Prime Ministers (20th Century), Part 4

1955-76: Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Lord Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath

Churchill´s health during his second government had become too bad, and he retired to make way for Anthony Eden (1897-1977, PM 1955-57), who was foreign secretary (the youngest in the 20th century) for twelve years already in the late 20´s and 30´s. After crisis concerning Egypt´s "Suez-Canal" and his own health, he stepped back. Eden became the "Earl of Avon" in 1961 and signed "Avon" afterwards. On the left, you can see a rare variation: He signed a card with his ennobled name and put his earlier name in brackets.

Eden was succeeded by Harold Macmillan (1894-1986, PM 1957-63). Macmillan ("Earl of Stockton" from 1984 on; both his signatures can be seen on the left), was able to regain some of the power which the Conservatives had lost during the last years. He won the General Election in 1959 with an increased majority. Anglo-American relationship got better, due to his good relation to President Eisenhower and his friendship to President Kennedy later. Macmillan began to release African countries, who were still headed officially by "10 Downing St.", into Independence. His health, however, got worse, and he had to retire in favour of another Tory, Sir Alec Douglas-Home (1903-95, PM 1963/64). He had many different names during his life; born as the son of the 13th Earl of Home, he was known as Lord Dunglass until 1951, when he succeeded his father as the 14th Earl of Home. In 1963, to become Prime Minister, he renounced his title, stepped down from the House of Lords to the Commons and was Sir Alec Douglas-Home afterwards. In 1974, he was knighted and became Baron Home of Hirsel. His most usual signature, as seen on the right, is "Home".

The lost general election in 1964 brought the majority to Labour again, the leader was Sir Harold Wilson (1916-95, PM 1964-70, 74-76). He was beaten in the election in 1970, and it were the Tories again who formed the next government, led by Sir Edward ("Ted") Heath (1916-2005, PM 1970-74), who was followed again by Wilson. Heath, by the way, refused repeatedly to receive a peerage and be kicked up to the House of Lords, as he still (since 1950) wanted to serve his voters (of Bexley) as a member of the parliament; in 1992 he became "Father of the House", the longest serving MP  at that time. He left parliament in 2001. Heath, after efforts already started by Macmillan, was responsible for finally bringing the United Kingdom into the "European Community".

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