Alec Douglas-Home, who died in October 1995, was a member of every Conservative administration from 1935 to 1974. At his death, he was the oldest survivor of the pre-war House of Commons.
Alec Douglas-Home, former British Prime Minister:
Birth: July 2, 1903 in Mayfair, London
Educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford
1924: Inherited the title of Lord Dunglass after his father's death
1931: Elected to the House of Commons as a Conservative MP
1940: Lost his seat in the general election
1945: Regained his Commons seat
1957: Entered the cabinet as Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations
1960: Appointed Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
1960-1963: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
1963: Became Prime Minister after the resignation of Harold Macmillan
1964: Resigned as Prime Minister after Conservative election defeat to Labour
1974-1976: Served as Shadow Foreign Secretary while Conservatives were in opposition
Death: October 9, 1995, at the age of 92 years old in Scotland.
Educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford
1924: Inherited the title of Lord Dunglass after his father's death
1931: Elected to the House of Commons as a Conservative MP
1940: Lost his seat in the general election
1945: Regained his Commons seat
1957: Entered the cabinet as Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations
1960: Appointed Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
1960-1963: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
1963: Became Prime Minister after the resignation of Harold Macmillan
1964: Resigned as Prime Minister after Conservative election defeat to Labour
1974-1976: Served as Shadow Foreign Secretary while Conservatives were in opposition
Death: October 9, 1995, at the age of 92 years old in Scotland.
Key political events during his premiership included managing the transition of power from ageing Prime Minister Macmillan, the resignation of War Minister John Profumo over an affair, and ultimately his defeat in the 1964 general election at the hands of Harold Wilson's Labour Party after less than 1 year as Prime Minister.
Alec Douglas-Home had a long political career, serving in Parliament for over 30 years, in numerous cabinet positions, and ultimately becoming Prime Minister. He was generally well-regarded and popular within the Conservative Party and known as an amiable and capable leader. He handled the difficult transition of power from ageing Prime Minister Macmillan relatively smoothly. As Foreign Secretary under Macmillan, he played a role in negotiating the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963.
Even after losing power in 1964, he remained active in politics continuing to serve as Conservative party leader for a period as well as Shadow Foreign Secretary while in opposition.
Even after losing power in 1964, he remained active in politics continuing to serve as Conservative party leader for a period as well as Shadow Foreign Secretary while in opposition.
He was plagued by health issues later in life, eventually forcing his retirement from active politics by the mid-1970s. So he had political successes but his ultimate short tenure and election loss as PM marked a disappointment, among other setbacks over his long career.
Recommended Reading about Alec Douglas-Home, former British Prime Minister:
- Considered the definitive biography of Douglas-Home, providing extensive insight into his aristocratic upbringing, political career, and time as Prime Minister.
- A fascinating autobiography by Sir Alex Douglas-Home, soldier, writer playwright and brother to the Prime Minister.
My Relationship to Alexander Charles Frederick Douglas-Home
I was made aware of a relationship to Douglas-Home through Family Search. He was the husband of my 12th cousin once removed, which means several hundred thousand people or more, living today, might also claim a relationship. This tree was extracted from Family Search on 2 Jan 2024.
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