United Kingdom

The modern nation-state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (U.K.) is a relatively recent invention — it’s current name dates only to 1927, when it was changed from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to recognize the independence of the Irish Free State. However, the constituent parts of the U.K. (save Northern Ireland, whose long-ago history is more properly considered with that of the rest of the island of Ireland) are ancient indeed. The first king of a united England is a subject of debate, but Æthelstan in 928 was the first to use the title King of the English. Kenneth MacAlpin, who reigned in the 840s, is widely described as the first King of Scotland, although he didn’t use the term himself. Wales was rarely unified under a single sovereign before the English conquest in the thirteenth century (although Gruffydd ap Llywelyn bore the title King of Wales during 1055 – 1063), but various principalities in what would become Wales existed as far back as the 5th century.

England (which as mentioned previously had conquered Wales by the end of the thirteenth century) and Scotland remained formally independent kingdoms until 1707, although they were united under the rule of a single monarch (James VI of Scotland, now also James I of England) beginning in 1603. The unification of England and Scotland under a single monarch and parliament created the Kingdom of Great Britain, which in 1801 also formally incorporated Ireland (which had been under English rule for centuries by this point) to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

In recent years centralized rule of the U.K. from London has begun to give way to a somewhat more decentralized state, with devolution providing regional parliaments to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

This page includes:

The Kings and Queens of England, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the United Kingdom (see the respective pages of Scotland and Wales for those lands);
The Prime Ministers of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, the heads of government who have been recognized as far back as the 1720s;
The Leaders of the Opposition, today the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament, and an office that was first recognized as such in the 1820s; and
The Deputy Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, an unofficial position and occasionally-vacant position dating back to the Second World War, typically held by an individual in the governing party who can stand in for the Prime Minister when needed.

Additional pages are available for a variety of other political offices and prominent positions:

The Cabinet of the United Kingdom, the senior ministers of the British government;
The Great Officers of State, traditional and now largely ceremonial ministers of the Crown;
The Parliament of the United Kingdom, covering members of the House of Commons both past and present;

Heads of state of the United Kingdom

Kingdom of England

Monarch of the Kingdom of England

Richard III

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 2 1452; d. August 22 1485.

House of York – Plantagenet

1483 – 1485

Henry VII

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 28 1457; d. April 21 1509.

House of Tudor

1485 – 1509

Elizabeth I

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 7 1533; d. March 24 1603.

House of Tudor

1558 – 1603

James I

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 19 1566; d. March 27 1625.

House of Stuart

1603 – 1625

Charles II

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 29 1630; d. February 6 1685.

House of Stuart

1660 – 1685

James II

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 14 1633; d. September 16 1701.

House of Stuart

1685 – 1688

William III

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 24 1533; d. July 10 1584.

House of Orange – Nassau

1689 – 1702

Anne

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 6 1665; d. August 1 1714.

Spouse: Prince George of Denmark and Norway, Duke of Cumberland (b. May 19 1744; d. November 17 1818)

House of Stuart

1702 – 1707

Kingdom of Great Britain

Monarch of the Kingdom of Great Britain

Anne

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 6 1665; d. August 1 1714.

Spouse: Prince George of Denmark and Norway, Duke of Cumberland (b. May 19 1744; d. November 17 1818)

House of Stuart

1707 – 1714

George I

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 28 1660; d. June 11 1727.

House of Hanover – Welf

1714 – 1727

George II

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 9 1683; d. October 25 1760.

House of Hanover – Welf

1727 – 1760

George III

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 4 1738; d. January 29 1820.

House of Hanover—Welf

1760 – 1800

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Heads of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

History

The Acts of Union 1800, taking effect on January 1 1801, united the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland under a single crown, with George III as king. At the outset, the sovereign remained a powerful constitutional actor, though already constrained by the principles of parliamentary government that had developed over the eighteenth century. During the reign of George III and his successors, the monarch formally retained significant prerogatives (particularly in the appointment of ministers and the conduct of foreign policy) but in practice these powers were increasingly exercised in accordance with the advice of Parliament and its leading figures.

Over the course of the nineteenth century, the United Kingdom evolved into a fully constitutional monarchy. The long reign of Victoria was especially significant in this regard: while the sovereign continued to play an active advisory role and to influence government formation, the expansion of the electorate and the solidification of cabinet government reduced the scope for independent royal action. By the early twentieth century, the monarch’s political role had become largely formal, with executive authority effectively vested in ministers responsible to the House of Commons. The crisis surrounding Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936 further underscored the constitutional principle that the monarch acts within established conventions and with the support of government.

In the modern era, the sovereign functions as a ceremonial head of state and a symbol of continuity and national identity, while retaining certain formal constitutional roles. These include the appointment of the prime minister, the granting of royal assent to legislation, and the performance of state and diplomatic duties, all carried out in accordance with convention.

List of Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland¹

Ruler

Dynasty

Dates

George III

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 4 1738; d. January 29 1820.

House of Hanover—Welf

October 25 1760² – January 29 1820

George IV

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 12 1762; d. June 26 1830.

House of Hanover—Welf

January 29 1820 – June 26 1830

William IV

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 21 1765; d. June 20 1837.

House of Hanover—Welf

June 26 1830 – June 20 1837

Victoria

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 24 1819; d. January 22 1901.

House of Hanover—Welf

June 20 1837 – January 22 1901

Edward VII

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 9 1841; d. May 6 1910.

House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

January 22 1901 – May 6 1910

George V

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 3 1865; d. January 20 1936.

House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1901 – 1917); House of Windsor (1917 – 1936)³

May 6 1910 – January 20 1936

Edward VIII

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 23 1894; d. May 28 1972.

House of Windsor

January 20 1936 – December 11 1936

George VI

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 14 1895; d. February 6 1952.

House of Windsor

December 11 1936 – February 6 1952

Elizabeth II

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 21 1926; d. September 8 2022.

House of Windsor

February 6 1952 – September 8 2022

Charles III

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 14 1948.

House of Windsor

September 8 2022 – present

Notes and References

[1] The name of the United Kingdom was formally changed from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, under the terms of the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 (taking effect on April 12 1927). More precisely, the name of the Parliament of the United Kingdom was changed effective that date; under the 1927 act, the style of the monarch removed the reference to the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions” and substituted “Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions.” The royal title was changed to its current form, with the reference to the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” by the Royal Titles Act 1953, effective March 26 1953.

[2] The Acts of Union 1800, taking effect on January 1 1801, united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into a single kingdom with a single parliament, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. George III, who had been the King of Great Britain and Ireland since 1760, became the first monarch of the United Kingdom.

[3] The name of the royal dynasty was changed by George V on July 17 1917 from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor in response to anti-German sentiment during the First World War.

Heads of Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

History

By the time of the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801, the office of prime minister was already well-established. The prime minister was understood to be the leading minister of the Crown, responsible for coordinating government policy and commanding a majority in the House of Commons, though at first the monarch still exercised considerable discretion in appointments and dismissals. During the nineteenth century, the office evolved into the definitive center of political power within the British constitutional system.

As the franchise expanded and political parties became more organized, the prime minister increasingly derived authority from electoral support in the Commons rather than royal favor. By the late nineteenth century, the monarch’s role in selecting the prime minister had become largely constrained to choosing the individual most capable of commanding parliamentary confidence. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the prime minister has been firmly established as the head of government, exercising executive authority in the name of the Crown. Although formally appointed by the monarch, the prime minister is in practice the leader of the political party (or coalition) holding a majority in the House of Commons, and is responsible for the formation of the government, the direction of domestic and foreign policy, and the management of the cabinet.

List of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

Name

Political Party

Dates Office Held

William Pitt the Younger¹

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 28 1759; d. January 23 1806.

Tory Party

December 19 1783 – March 14 1801

Henry Addington

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 30 1757; d. February 15 1844.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Viscount Sidmouth in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1805 – 1844).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1784 – 1800); Speaker of the House of Commons (1789 – 1801); Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1801 – 1805); First Lord of the Treasury (1801 – 1804); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1801 – 1804); Leader of the House of Commons (1801 – 1804); Lord President of the Council (1805, 1806 – 1807, 1812); Lord Privy Seal (1806); Home Secretary (1812 – 1822).

Tory Party

March 17 1801 – May 10 1804

William Pitt the Younger

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 28 1759; d. January 23 1806.

Monarch: George III.

Other prominent offices: Prime Minister of Great Britain (1783 – 1800); Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1801); Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1781 – 1800); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1782 – 1783, 1783 – 1801, 1804 – 1806); Leader of the House of Commons (1783 – 1801, 1804 – 1806); Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1792 – 1806); Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1801 – 1806).

Tory Party

May 10 1804 – January 23 1806

William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 25 1759; d. January 12 1834.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Baron Grenville in the Peerage of Great Britain (1790 – 1834).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1782 – 1790); Chief Secretary for Ireland (1782 – 1783); Paymaster of the Forces (1784 – 1789); Speaker of the House of Commons (1789); Home Secretary (1789 – 1791); President of the Board of Control (1790 – 1793); Leader of the House of Lords (1790 – 1801); Foreign Secretary (1791 – 1801); Leader of the House of Lords (1806 – 1807); Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1809 – 1834).

Whig Party

February 11 1806 – March 25 1807

William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 14 1738; d. October 30 1809.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Duke of Portland in the Peerage of Great Britain (1762 – 1809).

Other prominent offices: Prime Minister of Great Britain (1783); Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1761 – 1762); Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1782); Leader of the House of Lords (1783); Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1792 – 1809); Home Secretary (1794 – 1801); Lord President of the Council (1801 – 1805).

Tory Party

March 31 1807 – October 4 1809

Spencer Perceval

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 1 1762; d. May 11 1812.

Monarch: George III.

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1796 – 1800); Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1800 – 1812); Solicitor General for England and Wales (1801 – 1802); Attorney General for England and Wales (1802 – 1806); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1807 – 1812); Leader of the House of Commons (1807 – 1812); Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1807 – 1812).

Tory Party

October 4 1809 – May 11 1812

Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 7 1770; d. December 4 1828.

Monarchs: George III (1812 – 1820); George IV (1820 – 1827).

Titles of nobility: Baron Hawkesbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1803 – 1828); Earl of Liverpool in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1808 – 1828).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1790 – 1801); Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1801 – 1803); Foreign Secretary (1801 – 1804); Leader of the House of Lords (1803 – 1806, 1807 – 1827); Home Secretary (1804 – 1806, 1807 – 1809); Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1806 – 1827); Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (1809 – 1812).

Tory Party

June 8 1812 – April 9 1827

George Canning

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 11 1770; d. August 8 1827.

Monarch: George IV.

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1793 – 1800); Paymaster of the Forces (1800 – 1801); Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1801 – 1827); Treasurer of the Navy (1804 – 1806); Foreign Secretary (1807 – 1809); President of the Board of Control (1816 – 1821); Foreign Secretary (1822 – 1827); Leader of the House of Commons (1822 – 1827); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1827).

Tory Party

April 12 1827 – August 8 1827

Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 1 1782; d. January 28 1859.

Monarch: George IV.

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1806 – 1827); Paymaster of the Forces (1813 – 1817); President of the Board of Trade (1818 – 1823, 1841 – 1843); Treasurer of the Navy (1818 – 1823); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1823 – 1827); Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (1827, 1830 – 1833); Leader of the House of Lords (1827 – 1828); Lord Privy Seal (1833 – 1834); President of the Board of Control (1843 – 1846).

Tory Party

August 31 1827 – January 8 1828

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1769; d. September 14 1852.

Monarchs: George IV (1828 – 1830); William IV (1830).

Titles of nobility: Viscount Wellington in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1809 – 1852); Count of Vimeiro in the nobility of Portugal (1811 – 1852); Earl of Wellington in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Marquess of Wellington in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1812 – 1852); Duke of Vitória in the nobility of Portugal (1812 – 1852); Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo in the nobility of Spain (1812 – 1852); Duke of Wellington in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1814 – 1852); Prince of Waterloo in the nobility of the Netherlands (1815 – 1852).

Military ranks: Promoted to Colonel, 1796. Promoted to Brigadier-General, 1801. Promoted to Major-General, 1802. Promoted to Lieutenant-General, 1808. Promoted to General, 1811. Promoted to Field Marshal, 1813.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of Ireland, 1790 – 1797; Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1806; Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1807 – 1809; Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1807 – 1809; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1828 – 1830; Leader of the House of Lords, 1828 – 1830; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1834; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1834 – 1835; Leader of the House of Lords, 1834 – 1835; Leader of the House of Lords, 1841 – 1846.

Military posts held: Governor of Plymouth, 1819 – 1827; Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, 1827 – 1828; Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, 1842 – 1852.

Diplomatic posts held: Ambassador of the United Kingdom to France, 1814 – 1815.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1828 – 1834; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1828 – 1846.

Academic offices held: Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 1834 – 1852.

Ceremonial offices held: Constable of the Tower of London, 1827 – 1852; Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 1829 – 1852.

Tory Party

January 22 1828 – November 16 1830

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 13 1764; d. July 17 1845.

Monarch: William IV.

Titles of nobility: Earl Grey in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1807 – 1845).

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain, 1786 – 1800; Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1801 – 1807; First Lord of the Admiralty, 1806; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1806 – 1807; Leader of the House of Commons, 1806 – 1807; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1830 – 1834; First Lord of the Treasury, 1830 – 1834; Leader of the House of Lords, 1830 – 1834.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Whig Party, 1830 – 1834; Leader of the Whig Party in the House of Lords, 1830 – 1834.

Whig Party

November 22 1830 – July 9 1834

Henry William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 15 1779; d. November 24 1848.

Monarch: William IV.

Titles of nobility: Baron Melbourne in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1828 – 1848; Viscount Melbourne in the Peerage of Ireland, 1828 – 1848.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1806 – 1812; Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1816 – 1826; Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1827 – 1828; Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1827 – 1828; Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1830 – 1834; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1834; Leader of the House of Lords, 1834; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1835 – 1841; Leader of the House of Lords, 1835 – 1841.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Whig Party, 1834 – 1842; Leader of the Whig Party in the House of Lords, 1834 – 1842.

Whig Party

July 16 1834 – November 14 1834

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Note: This was a caretaker ministry formed following the dismissal of Lord Melbourne’s government in November 1834 by King William IV. The King asked the Duke of Wellington to form a government, but he declined, instead forming a temporary government until Sir Robert Peel could return from abroad. See e.g. the following lithograph: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/736555

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1769; d. September 14 1852.

Monarch: William IV.

Military posts held: Governor of Plymouth, 1819 – 1827; Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, 1827 – 1828; Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, 1842 – 1852.

Diplomatic posts held: Ambassador of the United Kingdom to France, 1814 – 1815.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1828 – 1834; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1828 – 1846.

Academic offices held: Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 1834 – 1852.

Ceremonial offices held: Constable of the Tower of London, 1827 – 1852; Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 1829 – 1852.

Tory Party

November 17 1834 – December 9 1834

Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 5 1788; d. July 2 1850.

Monarch: William IV.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1809 – 1850; Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1812 – 1818; Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1822 – 1827; Leader of the House of Commons, 1828 – 1830; Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1828 – 1830; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1834 – 1835; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1834 – 1835; Leader of the House of Commons, 1834 – 1835; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1841 – 1846; Leader of the House of Commons, 1841 – 1846.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1834 – 1846; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons, 1834 – 1846.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1836 – 1838.

Conservative Party

December 10 1834 – April 8 1835

Henry William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 15 1779; d. November 24 1848.

Monarchs: William IV, 1835 – 1837; Victoria, 1837 – 1841.

Titles of nobility: Baron Melbourne in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1828 – 1848; Viscount Melbourne in the Peerage of Ireland, 1828 – 1848.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Whig Party, 1834 – 1842; Leader of the Whig Party in the House of Lords, 1834 – 1842.

Whig Party

April 18 1835 – August 30 1841

Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 5 1788; d. July 2 1850.

Monarch: Victoria.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1834 – 1846; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons, 1834 – 1846.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1836 – 1838.

Conservative Party

August 30 1841 – June 29 1846

Lord John Russell

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 18 1792; d. May 28 1878.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Earl Russell in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1861 – 1878.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1813 – 1817; Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1818 – 1861; Paymaster of the Forces, 1830 – 1834; Leader of the House of Commons, 1834; Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1835 – 1839; Leader of the House of Commons, 1835 – 1841; Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, 1839 – 1841; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1846 – 1852; Leader of the House of Commons, 1846 – 1852; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1852 – 1853; Leader of the House of Commons, 1852 – 1855; Lord President of the Council, 1854 – 1855; Secretary of State for the Colonies, 1855; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1859 – 1865; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1865 – 1866.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Whig Party in the House of Commons, 1834 – 1855; Leader of the Whig Party, 1842 – 1855; Leader of the Liberal Party, 1865 – 1866; Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords, 1865 – 1868.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1846 – 1847; Rector of the University of Aberdeen, 1863 – 1866; President of the Royal Historical Society, 1873 – 1878.

Whig Party

June 30 1846 – February 21 1852

Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1799; d. October 23 1869

Titles of nobility: Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1844 – 1869; Earl of Derby in the Peerage of England, 1851 – 1869.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1822 – 1830; Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1830 – 1833; Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1831 – 1844; Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, 1833 – 1834; Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, 1841 – 1845; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1852; Leader of the House of Lords, 1852; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1858 – 1859; Leader of the House of Lords, 1858 – 1859; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1866 – 1868; Leader of the House of Lords, 1866 – 1868.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1846 – 1868; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1846 – 1868.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1834 – 1836; Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 1852 – 1869.

Conservative Party

February 23 1852 – December 17 1852

George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 28 1784; d. December 14 1860.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Aberdeen in the Peerage of Scotland, 1801 – 1860; Viscount Gordon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1814 – 1860.

Political offices held: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 1828; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1828 – 1830; Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, 1834 – 1835; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1841 – 1846; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1852 – 1855; Leader of the House of Lords, 1852 – 1855.

Diplomatic posts held: Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Austrian Empire, 1813 – 1814.

Peelite Conservative

December 19 1852 – January 30 1855

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 20 1784; d. October 18 1865.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Viscount Palmerston in the Peerage of Ireland, 1802 – 1865.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1807 – 1865; Secretary at War, 1809 – 1828; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1830 – 1834; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1835 – 1841; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1846 – 1851; Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1852 – 1855; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1855 – 1858; Leader of the House of Commons, 1855 – 1858; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1859 – 1865; Leader of the House of Commons, 1859 – 1865.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Whig Party, 1855 – 1859; Leader of the Whig Party in the House of Commons, 1855 – 1859; Leader of the Liberal Party, 1859 – 1865; Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons, 1859 – 1865.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1862 – 1865.

Ceremonial offices held: Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 1861 – 1865.

Whig Party

February 6 1855 – February 19 1858

Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1799; d. October 23 1869.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1844 – 1869; Earl of Derby in the Peerage of England, 1851 – 1869.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1846 – 1868; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1846 – 1868.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1834 – 1836; Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 1852 – 1869.

Conservative Party

February 20 1858 – June 11 1859

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 20 1784; d. October 18 1865.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Viscount Palmerston in the Peerage of Ireland, 1802 – 1865.

Liberal Party

June 12 1859 – October 18 1865

John Russell, 1st Earl Russell

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 18 1792; d. May 28 1878

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Earl Russell in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1861 – 1878.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1846 – 1847; Rector of the University of Aberdeen, 1863 – 1866; President of the Royal Historical Society, 1873 – 1878.

Liberal Party

October 29 1865 – June 26 1866

Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1799; d. October 23 1869.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Baron Stanley of Bickerstaffe in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1844 – 1869; Earl of Derby in the Peerage of England, 1851 – 1869.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1846 – 1868; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1846 – 1868.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1834 – 1836; Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 1852 – 1869.

Conservative Party

June 28 1866 – February 25 1868

Benjamin Disraeli

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 21 1804; d. April 19 1881.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Beaconsfield in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1876 – 1881.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1837 – 1876; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1852; Leader of the House of Commons, 1852; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1858 – 1859; Leader of the House of Commons, 1858 – 1859; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1866 – 1868; Leader of the House of Commons, 1866 – 1868; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1868; Leader of the Opposition, 1868 – 1874; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1874 – 1880; Leader of the House of Commons, 1874 – 1876; Lord Privy Seal, 1876 – 1878; Leader of the House of Lords, 1876 – 1880; Leader of the Opposition, 1880 – 1881.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons, 1849 – 1876; Leader of the Conservative Party, 1868 – 1881; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1876 – 1881.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1871 – 1877.

Conservative Party

February 27 1868 – December 1 1868

William Ewart Gladstone

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 29 1809; d. May 19 1898.

Monarch: Victoria.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1832 – 1845; President of the Board of Trade, 1843 – 1845; Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, 1845 – 1846; Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1847 – 1895; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1852 – 1855; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1859 – 1865; Leader of the House of Commons, 1865 – 1866; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1868 – 1874; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1873 – 1874; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1880 – 1885; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1880 – 1882; Leader of the House of Commons, 1880 – 1885; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1886; Leader of the House of Commons, 1886; Lord Privy Seal, 1886; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1892 – 1894; Leader of the House of Commons, 1892 – 1894; Lord Privy Seal, 1892 – 1894.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Liberal Party, 1866 – 1875; Leader of the Liberal Party, 1880 – 1894; Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons, 1865 – 1875; Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons, 1880 – 1894.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Edinburgh, 1859 – 1865; Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1877 – 1880.

Liberal Party

December 3 1868 – February 17 1874

Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 21 1804; d. April 19 1881.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Beaconsfield in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1876 – 1881.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1871 – 1877.

Conservative Party

February 20 1874 – April 21 1880

William Ewart Gladstone

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 29 1809; d. May 19 1898.

Monarch: Victoria.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Edinburgh, 1859 – 1865; Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1877 – 1880.

Liberal Party

April 23 1880 – June 9 1885

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1868 – 1903.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1853 – 1868; Secretary of State for India, 1866 – 1867; Secretary of State for India, 1874 – 1878; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1878 – 1880; Leader of the Opposition, 1881 – 1885; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1885 – 1886; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1885 – 1886; Leader of the House of Lords, 1885 – 1886; Leader of the Opposition, 1886; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1886 – 1892; First Lord of the Treasury, 1886 – 1887; Leader of the House of Lords, 1886 – 1892; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1887 – 1892; Leader of the Opposition, 1892 – 1895; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1895 – 1900; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1895 – 1902; Leader of the House of Lords, 1895 – 1902; Lord Privy Seal, 1900 – 1902.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1881 – 1902; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1881 – 1902.

Academic offices held: Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 1869 – 1903.

Ceremonial offices held: Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 1895 – 1903.

Conservative Party

June 23 1885 – January 28 1886

William Ewart Gladstone

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 29 1809; d. May 19 1898.

Monarch: Victoria.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Edinburgh, 1859 – 1865; Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1877 – 1880.

Liberal Party

February 1 1886 – July 20 1886

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1868 – 1903.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1881 – 1902; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1881 – 1902.

Academic offices held: Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 1869 – 1903.

Ceremonial offices held: Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 1895 – 1903.

Conservative Party

July 25 1886 – August 11 1892

William Ewart Gladstone

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 29 1809; d. May 19 1898.

Monarch: Victoria.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Edinburgh, 1859 – 1865; Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1877 – 1880.

Liberal Party

August 15 1892 – March 2 1894

Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 7 1847; d. May 21 1929.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Rosebery in the Peerage of Scotland, 1868 – 1929; Baron Rosebery in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1868 – 1929; Earl of Midlothian in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1911 – 1929.

Political offices held: Lord Privy Seal, 1885; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1886; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1892 – 1894; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1894 – 1895; Leader of the House of Lords, 1894 – 1895; Lord President of the Council, 1894 – 1895; Leader of the Opposition, 1895 – 1896.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Liberal Party, 1894 – 1896; Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords, 1894 – 1896.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Aberdeen, 1878 – 1881; Rector of the University of Edinburgh, 1880 – 1883; Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1899 – 1902; Chancellor of the University of London, 1902 – 1929; Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, 1908 – 1929; Rector of the University of St. Andrews, 1910 – 1913.

Liberal Party

March 5 1894 – June 22 1895

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903.

Monarchs: Victoria, 1895 – 1901; Edward VII, 1901 – 1902.

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1868 – 1903.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1881 – 1902; Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1881 – 1902.

Academic offices held: Chancellor of the University of Oxford, 1869 – 1903.

Ceremonial offices held: Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 1895 – 1903.

Conservative Party

June 25 1895 – July 11 1902

Arthur James Balfour

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 25 1848; d. March 19 1930.

Monarch: Edward VII.

Titles of nobility: Lord and Baron of Hailes in the Scottish feudal lordship, 1876 – 1930; Earl of Balfour in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1922 – 1930.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1874 – 1922; President of the Local Government Board, 1885 – 1886; Secretary for Scotland, 1886 – 1887; First Lord of the Treasury, 1891 – 1892; Leader of the House of Commons, 1891 – 1892; First Lord of the Treasury, 1895 – 1905; Lord Privy Seal, 1902 – 1903; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1902 – 1905; Leader of the Opposition, 1905 – 1911; First Lord of the Admiralty, 1915 – 1916; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1916 – 1919; Lord President of the Council, 1919 – 1922; Lord President of the Council, 1925 – 1929.

Colonial posts held: Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1887 – 1891.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Conservative Party, 1902 – 1911.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of St. Andrews, 1886 – 1889; Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1890 – 1893; Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, 1891 – 1930; Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, 1919 – 1930.

Conservative Party

July 12 1902 – December 4 1905

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 7 1836; d. April 22 1908.

Monarch: Edward VII.

Political offices held: Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1868 – 1908; Secretary of State for War, 1886; Secretary of State for War, 1892 – 1895; Leader of the Opposition, 1899 – 1905; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1905 – 1908; First Lord of the Treasury, 1905 – 1908; Leader of the House of Commons, 1905 – 1908.

Colonial posts held: Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1884 – 1885.

Political party positions held: Leader of the Liberal Party, 1899 – 1908; Leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons, 1899 – 1908; President of the Scottish Liberal Federation, 1901 – 1908.

Liberal Party

December 5 1905 – April 3 1908

Herbert Henry Asquith

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 12 1852; d. February 15 1928

Titles of nobility: Earl of Oxford and Asquith in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1928)

Liberal Party

April 8 1908 – December 5 1916

David Lloyd George

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 17 1863; d. March 26 1945

Titles of nobility: Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1945)

Liberal Party

December 6 1916 – October 19 1922

Andrew Bonar Law

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 16 1858; d. October 30 1923

Conservative Party

October 23 1922 – May 20 1923

Stanley Baldwin

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1867; d. December 14 1947.

Honours:

Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, May 28 1937.² Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and Viscount Corvedale, June 8 1937.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Stanley Baldwin,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-stanley-baldwin/index.html.

[2] “No. 34403,” The London Gazette, June 1 1937, 3508, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34403/page/3508.

[3] “No. 34405,” The London Gazette, June 8 1937, 3663, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34405/page/3663.

Conservative Party

May 22 1923 – January 22 1924

James Ramsay MacDonald

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1866; d. November 9 1937.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Ramsay MacDonald,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-ramsay-macdonald/index.html.

Labour Party

January 22 1924 – November 4 1924

Stanley Baldwin

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1867; d. December 14 1947.

Honours:

Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, May 28 1937.² Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and Viscount Corvedale, June 8 1937.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Stanley Baldwin,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-stanley-baldwin/index.html.

[2] “No. 34403,” The London Gazette, June 1 1937, 3508, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34403/page/3508.

[3] “No. 34405,” The London Gazette, June 8 1937, 3663, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34405/page/3663.

Conservative Party

November 4 1924 – June 4 1929

James Ramsay MacDonald

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1866; d. November 9 1937.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Ramsay MacDonald,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-ramsay-macdonald/index.html.

Labour Party (1929 – 1931); National Labour Party (1931 – 1935)

June 5 1929 – June 7 1935

Stanley Baldwin

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1867; d. December 14 1947.

Honours:

Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, May 28 1937.² Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and Viscount Corvedale, June 8 1937.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Stanley Baldwin,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-stanley-baldwin/index.html.

[2] “No. 34403,” The London Gazette, June 1 1937, 3508, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34403/page/3508.

[3] “No. 34405,” The London Gazette, June 8 1937, 3663, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34405/page/3663.

Conservative Party

June 7 1935 – May 28 1937

Arthur Neville Chamberlain

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 18 1869; d. November 9 1940

Conservative Party

May 28 1937 – May 10 1940

Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 30 1874; d. January 24 1965.

Honours:

Created a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 24 1953.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Winston Churchill,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-winston-churchill/index.html.

[2] “No. 39838,” The London Gazette, April 28 1953, 2357, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39838/page/2357/.

Conservative Party

May 10 1940 – July 26 1945

Clement Richard Attlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1883; d. October 8 1967.

Honours:

Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Attlee and Viscount Prestwood, December 16 1955.² Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 7 1956.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Clement Attlee,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-clement-attlee/index.html.

[2] “No. 40656,” The London Gazette, December 16 1955, 7079, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40656/page/7079.

[3] “No. 40751,” The London Gazette, April 10 1956, 2095, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40751/page/2095/.

Labour Party

July 26 1945 – October 26 1951

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 30 1874; d. January 24 1965.

Honours:

Created a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 24 1953.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Winston Churchill,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-winston-churchill/index.html.

[2] “No. 39838,” The London Gazette, April 28 1953, 2357, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39838/page/2357/.

Conservative Party

October 26 1951 – April 5 1955

Sir Robert Anthony Eden

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 12 1897; d. January 14 1977

Titles of nobility: Earl of Avon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1961 – 1977).

Conservative Party

April 6 1955 – January 9 1957

Maurice Harold Macmillan

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 10 1894; d. December 29 1986

Titles of nobility: Earl of Stockton in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1984 – 1986); Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1984 – 1986)

Conservative Party

January 10 1957 – October 18 1963

Sir Alexander Frederick “Alec” Douglas-Home

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 2 1903; d. October 9 1995.

Honours:

Given the courtesy title Lord Dunglass, April 30 1918.¹ Succeeded to the Peerage of Scotland as the 14th Earl of Home, July 11 1951.¹ Created a Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, October 16 1962.² Created Baron Home of the Hirsel, December 19 1974.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Sir Alec Douglas-Home,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 20 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/sir-alec-douglas-home/index.html.

[2] “No. 42815,” The London Gazette, October 23 1962, 8275, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42815/page/8275.

[3] “No. 46441,” The London Gazette, December 24 1974, 13203, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46441/page/.

Conservative Party

October 19 1963 – October 16 1964

James Harold Wilson

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 11 1916; d. May 23 1995.

Honours:

Created Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 23 1976.² Created Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, September 16 1983.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Harold Wilson.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1016/career.

[2] “No. 46885,” The London Gazette, April 27 1976, 6047, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46885/page/6047.

[3] “No. 49485,” The London Gazette, September 21 1983, 12361, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49485/page/12361.

Labour Party

October 16 1964 – June 19 1970

Edward Richard George “Ted” Heath

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 9 1916; d. July 17 2005.

Honours:

Appointed Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, April 23 1992.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Edward Heath.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/195/career.

[2] “No. 52903,” The London Gazette, April 24 1992, 7175, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52903/page/7175.

Conservative Party

June 19 1970 – March 4 1974

James Harold Wilson

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 11 1916; d. May 23 1995.

Honours:

Created Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 23 1976.² Created Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, September 16 1983.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Harold Wilson.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1016/career.

[2] “No. 46885,” The London Gazette, April 27 1976, 6047, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46885/page/6047.

[3] “No. 49485,” The London Gazette, September 21 1983, 12361, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49485/page/12361.

Labour Party

March 4 1974 – April 5 1976

Leonard James Callaghan

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 27 1912; d. March 26 2005.

Honours:

Created Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, November 5 1987.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Lord Callaghan of Cardiff.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/3326/career.

[2] “No. 51118,” The London Gazette, November 12 1987, 13941, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/51118/page/13941.

Labour Party

April 5 1976 – May 4 1979

Margaret Hilda Thatcher

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 13 1925; d. April 8 2013.

Honours:

Created Baroness Thatcher, June 26 1992.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Baroness Thatcher.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/953/career.

[2] “No. 52978,” The London Gazette, July 1 1992, 11045, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52978/page/11045.

Conservative Party

May 4 1979 – November 28 1990

John Major

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1943.

Honours:

Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Garter, April 23 2005.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for John Major.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/119/career.

[2] “No. 57622,” The London Gazette, April 25 2005, 5363, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57622/page/5363.

Conservative Party

November 28 1990 – May 2 1997

Anthony Charles Lynton “Tony” Blair

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 6 1953.

Honours:

Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Garter, January 1 2022.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Tony Blair.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/512/career.

[2] “No. 63581,” The London Gazette, January 10 2022, 214, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63581/page/214.

Labour Party

May 2 1997 – June 27 2007

James Gordon Brown

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 20 1951.

Labour Party

June 27 2007 – May 11 2010

David William Donald Cameron

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 9 1966.

Honours:

Created Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton, November 17 2023.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for David Cameron.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1467/career.

[2] “No. 64237,” The London Gazette, November 22 2023, 23554, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64237/page/23554.

Conservative Party

May 11 2010 – July 13 2016

Theresa Mary May

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 1 1956.

Conservative Party

July 13 2016 – July 24 2019

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 19 1964.

Conservative Party

July 24 2019 – September 6 2022

Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Truss

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 4 1973.

Conservative Party

September 6 2022 – October 25 2022

Rishi Sunak

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 12 1980.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Rishi Sunak.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/4483/career.

Conservative Party

October 25 2022 – July 5 2024

Sir Keir Rodney Starmer

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 2 1962.

Honors:

Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the New Year Honours 2014.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Keir Starmer.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/4514/career.

[2] “No. 60728,” The London Gazette, Supplement, December 31, 2013, 3, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60728/supplement/3.

Labour Party

July 5 2024 – present

Notes and References:

[1] Previously Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Continued after the Acts of Union 1800 as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Deputy Heads of Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

A deputy head of government in the United Kingdom, called the deputy prime minister, has historically been appointed from time to time in the United Kingdom. The office is not permanent or constitutionally defined; rather, it is most often used an honorary title for a senior member of the cabinet, a deputy leader in the ruling party, or in some cases (such as during the 2010 – 2015 coalition government) as a recognition of a junior political partner.

The office of Deputy Prime Minister in the United Kingdom is not a permanent or constitutionally defined position, but rather an occasional and flexible designation within the executive. Unlike the prime ministership, it has no statutory basis and confers no fixed powers or duties; instead, its existence and significance depend entirely on the preferences of the serving prime minister.

Historically, the title has been used intermittently, often in specific political circumstances. In some cases, it has been granted to a senior minister as a mark of status within the ruling party or to reflect a role as second-in-command. For example, during the Second World War, Clement Attlee served as Deputy Prime Minister under Winston Churchill in the wartime coalition government, reflecting both his leadership of the Labour Party and the need for cross-party balance. In other periods, the title has been revived to manage coalition or partnership arrangements, most notably when Nick Clegg served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015 in the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition.

In functional terms, the Deputy Prime Minister does not automatically assume the powers of the prime minister, nor is there a formal line of succession attached to the role. Responsibilities vary widely and are typically defined by the portfolio assigned to the officeholder, which may include oversight of particular policy areas or coordination across government. In the absence or incapacity of the prime minister, it is not the title itself but political convention and practical necessity that determine who acts in their place, often involving other senior ministers.

As a result, the office is best understood as a political instrument rather than a constitutional one: a flexible designation used to accommodate coalition politics, reward seniority, or signal hierarchy within government, rather than a fixed component of the United Kingdom’s institutional structure.

List of Deputy Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Clement Richard Attlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1883; d. October 8 1967.

Honours:

Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Attlee and Viscount Prestwood, December 16 1955.² Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 7 1956.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Clement Attlee,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-clement-attlee/index.html.

[2] “No. 40656,” The London Gazette, December 16 1955, 7079, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40656/page/7079.

[3] “No. 40751,” The London Gazette, April 10 1956, 2095, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40751/page/2095/.

Labour Party

February 19 1942 – May 23 1945

The office of Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was vacant from May 23 1945 until July 5 1995.

Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 21 1933.

Conservative Party

July 5 1995 – May 2 1997

John Leslie Prescott

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 31 1938; d. November 20 2024.

Labour Party

May 2 1997 – June 27 2007

The office of Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was vacant from June 27 2007 until May 11 2010.

Nicholas William Peter “Nick” Clegg

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 7 1967.

Liberal Democrats

May 11 2010 – May 8 2015

The office of Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was vacant from May 8 2015 until September 15 2021.

Dominic Rennie Raab

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 25 1974.

Conservative Party

September 15 2021 – September 6 2022

Thérèse Anne Coffey

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 18 1971.

Conservative Party

September 6 2022 – October 25 2022

Dominic Rennie Raab

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 25 1974.

Conservative Party

October 25 2022 – April 21 2023

Oliver James Dowden

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 1 1978.

Conservative Party

April 21 2023 – July 5 2024

Angela Rayner

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 28 1980.

Labour Party

July 5 2024 – September 5 2025

David Lindon Lammy

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 19 1972.

Labour Party

September 5 2025 – present

Leaders of the Opposition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Name

Political Party

Dates Office Held

James Ramsay MacDonald

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1866; d. November 9 1937.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Ramsay MacDonald,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-ramsay-macdonald/index.html.

Labour Party

November 21 1922 – January 22 1924

Stanley Baldwin

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1867; d. December 14 1947.

Honours:

Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, May 28 1937.² Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and Viscount Corvedale, June 8 1937.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Stanley Baldwin,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-stanley-baldwin/index.html.

[2] “No. 34403,” The London Gazette, June 1 1937, 3508, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34403/page/3508.

[3] “No. 34405,” The London Gazette, June 8 1937, 3663, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34405/page/3663.

Conservative Party

January 22 1924 – November 4 1924

James Ramsay MacDonald

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1866; d. November 9 1937.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Ramsay MacDonald,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-ramsay-macdonald/index.html.

Labour Party

November 4 1924 – June 5 1929

Stanley Baldwin

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 3 1867; d. December 14 1947.

Honours:

Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, May 28 1937.² Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and Viscount Corvedale, June 8 1937.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Stanley Baldwin,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-stanley-baldwin/index.html.

[2] “No. 34403,” The London Gazette, June 1 1937, 3508, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34403/page/3508.

[3] “No. 34405,” The London Gazette, June 8 1937, 3663, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34405/page/3663.

Conservative Party

June 5 1929 – August 24 1931

Arthur Henderson

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 13 1863; d. October 20 1935.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Arthur Henderson,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-arthur-henderson/index.html.

Labour Party

August 28 1931 – October 27 1931

George Lansbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 22 1859; d. May 7 1940.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “George Lansbury,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-george-lansbury/index.html.

Labour Party

November 5 1931 – October 8 1935

Clement Richard Attlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1883; d. October 8 1967.

Honours:

Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Attlee and Viscount Prestwood, December 16 1955.² Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 7 1956.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Clement Attlee,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-clement-attlee/index.html.

[2] “No. 40656,” The London Gazette, December 16 1955, 7079, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40656/page/7079.

[3] “No. 40751,” The London Gazette, April 10 1956, 2095, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40751/page/2095/.

Labour Party

October 8 1935 – May 11 1940

Hastings Bertrand Lees-Smith

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 26 1878; d. December 18 1941.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Hastings Lees-Smith,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-hastings-lees-smith/index.html.

Labour Party

May 22 1940 – December 18 1941

Frederick William Pethick-Lawrence

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 28 1871; d. September 10 1961.

Honours:

Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron Pethick-Lawrence, August 16 1945.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Frederick Pethick-Lawrencne,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-frederick-pethick-lawrence/index.html.

[2] “No. 37234,” The London Gazette, August 21 1945, 4227, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37234/page/4227.

Labour Party

January 21 1942 – February 1942

Arthur Greenwood

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 8 1880; d. June 9 1954.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Arthur Greenwood,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-arthur-greenwood/index.html.

Labour Party

February 1942 – May 23 1945

Clement Richard Attlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1883; d. October 8 1967.

Honours:

Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Attlee and Viscount Prestwood, December 16 1955.² Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 7 1956.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Clement Attlee,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-clement-attlee/index.html.

[2] “No. 40656,” The London Gazette, December 16 1955, 7079, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40656/page/7079.

[3] “No. 40751,” The London Gazette, April 10 1956, 2095, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40751/page/2095/.

Labour Party

May 23 1945 – July 26 1945

Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 30 1874; d. January 24 1965.

Honours:

Created a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 24 1953.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Winston Churchill,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-winston-churchill/index.html.

[2] “No. 39838,” The London Gazette, April 28 1953, 2357, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39838/page/2357/.

Conservative Party

July 26 1945 – October 26 1951

Clement Richard Attlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1883; d. October 8 1967.

Honours:

Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Attlee and Viscount Prestwood, December 16 1955.² Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 7 1956.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Clement Attlee,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-clement-attlee/index.html.

[2] “No. 40656,” The London Gazette, December 16 1955, 7079, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40656/page/7079.

[3] “No. 40751,” The London Gazette, April 10 1956, 2095, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40751/page/2095/.

Labour Party

October 26 1951 – November 25 1955

Herbert Stanley Morrison

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1888; d. March 6 1965.

Honours:

Created Baron Morrison of Lambeth, November 2 1959.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Herbert Morrison,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026,https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-herbert-morrison/index.html.

[2] “No. 41860,” The London Gazette, November 3 1959, 6942, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41860/page/6942.

Labour Party

November 25 1955 – December 14 1955

Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 9 1906; d. January 18 1963.

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Hugh Gaitskell,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-hugh-gaitskell/index.html.

Labour Party

December 14 1955 – January 18 1963

George Alfred Brown

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 2 1914; d. June 2 1985.

Honours:

Created Baron George-Brown, November 6 1970.²

References:

[1] [1] UK Parliament, “George Brown,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-george-brown-1/index.html.

[2] “No. 45229,” The London Gazette, November 10 1970, 12333, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45229/page/12333.

Labour Party

January 18 1963 – February 14 1963

James Harold Wilson

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 11 1916; d. May 23 1995.

Honours:

Created Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 23 1976.² Created Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, September 16 1983.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Harold Wilson.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1016/career.

[2] “No. 46885,” The London Gazette, April 27 1976, 6047, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46885/page/6047.

[3] “No. 49485,” The London Gazette, September 21 1983, 12361, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49485/page/12361.

Labour Party

February 14 1963 – October 16 1964

Sir Alexander Frederick “Alec” Douglas-Home

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 2 1903; d. October 9 1995.

Honours:

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Sir Alec Douglas-Home,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 20 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/sir-alec-douglas-home/index.html.

[2] “No. 42815,” The London Gazette, October 23 1962, 8275, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42815/page/8275.

[3] “No. 46441,” The London Gazette, December 24 1974, 13203, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46441/page/.

Conservative Party

October 16 1964 – July 28 1965

Edward Richard George “Ted” Heath

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 9 1916; d. July 17 2005.

Honours:

Appointed Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, April 23 1992.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Edward Heath.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/195/career.

[2] “No. 52903,” The London Gazette, April 24 1992, 7175, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52903/page/7175.

Conservative Party

July 28 1965 – June 19 1970

James Harold Wilson

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 11 1916; d. May 23 1995.

Honours:

Created Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 23 1976.² Created Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, September 16 1983.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Harold Wilson.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1016/career.

[2] “No. 46885,” The London Gazette, April 27 1976, 6047, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46885/page/6047.

[3] “No. 49485,” The London Gazette, September 21 1983, 12361, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49485/page/12361.

Labour Party

June 19 1970 – March 4 1974

Edward Richard George “Ted” Heath

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 9 1916; d. July 17 2005.

Honours:

Appointed Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, April 23 1992.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Edward Heath.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/195/career.

[2] “No. 52903,” The London Gazette, April 24 1992, 7175, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52903/page/7175.

Conservative Party

March 4 1974 – February 11 1975

Margaret Hilda Thatcher

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 13 1925; d. April 8 2013.

Honours:

Created Baroness Thatcher, June 26 1992.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Baroness Thatcher.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/953/career.

[2] “No. 52978,” The London Gazette, July 1 1992, 11045, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52978/page/11045.

Conservative Party

February 11 1975 – May 4 1979

Leonard James Callaghan

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 27 1912; d. March 26 2005.

Honours:

Created Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, November 5 1987.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Lord Callaghan of Cardiff.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/3326/career.

[2] “No. 51118,” The London Gazette, November 12 1987, 13941, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/51118/page/13941.

Labour Party

May 4 1979 – November 10 1980

Michael Mackintosh Foot

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1913; d. March 3 2010.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Michael Foot.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/831/career.

Labour Party

November 10 1980 – October 2 1983

Neil Gordon Kinnock

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 28 1942.

Honours:

Created Baron Kinnock, January 31 2005.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Lord Kinnock.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/693/career.

[2] “No. 57549,” The London Gazette, February 2 2005, 1249, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57549/page/1249.

Labour Party

October 2 1983 – July 18 1992

John Smith

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 13 1938; d. May 12 1994.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for John Smith.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/564/career.

Labour Party

July 18 1992 – May 12 1994

Margaret Mary Beckett

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 15 1943.

Honours:

Created Baroness Beckett, August 14 2024.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Baroness Beckett.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/328/career.

[2] “No. 64493,” The London Gazette, August 20 2024, 16086, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64493/page/16086.

Labour Party

May 12 1994 – July 21 1994

Anthony Charles Lynton “Tony” Blair

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 6 1953.

Honours:

Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Garter, January 1 2022.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Tony Blair.” Accessed April 20, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/512/career.

[2] “No. 63581,” The London Gazette, January 10 2022, 214, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63581/page/214.

Labour Party

July 21 1994 – May 2 1997

John Major

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 29 1943.

Honours:

Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Garter, April 23 2005.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for John Major.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/119/career.

[2] “No. 57622,” The London Gazette, April 25 2005, 5363, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57622/page/5363.

Conservative Party

May 2 1997 – June 19 1997

William Jefferson Hague

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 26 1961.

Honours:

Created Baron Hague of Richmond, October 9 2015.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Lord Hague of Richmond.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/379/career.

[2] “No. 27625,” The Edinburgh Gazette, Supplement, October 14 2015, 1726, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/27625/page/1726.

Conservative Party

June 19 1997 – September 13 2001

George Iain Duncan Smith

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 9 1954.

Honours:

Appointed Knight Bachelor in the 2020 New Year Honours.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Iain Duncan Smith.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/152/career.

[2] “No. 62866,” The London Gazette, Supplement, December 28 2019, N2, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62866/supplement/N2.

Conservative Party

September 13 2001 – November 6 2003

Michael Howard

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 7 1941.

Honours:

Created Baron Howard of Lympne in the Dissolution Honours 2010.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Lord Howard of Lympne.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/82/career.

[2] “No. 59491,” The London Gazette, July 19 2010, 13713, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59491/page/13713.

Conservative Party

November 6 2003 – December 6 2005

David William Donald Cameron

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 9 1966.

Honours:

Created Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton, November 17 2023.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for David Cameron.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1467/career.

[2] “No. 64237,” The London Gazette, November 22 2023, 23554, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64237/page/23554.

Conservative Party

December 6 2005 – May 11 2010

Harriet Ruth Harman

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 30 1950.

Honors:

Created Baroness Harman in the Dissolution Honours 2024.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Harriet Harman.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/150/career.

[2] “No. 64496,” The London Gazette, August 22, 2024, 16342, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64496/page/16342.

Labour Party

May 11 2010 – September 25 2010

Edward Samuel “Ed” Miliband

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 24 1969.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Ed Miliband.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/1510/career.

Labour Party

September 25 2010 – May 8 2015

Harriet Ruth Harman

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 30 1950.

Honours:

Created Baroness Harman in the Dissolution Honours 2024.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Harriet Harman.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/150/career.

[2] “No. 64496,” The London Gazette, August 22, 2024, 16342, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64496/page/16342.

Labour Party

May 8 2015 – September 12 2015

Jeremy Bernard Corbyn

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 26 1949.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Jeremy Corbyn.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/185/career.

Labour Party

September 12 2015 – April 4 2020

Sir Keir Rodney Starmer

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 2 1962.

Honors:

Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the New Year Honours 2014.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Keir Starmer.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/4514/career.

[2] “No. 60728,” The London Gazette, Supplement, December 31, 2013, 3, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60728/supplement/3.

Labour Party

April 4 2020 – July 5 2024

Rishi Sunak

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 12 1980.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Rishi Sunak.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/4483/career.

Conservative Party

July 5 2024 – November 2 2024

Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke “Kemi” Badenoch

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 2 1980.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Mrs Kemi Badenoch.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/4597/career.

Conservative Party

November 2 2024 – present

Deputy Leaders of the Opposition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Name

Political Party

Dates Office Held

Clement Richard Attlee

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1883; d. October 8 1967.

Honours:

Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Earl Attlee and Viscount Prestwood, December 16 1955.² Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, April 7 1956.³

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Clement Attlee,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-clement-attlee/index.html.

[2] “No. 40656,” The London Gazette, December 16 1955, 7079, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40656/page/7079.

[3] “No. 40751,” The London Gazette, April 10 1956, 2095, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40751/page/2095/.

Labour Party

November 5 1931 – October 8 1935

Herbert Stanley Morrison

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1888; d. March 6 1965.

Honours:

Created Baron Morrison of Lambeth, November 2 1959.²

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Herbert Morrison,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 21 2026,https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-herbert-morrison/index.html.

[2] “No. 41860,” The London Gazette, November 3 1959, 6942, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41860/page/6942.

Labour Party

October 26 1951 – November 25 1955

Heads of government of the United Kingdom

Kingdom of England

Chief Minister of the Kingdom of England

Sidney Godolphin, 1st Baron Godolphin

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 15 1645; d. September 15 1712.

Tory Party

1684 – 1685

Sidney Godolphin, 1st Baron Godolphin

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 15 1645; d. September 15 1712.

Tory Party

1690 – 1697

Sidney Godolphin, 1st Baron Godolphin

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 15 1645; d. September 15 1712.

Tory Party

1700 – 1701

Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 15 1645; d. September 15 1712.

Tory Party

1702 – 1707

General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 26 1650; d. June 16 1722.

Tory Party

1702 – 1707

United Kingdom of Great Britain

Chief Minister of the Kingdom of Great Britain

Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 15 1645; d. September 15 1712.

Tory Party

1707 – 1710

General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 26 1650; d. June 16 1722.

Tory Party

1707 – 1710

Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Great Britain

Sir Robert Walpole

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 26 1676; d. March 18 1745.

Monarchs: George I (1721 – 1727); George II (1727 – 1742).

Titles of nobility: Baron Walpole of Houghton in the Peerage of Great Britain (1742 – 1745); Viscount Walpole in the Peerage of Great Britain (1742 – 1745); Earl of Orford (1742 – 1745).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of England (1701 – 1707); Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1707 – 1712; 1713 – 1742); Secretary at War (1708 – 1710); Treasurer of the Navy (1710 – 1711); Paymaster of the Forces (1714 – 1715; 1720 – 1721); First Lord of the Treasury (1715 – 1717; 1721 – 1742); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1715 – 1717; 1721 – 1742); Leader of the House of Commons (1721 – 1742).

Whig Party

1721 – 1742

Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1673; d. July 2 1743.

Monarch: George II.

Titles of nobility: Baron Wilmington in the Peerage of Great Britain (1728 – 1743); Earl of Wilmington in the Peerage of Great Britain (1730 – 1743).

Other prominent offices: Member of Parliament (1698 – 1710; 1713 – 1728); Speaker of the House of Commons (1715 – 1727); Paymaster of the Forces (1722 – 1730); Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (1730); Lord President of the Council (1730 – 1742); First Lord of the Treasury (1742 – 1743).

Whig Party

1742 – 1743

Henry Pelham

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 25 1694; d. March 6 1754.

Monarch: George II.

Other prominent offices: Member of Parliament (1717 – 1754); Secretary at War (1724 – 1730); Paymaster of the Forces (1730 – 1743); First Lord of the Treasury (1743 – 1754); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1743 – 1754); Leader of the House of Commons (1743 – 1754).

Whig Party

1743 – 1754

Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 21 1693; d. November 17 1768.

Monarch: George II.

Titles of nobility: Baron Pelham of Laughton in the Peerage of England (1712 – 1768); Earl of Clare in the Peerage of Great Britain (1714 – 1768); Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the Peerage of Great Britain (1715 – 1768); Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne in the Peerage of Great Britain (1756 – 1768); Baron Pelham of Stanmer in the Peerage of Great Britain (1762 – 1768).

Other prominent offices: Prime Minister of Great Britain (1757 – 1762); Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1724 – 1748); Secretary of State for the Northern Department (1748 – 1754); Leader of the House of Lords (1748 – 1756; 1757 – 1762); Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (1765 – 1766).

Whig Party

1754 – 1756

William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 8 1720; d. October 2 1764.

Monarch: George II.

Titles of nobility: Baron Cavendish of Hardwick (by writ of acceleration) in the Peerage of England (1751 – 1764); Duke of Devonshire in the Peerage of England (1755 – 1764).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1741 – 1751); Lord High Treasurer of Ireland (1754 – 1764); Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1755 – 1757); Leader of the House of Lords (1756 – 1757).

Whig Party

1756 – 1757

Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 21 1693; d. November 17 1768.

Monarchs: George II (1757 – 1760); George III (1760 – 1762).

Other prominent offices: Prime Minister of Great Britain (1754 – 1756); Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1724 – 1748); Secretary of State for the Northern Department (1748 – 1754); Leader of the House of Lords (1748 – 1756; 1757 – 1762); Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (1765 – 1766).

Whig Party

1757 – 1762

John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 21 1693; d. November 17 1768.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Bute in the Peerage of Scotland (1723 – 1792).

Other prominent offices: Secretary of State for the Northern Department (1761 – 1762); First Lord of the Treasury (1762 – 1763).

Tory Party

1762 – 1763

George Grenville

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 14 1712; d. November 13 1770.

Monarch: George III.

Other prominent offices: Member of Parliament (1741 – 1770); Treasurer of the Navy (1756; 1756 – 1762); Leader of the House of Commons (1761 – 1762); Secretary of State for the Northern Department (1762); First Lord of the Admiralty (1762 – 1763); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1763 – 1765); Leader of the House of Commons (1763 – 1765).

Whig Party

1763 – 1765

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 13 1730; d. July 1 1782.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Rockingham in the Peerage of Great Britain (1750 – 1782); Earl Malton in the Peerage of Ireland (1750 – 1782).

Other prominent offices: Prime Minister of Great Britain (1782); Leader of the House of Lords (1765 – 1766).

Whig Party

1765 – 1766

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 15 1708; d. May 11 1778.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Chatham in the Peerage of Great Britain (1766 – 1778).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1735 – 1766); Paymaster of the Forces (1746 – 1755); Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1756 – 1757, 1757 – 1761); Leader of the House of Commons (1756 – 1757, 1757 – 1761); Lord Privy Seal (1766 – 1768).

Whig Party

1766 – 1768

Augustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 28 1735; d. March 14 1811.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Duke of Grafton in the Peerage of England (1757 – 1811).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1756 – 1757); Secretary of State for the Northern Department (1765 – 1766); First Lord of the Treasury (1766 – 1770); Leader of the House of Lords (1766 – 1770); Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (1768 – 1811); Lord Privy Seal (1771 – 1775, 1782 – 1783).

Whig Party

1768 – 1770

Frederick North, Lord North

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 13 1732; d. August 5 1792.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Guilford in the Peerage of Great Britain (1790 – 1792).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1754 – 1790); Paymaster of the Forces (1766 – 1767); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1767 – 1782); Leader of the House of Commons (1767 – 1782); First Lord of the Treasury (1770 – 1782); Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1772 – 1792); Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1778 – 1792); Home Secretary (1783); Leader of the House of Commons (1783).

Tory Party

1770 – 1782

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 13 1730; d. July 1 1782.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Rockingham in the Peerage of Great Britain (1750 – 1782); Earl Malton in the Peerage of Ireland (1750 – 1782).

Other prominent offices: Prime Minister of Great Britain (1765 – 1766); Leader of the House of Lords (1765 – 1766).

Whig Party

1782

William Petty Fitzmaurice, 2nd Earl of Shelburne

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 2 1737; d. May 7 1805.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Shelburne in the Peerage of Ireland (1761 – 1805); Marquess of Lansdowne in the Peerage of Great Britain (1784 – 1805).

Other prominent offices: Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1760 – 1761); Member of the Parliament of Ireland (1761 – 1762); First Lord of Trade (1763); Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1766 – 1768); Home Secretary (1782); Leader of the House of Lords (1782 – 1783).

Whig Party

1782 – 1783

William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 14 1738; d. October 30 1809.

Monarch: George III.

Titles of nobility: Duke of Portland in the Peerage of Great Britain (1762 – 1809).

Other prominent offices: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1807 – 1809); Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1761 – 1762); Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1782); Leader of the House of Lords (1783); Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1792 – 1809); Home Secretary (1794 – 1801); Lord President of the Council (1801 – 1805).

Whig Party

1783

William Pitt the Younger

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 28 1759; d. January 23 1806.

Monarch: George III.

Other prominent offices: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1801, 1804 – 1806); Member of the Parliament of Great Britain (1781 – 1800); Chancellor of the Exchequer (1782 – 1783, 1783 – 1801, 1804 – 1806); Leader of the House of Commons (1783 – 1801, 1804 – 1806); Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1792 – 1806); Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1801 – 1806).

Tory Party

1783 – 1800

First Secretary of State

George Gideon Oliver Osborne

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 23 1971.

Conservative Party

2015 – 2016

Damian Howard Green

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 17 1956.

Conservative Party

2017

Leaders of the Opposition

Leader of the Opposition

Benjamin Disraeli

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 21 1804; d. April 19 1881.

Monarch: Victoria.

Titles of nobility: Earl of Beaconsfield in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1876 – 1881.

Academic offices held: Rector of the University of Glasgow, 1871 – 1877.

Conservative Party

1868 – 1874

Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 21 1804; d. April 19 1881

Noble titles: Earl of Beaconsfield (1876 – 1881)

Conservative Party

1880 – 1881

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1868 – 1903)

Conservative Party

1881 – 1885

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1868 – 1903)

Conservative Party

1886

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1830; d. August 22 1903

Titles of nobility: Marquess of Salisbury in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1868 – 1903)

Conservative Party

1892 – 1895

Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 7 1847; d. May 21 1929

Noble titles: Earl of Rosebery in the Peerage of Scotland (1868 – 1929); Baron Rosebery in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1868 – 1929); Earl of Midlothian in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1911 – 1929)

Liberal Party

1895 – 1896

Sir William George Granville Venables Vernon Harcourt

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 14 1827; d. October 1 1904.

Liberal Party

1896 – 1898

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 7 1836; d. April 22 1908.

Liberal Party

1899 – 1905

Arthur James Balfour

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 25 1848; d. March 19 1930

Titles of nobility: Earl of Balfour in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1922 – 1930)

Conservative Party

1905 – 1911

Andrew Bonar Law

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 16 1858; d. October 30 1923

Conservative Party

1911 – 1915

Sir Edward Henry Carson

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 9 1854; d. October 22 1935.

Irish Unionist Alliance

1915 – 1916

Herbert Henry Asquith

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 12 1852; d. February 15 1928

Titles of nobility: Earl of Oxford and Asquith in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1928)

Liberal Party

1916 – 1918

Herbert Henry Asquith

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 12 1852; d. February 15 1928

Titles of nobility: Earl of Oxford and Asquith in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1928)

Liberal Party

1920 – 1922

Herbert Henry Asquith

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 12 1852; d. February 15 1928

Titles of nobility: Earl of Oxford and Asquith in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1928)

Liberal Party

1920 – 1922

Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Sir Oliver James Dowden

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 1 1978.

Conservative Party

2024

Heads of state of the United Kingdom

Kingdom of England

Monarch of the Kingdom of England

Kingdom of Great Britain

Monarch of the Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Heads of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

History

List of Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland1

Notes and References

Heads of Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

History

List of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

Deputy Heads of Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

List of Deputy Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Leaders of the Opposition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Deputy Leaders of the Opposition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Heads of government of the United Kingdom

Kingdom of England

Chief Minister of the Kingdom of England

United Kingdom of Great Britain

Chief Minister of the Kingdom of Great Britain

Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Great Britain

First Secretary of State

Leaders of the Opposition

Leader of the Opposition

Deputy Leader of the Opposition

List of Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland¹