Maurice Harold Macmillan Biography

Birth of Maurice Harold MacMillan

Stands for Parliament for the 1st time at Stokton & is defeated by just 73 votes

Elected Member of Parliament for Stockton, majority of 3,000

Maiden Speech, supports the budget introducing contributory pensions & reduced inc tax

Helps pack copies of The Times during the General Strike

Helps pack copies of The Times during the General Strike

Publication of "Industry & the State". Advocates a "middle way" in industrial relations between socialism & laissez-faire

Publication of "Industry & the State". Advocates a "middle way" in industrial relations between socialism & laissez-faire

Makes a speech in support of the Trades Disputes Bill

Loses Stockton at the general election by 2,389 votes

Wins Stockton as the National Candidate with a majority of 11,031 votes

Publication of "Reconstruction", calls for economic planning

Publication of "Reconstruction", calls for economic planning

Wins Stockton with a majority of 4,000 & rejoins the Conservative Party

Votes against Baldwin for lifting sanctions against Italy after it invaded Abyssinia

Says Russia is becoming isolationist within a cordon sanitaire of dependent states

Says Russia is becoming isolationist within a cordon sanitaire of dependent states

Attends the Congress of Europe at the Hague

Argues for a trade embargo with Eastern Europe

Calls for a housing crusade & the revival of 1940 spirit

Appointed Minister of Housing

While in office constructs 300,000 houses per year. Makes the Housing Department productive rather than administritive

Announces the design for the "Peoples House"

Sets a target of 260,000 houses for 1953 & 300,000 houses for 1954. Announces 1,000 more houses are being built per week than under the Labour Government

Selected to give the first party political broadcast on television

The Housing Repairs & Rents Bill passes 2nd reading, allows rent increases for repairs

A poll on who should succeed Churchill reveals 2% support MacMillan & 52% support Eden

Opposes Churchills resignation but changes his mind by January 1955

Appointed Minister of Defence

Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer

Discusses German reunification, there is no agreement between East & West

Increases his majority at Bromley by 1,014

Appointed Foreign Minister

Produces a White Paper for the adoption of the British hydrogen bomb

Advises Churchill to retire, the only member of the Government brave enough to do so

Finishes off the debate in Parliament, "we have to prevent hot war & win the cold war"

Introduces Premium Bonds & cuts Government food subsidies

Introduces Premium Bonds

Sent to Washington to gain support for a collapsing £

Agrees with President Eisenhower to test the British hydrogen bomb on Christmas Island

Appointed Party Leader of the Conservative Party

Summoned by Elizabeth II to succeed Eden

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term

Forms a Government

Makes a speech in Parliament calling for global disarmament & a summit

Meets President Eisenhower at Bermuda & reaffirms the freedom of the Suez Canal

Meets President Eisenhower at Bermuda & reaffirms the freedom of the Suez Canal

Signs a "Declaration of Common Purpose" with the USA

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse to accept a duel constitution for Cyprus.

Flies to Turkey, they refuse to accept his plans for a duel constitution for Cyprus.

Life Peerages Act, life Peers are members of the House of Lords who are appointed for life-long terms, but whose membership of the House cannot be inherited by their descendants.

Works out a Turkish-Greek duel constitutiuon for Cyprus to protect British bases.

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse to accept a duel constitution for Cyprus

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse plans for a duel constitution for Cyprus

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse to accept a duel constitution for Cyprus

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse to accept a duel constitution for Cyprus

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse plans for a duel constitution for Cyprus

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse to accept a duel constitution for Cyprus

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse plans for a duel constitution for Cyprus

Life Peerages Act, life Peers are members of the House of Lords who are appointed for life-long terms, but whose membership of the House cannot be inherited by their descendants

Announces a nuclear test ban for 1 year

Flies to Athens & Ankara, they refuse to accept a duel constitution for Cyprus

Promotes an alternative free trade area rather than joining the supranational common market.

Turkey & Greece accept plans for the basis of an independent Cyprus. The basis for Cyprus independence is agreed, Britain can keep its sovereign bases

Turkey & Greece accept plans for the basis of an independent Cyprus. The basis for Cyprus independence is agreed, Britain can keep its sovereign bases

Attends but a Treaty is not agreed due to US opposition, the "big hole" theory

Visits Eisenhower & gets agreement for a meeting of Foreign Minister's at a summit

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term

Turkey & Greece accept plans for the basis of an independent Cyprus. The basis for Cyprus independence is agreed, Britain can keep its sovereign bases

Turkey & Greece accept plans for the basis of an independent Cyprus. The basis for Cyprus independence is agreed, Britain can keep its sovereign bases

Visits Khruschev to "have an exploratory exchange of views on world problems"

The conference place at MacMillans instigation. Attended by the Foreign Minister's of Britain, Russia, America & France

Calls for n election to be held Eighth Oct

During the election coins the phrase, "you have never had it so good"

The Conservatives win 49.4% of votes cast, 365 seats, Labour win 258 seats

Supports creation of EFTA after Britain remains outside the Treaty of Rome framework.

Takes Britain into EFTA

The 4 major western allies agree to attend a summit with Britain as its organiser

"Blue Streak" is cancelled, threatens an independent British deterrent

The British Government cancels Blue Streak as a land based missile system and searches for an alternative nuclear delivery system

"Blue Streak" is cancelled, threatens an independent British deterrent

Greeted by rioters in Rhodesia

In a speech to MPs in the Houses of Parliament in Cape Town, Mr Macmillan spoke of the "wind of change" blowing through the continent of Africa

In a speech to MPs in the Houses of Parliament in Cape Town, Mr Macmillan spoke of the "wind of change" blowing through the continent of Africa

Macmillans "wind of change" speech became a historical landmark, the first sign that the British Government accepted that the days of Empire were over. In a speech to MPs in the Houses of Parliament in Cape Town, Mr Macmillan spoke of the "wind of change" blowing through the continent of Africa

Visits South Africa & says "a wind of change is blowing through the continent"

Attends the Allied Summit in Paris

The Paris Summit ends after Khruschev walks out, MacMillan spent 2 yrs organising it

British Somaliland (now Somalia) gains independence from Britain

The farthing ceases to be legal tender

Meets Kennedy but finds out the US does not need a "broker" with Russia

The American Polaris submarine USS Patrick Henry reaches Holy Loch as the United States establishes a forward submarine base in Scotland

The Government introduces a Bill to reduce Commonwealth Immigration. Commonwealth Immigrants must have a job to come or have useful qualifications

The Government introduces a Bill to reduce Commonwealth Immigration. Commonwealth Immigrants must have a job to come or have useful qualifications

Aden is given partial self-Government

Aden is given partial self-Government

Visits de Gaulle to discuss Anglo-French co-operation in nuclear weapons

Aden is given partial self-Government

Macmillan faces a strategic crisis when the United States moves toward cancellation of Skybolt

Visits de Gaulle to discuss British entry into the EC & Anglo-French nuclear strategy

The Liberals win a Conservative seat overturning a majority of 14,760

Purges a Cabinet of 21 of 7 its ministers after a poor by-election resul at Orpington

Purges a Cabinet of 21 of 7 its ministers after a poor by-election resul at Orpington

The British & French Governments agree to build what will become Concorde

Macmillan meets Kennedy at Nassau to negotiate continued British access to a strategic nuclear delivery system

Macmillan secures agreement for Britain to acquire Polaris missiles for its strategic deterrent

The USA agrees to sell Polaris to Britain

The USA agrees to sell Polaris to Britain

Britain agrees to purchase Polaris missiles while building its own submarines and nuclear warheads

After the French veto UK EC entry Princess Margaret is refused to dine with de Gaulle

Diagnosed with prostrate problems, causes his resignation

Macmillan presents Polaris as the successor to Skybolt and as protection for Britain's independent nuclear role

Aden becomes part of Saudi Arabia

The Polaris Sales Agreement is signed to implement the Nassau understanding between Britain and the United States

Profumo resigns from the Government

Profumo resigns from the Government

Resigns as Prime Minister during the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool

The Conservatives win 43.4% of votes cast & 304 MPs

Calls for a Government of national unity on television

Created Earl of Stockton, 1st