Biography

• Born on 9th July 1916 in Broadstairs (Kent).
• Studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College in Oxford. Military service in World War II.
• He was a Member of the House of Commons for the Conservative Party from 1950, and an early campaigner for the inclusion of his country in the European integration process; from 1955 to 1959 he acted as Parliamentary State Secretary in the Treasury. He was later Secretary of State for Employment (1959–1960).
• In 1960 he was appointed the office of Lord Privy Seal with the double function of representing the Foreign Minister in Parliament and addressing the European issue; he held this office until 1963. He was head of the delegation for the first negotiations for Great Britain’s membership in the European Economic Community (1961–1963), which was vetoed by the French. In the years 1963/1964 he acted as Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development.
• From 1965 to 1970 he was Leader of the Opposition of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons; after his party won the elections in 1970 he became Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board for the Commonwealth Relations Office. He held these positions until 1974.
• Died on 17th July 2005.