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You are here: UK History > Evolution of British politics > British prime ministers through the ages
The Prime Minister (or the Premier) is the title given to the principal minister of the crown of the British government and the head of the British Cabinet. There is no specific date for when the role first appeared as rather than being created, it developed over time.
Due to the gradual development of the post, the title is applied to the earlier prime ministers retrospectively, which can often lead to debate over who actually counts as prime minister. For instance, Lord Bath and Lord Waldegrave are sometimes listed as prime ministers.
Historians generally consider Sir Robert Walpole to be the first prime minister, he was using the title in the 1730s, he is also so far, the longest serving prime minister having led the government for over twenty years.
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The Prime Minister (or the Premier) is the title given to the principal minister of the crown of the British government and the head of the British Cabinet. There is no specific date for when the role first appeared as rather than being created, it developed over time.
Due to the gradual development of the post, the title is applied to the earlier prime ministers retrospectively, which can often lead to debate over who actually counts as prime minister. For instance, Lord Bath and Lord Waldegrave are sometimes listed as prime ministers.
Historians generally consider Sir Robert Walpole to be the first prime minister, he was using the title in the 1730s, he is also so far, the longest serving prime minister having led the government for over twenty years.
The first prime minister to use the title in an official parliamentary act was Benjamin Disraeli, who signed the Treaty of Berlin as Prime Minister of her Britannic Majesty.
The first prime minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was William Pitt the Younger, while the prime minister of the UK as it is currently made up (The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) was Arthur Bonar Law, though the country was not officially renamed until 1927, when the post was held by Stanley Baldwin.
Before the Union of England and Scotland in 1707, the Treasury of England was led by a Lord High Treasurer. By the time the Tudors were in power, the Lord High Treasurer was regarded as one of the Great officers of State and was often a dominant figure in the running of the country. Some notable people who have held this post include Edward Seymour, the first Duke of Somerset, who served as Lord Protector to his nephew Edward VI and William Cecil, the First Baron Burghley, who was the dominant minister in Elizabeth I’s administration.
By the reign of the Stuarts, the Treasury was run by a commission known as the Lords of the Treasury. The final people to hold the title were Lord Godolphin and Lord Oxford, who ran the government of Queen Anne.
After George I ascended the throne, the arrangement of a commission to look after the Treasury was made permanent and other roles emerged. At one point, Lord Stanhope and Lord Sunderland ran the government together, with one looking after foreign affairs and the other domestic. After Stanhope died and Sunderland resigned, Lord Townshend and Sir Robert Walpole were invited to form a government and from that point on, the holder of the office of First Lord was known as the prime minister. It wouldn’t be until the Edwardian era that the title of Prime Minister was constitutionally recognised and would become a constitutional convention. The only exceptions to this were Lord Chatham and Lord Salisbury.
Sir Robert Walpole
Term of office: 3rd April 1721 – 11th February 1742 (20 years, 315 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Whig
Monarch: George I
Considered by most to be the first Prime Minister, Sir Robert restored confidence in the country following the South Sea Bubble financial crash and was hugely influential during the reigns of both George I and George II. He was also the first PM to live at 10 Downing Street after it was gifted to him by George II. He resigned after accusations of mishandling the War of Jenkins Ear.
Spencer Compton (1st Earl of Wilmington)
Term of office: 16th February 1742 – 2nd July 1743 (1 year and 137 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Whig
Monarch: George I
The Earl was already suffering with ill health when he took over as Prime Minister. He died in office.
Henry Pelham
Term of Office: 27th August 1743 – 6th March 1754 (10 years, 192 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Whig
Monarch: George II
During his time, he oversaw the British involvement in the War of the Austrian succession and the Jacobite Rising in 1745. He was also the PM that brought in the Gregorian calendar and also died in office.
Thomas Pelham-Holles (1st Duke of Newcastle)
Term of office: 16th March 1754 – 11th November 1756 (2 years, 241 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: George II
The brother of Henry Pelham, he assumed power just 10 days after his brother’s death. He was blamed for the British loss of Minorca during the Seven Year’s War and was replaced.
William Cavendish (4th Duke of Devonshire)
Term of Office: 16th November 1756 – 29th June 1757 (226 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords, Lord Treasurer of Ireland
Party: Whig
Monarch: George II
Though he was Prime Minister, this was a title in name only, his government was largely controlled by Pitt the Elder and after George II dismissed Pitt, the whole government fell apart, leading Cavendish to also be replaced.
Thomas Pelham-Holles (1st Duke of Newcastle)
Term of Office: 29th June 1757 – 26th May 1763, (4 years and 332 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: George II
Brought back in to replace Cavendish, he served alongside Pitt the Elder, who also returned to office as Southern Secretary. This government helped in Britain’s defeat of France and Spain in the Seven Year’s War.
John Stuart (3rd Earl of Bute)
Term of office: 26th May 1762 – 8th April 1763 (318 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Tory
Monarch: George III
Stuart was the first Scot to hold the title of Prime Minister, he was a favourite of George III but was hugely unpopular with the people, who he referred to as “the Great Unwashed”. He introduced a tax on cider to help pay for the Seven Year’s War and resigned following criticism of the peace negotiations.
George Grenville
Term of Office: 16th April 1763 – 10th July 1765 (2 years and 86 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Whig
Monarch: George III
Grenville is believed to be the cause of the American War for Independence, he introduced the Stamp Act which imposed a tax on the colonies and plantations in America.
Charles Watson-Wentworth (2nd Marquess of Rockingham)
Term of Office: 13th July 1765 – 30th July 1766 (1 year and 18 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: George III
Attempting to keep the peace, Watson-Wentworth repealed the Stamp Act and Cider Tax from his two predecessors.
William Pitt (Elder 1st Earl of Chatham)
Term of Office: 30th July 1766 – 14th October 1768 (2 years and 77 days)
Offices Held: Lord Privy Seal
Party: Whig
Monarch: George III
Known as the Great Commoner, William Pitt the Elder is credited with creating the British Empire. He dominated British politics during this time and helped create a lucrative trading empire with his military campaigns.
Augustus Fitzroy (3rd Duke of Grafton)
Term of Office: 14th October 1768 – 28th January 1770 (1 year and 107 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: George III
Fitzroy took over the post after Pitt fell ill and spent much of his time in office trying to restore relations with the Americans. He is better remembered for his private life, which involved a very public affair with several courtesans, he was even caught in a compromising position in public at the opera.
Frederick North (Lord North)
Term of Office: 28th January 1770 – 27th March 1782 (12 years and 59 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Tory
Monarch: George III
Lord North led the British into the American War of Independence and was blamed for the loss of the colony.
Charles Watson-Wentworth (2nd Marquess of Rockingham)
Term of Office: 27th March 1782 – 1st July 1782 (97 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Whig
Monarch: George III
During his second term, he was the first to acknowledge America as an independent nation. He died suddenly three months into his term.
William Petty (2nd Earl of Shelburne)
Term of Office: 4th July 1782 – 26th March 1783 (266 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: George III
Britain’s first Irish prime minister, he was a general during the American War of Independence and helped negotiate the treaty which officially ended the war.
William Cavendish-Bentinck (3rd Duke of Portland)
Term of Office: 2nd April 1783 – 18th December 1783 (261 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: George III
Ruled a coalition comprised of both the Tories and the Whigs, he was instrumental in ensuring Tory party dominance for the next decade.
William Pitt (the Younger)
Term of Office: 18th December 1783 – 14th March 1801 (17 years and 86 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Tory
Monarch: George III
Son of William Pitt the Elder, he was the youngest ever prime minister at just 24 years old. His many achievements helped define the modern role of PM, including introducing income tax. He resigned when the king refused to accept Catholic emancipation.
Henry Addington
Term of Office: 17th March 1801 – 10th May 1804 (3 years and 55 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Tory
Monarch: George III
Was in office when the Treaty of Amiens failed and Britain declared war on France.
William Pitt (the Younger)
Term of Office: 10th May 1804 – 23rd January 1806 (1 year and 259 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Tory
Monarch: George III
Pitt was returned to office after the outbreak of war, but he would die at the age of just 46 while in office.
William Grenville (1st Baron Grenville)
Term of Office: 11th February 1806 – 25th March 1807 (1 year and 43 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: George III
The youngest son of George Grenville, he presided over a coalition and abolished the slave trade in the British Empire.
William Cavendish-Bentinck (3rd Duke of Portland)
Term of Office: 31st March 1807 – 4th October 1809 (2 years and 188 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Tory
Monarch: George III
Now at an advanced age and in poor health, he returned to the premiership but struggled to keep control of warring factions in his party. He died 23 days after resigning.
Spencer Perceval
Term of Office: 4th October 1809 – 11th May 1812 (2 years and 221 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Commissioner of the Treasury for Ireland, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Tory
Monarch: George III
The only British prime minister ever to be assassinated, he was shot in the lobby of the House of Commons.
Robert Jenkinson (2nd Earl of Liverpool)
Term of Office: 8th June 1812 – 9th April 1827 (14 years and 306 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Tory
Monarch: George III
Jenkins was handed the position after Perceval’s death and helped steer Britain through a period of unrest.
George Canning
Term of Office: 12th April 1827 – 8th August 1827 (119 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Tory
Monarch: George IV
Canning is one of the shortest serving prime ministers after dying suddenly while in office.
F.J. Robinson (1st Viscount Goderich)
Term of Office: 31st August 1827 – 8th January 1828 (131 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Tory
Monarch: George IV
Lacking support and struggling to maintain leadership, he resigned less than half a year into the job.
Arthur Wellesley (1st Duke of Wellington)
Term of Office: 22nd January 1828 – 16th November 1830 (2 years and 299 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Tory
Monarch: George IV
The second Irish born Prime Minister and second General to lead the country. Served in the Napoleonic Wars and introduced the Roman Catholic Relief Act, though resigned after a vote of no confidence.
Charles Grey (2nd Earl Grey)
Term of Office: 22nd November 1830 – 9th July 1834 (3 years and 230 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: William IV
The tea was named after him – he brought in the Great Reform Act of 1832 which started the electoral system we have today. He abolished slavery throughout the Empire and brought in restrictions on child labour. He resigned over disagreements with his Irish policy.
William Lamb (2nd Viscount Melbourne)
Term of Office: 16th July 1834 – 14th November 1834 (122 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: William IV
The last Prime Minister to be dismissed by the monarch.
Arthur Wellesley (1st Duke of Wellington)
Term of Office: 17th November 1834 – 9th December 1834 (23 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State for the Home Department, Secretary of State for War and Colonies
Party: Tory
Monarch: William IV
Sir Robert Peel
Term of Office: 10th December 1834 – 8th April 1835 (120 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Conservative
Monarch: William IV
Had to be asked multiple times by the King to form a government and eventually agreed but resigned following a number of defeats in parliament.
William Lamb (2nd Viscount Melbourne)
Term of Office: 18th April 1835 – 30th August 1841 (6 years and 135 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Whig
Monarch: Victoria
Returned under Victoria and formed a special fatherly bond with the young queen who he helped understand politics. He resigned after being continuously defeated in parliament.
Sir Robert Peel
Term of Office: 30th August 1841 – 29th June 1846 (4 years and 304 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Victoria
Returned to office and brought in several employment laws banning women and children from working in the mines and limited the hours that they could work. Also repealed the Corn Laws to ease the famine in Ireland.
Lord John Russel (Lord Russell)
Term of Office: 30th June 1864 – 21st February 1852 (5 years and 237 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Whig
Monarch: Victoria
The last Whig Prime Minister, Lord Russell’s Public Health Act improved conditions in towns and cities
Edward Smith-Stanley (14th Earl of Derby)
Term of Office: 23rd February 1852 – 17th December 1852 (299 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Victoria
Considered to be one of the founders of the modern Conservative party, his government collapsed when the House of Commons rejected his Chancellor’s budget.
George Hamilton-Gordon (4th Earl of Aberdeen)
Term of Office: 19th December 1852 – 30th January 1855 (2 years and 43 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Peelite
Monarch: Victoria
Lost in the spotlight of his much more famous cousin, Lord Byron, Hamilton-Gordon’s term was dominated by war with Russia and he resigned after losing a vote of no confidence.
Henry John Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston)
Term of Office: 6th February 1855 – 19 February 1858 (3 years and 14 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Whig
Monarch: Victoria
An Irish peer, his India Bill gave control of the East India Company to the Crown.
Edward Smith-Stanley (14th Earl of Derby)
Term of Office: 20th February 1858 – 11th June 1859 (1 year and 112 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Victoria
Returning to office for the second time, he brought in the Jews Relief Act which allowed Jews to enter parliament.
Henry John Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston)
Term of Office: 12th June 1859 – 18th October 1865 (6 years and 129 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Liberal
Monarch: Victoria
Returning for a second term, this time he was dominated by the American Civil War and the Lancashire Cotton Famine. Hale and hearty to the end, he died in office at 81.
John Russell (1st Earl Russell)
Term of Office: 29th October 1865 – 26th June 1866 (241 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Liberal
Monarch: Victoria
Returned to office to replace Viscount Palmerston.
Edward Smith-Stanley (14th Earl of Derby)
Term of Office: 28th June 1866 – 25th February 1868 (1 year and 243 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Victoria
Served his third and final term by bringing in the Reform Act which doubled the amount of men that could vote in England and Wales.
Benjamin Disraeli
Term of Office: 27th February 1868 – 1st December 1868 (279 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Victoria
The first and so far only, Jewish Prime Minister.
William Ewart Gladstone
Term of Office: 3rd December 1868 – 17th February 1874 (5 years and 77 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Liberal
Monarch: Victoria
Led some of the greatest reforming administrations in political history. Wanted to improve individual liberty but was defeated heavily in the 1874 election. Was bitter rivals with Disraeli.
Benjamin Disraeli (1st Earl of Beaconsfield)
Term of Office: 20th February 1874 – 21st April 1880 (6 years and 62 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons, Leader of the House of Lords, Lord Privy Seal
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Victoria
Returned to power at the age of 70 and now an Earl. Introduced great social legislation, including providing housing for the poor. Had a close relationship with Queen Victoria.
William Ewart Gladstone
Term of Office: 23rd April 1880 – 9th June 1885 (5 years and 48 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Liberal
Monarch: Victoria
Gladstone’s second administration suffered a number of set backs in foreign policy including a defeat in the Boer War.
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil (3rd Marquess of Salisbury)
Term of Office: 23rd June 1885 – 28th January 1886 (220 days)
Offices Held: Leader of the House of Lords, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Victoria
Known as Salisbury, became the Conservative leader after the death of Disraeli and reluctantly became Prime Minister.
William Ewart Gladstone
Term of Office: 1st February 1886 – 20th July 1886 (170 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal
Party: Liberal
Monarch: Victoria
Now aged 76, introduced a Home Rule Bill for Ireland and split the liberal party.
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil (3rd Marquess of Salisbury)
Term of Office: 25th July 1886 – 11th August 1892 (6 years and 18 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Victoria
Took over after the libral split and attempted to contain the Irish problem. The state of Rhodesia was created under his leadership.
William Ewart Gladstone
Term of Office: 15th August 1892 – 2nd March 1894 (1 year and 200 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal
Party: Liberal
Monarch: Victoria
Now in his 80s and known as the Grand Old Man of British Politics. Served his fourth term by introducing the Irish Home Rule Bill, it passed in Commons but was rejected by the Lords.
Archibald Primrose (5th Earl of Rosebery)
Term of Office: 5th March 1894 – 22nd June 1895 (1 year and 110 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Lords, Lord President of the Council
Party: Liberal
Monarch: Victoria
Reluctantly took over from Gladstone after he resigned. He also resigned.
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil (3rd Marquess of Salisbury)
Term of Office: 25th June 1895 – 11th July 1902 (7 years and 17 days)
Offices Held: Leader of the House of Lords, Lord Privy Seal, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Edward VII
Returned to office for the third time, during his term the second Boer War began. He retired and his nephew took over.
Arthur Balfour
Term of Office: 12th July 1902 – 4th December 1905 (3 years and 146 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Edward VII
Brought in a standardised educational system and handed powers from school boards to Local Education Authorities.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Term of Office: 5th December 1905 – 3rd April 1908 (2 years and 121 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Liberal
Monarch: Edward VII
Another Scot, He was the first person to be referred to as Prime Minister. Was outspoken about barbarism on the Boer War, he restored independence to some states in South Africa.
H.H Asquith
Term of Office: 8th April 1908 – 5th December 1916 (8 years and 243 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for War
Party: Liberal
Monarch: George V
Became prime minister after Campbell Bannerman resigned. Home Rule for Ireland and the Suffragettes caused him issues, but he brought in the Old Age Pension Act and the National Insurance Act that provided help for lower income people. Took Britain into WW1. Would form a coalition to see the country through the war but would later resign.
David Lloyd George
Term of Office: 6th December 1916 – 19th October 1922 (5 years and 318 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Liberal
Monarch: George V
The first Welsh prime minister and the only one to speak Welsh as his first language. He formed a government following Asquith’s resignation. He is credited with winning the First World War and granting women’s suffrage. Was the centre of a Cash for Honours scandal and was ousted from power.
Andrew Bonar Law
Term of Office: 23rd October 1922 – 20th May 1923
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Conservative
Monarch: George V
Took over after DLG was removed from office. Was born in Canada and only lasted 209 days before resigning due to ill health, he died 6 months later.
Stanley Baldwin
Term of Office: 22nd May 1923 – 22nd January 1924 (246 days)
Offices Held: Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Conservative
Monarch: George V
Just a few months into office, he called an early General Election, he lost and let Labour into power for the first time.
Ramsay MacDonald
Term of Office: 22nd January 1924 – 4th November 1924 (288 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Party: Labour
Monarch: George V
First Labour Prime Minister, came from a Scottish working class background and was reliant on the Liberals. Also called an early election
Stanley Baldwin
Term of Office: 4th November 1924 – 4th June 1929 (4 years and 213 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Conservative
Monarch: George V
In second term, Baldwin gave the vote to women over 21 and invited Winston Churchill who at the time was a Liberal to be Chancellor of the Exchequer. Steered the country through the General Strike.
Ramsey MacDonald
Term of Office: 5th June 1929 – 7th June 1935 (6 years and 3 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Labour / National Labour
Monarch: George V
In second term, appointed the first ever female minister, Margaret Bondfield. Would win a second election and lead a national coalition thanks to an international financial crisis. He lost support of his own party and resigned.
Stanley Baldwin
Term of Office: 7th June 1935 – 29th May 1937 (1 year and 356 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Edward VIII
Returned for a third time and steered the country through the abdication of Edward VIII. He started a programme of re-arming after recognising the rise of Hitler. Retired after the coronation of George VI.
Neville Chamberlain
Term of Office: 28th Ma7 1937 – 10th May 1940 (2 years and 349 days)
Offices held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons
Party: Conservative
Monarch: George VI
At the time Chamberlain was the obvious choice for party leader, he returned from meeting Hitler declaring “I believe it is peace for our time.” His policy of appeasement allowed Hitler to start his occupation of Europe and Chamberlain declared war in 1939.
Winston Churchill
Term of Office: 10th May 1940 – 26th July 1945 (5 years and 78 days)
Offices held: First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons, Minister of Defence
Party: Conservative
Monarch: George VI
After Chamberlain’s resignation, Churchill became PM of an all party coalition. The speeches he made and the military alliances he created made him a hugely popular figure but he was defeated in a General Election after VE Day.
Clement Atlee
Term of Office: 26th July 1945 – 26th October 1951 (6 years and 93 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister of Defence
Party: Labour
Monarch: George VI
Led Labour to a landslide victory and created the National Health Service. He also brought many of Britain’s largest industries into state control in order to tackle the financial crisis.
Sir Winston Churchill
Term of Office: 26th October 1951 – 5th April 1955 (3 years and 162 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister of Defence
Party: Conservative
Monarch: George VI and Elizabeth II
Was very ill during his second term and was described as being “gloriously unfit for office”. The Cold War led to him authorising a British atomic bomb, but his failing health left him to have no choice but to resign.
Sir Anthony Eden
Term of Office: 6th April 1955 – 9th January 1975 (1 year and 279 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II
On becoming PM called a General Elextion, which increased the Conservative majority, but was known for his controversial handling of the Suez Crisis. He was forced to resign.
Harold Macmillan
Term of Office: 19th January 1957 – 18th October 1963 (6 years and 282 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Macmillan, known as “Supermac” he helped negotiate the nuclear test ban Treaty and helped speed up the decolonisation of the British Empire, resigned after a series of scandals.
Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Term of Office: 19th October 1963 – 16th October 1964 (364 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Holds the record as serving the second shortest premiership of the 20th century.
Harold Wilson
Term of Office: 16th October 1964 – 19th June 1970 (5 years and 247 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Labour
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Won with a majority of just 4, introduced reform in the fields of capital punishment, homosexuality, divorce and abortion, but the country saw a rise in unemployment during his term.
Edward Heath
Term of Office: 19th June 1970 – 4th March 1974 (3 years and 259)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Led Britain into the European Common market. He attempted to weaken the power of the trade unions and the resulting strikes led to electricity going out for three days every week.
Harold Wilson
Term of Office: 4th March 1974 – 5th April 1976 (2 years and 33 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Labour
Monarch: Elizabeth II
During his second term, employment reached 1 million. Resigned suddenly.
James Callaghan
Term of Office: 5th April 1976 – 4th May 1979 (3 years and 30 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Labour
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Mass unemployment and strikes saw the Winter of Discontent. He failed to win a vote of no confidence.
Margaret Thatcher
Term of Office: 4th May 1979 – 28th November 1990 (11 years and 209 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II
First female prime minister and was branded the Iron Lady. She brought the country to war against Argentina over the Falkland Islands and remains a hugely divisive figure because of her stance against the miners, introduction of the poll tax and other controversial policies.
John Major
Term of Office: 28th November 1990 – 2nd May 1997 (6 years and 156 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabath II
His government started talks with the IRA seeking a peaceful end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Tony Blair
Term of Office: 2nd May 1997 – 27th June 2007 (10 years and 57 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Labour
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Labour’s longest serving Prime Minister, oversaw the Northern Ireland peace process, but fell from grace because of the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Gordon Brown
Term of Office: 27th May 2007 – 11th May 2010 (2 years and 319 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Labour
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Steered the country through a worldwide financial crisis and withdrew troops from Iraq, however was criticised for being appointed by the outgoing Prime Minister, rather than being elected.
David Cameron
Term of Office: 11th May 2010 – 13th July 2016 (6 years, 2 months)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II
In his first term, headed Britain’s first coalition since WWII alongside the Liberals and brought in an austerity programme. In his second term, he brought in a referendum on continued membership of the EU, following a vote to leave, he resigned.
Theresa May
Term of Office: 13th July 2016 – 24th July 2019 (3 years and 12 days)
Offices Held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Following the resignation of David Cameron, she became leader of the Conservatives and the second female prime minister. She started the withdrawal process of the EU, unemployment fell to record lows and she struggled to get her EU withdrawal bill through parliament.
Boris Johnson
Term of Office: 24th July 2019 – 5th September 2022 (3 years, 2 months)
Offices held: First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II
Elected leader of the Conservatives after Theresa May resigned, was Prime Minister through the Covid 19 pandemic which saw him field a number of scandals. He was eventually ousted by his own MPs and after resigning, was forced to give up his role as MP following criminal proceedings about his conduct during the pandemic.
Liz Truss
Term of Office: 6th September 2022 – 24th October 2022 (45 days)
Offices held: Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Elizabeth II and Charles III
Truss was chosen as a replacement for Boris Johnson after he was forced to resign by members of his own party. She was hugely unpopular, causing an economic crisis in her short 45 day rule and being in charge when Queen Elizabeth II passed away. So unpopular that there was a Twitter poll to see if a lettuce would last longer than her government, which it did.
Rishi Sunak
Term of Office: 24th October - Present
Offices held: Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union
Party: Conservative
Monarch: Charles III
Sunak replaced Liz Truss after she was forced to resign after just 45 days in the job. He is the first non-white Prime Minister of the UK.
William Pulteney (1st Earl of Bath)
Term of Office: 10th February 1746 – 12th February 1746 (3 day)
Offices held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Whig
Monarch: George II
James Waldegrave (2nd Earl Waldegrave)
Term of Office: 8th June 1757 – 12th June 1757 (5 days)
Offices held: First Lord of the Treasury
Party: Whig
Monarch: George II
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