Catherine Ashton

The Right Honourable

The Baroness Ashton
of Upholland

GCMG PC
The Right Honourable; The Baroness Ashton; of Upholland; GCMG PC
	Ashton in 2009
First Vice President of the European Commission
	In office; 9 February 2010 – 1 November 2014
President	José Manuel Barroso
Preceded by	Margot Wallström
Succeeded by	Frans Timmermans
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
	In office; 1 December 2009 – 1 November 2014
Nominated by	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Javier Solana (Common Foreign and Security Policy)
Succeeded by	Federica Mogherini
European Commissioner for Trade
	In office; 3 October 2008 – 1 December 2009
Nominated by	Gordon Brown
President	José Manuel Barroso
Preceded by	Peter Mandelson
Succeeded by	Benita Ferrero-Waldner
Leader of the House of Lords; Lord President of the Council
	In office; 28 June 2007 – 3 October 2008
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	The Baroness Amos
Succeeded by	The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
	In office; 8 May 2007 – 27 June 2007
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Herself
Succeeded by	The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs
	In office; 9 September 2004 – 8 May 2007
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	The Lord Filkin
Succeeded by	Herself
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sure Start, Early Years, Childcare and School Standards
	In office; 12 June 2001 – 9 September 2004
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Jacqui Smith
Succeeded by	The Lord Filkin
Member of the House of Lords ; Lord Temporal
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 20 October 1999 ; Life Peerage
Personal details
Born	Catherine Margaret Ashton; 20 March 1956 (age 66); Upholland, West Lancashire
Political party	Non-affiliated ; Labour
Spouse(s)	Peter Kellner (m. 1988)
Education	Bedford College, London

Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, GCMG, PC (born 20 March 1956 at Upholland, Lancashire) is a British Labour politician. She was born in Upholland, Lancashire, England. In November 2009, she was appointed to be the first European Foreign Minister.