John Major

**Sir John Major**  (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997. He served as a member of the Cabinet under Margaret Thatcher as Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1987–1989), Foreign Secretary (1989) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1989–1990).

## Early life and career

Major was born at St Helier Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children in St Helier, London, in England and left school at the age of 16. He became a Conservative councillor in 1968. At the 1979 general election, Major was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdonshire (Huntingdon after 1983).

## Prime Minister

After holding several cabinet positions, Major was elected to replace Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister and party leader. On taking office, he saw British action in the Gulf War (1991) and his party's narrow re-election in the 1992 general election.

After this, the Conservatives under Major became unpopular because of the "Black Wednesday" stock market crash in late 1992 and how they became divided over the issue of European Union. Beaten at the 1997 general election, Major stood down as Prime Minister for Tony Blair of the Labour Party, and was replaced as Conservative leader by William Hague. He stood down as an MP at the 2001 general election.

## Personal life

Major married Norma Johnson (now (Dame) Norma Major ) on 3 October 1970. She was a teacher, and a member of the Young Conservatives. They became engaged after only ten days. They have 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.

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

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **embed**: yes
- **office3**: Chancellor of the Exchequer
- **primeminister3**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start3**: 26 October 1989
- **term end3**: 28 November 1990
- **predecessor3**: Nigel Lawson
- **successor3**: Norman Lamont
- **office4**: Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
- **primeminister4**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start4**: 24 July 1989
- **term end4**: 26 October 1989
- **predecessor4**: Geoffrey Howe, Sir Geoffrey Howe
- **successor4**: Douglas Hurd
- **office5**: Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- **primeminister5**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start5**: 13 June 1987
- **term end5**: 24 July 1989
- **predecessor5**: John MacGregor, Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market, John MacGregor
- **successor5**: Norman Lamont
- **office6**: Minister for Disabled People, Minister of State for Social Security
- **primeminister6**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start6**: 10 September 1986
- **term end6**: 13 June 1987
- **predecessor6**: Tony Newton, Baron Newton of Braintree, Tony Newton
- **successor6**: Nicholas Scott
- **office7**: Department of Health and Social Security, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security
- **primeminister7**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start7**: 2 September 1985
- **term end7**: 10 September 1986
- **predecessor7**: John Patten, Baron Patten, John Patten
- **successor7**: Nicholas Lyell
- **office8**: Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
- **primeminister8**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start8**: 3 October 1984
- **term end8**: 1 November 1985
- **predecessor8**: Alastair Goodlad
- **successor8**: Tim Sainsbury
- **office9**: Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament
for Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency), Huntingdon

- **term start9**: 3 May 1979
- **term end9**: 14 May 2001
- **predecessor9**: David Renton
- **successor9**: Jonathan Djanogly
- **birth place**: Carshalton, Surrey, England
- **party**: Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
- **children**: 2
- **parents**: Tom Major-Ball (father)
- **relatives**: Terry Major-Ball (brother)
- **education**: Rutlish School


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **honorific prefix**: The Right Honourable
- **name**: Sir John Major
- **image**: John Major 1993 (3).jpg
- **alt**: John Major in 1993
- **caption**: John Major in 1993
- **office**: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- **monarch**: Elizabeth II
- **deputy**: Michael Heseltine
- **term start**: 28 November 1990
- **term end**: 2 May 1997
- **predecessor**: Margaret Thatcher
- **successor**: Tony Blair
- **office1**: Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition
- **monarch1**: Elizabeth II
- **primeminister1**: Tony Blair
- **deputy1**: Michael Heseltine
- **term start1**: 2 May 1997
- **term end1**: 19 June 1997
- **predecessor1**: Tony Blair
- **successor1**: William Hague
- **office2**: Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party
- **deputy2**: William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw, Viscount Whitelaw
- **term start2**: 27 November 1990
- **term end2**: 19 June 1997
- **predecessor2**: Margaret Thatcher
- **successor2**: William Hague