John Major

Sir John Major (born March 29, 1943) is a former British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997 and as Leader of the Conservative Party during that period. Prior to his tenure as Prime Minister, Major held multiple positions in Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1987–1989), Foreign Secretary (1989), and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1989–1990). He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon, previously known as Huntingdonshire, from 1979 to 2001.

Major was born at St Helier Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children in St Helier, Surrey. His parents were Gwen Major (née Coates) and Tom Major-Ball, a music hall performer. Major was christened "John Roy Major" but was recorded as "John Major" on his birth certificate, a name he used publicly until the early 1980s. His birth was complicated, with his mother suffering from pleurisy and pneumonia, and he required blood transfusions due to infection, resulting in permanent scarring on his ankles. The family lived in Worcester Park, Surrey, where Major’s father ran a garden ornaments business and his mother worked in a library and as a dance teacher. During World War II, after a German V-1 flying bomb attack in 1944, the family moved to Saham Toney, Norfolk, for safety.

Major's education began at Cheam Common School in 1948, and he later attended Rutlish School, a grammar school in Merton Park, after passing the 11+ exam in 1954. His family faced financial difficulties when his father's health declined and the business was sold in 1955. The family then moved to Brixton, London, living in modest accommodations. Major left school just before his 16th birthday in 1959, with three O-level passes in History, English Language, and English Literature.

Following his schooling, Major worked briefly as a clerk at an insurance brokerage and then in his family’s garden ornaments business. His father died in 1962, after which Major cared for his mother and experienced periods of unemployment. In the early 1960s, he studied banking via correspondence and took jobs at the London Electricity Board, District Bank, and Standard Bank, with a notable secondment to Jos, Nigeria, in 1966, where he spent an extended period working abroad.

Major’s interest in politics was influenced by an early experience in 1956 when he attended his first debate in the House of Commons. In 1959, he joined the Young Conservatives and became actively involved in local politics, standing for Lambeth Borough Council in 1964. He also participated in campaign activities for Conservative candidates in general elections during the 1960s.

His personal relationships included a notable mentorship and romantic involvement with Jean Kierans, a divorcée with two children. He moved in with her after his family relocated in the mid-1960s. Major's early career also involved various roles in banking and financial institutions before he was elected to Parliament in 1979.

Since retiring from politics, Major has focused on writing, business ventures, sporting and charity work, and commenting on political developments. He is a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG), appointed in 2005, and a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his work on the Northern Ireland peace process in 1999. As of 2025, he is the oldest living former British prime minister.