John Profumo

John Dennis Profumo, CBE (30 January 1915 – 9 March 2006), always known as Jack Profumo, was a British soldier and politician. A scandal, known as the Profumo affair, led to his resignation and withdrawal from politics. It may have damaged the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan. Profumo spent his later life working for charities.

Profumo died of a stroke in London, aged 91.

 Life 
Profumo's father was a barrister, though the Profumo family's money was in insurance. The family sold the Provident Life Association for £6 million in the 1980s.Daily Teleraph: Obituary of John Profumo Profumo was educated at Harrow and Brasenose College, Oxford. He joined the Army when war was declared, and in 1940 he became the youngest Member of Parliament. His military career is described:
"Profumo had a distinguished military career, being mentioned in dispatches during the North Africa campaign, and being appointed OBE (military) while serving on Field Marshal Alexander's staff in Italy. He was present at the surrender of the German forces in Italy and was later appointed Brigadier and Chief of Staff to the British Liaison Mission to General MacArthur in Japan. He also landed in Normandy on D-Day with an armoured brigade, and took part in the fierce fighting at Caen and in Operation Goodwood".

 Affair 
Profumo's political career was ruined by a combination of events. He and his wife accepted an invitation from Lord Astor to spend a weekend at his country estate, Clivedon. During that weekend he saw Christine Keeler get out of the swimming pool naked. Profumo asked for her phone number, and they became lovers. Unfortunately for Profumo, she was also having an affair with  the Russian naval attaché and spy, Yevgeny Ivanov. When MI5 discovered this from a tip-off, Profumo ended the affair. Rumours circulated, and he was directly challenged about his relationship  in the House of Commons. In a personal statement to the House of Commons, Profumo denied the accusation. This was perhaps his biggest mistake. He  eventually confessed his affair, and  resigned from the government and from Parliament.

Profumo was later (1975) awarded the CBE for services to charity.

 References 

Other websites
Daily Telegraph: Obituary of John Profumo
The Times: Obituary of John Profumo 
The Guardian: The Profumo Affair
FBI file on John Profumo
BBC –  Former Tory minister Profumo dies
Daily Telegraph: Extracts from Bringing the House Down by David Profumo (son) 

Category:1915 births
Category:2006 deaths
Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford
Category:British military personnel of World War II 
Category:Deaths from stroke
Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs
Category:People educated at Harrow School
Category:Politicians from London
Category:UK MPs 1950–1951
Category:UK MPs 1951–1955
Category:UK MPs 1955–1959
Category:UK MPs 1959–1964