Edward Richard George Heath Biography and Timeline

Birth of Edward Richard George Heath

Birth of Edward Richard George Heath, son of a carpenter & maid. Birth of Edward Richard George Heath

Birth of Edward Richard George Heath

Born in Broadstairs, Kent, into a modest family before his later Conservative political career.

Role range: 1916-2005

Education

Studies at Chatham House Grammar School and develops academic and musical interests.

Role range: 1927-1935

Education

Enters Balliol College Oxford to study philosophy politics and economics.

Role range: 1935-1939

Education

Wins an organ scholarship and continues his strong interest in music at university.

Role range: 1935-1939

Anti-Appeasement Speech

Speaks against appeasement and criticises concessions to Nazi Germany during student debates.

Role range: 1936-1936

Education Politics

Becomes president of the Oxford University Conservative Association.

Role range: 1937-1937

Conservative Student Politics

Chairs the national Federation of University Conservative Associations during his Oxford years.

Role range: 1937-1938

Education Leadership

Serves as president of Balliol College Junior Common Room while preparing for public life.

Role range: 1938-1939

Oxford Union

Is elected President of the Oxford Union after campaigning against appeasement.

Role range: 1938-1939

Education

Graduates from Balliol College Oxford with a degree in philosophy politics and economics.

Role range: 1935-1939

Military Service

Serves in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War.

Role range: 1939-1945

European War Service

Continues wartime service as Allied forces advance through Western Europe.

Role range: 1939-1945

Military Rank

Ends wartime service with senior army experience that later shapes his public reputation.

Role range: 1939-1945

Lieutenant Colonel

Appointed Lieutenant Colonel

Civil Service

Works briefly in the Civil Service before concentrating on a parliamentary career.

Role range: 1946-1947

MBE

Awarded the MBE

Member of Parliament

Appointed prospective Member of Parliament for Broadstairs

Parliamentary Selection

Builds his Conservative candidacy for the Bexley parliamentary seat.

Role range: 1947-1950

Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament for Bexley

Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1959

Election to Parliament

Is elected Conservative MP for Bexley at the 1950 general election.

Role range: 1950-2001 – 1950-1974

Maiden Parliament

Begins parliamentary work as a new Conservative MP in the postwar House of Commons.

Role range: 1950-1951 – 1950-1974

Conservative Government Return

Serves as a Conservative backbencher after Winston Churchill returns to office.

Role range: 1951-1955 – 1950-1974

Chief Whip

Becomes Government Chief Whip and manages Conservative parliamentary discipline.

Role range: 1955-1959 – 1955-1959

Chief Whip

Appointed Chief Whip

Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1959

Privy Council

Becomes the Right Honourable Edward Heath

Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1959

Suez Crisis Parliamentary Management

Helps manage Conservative parliamentary business during the Suez crisis period.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1959

Health of Edward Richard George Heath

Eden goes to Jamaica for the sake of his health, Heath is left to manage the party

Government

Informs Butler that MacMillan has been selected to succeed Eden

Role range: 1955-1957

Resignation of Robert Anthony Eden

Eden informs Heath that he intends to resign on his doctors advice

Role range: 1955-1957

Macmillan Government

Continues as Chief Whip after Harold Macmillan becomes Prime Minister.

Role range: 1957-1959 – 1955-1959

Election

Almost doubles his majority to 8,633

Role range: 1957-1963 – 1959-1960

Minister of Labour

Enters Cabinet as Minister of Labour after the Conservative election victory.

Role range: 1959-1960 – 1959-1960

Strike

Gains approval from the cabinet to offer the NUR 5% which ia accepted

Role range: 1957-1963 – 1959-1960

Lord Privy Seal

Is appointed Lord Privy Seal with responsibility for European negotiations.

Role range: 1960-1963 – 1960-1963

Lord Privy Seal

Appointed Lord Privy Seal in the Foreign Office. Appointed Lord Privy Seal

Role range: 1957-1963 – 1960-1963

Brussels Negotiations

Leads detailed British negotiations with the European Economic Community in Brussels.

Role range: 1961-1963 – 1960-1963

Board of Trade

Becomes President of the Board of Trade under Alec Douglas-Home.

Role range: 1963-1964 – 1963-1964

Opposition Return

Returns to opposition after Labour wins the 1964 general election.

Role range: 1964-1965 – 1950-1974

Shadow Chancellor

Serves briefly as Shadow Chancellor before becoming party leader.

Role range: 1965-1965 – 1965-1965