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John Major

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997 · United Kingdom · Politicians · Born 1943 · age 83

John Major is read about 2,496 times a day, in 94 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

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He won the biggest popular vote in British political history, then watched his party tear itself apart over Europe. Major inherited Thatcher's Conservative machine in 1990, steered it to an unexpected fourth term, and presided over its slow collapse into the landslide that ended eighteen years of Tory rule.

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A life in dates

2012Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising SunAward2005“Oh, Lord, if I must die today, Please make it after Close of Play. For this, I know, if nothing more, I will not go - without the score.”In their words7 September 2005Partly cited by John Major "From Oval teen to Oval Office" The Times (7 September 2005). For the full version, see Patrick Kidd "Major’s

Knight of the GarterAward1993“If the implication of his remarks is that we should sit down and talk with Mr. Adams and the Provisional IRA, I can say only that that would turn my stomach and those of most hon.”In their words1 November 1993Hansard, HC Debates Sixth Series, vol 231 col 35 (1 November 1993).

1992“Everyone who has seen the recent news reports has been shocked and moved by the suffering children in Sarajevo.”In their words13 July 1992Hansard HC Debates, Sixth series, vol. 211 col 812 (13 July 1992)

“I am walking over hot coals suspended over a deep pit at the bottom of which are a large number of vipers baring their fangs.”In their wordsNicholas Wood and Michael Prescott, "Major threatens general election if he fails to win Maastricht vote", The Sunday Times, 25 October

1991“We Conservatives have always passed our values from generation to generation. I believe that personal prosperity should follow the same course.”In their wordsFirst speech as leader at the Conservative Party conference (1991)

1990“In the next ten years we will have to continue to make changes which will make the whole of this country a genuinely classless society.”In their words24 November 1990Today newspaper, 24 November 1990.

1943Born29 March 1943

Also in Deutsch

Photos 11

260 Longfellow Road, Worcester Park, where John Major was raised from birth to the age of twelve260 Longfellow Road, Worcester Park, where John Major was raised from birth to the age of twelveSt Matthew's Church, Brixton where John and Norma Major married in 1970St Matthew's Church, Brixton where John and Norma Major married in 1970A demonstration against the deployment of cruise missiles at RAF Molesworth in the early 1980sA demonstration against the deployment of cruise missiles at RAF Molesworth in the early 1980sPrime Minister John Major and President George H. W. Bush participate in a press availability at Camp DavidPrime Minister John Major and President George H. W. Bush participate in a press availability at Camp DavidPrime Minister John Major and President Bill Clinton deliver press statements at the White House in 1993Prime Minister John Major and President Bill Clinton deliver press statements at the White House in 1993Major and Clinton at the White House in 1994Major and Clinton at the White House in 1994

In their own words 10

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John Major
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10 statements, newest first

  1. Oh, Lord, if I must die today, Please make it after Close of Play. For this, I know, if nothing more, I will not go - without the score.

    Sep 7, 2005, Partly cited by John Major "From Oval teen to Oval Office" The Times (7 September 2005). For the full version, see Patrick Kidd "Major’s, Own words

  2. Summers simply won't be the same without him.

    Jan 6, 1994, Frank Keating, "Tributes flow as Johnners, voice of English cricket, dies at 81", The Guardian (6 January 1994)., Own words

  3. I would like the public to have a crusade against crime and change their attitude from being forgiving of crime to being considerate to the victim.

    1993, Interview with The Mail on Sunday, quoted in Sheila Gunn and Richard Ford, 'Clarke to get tough with hard-core teenage crime', The Times, Own words

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Awards

Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun2012
Knight of the Garter2005
British Sports Book Awards
Order of the Companions of Honour

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About this person

Major left school before sixteen, worked insurance, and climbed from local council in Lambeth to parliament in 1979. He rose fast under Thatcher - Treasury, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor - then won the leadership when she fell in 1990. His mild manner replaced her iron, but the job was no easier: he navigated the Gulf War, the Maastricht Treaty, Black Wednesday's currency crash, and the grinding work that helped broker peace in Northern Ireland. In 1992 he pulled more than fourteen million votes, a record that still stands. Then the fractures widened - Europe split the party, scandals mounted, Labour surged under Blair. Major won a desperate leadership challenge in 1995 but couldn't stop the drift. In 1997 the landslide came. He stepped down, spent four years on the backbenches, then left parliament in 2001 for writing, business, and the long view from the margin.

Country
United Kingdom
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
living
Dates
Born 1943 · age 83

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