John Major

The Right Honourable Sir John Major KG CH
Pictured in 2014
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office 28 November 1990 – 2 May 1997
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Deputy	Michael Heseltine (1995–97)
Preceded by	Margaret Thatcher
Succeeded by	Tony Blair
Leader of the Opposition
In office 2 May 1997 – 19 June 1997
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Tony Blair
Succeeded by	William Hague
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office 4 July 1995 – 19 June 1997
Deputy	Michael Heseltine
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	William Hague
In office 28 November 1990 – 22 June 1995
Deputy	The Viscount Whitelaw (1990–91)
Preceded by	Margaret Thatcher
Succeeded by	Himself
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 26 October 1989 – 28 November 1990
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Chief Secretary	Norman Lamont
Preceded by	Nigel Lawson
Succeeded by	Norman Lamont
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
In office 24 July 1989 – 26 October 1989
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	Sir Geoffrey Howe
Succeeded by	Douglas Hurd
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office 13 June 1987 – 24 July 1989
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Chancellor	Nigel Lawson
Preceded by	John MacGregor
Succeeded by	Norman Lamont
Minister of State for Social Security
In office 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Sec. of State	Norman Fowler
Preceded by	Tony Newton
Succeeded by	Nicholas Scott
Member of Parliament for Huntingdon Huntingdonshire (1979–1983)
In office 3 May 1979 – 7 June 2001
Preceded by	David Renton
Succeeded by	Jonathan Djanogly
Personal details
Born	(1943-03-29) 29 March 1943 St Helier, Surrey, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Norma Johnson (m. 1970)
Children	2
Parents	Tom Major-Ball Gwen Coates
Signature	John Major's signature
Website	Official website

Sir John Major (born 29 March 1943) KG CH is a British politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Conservative Party from November 1990 to May 1997. He was also a member of the Cabinet of Margaret Thatcher as Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1987-1989), Foreign Secretary (1989) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1989-1990).

Major was born in Carshalton, England and left school at the age of 16. He became a Conservative Party councillor in 1968. At the 1979 General Election, Major became a Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire (Huntingdon from 1983 onwards). After holding several cabinet posts, Major was elected to succeed Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister and Conservative leader. As Prime Minister, John Major oversaw British involvement in the Gulf War (1991-92) and his party's narrow re-election in the 1992 General Election. After this, the Conservative Party became less popular because of the Black Wednesday fiasco in November 1992 and because the Conservative Party became divided over the issue of the European Union. The Conservative Party was defeated at the 1997 General Election and Major was succeeded by the Labour Party's Tony Blair. Major was succeeded as Conservative leader by William Hague and he stood down as an MP at the 2001 General Election.

Major has so far declined a life peerage on standing down from Parliament.

Personal life

Major married Norma Johnson (now Dame Norma Major, DBE) on 3 October 1970. She was a teacher, and a member of the Young Conservatives. They became engaged after only ten days. They had two children; a son, James, and a daughter, Elizabeth. They have a holiday home on the coast of north Norfolk, near Weybourne.

He is a keen follower of cricket, motor racing, and also a supporter of Chelsea Football Club.