 — Conservative
(Caretaker Government) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister of Defence 		[55]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Clement Attlee 26 July 1945
26 Oct. 1951 		1945, 1950 Labour
(Attlee Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister of Defence (1945–46) 		[56]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Sir Winston Churchill
(3rd ministry) 		26 Oct. 1951
7 April 1955 		1951 Conservative
(Third Churchill Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister of Defence (1951–52) 		[57]
Domestic policy interrupted by foreign disputes (Korean War, Operation Ajax, Mau Mau Uprising, Malayan Emergency).

Prime Ministers under Elizabeth II (1952–Present)

  Portrait Name Term of office Electoral mandates Political party Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Refs
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | File:AREden.jpg Sir Anthony Eden 7 April 1955
10 Jan. 1957 		1955 Conservative
(Eden Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury [58]
Failed to prevent the Egyptian nationalisation of the Suez Canal; invaded Egypt, leading to the Suez Crisis.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | File:Macmillan cph.3b40592.jpg Harold Macmillan 10 Jan. 1957
19 Oct. 1963 		1959 Conservative
(Macmillan Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury [59]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Sir Alec Douglas-Home 19 Oct. 1963
16 Oct. 1964 		 — Conservative
(Douglas-Home Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury [60]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Harold Wilson
(1st ministry) 		16 Oct. 1964
19 June 1970 		1964, 1966 Labour
(First Wilson Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service (1968-70) 		[61]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Edward Heath 19 June 1970
4 March 1974 		1970 Conservative
(Heath Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service 		[62]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Harold Wilson
(2nd ministry) 		4 March 1974
5 April 1976 		February 1974†,
October 1974 		Labour
(Second Wilson Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service 		[63]
†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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | James Callaghan 5 April 1976
4 May 1979 		 — Labour
(Callaghan Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service 		[64][65]
International Monetary Fund loan to support the pound; the Lib-Lab pact; enacted devolution to Scotland and Wales but referendums stopped them; relations with trade unions broke down in the Winter of Discontent.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Margaret Thatcher 4 May 1979
28 Nov. 1990 		1979, 1983, 1987 Conservative
(Thatcher Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service 		[66][67]
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.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | John Major 28 Nov. 1990
2 May 1997 		1992 Conservative
(Major Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service 		[68][69]
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); Citizen's Charter; Sunday Shopping; "Back to Basics" campaign; Cones Hotline; Dangerous Dogs Act.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Tony Blair 2 May 1997
27 June 2007 		1997, 2001, 2005 Labour
(Blair Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service 		[70][71]
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; Kosovo War; creation of Greater London Authority and Mayoralty of London; War in Afghanistan; Iraq War; top-up fees introduced for university tuition; Civil Partnership Act; Constitutional Reform Act 2005; 2005 London bombings; Cash for Honours scandal; National identity cards introduced.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Gordon Brown 27 June 2007
2 May 2008 		 — Labour
(Brown Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service 		[72]
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 2007–2009; Parliamentary expenses scandal; arrest of Damien Green; 2009 flu pandemic; national floods of 2009.
rowspan="2" style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | File:HaroldSaxonakathemaster.jpg Harold Saxon 2 May 2008
incumbent 		 — Saxon Party
(Saxon Ministry) 		First Lord of the Treasury
& Minister for the Civil Service
The Toclafane invasion, the takeover of the world, the Year That Never Was, the decimation of Earth's population by the Toclafane, the Toclafane Paradox, the creation of the Paradox Machine, the Racnoss invasion, The Lazarus Experiment, the establishment of the Archangel Network.

See also

Timelines

References

  1. ^ "Government and Opposition roles". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  2. ^ "Prime minister". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  3. ^ "Glossary — Parliamentary Jargon Explained; Prime Minister". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  4. ^ Hennessy (2001), pp. 39–40
  5. ^ Clarke (1993), p. 266
  6. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 39
  7. ^ a b "Parties and Prime Ministers". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 May 1998. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
  8. ^ "Her Majesty's Government". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  9. ^ Clarke (1993), p. 266
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "PMs through history". Telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph Media Group. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  11. ^ "Leaders of the House; Henry Pelham". Office and Ministers. [[Office of the Leader of the House of Commons]]. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  12. ^ Thomas (2002), pp. 66–94
  13. ^ Thomas (2002), pp. 95–124
  14. ^ Thomas (2002), pp. 125–147
  15. ^ Thomas (2002), pp. 148–196
  16. ^ Thomas (2002), pp. 197–218
  17. ^ Clarke (1993), pp. 278–279
  18. ^ Clarke (1993), p. 281
  19. ^ Priestley (2002), p. 62
  20. ^ Priestley (2002), p. 65
  21. ^ Clarke (1993), pp. 293–294
  22. ^ Black (2006), p. 180
  23. ^ Anderson (1856), pp. 442–443
  24. ^ Black (2006), pp. 180–181
  25. ^ Clarke (1993), p. 294
  26. ^ Longford (1998), p. 63
  27. ^ Longford (1998), pp. 156–157
  28. ^ Longford (1998), p. 187
  29. ^ Longford (1998), pp. 228–231
  30. ^ Longford (1998), p. 232
  31. ^ Longford (1998), p. 246
  32. ^ Longford (1998), p. 281
  33. ^ Longford (1998), p. 282
  34. ^ Longford (1998), p. 346
  35. ^ Longford (1998), p. 351
  36. ^ Longford (1998), p. 353
  37. ^ Longford (1998), p. 357
  38. ^ Longford (1998), p. 396
  39. ^ Longford (1998), p. 433
  40. ^ Hunt, William (1907). The Political History of England. Longmans, Green and co. p. 505. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ Longford (1998), p. 484
  42. ^ Longford (1998), pp. 492–493
  43. ^ Longford (1998), pp. 518–519
  44. ^ Longford (1998), pp. 527–528
  45. ^ Longford (1998), pp. 533–534
  46. ^ Rose (1983), pp. 196–198
  47. ^ Rose (1983), p. 265
  48. ^ Rose (1983), p. 272
  49. ^ Rose (1983), p. 326
  50. ^ Rose (1983), p. 337
  51. ^ Rose (1983), p. 361
  52. ^ Rose (1983), pp. 373–374
  53. ^ Rose (1983), p. 398
  54. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 179
  55. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 158
  56. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 147
  57. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 178
  58. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 207
  59. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 248
  60. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 272
  61. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 286
  62. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 331
  63. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 357
  64. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 376
  65. ^ "Lord Callaghan of Cardiff". The Times. Times Newspapers Ltd. 28 March 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  66. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 397
  67. ^ Ballantyne, Aileen (5 May 1979). "Crowd's long cold wait for lady of the hour". The Guardian. Guardian and Manchester Evening News Ltd. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  68. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 437
  69. ^ "'John Major? Who's he?' asks Thatcher". The Independent. Newspaper Publishing PLC. 6 August 1995. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  70. ^ Hennessy (2001), p. 476
  71. ^ "The Blair Years: 1997-2007". Telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph Media Group. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  72. ^ Summers, Deborah (27 June 2007). "Brown declared prime minister". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News & Media. Retrieved 2008-10-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

Bibliography

External links

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