Conservative government, 1957–1964

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Harold Macmillan led the Government from 1957-1963 and was succeeded by Lord (Alec) Home.

Alec Douglas-Home led the Government from 1963. He was defeated at the 1964 general election.

The Conservative government of the United Kingdom that began in 1957 and ended in 1964 consisted of three ministries: the first Macmillan ministry, second Macmillan ministry, and then the Douglas-Home ministry. They were respectively led by Harold Macmillan and Sir Alec Douglas-Home, who were appointed by Queen Elizabeth II.

## History

[edit]

### Formation of the first Macmillan ministry

[edit]

Sir Anthony Eden resigned from his positions of Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 10 January 1957. This was mainly a consequence of the Suez Crisis fiasco of the previous autumn, but was also owing to his increasingly failing health. Harold Macmillan, formerly Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer, was chosen over Rab Butler as the new party leader and consequently as Prime Minister.

Harold Macmillan tried to placate Butler, who had stood against Macmillan as leader, by appointing him to the senior position of Home Secretary. Peter Thorneycroft became Chancellor of the Exchequer, but caused embarrassment for Macmillan when he resigned only a year later. He was replaced by Derick Heathcoat Amory, previously Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Selwyn Lloyd was retained as Foreign Secretary, a post he held until 1960, when he succeeded Heathcoat Amory as Chancellor. Ernest Marples became Minister for Transport and the Earl of Home was promoted to Leader of the House of Lords and also continued as Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, before replacing Lloyd as Foreign Secretary in 1960. Lord Kilmuir and Alan Lennox-Boyd retained their offices of Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for the Colonies respectively, while Lord Hailsham became a member of the cabinet for the first time as Minister of Education. Future Chancellor Iain Macleod was appointed Minister of Labour and National Service and succeeded Lennox-Boyd as Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1961.

### 1959 general election and second Macmillan ministry

[edit]

The Conservatives comfortably won the 1959 general election, increasing their majority in the House of Commons, following a campaign slogan "Life's better with the Conservatives". This centred on the consistently low unemployment, strong economy and rising standard of living that much of the British population was enjoying in the late 1950s.

However, a series of economic measures in the early 1960s caused the popularity of the Conservative Party to decline. Macmillan tried to remedy this by a major cabinet reshuffle in July 1962. Seven cabinet members were sacked in what became nicknamed the "Night of the Long Knives". Notably, the emerging Reginald Maudling replaced Selwyn Lloyd as Chancellor, and Lord Kilmuir was replaced as Lord Chancellor by Lord Dilhorne, while Peter Thorneycroft returned to the cabinet as Minister of Defence. Rab Butler was also promoted to the office of First Secretary of State. The reshuffle was controversial within the Conservative Party, and was seen as a betrayal by many. Macmillan's credibility was also affected by the 1963 Profumo affair; he was now in his 69th year, and had until after his 70th birthday to call the next general election. The election of Harold Wilson as Labour Party leader early in the year, following the sudden death of Hugh Gaitskell, was well received by voters, with opinion polls showing the Labour Party ascendant.

However, it was still considered a surprise when Macmillan resigned in October 1963.

### Douglas-Home becomes Prime Minister

[edit]

Macmillan's resignation saw a three-way tussle for the party leadership and premiership. Given that it was not considered appropriate for a Prime Minister to be a member of the House of Lords, the Earl of Home and Lord Hailsham both disclaimed their peerages under the Peerage Act 1963, and became known respectively as Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Quintin Hogg. Rab Butler was also in the running for the post, but Douglas-Home was finally chosen to succeed Macmillan. This was seen as controversial, for it was alleged that Macmillan had pulled strings and used the party's grandees, nicknamed "The Magic Circle", to ensure that Butler was once again overlooked.

In the Douglas-Home ministry, Rab Butler became Foreign Secretary, and Henry Brooke replaced Butler as Home Secretary. Reginald Maudling continued as Chancellor, while Quintin Hogg remained as Lord President of the Council and Minister for Sports. He could not continue as Leader of the House of Lords, having ceased to be a member of it, but was made Minister for Education in April 1964. Selwyn Lloyd also returned to the government after a one-year absence, as Leader of the House of Commons. Douglas-Home's government was defeated in the October 1964 general election. He remained party leader until July 1965.

The 1957–1964 Conservative government saw several emerging figures who would later attain high office. Future Prime Minister Edward Heath became a member of the cabinet for the first time as Minister of Labour and National Service in 1959, while another future Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, held her first government post in 1961 as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions. The government also included future Chancellor Anthony Barber, future Home Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister William Whitelaw and future Secretary of State for Education and Science Sir Keith Joseph. Other notable government members included Enoch Powell, Lord Carrington, David Ormsby-Gore, John Profumo, Christopher Soames, Bill Deedes, Airey Neave and the Marquess of Salisbury.

## Cabinets

[edit]

### First Macmillan ministry

[edit]

Macmillan ministries

Cabinet of the United Kingdom

* 1957–1959
* 1959–1963

Macmillan (1959)

Date formed|

* First: 10 January 1957 (1957-01-10)
* Second: 8 October 1959 (1959-10-08)

Date dissolved|

* First: 8 October 1959 (1959-10-08)
* Second: 18 October 1963 (1963-10-18)

People and organisations
Monarch| Elizabeth II
Prime Minister| Harold Macmillan
Prime Minister's history| 1957–1963
Deputy Prime Minister| Rab Butler (1962–1963)
Ministers removed| "Night of the Long Knives"
Member party|  Conservative Party
Status in legislature| Majority

345 / 630 (55%)

(1957)

365 / 630 (58%)

(1959)
Opposition party|  Labour Party
Opposition leader|

* Hugh Gaitskell (1957–1963)
* Harold Wilson (1963)

History
Election| 1959 general election
Legislature terms|

* 41st UK Parliament
* 42nd UK Parliament

Predecessor| Eden ministry
Successor| Douglas-Home ministry

#### January 1957 – October 1959

[edit]

* Harold Macmillan: Prime Minister
* The Viscount Kilmuir: Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
* The Marquess of Salisbury: Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council
* Rab Butler: Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and Home Secretary
* Peter Thorneycroft: Chancellor of the Exchequer
* Selwyn Lloyd: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
* Alan Lennox-Boyd: Secretary of State for the Colonies
* The Earl of Home: Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
* Sir David Eccles: President of the Board of Trade
* Charles Hill: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
* The Viscount Hailsham: Minister of Education
* John Scott Maclay: Secretary of State for Scotland
* Derick Heathcoat Amory: Minister of Agriculture
* Iain Macleod: Minister of Labour and National Service
* Harold Arthur Watkinson: Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation
* Duncan Edwin Sandys: Minister of Defence
* The Lord Mills: Minister of Power
* Henry Brooke: Minister of Housing and Local Government and Welsh Affairs

##### Changes

[edit]

* March 1957 – Earl of Home succeeds Marquess of Salisbury as Lord President, remaining also Commonwealth Relations Secretary.
* September 1957 – Viscount Hailsham succeeds Earl of Home as Lord President, Home remaining Commonwealth Relations Secretary. Geoffrey Lloyd succeeds Hailsham as Minister of Education. The Paymaster-General, Reginald Maudling, enters the Cabinet.
* January 1958 – Derick Heathcoat Amory succeeds Peter Thorneycroft as Chancellor of the Exchequer. John Hare succeeds Amory as Minister of Agriculture.

### Second Macmillan ministry

[edit]

#### October 1959 – July 1960

[edit]

* Harold Macmillan: Prime Minister
* The Viscount Kilmuir: Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
* The Earl of Home: Lord President of the Council and Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
* The Viscount Hailsham: Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and Minister of Science
* Derick Heathcoat Amory: Chancellor of the Exchequer
* Rab Butler: Home Secretary
* Selwyn Lloyd: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
* Iain Macleod: Secretary of State for the Colonies
* Reginald Maudling: President of the Board of Trade
* Charles Hill: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
* Sir David Eccles: Minister of Education
* The Lord Mills: Paymaster General
* Ernest Marples: Minister of Transport
* Duncan Edwin Sandys: Minister of Aviation
* Harold Arthur Watkinson: Minister of Defence
* John Scott Maclay: Secretary of State for Scotland
* Edward Heath: Minister of Labour and National Service
* John Hare: Minister of Agriculture
* Henry Brooke: Minister of Housing and Local Government and Welsh Affairs

#### July 1960 – October 1961

[edit]

* Harold Macmillan: Prime Minister
* The Viscount Kilmuir: Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
* The Viscount Hailsham: Lord President of the Council and Minister of Science
* Selwyn Lloyd: Chancellor of the Exchequer
* The Earl of Home: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
* Edward Heath: Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
* Rab Butler: Home Secretary
* Iain Macleod: Secretary of State for the Colonies
* Duncan Edwin Sandys: Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
* Reginald Maudling: President of the Board of Trade
* Charles Hill: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
* Sir David Eccles: Minister of Education
* The Lord Mills: Paymaster General
* Ernest Marples: Minister of Transport
* Peter Thorneycroft: Minister of Aviation
* Harold Arthur Watkinson: Minister of Defence
* John Scott Maclay: Secretary of State for Scotland
* John Hare: Minister of Labour
* Christopher Soames: Minister of Agriculture
* Henry Brooke: Minister of Housing and Local Government and Welsh Affairs

#### October 1961 – July 1962

[edit]

* Harold Macmillan: Prime Minister
* The Viscount Kilmuir: Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
* The Viscount Hailsham: Lord President of the Council and Minister of Science
* Selwyn Lloyd: Chancellor of the Exchequer
* The Earl of Home: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
* Edward Heath: Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
* Rab Butler: Home Secretary
* Reginald Maudling: Secretary of State for the Colonies
* Duncan Edwin Sandys: Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
* Frederick Erroll: President of the Board of Trade
* Iain Macleod: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
* Sir David Eccles: Minister of Education
* Henry Brooke: Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
* Ernest Marples: Minister of Transport
* Peter Thorneycroft: Minister of Aviation
* Harold Arthur Watkinson: Minister of Defence
* John Scott Maclay: Secretary of State for Scotland
* John Hare: Minister of Labour
* Christopher Soames: Minister of Agriculture
* Charles Hill: Minister of Housing and Local Government and Welsh Affairs
* The Lord Mills: Minister without Portfolio

#### July 1962 – October 1963

[edit]

In a radical reshuffle dubbed "The Night of the Long Knives", Macmillan sacked a third of his Cabinet and instituted many other changes.

* Harold Macmillan: Prime Minister
* Rab Butler: Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
* The Viscount Dilhorne: Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
* The Viscount Hailsham: Lord President of the Council and Minister of Science
* Henry Brooke: Home Secretary
* The Earl of Home: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
* Edward Heath: Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
* Reginald Maudling: Chancellor of the Exchequer
* Duncan Edwin Sandys: Secretary of State for the Colonies and Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
* Frederick Erroll: President of the Board of Trade
* Iain Macleod: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
* Sir Edward Boyle: Minister of Education
* John Boyd-Carpenter: Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
* Ernest Marples: Minister of Transport
* Julian Amery: Minister of Aviation
* Peter Thorneycroft: Minister of Defence
* Michael Noble: Secretary of State for Scotland
* John Hare: Minister of Labour
* Christopher Soames: Minister of Agriculture
* Sir Keith Joseph: Minister of Housing and Local Government and Welsh Affairs
* Enoch Powell: Minister of Health
* Bill Deedes: Minister without Portfolio

### Douglas-Home ministry

[edit]

"Home administration" redirects here. For the committee, see Committee on Home Administration.

Douglas-Home ministry

Cabinet of the United Kingdom
1963–1964

Douglas-Home (c. 1963)

Date formed| 19 October 1963 (1963-10-19)
Date dissolved| 16 October 1964 (1964-10-16)
People and organisations
Monarch| Elizabeth II
Prime Minister| Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Member party|  Conservative Party
Status in legislature| Majority

365 / 630 (58%)

Opposition party|  Labour Party
Opposition leader| Harold Wilson
History
Outgoing election| 1964 general election
Legislature terms| 42nd UK Parliament
Predecessor| Second Macmillan ministry
Successor| First Wilson ministry

#### October 1963 – October 1964

[edit]

* Sir Alec Douglas-Home (Known as the Earl of Home until October 23): Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
* The Viscount Dilhorne: Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
* Quintin Hogg (Known as Viscount Hailsham until November 20): Lord President of the Council and Minister of Science
* Selwyn Lloyd: Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
* Reginald Maudling: Chancellor of the Exchequer
* Rab Butler: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
* Henry Brooke: Home Secretary
* Sir Keith Joseph: Minister of Housing and Local Government
* Peter Thorneycroft: Minister of Defence
* Julian Amery: Minister of Aviation
* Ernest Marples: Minister of Transport
* Frederick Erroll: Minister of Power
* Edward Heath: Secretary of State for Industry, Trade, and Regional Development and President of the Board of Trade
* Duncan Sandys: Secretary of State for the Colonies and Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
* Sir Edward Boyle: Minister of Education
* Anthony Barber: Minister of Health
* John Boyd-Carpenter: Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
* Joseph Godber: Minister of Labour
* Geoffrey Rippon: Minister of Public Works
* Christopher Soames: Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
* Michael Noble: Secretary of State for Scotland
* The Viscount Blakenham: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
* William Deedes: Minister without Portfolio
* The Lord Carrington: Leader of the House of Lords and Minister without Portfolio

##### Changes

[edit]

* April 1964 – Quintin Hogg became Secretary of State for Education and Science. Peter Thorneycroft's position became Secretary of State for Defence. Sir Edward Boyle left the cabinet

## List of ministers

[edit]

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

Office | Name | Dates | Notes

|
|
|

Prime Minister
and First Lord of the Treasury | Harold Macmillan | 10 January 1957 – 13 October 1963 |
Sir Alec Douglas-Home | 18 October 1963 – 16 October 1964 | Until 23 October 1963, when he renounced his hereditary peerage, he was The Earl of Home and was known as Lord Home
First Secretary of State | R. A. Butler | 13 July 1962 | Office wound up 18 October 1963
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Viscount Kilmuir | 14 January 1957 | Continued in office
The Lord Dilhorne | 13 July 1962 |
Lord President of the Council | The Marquess of Salisbury | 13 January 1957 | also Leader of the House of Lords
The Earl of Home | 29 March 1957 | also Leader of the House of Lords
The Viscount Hailsham | 17 September 1957 |
The Earl of Home | 14 October 1959 | also Leader of the House of Lords
The Viscount Hailsham | 27 July 1960 | Also Minister for Science until 1964 and Leader of the House of Lords until 20 October 1963
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | R. A. Butler | 13 January 1957 | Also Home Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons
The Viscount Hailsham | 14 October 1959 | Also Minister for Science
Edward Heath | 27 July 1960 |
Selwyn Lloyd | 20 October 1963 | also Leader of the House of Commons
Chancellor of the Exchequer | Peter Thorneycroft | 13 January 1957 |
Derick Heathcoat-Amory | 6 January 1958 |
Selwyn Lloyd | 27 July 1960 |
Reginald Maudling | 13 July 1962 |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Edward Heath | 17 January 1957 |
Martin Redmayne | 14 October 1959 |
Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Enoch Powell | 16 January 1957 |
Jocelyn Simon | 6 January 1958 |
Sir Edward Boyle | 22 October 1959 |
Anthony Barber | 16 July 1962 |
Alan Green | 23 October 1963 |
Economic Secretary to the Treasury | Nigel Birch | 16 January 1957 | Office vacant from 6 January 1958
Frederick Erroll | 23 October 1958 |
Anthony Barber | 22 October 1959 |
Edward du Cann | 16 July 1962 |
Maurice Macmillan | 21 October 1963 |
Lords of the Treasury | Martin Redmayne | 21 January 1957 – 14 October 1959 |
Peter Legh | 21 January 1957 – 17 September 1957 |
Edward Wakefield | 21 January 1957 – 23 October 1958 |
Harwood Harrison | 21 January 1957 – 16 January 1959 |
Anthony Barber | 9 April 1957 – 19 February 1958 |
Richard Brooman-White | 28 October 1957 – 21 June 1958 |
Paul Bryan | 19 February 1958 – 9 February 1961 |
Michael Hughes-Young | 23 October 1958 – 6 March 1962 |
Graeme Bell Finlay | 16 January 1959 – 28 October 1960 |
David Gibson-Watt | 22 October 1959 – 29 November 1961 |
Robin Chichester-Clark | 21 June 1960 – 29 November 1961 |
John Hill | 28 October 1960 – 16 October 1964 |
William Whitelaw | 6 March 1961 – 16 July 1962 |
John Peel | 29 November 1961 – 16 October 1964 |
Michael Noble | 29 November 1961 – 13 July 1962 |
Francis Pearson | 6 March 1962 – 19 October 1963 |
Gordon Campbell | 6 September 1962 – 12 December 1963 |
Michael Hamilton | 6 September 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
Martin McLaren | 21 November 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
Ian MacArthur | 12 December 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Selwyn Lloyd | 14 January 1957 |
The Earl of Home | 27 July 1960 |
Rab Butler | 20 October 1963 |
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs | Allan Noble | 16 January 1957 – 16 January 1959 |
David Ormsby-Gore | 16 January 1957 – 27 June 1961 |
John Profumo | 16 January 1959 – 27 July 1960 |
Joseph Godber | 27 June 1961 – 27 June 1963 |
The Earl of Dundee | 9 October 1961 – 16 October 1964 |
Peter Thomas | 27 June 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | The Earl of Gosford | 18 January 1957 – 23 October 1958 |
Ian Harvey | 18 January 1957 – 24 November 1958 |
The Marquess of Lansdowne | 23 October 1958 – 20 April 1962 |
John Profumo | 28 November 1958 – 16 January 1959 |
Robert Allan | 16 January 1959 – 7 October 1960 |
Joseph Godber | 28 October 1960 – 27 June 1961 |
Peter Thomas | 27 June 1961 – 27 June 1963 |
Peter Smithers | 16 July 1962 – 29 January 1964 |
Robert Mathew | 30 January 1964 – 16 October 1964 |
Home Secretary | R. A. Butler | 13 January 1957 | also Leader of the House of Commons until 1961
Henry Brooke | 13 July 1963 |
Minister of State for Home Affairs | Dennis Vosper | 28 October 1960 | New office
David Renton | 27 June 1961 |
The Earl Jellicoe | 17 July 1962 |
The Lord Derwent | 21 October 1963 |
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | Patricia Hornsby-Smith | 18 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 |
Jocelyn Simon | 18 January 1957 – 6 January 1958 |
David Renton | 17 January 1958 – 27 June 1961 |
Dennis Vosper | 22 October 1959 – 28 October 1960 |
The Earl Bathurst | 8 February 1961 – 16 July 1962 |
Charles Fletcher-Cooke | 27 June 1961 – 27 February 1963 |
Christopher Montague Woodhouse | 16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
Mervyn Pike | 1 March 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
First Lord of the Admiralty | The Earl of Selkirk | 16 January 1957 |
The Lord Carrington | 16 October 1959 |
The Earl Jellicoe | 22 October 1963 | Office reorganised 1 April 1964 under Ministry of Defence
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty | Christopher Soames | 18 January 1957 |
Robert Allan | 17 January 1958 |
Charles Ian Orr-Ewing | 16 January 1959 | Office vacant 16 October 1959
Civil Lord of the Admiralty | Tam Galbraith | 18 January 1957 |
Ian Orr-Ewing | 16 October 1959 |
John Hay | 3 May 1963 |
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Derick Heathcoat Amory | 14 January 1957 |
John Hare | 6 January 1958 |
Christopher Soames | 27 July 1960 |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Earl St Aldwyn | 18 January 1957 |
Joseph Godber | 18 January 1957 – 28 October 1960 |
The Earl Waldegrave | 27 June 1958 – 16 July 1962 |
William Vane | 28 October 1960 – 16 July 1962 |
The Lord St Oswald | 16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
James Scott-Hopkins | 16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
Secretary of State for Air | George Ward | 16 January 1957 |
Julian Amery | 28 October 1960 |
Hugh Fraser | 16 July 1962 | Office reorganised under Ministry of Defence 1 April 1964
Under-Secretary of State for Air | Ian Orr-Ewing | 18 January 1957 |
Airey Neave | 16 January 1959 |
William Taylor | 16 October 1959 |
Julian Ridsdale | 16 January 1962 |
Minister of Aviation | Duncan Sandys | 14 October 1959 |
Peter Thorneycroft | 27 July 1960 |
Julian Amery | 16 July 1962 |
Parliamentary Secretary for Aviation | Geoffrey Rippon | 22 October 1959 |
Montague Woodhouse | 9 October 1961 |
Basil de Ferranti | 16 July 1962 |
Neil Marten | 3 December 1962 |
Secretary of State for the Colonies | Alan Lennox-Boyd | 14 January 1957 |
Iain Macleod | 14 October 1959 |
Reginald Maudling | 9 October 1961 |
Duncan Sandys | 13 July 1962 | Joint with Commonwealth Relations
Minister of State for the Colonies | The Earl of Perth | 16 January 1957 |
The Marquess of Lansdowne | 20 April 1962 | Joint with Commonwealth Relations from 21 October 1963
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | John Profumo | 17 January 1957 |
Julian Amery | 28 November 1958 |
Hugh Fraser | 28 October 1960 |
Nigel Fisher | 16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
Richard Hornby | 24 October 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations | The Earl of Home | 14 January 1957 | also Leader of the House of Lords from 19 March 1957
Duncan Sandys | 27 July 1960 | Jointly with Colonial Office from 13 July 1962
Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations | Cuthbert Alport | 22 October 1959 – 8 February 1961 |
The Duke of Devonshire | 6 September 1962 – 16 October 1964 | With Colonial Office from 21 October 1963
Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations | Cuthbert Alport | 18 January 1957 |
Richard Thompson | 22 October 1959 |
The Duke of Devonshire | 28 October 1960 – 6 September 1962 |
Bernard Braine | 8 February 1961 – 16 July 1962 |
John Tilney | 16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
Minister of Defence | Duncan Sandys | 13 January 1957 |
Harold Watkinson | 14 October 1959 |
Peter Thorneycroft | 13 July 1962 | Secretary of State for Defence from 1 April 1964
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence | The Lord Mancroft | 18 January 1957 | Office vacant 11 June 1957
Minister of State for Air | Hugh Fraser | 1 April 1964 |
Minister of State for Army | James Ramsden | 1 April 1964 |
Minister of State for Navy | The Earl Jellicoe | 1 April 1964 |
Under-Secretary of State for Air | Julian Ridsdale | 1 April 1964 |
Under-Secretary of State for Army | Peter Kirk | 1 April 1964 |
Under-Secretary of State for Navy | John Hay | 1 April 1964 |
Minister of Education | The Viscount Hailsham | 13 January 1957 |
Geoffrey Lloyd | 17 September 1957 |
Sir David Eccles | 14 October 1959 |
Quintin Hogg | 1 April 1964 | Secretary of State for Education and Science
Minister of State for Education | Sir Edward Boyle | 1 April 1964 |
Peter Legh | 1 April 1964 | Office note in Cabinet
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education | Sir Edward Boyle | 18 January 1957 |
Kenneth Thompson | 22 October 1959 |
Christopher Chataway | 16 July 1962 | Offices reorganised 1 April 1964
Under-Secretary of State for Education | The Earl of Bessborough | 1 April 1964 |
Christopher Chataway | 1 April 1964 |
Minister of Health | Dennis Vosper | 16 January 1957 |
Derek Walker-Smith | 17 September 1957 |
Enoch Powell | 27 July 1960 | In Cabinet from 13 July 1962
Anthony Barber | 20 October 1963 |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health | John Vaughan-Morgan | 18 January 1957 |
Richard Thompson | 17 September 1957 |
Edith Pitt | 22 October 1959 |
Bernard Braine | 16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
The Lord Newton | 6 September 1962 – 1 April 1964 |
The Marquess of Lothian | 24 March 1964 – 16 October 1964 |
Minister of Housing, Local Government and Welsh Affairs | Henry Brooke | 13 January 1957 |
Charles Hill | 9 October 1961 |
Sir Keith Joseph | 13 July 1962 |
Minister of State for Welsh Affairs | The Lord Brecon | 12 December 1957 |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government | Reginald Bevins | 18 January 1957 |
Sir Keith Joseph | 22 October 1959 – 9 October 1961 |
The Earl Jellicoe | 27 June 1961 – 16 July 1962 |
Geoffrey Rippon | 9 October 1961 – 16 July 1962 |
Frederick Corfield | 16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
The Lord Hastings | 3 December 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
Minister of Labour and National Service | Iain Macleod | 14 January 1957 |
Edward Heath | 14 October 1959 |
John Hare | 27 July 1960 |
Joseph Godber | 20 October 1963 |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour | Robert Carr | 19 January 1957 |
Richard Wood | 14 April 1958 |
Peter Thomas | 22 October 1959 |
Alan Green | 27 June 1961 |
William Whitelaw | 16 July 1962 |
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Charles Hill | 13 January 1957 |
Iain Macleod | 9 October 1961 | also Leader of the House of Commons
The Lord Blakenham | 20 October 1963 |
Paymaster General | Reginald Maudling | 16 January 1957 | Office in Cabinet from 17 September 1957
The Lord Mills | 14 October 1959 |
Henry Brooke | 9 October 1961 | Also Chief Secretary to the Treasury
John Boyd-Carpenter | 13 July 1962 |
Minister of Pensions and National Insurance | John Boyd-Carpenter | 16 January 1957 |
Niall Macpherson | 16 July 1962 |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions | Edith Pitt | 19 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 |
Richard Wood | 19 January 1957 – 14 April 1958 |
William Vane | 14 April 1958 – 20 October 1960 |
Patricia Hornsby-Smith | 22 October 1959 – 31 August 1961 |
Bernard Braine | 28 October 1960 – 8 February 1961 |
Richard Sharples | 8 February 1961 – 16 July 1962 |
Margaret Thatcher | 9 October 1961 – 16 October 1964 |
Lynch Maydon | 16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
Minister without Portfolio | The Earl of Munster | 16 January 1957 |
The Lord Mancroft | 11 June 1957 |
The Earl of Dundee | 23 October 1958 |
The Lord Mills | 9 October 1961 – 14 July 1962 | Office in Cabinet
William Deedes | 13 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
The Lord Carrington | 20 October 1963 – 16 October 1964 | also Leader of the House of Lords
Postmaster-General | Ernest Marples | 16 January 1957 |
Reginald Bevins | 22 October 1959 |
Assistant Postmaster-General | Kenneth Thompson | 18 January 1957 |
Mervyn Pike | 22 October 1959 |
Raymond Llewellyn Mawby | 1 March 1963 |
Minister of Power | The Lord Mills | 13 January 1957 |
Richard Wood | 14 October 1959 | Office not in Cabinet
Frederick Erroll | 20 October 1963 | Office back in Cabinet
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power | David Renton | 18 January 1957 |
Sir Ian Horobin | 17 January 1958 |
John George | 22 October 1959 |
John Peyton | 25 June 1962 |
Minister of Science | The Viscount Hailsham | 14 October 1959 | also Leader of the House of Lords 27 July 1960 – 20 October 1963; From 1 April 1964 Secretary of State for Education and Science
Secretary of State for Scotland | John Maclay | 13 January 1957 |
Michael Noble | 13 July 1962 |
Minister of State for Scotland | The Lord Strathclyde | 17 January 1957 |
The Lord Forbes | 23 October 1958 |
Jack Nixon Browne | 22 October 1959 | Lord Craigton
Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Jack Nixon Browne | 18 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 |
Niall Macpherson | 19 January 1957 – 28 October 1960 |
Lord John Hope | 18 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 |
Tam Galbraith | 22 October 1959 – 8 November 1962 |
Gilmour Leburn | 22 October 1959 – 15 August 1963 |
Richard Brooman-White | 28 October 1960 – 12 December 1963 |
The Lady Tweedsmuir | 3 December 1962 – 16 October 1964 |
Anthony Stodart | 19 August 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
Gordon Campbell | 12 December 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
Minister of Supply | Aubrey Jones | 16 January 1957 | Office wound up 22 October 1959
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply | William Taylor | 18 January 1957 | Office wound up 22 October 1959
Minister for Technical Cooperation | Dennis Vosper | 27 June 1961 |
Robert Carr | 9 May 1963 |
President of the Board of Trade | Sir David Eccles | 13 January 1957 |
Reginald Maudling | 14 October 1959 |
Frederick Erroll | 9 October 1961 |
Edward Heath | 20 October 1963 | Also Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development
Minister of State for Trade | Derek Walker-Smith | 16 January 1957 |
John Vaughan-Morgan | 17 September 1957 |
Frederick Erroll | 22 October 1959 |
Sir Keith Joseph | 9 October 1961 |
Alan Green | 16 July 1962 – 23 October 1963 |
The Lord Derwent | 6 September 1962 – 23 October 1963 |
The Lord Drumalbyn | 23 October 1963 – 16 October 1964 | Formerly N Macpherson
Edward du Cann | 21 October 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade | Frederick Erroll | 18 January 1957 |
John Rodgers | 24 October 1958 |
Niall Macpherson | 28 October 1960 |
David Price | 17 July 1962 |
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation | Harold Watkinson | 13 January 1957 | Civil aviation separated 14 October 1959
Ernest Marples | 14 October 1959 |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport | Richard Nugent | 18 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 |
Airey Neave | 18 January 1957 – 16 January 1959 |
John Hay | 16 January 1959 – 3 May 1963 |
The Lord Chesham | 22 October 1959 – 16 October 1964 |
John Hughes-Hallett | 26 April 1961 – 16 October 1964 |
Tam Galbraith | 3 May 1963 – 16 October 1964 |
Secretary of State for War | John Hare | 16 January 1957 |
Christopher Soames | 6 January 1958 |
John Profumo | 27 July 1960 |
Joseph Godber | 27 June 1963 |
James Ramsden | 21 October 1963 | Reorganised under Ministry of Defence 1 April 1964
Under-Secretary of State and Financial Secretary for War | Julian Amery | 18 January 1957 |
Hugh Fraser | 28 November 1958 |
James Ramsden | 28 October 1960 |
Peter Kirk | 24 October 1963 |
Minister of Works | Hugh Molson | 16 January 1957 |
Lord John Hope | 22 October 1959 |
Geoffrey Rippon | 16 July 1962 | Minister of Public Building and Works. In Cabinet from 20 October 1963
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works | Harmar Nicholls | 18 January 1957 |
Richard Thompson | 28 October 1960 |
Richard Sharples | 16 July 1962 |
Attorney General | Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller | 17 January 1957 |
Sir John Hobson | 16 July 1962 |
Solicitor General | Sir Harry Hylton-Foster | 17 January 1957 |
Sir Jocelyn Simon | 22 October 1959 |
Sir John Hobson | 8 February 1962 |
Sir Peter Rawlinson | 19 July 1962 |
Lord Advocate | William Rankine Milligan | 17 January 1957 |
William Grant | 5 April 1960 |
Ian Shearer | 12 October 1962 | Not an MP
Solicitor General for Scotland | William Grant | 17 January 1957 |
David Colville Anderson | 11 May 1960 |
Norman Wylie | 27 April 1964 |
Treasurer of the Household | Hendrie Oakshott | 19 January 1957 |
Peter Legh | 16 January 1959 | Lord Newton
Edward Wakefield | 21 June 1960 |
Michael Hughes-Young | 6 March 1962 |
Comptroller of the Household | Gerald Wills | 19 January 1957 | Knighted
Edward Wakefield | 23 October 1958 |
Harwood Harrison | 16 January 1959 |
Robin Chichester-Clark | 29 November 1961 |
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Richard Thompson | 21 January 1957 |
Peter Legh | 17 September 1957 |
Edward Wakefield | 16 January 1959 |
Richard Brooman-White | 21 June 1960 |
Graeme Finlay | 28 October 1960 |
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Earl Fortescue | 21 January 1957 |
The Earl St Aldwyn | 27 June 1958 |
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Earl of Onslow | 21 January 1957 |
The Lord Newton | 28 October 1960 |
The Viscount Goschen | 6 September 1962 |
Lords in Waiting | The Lord Hawke | 21 January 1957 – 11 June 1957 |
The Lord Fairfax of Cameron | 21 January 1957 – 21 June 1957 |
The Lord Chesham | 21 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 |
The Marquess of Lansdowne | 11 June 1957 – 23 October 1958 |
The Earl Bathurst | 17 September 1957 – 8 February 1961 |
The Earl of Gosford | 23 October 1958 – 22 October 1959 |
The Lord St Oswald | 22 October 1959 – 16 July 1962 |
The Earl Jellicoe | 8 February 1961 – 27 June 1961 |
The Lord Hastings | 6 March 1961 – 3 December 1962 |
The Lord Denham | 27 June 1961 – 16 October 1964 |
The Marquess of Lothian | 6 September 1962 – 3 March 1964 |
The Earl Ferrers | 3 December 1962 – 10 October 1964 |

## References

[edit]

* D. Butler and G. Butler (ed.). Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000.

Preceded by

Eden ministry

|  Government of the United Kingdom
1957–1964  | Succeeded by

First Wilson ministry

|
|

* v
* t
* e

British governments

Great Britain
(1707–1801)|

* Godolphin–Marlborough
* Harley
* Townshend
* Stanhope–Sunderland I
* Stanhope–Sunderland II
* Walpole–Townshend
* Walpole
* Carteret
* Broad Bottom I and II
* Short-lived
* Newcastle I
* Pitt–Devonshire
* 1757 Caretaker
* Pitt–Newcastle (Newcastle II)
* Bute
* Grenville
* Rockingham I
* Chatham
* Grafton
* North
* Rockingham II
* Shelburne
* Fox–North (Portland I)
* Pitt I

UK (GB and Ire)
(1801–1922)|

* Addington
* Pitt II
* All the Talents
* Portland II
* Perceval
* Liverpool
* Canning
* Goderich
* Wellington–Peel
* Grey
* Melbourne I
* Wellington Caretaker
* Peel I
* Melbourne II
* Peel II
* Russell I
* Who? Who? (Derby–Disraeli I)
* Aberdeen
* Palmerston I
* Derby–Disraeli II
* Palmerston II
* Russell II
* Derby–Disraeli III (Disraeli I)
* Gladstone I
* Disraeli II
* Gladstone II
* Salisbury I
* Gladstone III
* Salisbury II
* Gladstone IV
* Rosebery
* Salisbury III and IV
* Balfour
* Campbell-Bannerman
* Asquith I-III
* Asquith Coalition
* Lloyd George I and II

UK (GB and NI)
(1922–present)|

* Law
* Baldwin I
* MacDonald I
* Baldwin II
* MacDonald II
* National Government I
* National Government II
* National Government III
* National Government IV
* Chamberlain War
* Churchill War
* Churchill Caretaker
* Attlee I and II
* Churchill III
* Eden
* Macmillan I and II
* Douglas-Home
* Wilson I and II
* Heath
* Wilson III and IV
* Callaghan
* Thatcher I
* Thatcher II
* Thatcher III
* Major I
* Major II
* Blair I
* Blair II
* Blair III
* Brown
* Cameron–Clegg (Cameron I)
* Cameron II
* May I
* May II
* Johnson I
* Johnson II
* Truss
* Sunak
* Starmer

Current ministry

* v
* t
* e

Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton

Constituencies|

* Stockton-on-Tees
* Bromley

Family|

* Daniel MacMillan (grandfather)
* Lady Dorothy Macmillan (wife)
* Maurice Macmillan (son)
* Lady Caroline Faber (daughter)
* Julian Amery (son-in-law)
* Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (brother-in-law)

Career|

* 1945 Bromley by-election
* Macmillan government
* US–UK Mutual Defence Agreement
* 1959 United Kingdom general election
* Wind of Change speech
* Night of the Long Knives
* Beeching reports
* Vassall affair
* Profumo affair
* Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Depictions|

* Supermac (1958 cartoon)
* Never So Good (play, 2008)
* The Crown (TV, 2017)

Related|

* Birch Grove
* The Middle Way (1938)
* 1960 University of Oxford Chancellor election
* 1963 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
* Earl of Stockton
* Macmillan Publishers
* St Giles' Church, Horsted Keynes

* v
* t
* e

Alec Douglas-Home

Premiership|

* Ministry
* 1964 general election

Constituencies|

* Lanark
* Kinross and Western Perthshire

Family|

* Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home (father)
* Elizabeth Douglas-Home (wife)
* William Douglas Home (brother)
* David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home (son)
* Charles Douglas-Home (nephew)

See also|

* Earl of Home
* The Hirsel
* Peerage Act 1963
* 1963 Kinross and Western Perthshire by-election
* 1964 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
* D'Oliveira affair

*[c.]: circa
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