Prime Minister of Great Britain
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1959 in Great Britain
Explore 129 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1959.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1959
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 129 unique records.
129Unique records
1 of 4Page
31Named events on this page
22Named people on this page
11Places on this page
January
February
Independence of Cyprus
Turkey & Greece accept plans for the basis of an independent Cyprus. The basis for Cyprus independence is agreed, Britain can keep its sovereign bases
Independence of Great Britain
Turkey & Greece accept plans for the basis of an independent Cyprus. The basis for Cyprus independence is agreed, Britain can keep its sovereign bases
Visit to London
Visits Khruschev to "have an exploratory exchange of views on world problems"
March
Birth of Chris Fairbank
Birth of Chris Fairbank
April
Birth of Emma Thompson
Birth of Emma Thompson
Budget
Cuts income tax, purchase tax & the price of beer & restores investment allowances
Income Tax
Cuts income tax, purchase tax & the price of beer & restores investment allowances
May
Deputy Labour Leader
Is elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
Silver Beatles
The Silver Beetles fail an audition to back Billy Fury & are chosen to back Johny Gentle on a Scottish tour
Silver Beatles
The Silver Beetles fail an audition to back Billy Fury & are chosen to back Johny Gentle on a Scottish tour
Conference of Geneva
The conference place at MacMillans instigation. Attended by the Foreign Minister's of Britain, Russia, America & France
Debut
Makes his international debut, against Brazil in front of over 120,000 fans at the Est dio do Maracana
Debut
Greaves wins his first England cap against Peru, scoring Englands only goal in a 4-1 defeat. Goes on to play 57 times and score 44 goals for England, five fewer than Bobby Charlton but at a much higher rate, remains third in the all-time list of England goalscorers, behind Charlton and Gary Lineker
England Goal Against Peru on Debut
Greaves scored England's goal in a 4-1 friendly defeat in Peru, marking the beginning of his prolific senior international career.
Scoring Record
Goes on to play 57 times and score 44 goals for England, five fewer than Bobby Charlton but at a much higher rate, remains third in the all-time list of England goalscorers, behind Charlton and Gary Lineker
June
St Lawrence Seaway
Queen Elizabeth and President Eisenhower open St Lawrence Seaway
Visit to Chicago
Visits Chicago on the Britannia
Visit to To Canada
Pays a royal state visit to Canada
August
Birth of Amanda Redman
Birth of Amanda Redman
Mini Production
The British Motor Corporation launches the Mini, produced at Longbridge and Cowley.
Retirement
During his total of 541 appearances for Wolves and his 105 games for England, his disciplinary record was excellent, never cautioned or sent off by any referee
September
Election
Calls for n election to be held Eighth Oct
October
Aberavon General Election
Again contests Aberavon for the Conservative Party at the 1959 general election but is not elected.
Election
Almost doubles his majority to 8,633
Election
The Conservatives win 49.4% of votes cast, 365 seats, Labour win 258 seats
Election
1st elected Member of Parliament for Finchley during the election, has a constituency majority of 16,260
General Election
Retains Coventry East at the 1959 general election.
General Election
Retains Birmingham Stechford for Labour during another Conservative general election victory.
Member of Parliament
1st elected Member of Parliament for Finchley during the election, has a constituency majority of 16,260
Shadow Cabinet
Healey begins a period as a Labour front-bench shadow secretary of state.
Shadow Cabinet Appointment
Healey enters Labour’s Shadow Cabinet and works on foreign affairs.
Election
During the election coins the phrase, "you have never had it so good"
Minister of Labour
Enters Cabinet as Minister of Labour after the Conservative election victory.
November
Birth of Paul McGann
Birth of Paul McGann
Quarrymen
The Quarrymen are renamed Johnny and the Moondogs and fail an audition for "talent-show" Carroll Levis at Manchester Hippodrome
Quarrymen
The Quarrymen are renamed Johnny and the Moondogs and fail an audition for "talent-show" Carroll Levis at Manchester Hippodrome
Quarrymen
The Quarrymen are renamed Johnny and the Moondogs and fail an audition for "talent-show" Carroll Levis at Manchester Hippodrome
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
Takes Britain into EFTA
Birth of Charles Peter Kennedy
Birth of Charles Peter Kennedy
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.