Anthony Eden

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Anthony Eden

Role / Field:

British statesman who served as Prime Minister (1955-1957) and diplomat.

Born:

1897-06-12

Died:

1977-01-14

Century / Era:

1897s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon (12 June 1897 – 14 January 1977), was a British statesman, diplomat and military officer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1955 to 1957. Achieving rapid promotion as a young Conservative member of Parliament, he became foreign secretary aged 38, before resigning in protest at Neville Chamberlain's appeasement policy towards Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime in Italy. He returned to that position for most of the Second World War, and held it for a third time in the early 1950s. Having been deputy to Winston Churchill for almost 15 years, Eden succeeded him as the leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister in 1955, and a month later won a general election. Eden's reputation as a skilled diplomat was overshadowed in 1956 when the United States refused to support the Anglo-French military response to the Suez Crisis, which critics across party lines regarded as a historic setback for British foreign policy, signalling the end of British influence in the Middle East.

Career & Major Achievements

Most historians argue that he made a series of blunders, especially not realising the depth of American opposition to military action. Two months after ordering an end to the Suez operation, he resigned as Prime Minister on grounds of ill health, and because he was widely suspected of having misled the House of Commons over the degree of collusion with France and Israel. Eden is generally considered to be among the least successful of British prime ministers in the 20th century, although two broadly sympathetic biographies have gone some way to shifting the balance of opinion. He was the first of fifteen British prime ministers to be appointed by Queen Elizabeth II in her seventy-year reign. Robert Anthony Eden was born on 12 June 1897 at Windlestone Hall, County Durham, into a conservative family of landed gentry.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was the third of four sons of Sir William Eden, 7th and 5th Baronet, and Sybil Frances Grey, a member of the prominent Grey family of Northumberland. Sir William was a former colonel and local magistrate from an old titled family. An eccentric and often foul-tempered man, he was a talented water-colourist, portraitist, and collector of Impressionists. Eden's mother had wanted to marry Francis Knollys, who later became a significant Royal adviser, but the match was forbidden by the Prince of Wales. Although she was a popular figure locally, she had a strained relationship with her children, and her profligacy ruined the family fortunes, meaning Eden's elder brother Tim had to sell Windlestone Hall in 1936.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1897 (1897-06-12): Birth of Anthony Eden — British statesman who served as Prime Minister (1955-1957) and diplomat.
2. 1936: 1936 Milestone — Although she was a popular figure locally, she had a strained relationship with her children, and her profligacy ruined the family fortunes, meaning Eden's elder brother Tim had to sell Windlestone Hall in 1936.
3. 1955: 1955 Milestone — Having been deputy to Winston Churchill for almost 15 years, Eden succeeded him as the leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister in 1955, and a month later won a general election.
4. 1956: 1956 Milestone — Eden's reputation as a skilled diplomat was overshadowed in 1956 when the United States refused to support the Anglo-French military response to the Suez Crisis, which critics across party lines regarded as a historic setback for British foreign policy, signalling the end of British influence in the Middle East.
5. 1977 (1977-01-14): Passing & Historical Legacy — Anthony Eden passed away on 1977-01-14, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Anthony Eden

True or False: “Did Anthony Eden serve as Foreign Secretary multiple times throughout his career?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Yes, he served in the role of Foreign Secretary before World War II and again in the early 1950s.

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• 1897 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1897
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Frequently Asked Questions about Anthony Eden