The RT Hon Sir John Major, KG CH

Sir John was born in 1943 and educated at Rutlish Grammar School. He entered Banking in 1963 and became a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers. He was made an Honorary Member of the Guild of International Bankers in September 2006.

Sir John became involved in politics at the age of 16 and, in 1968, won his first Election to a local authority in Lambeth. He stood for Parliament twice in the 1970s, before securing election to Huntingdon in 1979.

In Parliament, Sir John served in the Government for 16 years and in the Cabinet for 10 years. He entered Government as Junior Whip in 1983; Senior Whip, 1984; Parliamentary Secretary, 1985; and Minister for Social Security and the Disabled in 1986. He joined the Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1987; and in July 1989 was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, a position he held for 94 days before being appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in October of that year.

Sir John was appointed Prime Minister on November 28, 1990 and served in that position until May 1997. In the General Election of April 1992, he led the Conservative party to an unprecedented fourth term in Office.

As Prime Minister, Sir John focused his efforts upon securing peace in Northern Ireland and upholding Britain’s position in the world community as a political, social and economic leader. He was Prime Minister throughout the Gulf War and, at home, instigated long-term reforms in education, health and public services. On 1 May, 1997, he handed over the strongest economy any incoming Government had inherited. On New Year’s Day 1999, The Queen appointed him a Companion of Honour in recognition of his initiation of the Northern Ireland Peace Process. On St George’s Day 2005, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and is a Vice-President of The Friends of St George’s Chapel.

Sir John retired from the House of Commons at the UK General Election in May 2001. His business interests are Chairman of the International Advisory Board of the National Bank of Kuwait; Senior Advisor to Credit-Suisse; and Chairman of the European Advisory Council of the Emerson Electric Company, St. Louis. He is Chairman of the Council of the Ditchley Foundation and on the International Advisory Boards of the Peres Center for Peace in Israel, the InterAction Council in Tokyo, and Patron of the Atlantic Partnership.

His charitable interests include the Presidency of Asthma UK; and Patron of the Prostate Cancer Charity, Sightsavers UK, Mercy Ships and Support for Africa 2000. He also takes an active interest in the work of other charities.

Sir John served as President of Surrey County Cricket Club at The Oval between 2000-2002, where his lifetime passion for cricket was born. He currently serves on the MCC Committee at Lord’s. His leisure interests also include football, music, theatre, opera and reading.

Sir John has been married to Dame Norma since 1970 (she was appointed a Dame of the British Empire in June 1999 in recognition of her charitable work for disabled people). They have two children, Elizabeth and James, and one grandson, Harry, born in July 2000.