Living Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom

This is a list of all of the living people who have served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at each moment in U.K. history.

There have been four time periods when there was only one living Prime Minister, first with the appointment of Robert Walpole in 1721, and most recently during the second term of William Ewart Gladstone following the 1881 death of Benjamin Disraeli. There have been ten time periods when six living Prime Minister/ex-Prime Ministers co-existed, with the longest being a nine year period beginning with the first appointment of Robert Peel in 1834. The most recent period was between 1990 and 1995 beginning with the 1990 appointment of John Major, and ending with the 1995 death of Harold Wilson. If one includes future Prime Ministers, there has been only one time period when nineteen (see "Statistics", below) different Prime Ministers co-existed.

Table

Living British Prime Ministers at each moment in U.K. history

Start date	End date	Start event	End event	# Alive	Prime Minister(s)
April 4, 1721	February 11, 1742	Appointment of Robert Walpole	Appointment of Earl of Wilmington	1	Robert Walpole
February 16, 1742	July 2, 1743	Appointment of Earl of Wilmington	Death of Earl of Wilmington	2	Robert Walpole Earl of Wilmington
August 27, 1743	March 18, 1745	Appointment of Henry Pelham	Death of Robert Walpole	2	Robert Walpole Henry Pelham
March 18, 1745	March 6, 1754	Death of Robert Walpole	Death of Henry Pelham	1	Henry Pelham
March 16, 1754	November 16, 1756	Appointment of Duke of Newcastle	Appointment of Duke of Devonshire	1	Duke of Newcastle
November 16, 1756	May 26, 1762	Appointment of Duke of Devonshire	Appointment of Earl of Bute	2	Duke of Newcastle Duke of Devonshire
May 26, 1762	April 8, 1763	Appointment of Earl of Bute	Appointment of George Grenville	3	Duke of Newcastle Duke of Devonshire Earl of Bute
April 16, 1763	October 2, 1764	Appointment of George Grenville	Death of Duke of Devonshire	4	Duke of Newcastle Duke of Devonshire Earl of Bute George Grenville
October 2, 1764	July 13, 1765	Death of Duke of Devonshire	Appointment of Marquess of Rockingham	3	Duke of Newcastle Earl of Bute George Grenville
July 13, 1765	July 30, 1766	Appointment of Marquess of Rockingham	Appointment of William Pitt the Elder	4	Duke of Newcastle Earl of Bute George Grenville Marquess of Rockingham
July 30, 1766	October 14, 1768	Appointment of William Pitt the Elder	Appointment of Duke of Grafton	5	Duke of Newcastle Earl of Bute George Grenville Marquess of Rockingham William Pitt the Elder
October 14, 1768	November 17, 1768	Appointment of Duke of Grafton	Death of Duke of Newcastle	6	Duke of Newcastle Earl of Bute George Grenville Marquess of Rockingham William Pitt the Elder Duke of Grafton
November 17, 1768	January 28, 1770	Death of Duke of Newcastle	Appointment of Lord North	5	Earl of Bute George Grenville Marquess of Rockingham William Pitt the Elder Duke of Grafton
January 28, 1770	November 13, 1770	Appointment of Lord North	Death of George Grenville	6	Earl of Bute George Grenville Marquess of Rockingham William Pitt the Elder Duke of Grafton Lord North
November 13, 1770	May 11, 1778	Death of George Grenville	Death of William Pitt the Elder	5	Earl of Bute Marquess of Rockingham William Pitt the Elder Duke of Grafton Lord North
May 11, 1778	July 1, 1782	Death of William Pitt the Elder	Death of Marquess of Rockingham	4	Earl of Bute Marquess of Rockingham Duke of Grafton Lord North
July 4, 1782	April 2, 1783	Appointment of Earl of Shelburne	Appointment of Duke of Portland	4	Earl of Bute Duke of Grafton Lord North Earl of Shelburne
April 2, 1783	December 19, 1783	Appointment of Duke of Portland	Appointment of William Pitt the Younger	5	Earl of Bute Duke of Grafton Lord North Earl of Shelburne Duke of Portland
December 19, 1783	March 10, 1792	Appointment of William Pitt the Younger	Death of Earl of Bute	6	Earl of Bute Duke of Grafton Lord North Earl of Shelburne Duke of Portland William Pitt the Younger
March 10, 1792	August 5, 1792	Death of Earl of Bute	Death of Lord North	5	Duke of Grafton Lord North Earl of Shelburne Duke of Portland William Pitt the Younger
August 5, 1792	March 14, 1801	Death of Lord North	Appointment of Henry Addington	4	Duke of Grafton Earl of Shelburne Duke of Portland William Pitt the Younger
March 14, 1801	May 7, 1805	Appointment of Henry Addington	Death of Earl of Shelburne	5	Duke of Grafton Earl of Shelburne Duke of Portland William Pitt the Younger Henry Addington
May 7, 1805	January 23, 1806	Death of Earl of Shelburne	Death of William Pitt the Younger	4	Duke of Grafton Duke of Portland William Pitt the Younger Henry Addington
January 23, 1806	October 4, 1809	Death of William Pitt the Younger	Appointment of Spencer Perceval	4	Duke of Grafton Duke of Portland Henry Addington William Grenville
October 4, 1809	October 30, 1809	Appointment of Spencer Perceval	Death of Duke of Portland	5	Duke of Grafton Duke of Portland Henry Addington William Grenville Spencer Perceval
October 30, 1809	March 14, 1811	Death of Duke of Portland	Death of Duke of Grafton	4	Duke of Grafton Henry Addington William Grenville Spencer Perceval
March 14, 1811	May 11, 1812	Death of Duke of Grafton	Assassination of Spencer Perceval	3	Henry Addington William Grenville Spencer Perceval
May 11, 1812	April 10, 1827	Assassination of Spencer Perceval	Appointment of George Canning	3	Henry Addington William Grenville Earl of Liverpool
April 10, 1827	August 8, 1827	Appointment of George Canning	Death of George Canning	4	Henry Addington William Grenville Earl of Liverpool George Canning
August 8, 1827	January 22, 1828	Death of George Canning	Appointment of Duke of Wellington	4	Henry Addington William Grenville Earl of Liverpool Viscount Goderich
January 22	December 4, 1828	Appointment of Duke of Wellington	Death of Earl of Liverpool	5	Henry Addington William Grenville Earl of Liverpool Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington
December 4, 1828	November 22, 1830	Death of Earl of Liverpool	Appointment of Earl Grey	4	Henry Addington William Grenville Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington
November 22, 1830	January 12, 1834	Appointment of Earl Grey	Death of William Grenville	5	Henry Addington William Grenville Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Earl Grey
January 12, 1834	July 16, 1834	Death of William Grenville	Appointment of Viscount Melbourne	4	Henry Addington Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Earl Grey
July 16, 1834	December 10, 1834	Appointment of Viscount Melbourne	Appointment of Robert Peel	5	Henry Addington Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Earl Grey Viscount Melbourne
December 10, 1834	February 15, 1844	Appointment of Robert Peel	Death of Henry Addington	6	Henry Addington Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Earl Grey Viscount Melbourne Robert Peel
February 15, 1844	July 17, 1845	Death of Henry Addington	Death of Earl Grey	5	Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Earl Grey Viscount Melbourne Robert Peel
July 17, 1845	June 30, 1846	Death of Earl Grey	Appointment of Lord John Russell	4	Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Viscount Melbourne Robert Peel
June 30, 1846	November 24, 1848	Appointment of Lord John Russell	Death of Viscount Melbourne	5	Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Viscount Melbourne Robert Peel Lord John Russell
November 24, 1848	July 2, 1850	Death of Viscount Melbourne	Death of Robert Peel	4	Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Robert Peel Lord John Russell
July 2, 1850	February 23, 1852	Death of Robert Peel	Appointment of Earl of Derby	3	Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Lord John Russell
February 23, 1852	September 14, 1852	Appointment of Earl of Derby	Death of Duke of Wellington	4	Viscount Goderich Duke of Wellington Lord John Russell Earl of Derby
September 14, 1852	December 19, 1852	Death of Duke of Wellington	Appointment of Earl of Aberdeen	3	Viscount Goderich Lord John Russell Earl of Derby
December 19, 1852	February 6, 1855	Appointment of Earl of Aberdeen	Appointment of Viscount Palmerston	4	Viscount Goderich Lord John Russell Earl of Derby Earl of Aberdeen
February 6, 1855	January 28, 1859	Appointment of Viscount Palmerston	Death of Viscount Goderich	5	Viscount Goderich Lord John Russell Earl of Derby Earl of Aberdeen Viscount Palmerston
January 28, 1859	December 14, 1860	Death of Viscount Goderich	Death of Earl of Aberdeen	4	Lord John Russell Earl of Derby Earl of Aberdeen Viscount Palmerston
December 14, 1860	October 18, 1865	Death of Earl of Aberdeen	Death of Viscount Palmerston	3	Lord John Russell Earl of Derby Viscount Palmerston
October 18, 1865	February 27, 1868	Death of Viscount Palmerston	Appointment of Benjamin Disraeli	2	Lord John Russell Earl of Derby
February 27, 1868	December 3, 1868	Appointment of Benjamin Disraeli	Appointment of William Ewart Gladstone	3	Lord John Russell Earl of Derby Benjamin Disraeli
December 3, 1868	October 23, 1869	Appointment of William Ewart Gladstone	Death of Earl of Derby	4	Lord John Russell Earl of Derby Benjamin Disraeli William Ewart Gladstone
October 23, 1869	May 28, 1878	Death of Earl of Derby	Death of Lord John Russell	3	Lord John Russell Benjamin Disraeli William Ewart Gladstone
May 28, 1878	April 19, 1881	Death of Lord John Russell	Death of Benjamin Disraeli	2	Benjamin Disraeli William Ewart Gladstone
April 19, 1881	June 23, 1885	Death of Benjamin Disraeli	Appointment of Marquess of Salisbury	1	William Ewart Gladstone
June 23, 1885	March 5, 1894	Appointment of Marquess of Salisbury	Appointment of Earl of Rosebery	2	William Ewart Gladstone Marquess of Salisbury
March 5, 1894	May 19, 1898	Appointment of Earl of Rosebery	Death of William Ewart Gladstone	3	William Ewart Gladstone Marquess of Salisbury Earl of Rosebery
May 19, 1898	July 11, 1902	Death of William Ewart Gladstone	Appointment of Arthur Balfour	2	Marquess of Salisbury Earl of Rosebery
July 11, 1902	August 22, 1903	Appointment of Arthur Balfour	Death of Marquess of Salisbury	3	Marquess of Salisbury Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour
August 22, 1903	December 5, 1905	Death of Marquess of Salisbury	Appointment of Henry Campbell-Bannerman	2	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour
December 5, 1905	April 5, 1908	Appointment of Henry Campbell-Bannerman	Appointment of Herbert Henry Asquith	3	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour Henry Campbell-Bannerman
April 5, 1908	April 22, 1908	Appointment of Herbert Henry Asquith	Death of Henry Campbell-Bannerman	4	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour Henry Campbell-Bannerman Herbert Henry Asquith
April 22, 1908	December 6, 1916	Death of Henry Campbell-Bannerman	Appointment of David Lloyd George	3	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour Herbert Henry Asquith
December 6, 1916	October 23, 1922	Appointment of David Lloyd George	Appointment of Andrew Bonar Law	4	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour Herbert Henry Asquith David Lloyd George
October 23, 1922	May 23, 1923	Appointment of Andrew Bonar Law	Appointment of Stanley Baldwin	5	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour Herbert Henry Asquith David Lloyd George Andrew Bonar Law
May 23, 1923	October 30, 1923	Appointment of Stanley Baldwin	Death of Andrew Bonar Law	6	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour Herbert Henry Asquith David Lloyd George Andrew Bonar Law Stanley Baldwin
October 30, 1923	January 22, 1924	Death of Andrew Bonar Law	Appointment of Ramsay MacDonald	5	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour Herbert Henry Asquith David Lloyd George Stanley Baldwin
January 22, 1924	February 15, 1928	Appointment of Ramsay MacDonald	Death of Herbert Henry Asquith	6	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour Herbert Henry Asquith David Lloyd George Stanley Baldwin Ramsay MacDonald
February 15, 1928	May 21, 1929	Death of Herbert Henry Asquith	Death of Earl of Rosebery	5	Earl of Rosebery Arthur Balfour David Lloyd George Stanley Baldwin Ramsay MacDonald
May 21, 1929	March 19, 1930	Death of Earl of Rosebery	Death of Arthur Balfour	4	Arthur Balfour David Lloyd George Stanley Baldwin Ramsay MacDonald
March 19, 1930	May 28, 1937	Death of Arthur Balfour	Appointment of Neville Chamberlain	3	David Lloyd George Stanley Baldwin Ramsay MacDonald
May 28, 1937	November 9, 1937	Appointment of Neville Chamberlain	Death of Ramsay MacDonald	4	David Lloyd George Staley Baldwin Ramsay MacDonald Neville Chamberlain
November 9, 1937	May 10, 1940	Death of Ramsay MacDonald	Appointment of Winston Churchill	3	David Lloyd George Stanley Baldwin Neville Chamberlain
May 10, 1940	November 9, 1940	Appointment of Winston Churchill	Death of Neville Chamberlain	4	David Lloyd George Stanley Baldwin Neville Chamberlain Winston Churchill
November 9, 1940	March 26, 1945	Death of Neville Chamberlain	Death of David Lloyd George	3	David Lloyd George Stanley Baldwin Winston Churchill
March 26, 1945	July 26, 1945	Death of David Lloyd George	Appointment of Clement Attlee	2	Stanley Baldwin Winston Churchill
July 26, 1945	December 14, 1947	Appointment of Clement Attlee	Death of Stanley Baldwin	3	Stanley Baldwin Winston Churchill Clement Attlee
December 14, 1947	April 6, 1955	Death of Stanley Baldwin	Appointment of Anthony Eden	2	Winston Churchill Clement Attlee
April 6, 1955	January 10, 1957	Appointment of Anthony Eden	Appointment of Harold Macmillan	3	Winston Churchill Clement Attlee Anthony Eden
January 10, 1957	October 19, 1963	Appointment of Harold Macmillan	Appointment of Alec Douglas-Home	4	Winston Churchill Clement Attlee Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan
October 19, 1963	October 16, 1964	Appointment of Alec Douglas-Home	Appointment of Harold Wilson	5	Winston Churchill Clement Attlee Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan Alec Douglas-Home
October 16, 1964	January 24, 1965	Appointment of Harold Wilson	Death of Winston Churchill	6	Winston Churchill Clement Attlee Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson
January 24, 1965	October 8, 1967	Death of Winston Churchill	Death of Clement Attlee	5	Clement Attlee Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson
October 8, 1967	June 19, 1970	Death of Clement Attlee	Appointment of Edward Heath	4	Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson
June 19, 1970	April 5, 1976	Appointment of Edward Heath	Appointment of James Callaghan	5	Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson Edward Heath
April 5, 1976	January 14, 1977	Appointment of James Callaghan	Death of Anthony Eden	6	Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson Edward Heath James Callaghan
January 14, 1977	May 4, 1979	Death of Anthony Eden	Appointment of Margaret Thatcher	5	Harold Macmillan Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson Edward Heath James Callaghan
May 4, 1979	December 29, 1986	Appointment of Margaret Thatcher	Death of Harold Macmillan	6	Harold Macmillan Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson Edward Heath James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher
December 29, 1986	November 28, 1990	Death of Harold Macmillan	Appointment of John Major	5	Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson Edward Heath James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher
November 28, 1990	May 24, 1995	Appointment of John Major	Death of Harold Wilson	6	Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson Edward Heath James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher John Major
May 24, 1995	October 9, 1995	Death of Harold Wilson	Death of Alec Douglas-Home	5	Alec Douglas-Home Edward Heath James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher John Major
October 9, 1995	May 2, 1997	Death of Alec Douglas-Home	Appointment of Tony Blair	4	Edward Heath James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher John Major
May 2, 1997	March 26, 2005	Appointment of Tony Blair	Death of James Callaghan	5	Edward Heath James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher John Major Tony Blair
March 26, 2005	July 17, 2005	Death of James Callaghan	Death of Edward Heath	4	Edward Heath Margaret Thatcher John Major Tony Blair
July 17, 2005	June 27, 2007	Death of Edward Heath	Appointment of Gordon Brown	3	Margaret Thatcher John Major Tony Blair
June 27, 2007	May 11, 2010	Appointment of Gordon Brown	Appointment of David Cameron	4	Margaret Thatcher John Major Tony Blair Gordon Brown
May 11, 2010	April 8, 2013	Appointment of David Cameron	Death of Margaret Thatcher	5	Margaret Thatcher John Major Tony Blair Gordon Brown David Cameron
April 8, 2013	present	Death of Margaret Thatcher	present	4	John Major Tony Blair Gordon Brown David Cameron

Statistics

• There have been four men who have been the only living British Prime Minister (no former Prime Minister being alive): Robert Walpole (1721–42, being the first prime minister), Henry Pelham (1745–54, following Walpole's death), Duke of Newcastle (1754–56, following Pelham's death), and William Ewart Gladstone (1881-85, following Disraeli's death).
• During ten periods in the History of the United Kingdom, there have been six men alive to have been Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The first such period was from October to November 1768 (when Duke of Newcastle, Earl of Bute, George Grenville, Marquess of Rockingham, William Pitt the Elder, and Duke of Grafton were alive). From January to November 1770 (when Earl of Bute, George Grenville, Marquess of Rockingham, William Pitt the Elder, Duke of Grafton, and Lord North were alive). From December 1783 to March 1792 (when Earl of Bute, Duke of Grafton, Lord North, Earl of Shelburne, Duke of Portland, and William Pitt the Younger were alive). From December 1834 to February 1844 (when Henry Addington, Viscount Goderich, Duke of Wellington, Earl Grey, Viscount Melbourne, and Robert Peel were alive). From May to October 1923 (when Earl of Rosebery, Arthur Balfour, Herbert Henry Asquith, David Lloyd George, Andrew Bonar Law, and Stanley Baldwin were alive). From January 1924 to February 1928 (when Earl of Rosebery, Arthur Balfour, Herbert Henry Asquith, David Lloyd George, Stanley Baldwin, and Ramsay MacDonald were alive). From October 1964 to January 1965 (when Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home, and Harold Wilson were alive). From April 1976 to January 1977 (when Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, and James Callaghan were alive). From May 1979 to December 1986 (when Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, and Margaret Thatcher were alive). The tenth and most recent period was from November 1990 to May 1995 (with Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, and John Major as the living Prime Ministers). The longest period where there have been six living Prime Ministers was 9 years and 67 days, ending with the death of Henry Addington on February 15, 1844.
• Duke of Newcastle was the only person to be both an only living British Prime Minister (1754-1756) and one of the six living Prime Ministers (1768).
• There have been 21 administrations during which a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has not died, the most recent being the administration of Gordon Brown. This does not include the administrations of Earl of Wilmington, Marquess of Rockingham, and George Canning, who were themselves the only British Prime Ministers to die during their administrations without any former Prime Minister dying. Conversely, only twice during the administrations of William Pitt the Younger and Stanley Baldwin has there been as many as three during an administration. (This does not count the administration of Spencer Perceval, whose death was the third during his term). The longest streak of administrations without a death of a Prime Minister is three which has happened twice: no British Prime Minister would die during the administrations of Duke of Newcastle, Duke of Devonshire or Earl of Bute; nor would a Prime Minister die during the administrations of Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, or Alec Douglas-Home. If one was to include the multiple terms served by each Prime Minister that had been in office more than once, the record is five, as no Prime Minister died during Salisbury's first term, Gladstone's third term, Salisbury's second term, Gladstone's fourth term, nor the Earl of Rosebery's term.
• Because he was the first Prime Minister, and the fact that he served for more than twenty years, Robert Walpole holds the distinction of serving over the longest period during which no Prime Ministers died. The second longest term without a death of a Prime Minister would be that of Earl of Liverpool who served almost fifteen years in office. In recent years, the Prime Minister who served the longest without a death in his term was Harold Macmillan who served for almost seven years in office.
• The longest period between deaths of British Prime Ministers was the 17 years and 41 days between the deaths of Stanley Baldwin on December 14, 1947 and Winston Churchill on January 24, 1965. The shortest was the 113 days between the deaths of James Callaghan on March 26, 2005 and Edward Heath on July 17, 2005.
  • If the longest period between deaths is to be exceeded, no Prime Minister must die before May 19, 2030 (both the current oldest and the second oldest survivng Prime Ministers, John Major and Gordon Brown, would then be 87 years old, and 79 years old respectively.
  • The second longest was the 17 years and 30 days between the deaths of Benjamin Disraeli on April 19, 1881 and William Ewart Gladstone on May 19, 1898.
• Only three times, in 1792, 1995 and 2005, have two British Prime Ministers died in the same year.
• If one includes future as well as past and current Prime Ministers, the record sits at nineteen:
  • Between Benjamin Disraeli's birth on December 21, 1804 and the death of Earl of Shelburne on May 7, 1805, the following Prime Ministers were alive: Duke of Grafton, Lord Shelburne, Duke of Portland, William Pitt the Younger, Henry Addington, William Grenville, Spencer Perceval, Earl of Liverpool, George Canning, Viscount Goderich, Duke of Wellington, Earl Grey, Viscount Melbourne, Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, Earl of Derby, Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Palmerston, and Disraeli.
• Since April 6, 1955 - a period of 69 years, 13 days - there have been at least three Prime Ministers living.

See also

• List of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom

External links

• Number 10 official website

This article "Living Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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