Harold Macmillan

Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden, was born on February 10, 1894 in London, England.

Macmillan volunteered for war service and was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the King's Royal Rifle Corps when war was declared.

Macmillan was promoted to lieutenant and transferred to the Grenadier Guards during his service in France.

Harold Macmillan led an advance platoon in the Battle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916, part of the Battle of the Somme, where he was severely wounded and lay in a shell hole for over twelve hours.

Macmillan was still on crutches at the Armistice of 11 November 1918 due to his injuries sustained during the war.

Harold Macmillan married Lady Dorothy Cavendish, daughter of the 9th Duke of Devonshire, on 21 April 1920.

Harold Macmillan held the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply under Prime Minister Winston Churchill from May 1940 to February 1942.

Harold Macmillan served as the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies under Prime Minister Winston Churchill from February 1942 to December 1942.

Harold Macmillan was the Minister Resident in Northwest Africa under Prime Minister Winston Churchill from December 1942 to May 1945.

On September 14, 1944, Macmillan was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Allied Control Commission for Italy. He continued to play a significant role as the British Minister Resident at Allied Headquarters and political adviser in the Mediterranean.

On November 10, 1944, Macmillan was appointed Acting President of the Allied Commission. This appointment marked a significant moment in his career during the wartime period.

On December 11, 1944, Macmillan visited Greece during World War II. He played a crucial role in negotiating a truce and influencing the political situation in Greece amidst tensions between British troops and the Greek resistance.

Harold Macmillan held the position of Secretary of State for Air under Prime Minister Winston Churchill from May 1945 to July 1945.

Labour party won a landslide victory in the July 1945 general election, leading to Harold Macmillan losing his seat in Stockton.

Harold Macmillan returned to Parliament in November 1945 through a by-election held in Bromley.

Harold Macmillan served as the Minister of Housing and Local Government under Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill from October 1951 to October 1954.

Harold Macmillan was the Minister of Defence under Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill from October 1954 to April 1955.

Harold Macmillan held the position of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden from April 1955 to December 1955.

Harold Macmillan served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden from December 1955 to January 1957.

On 10 January 1957, Harold Macmillan became Prime Minister after Anthony Eden's resignation, taking office during a politically desperate time after the Suez Crisis.

Harold Macmillan became the Conservative Prime Minister of Britain in 1957 and served until 1963. During his tenure, he oversaw a period of economic prosperity and played a key role in reducing tensions during the Cold War.

After his re-election in 1959, Harold Macmillan's premiership faced a series of significant setbacks, impacting the political landscape of the time.

In January 1960, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan embarked on a tour of Africa, starting in Ghana. During this tour, he delivered the famous 'wind of change' speech in Cape Town on February 3, 1960, marking a significant moment in the decolonization process.

On February 3, 1960, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan delivered the famous 'wind of change' speech in Cape Town. This speech is considered a landmark moment in the decolonization process.

Macmillan was summoned for an emergency summit with Kennedy in Key West due to the Pathet Lao winning victories in the Laotian civil war. The meeting was tense as Macmillan reluctantly agreed that Britain would intervene in Laos if the United States did.

Prime Minister Macmillan arrived in New York City on April 3, 1961, for an informal visit.

In July 1962, Harold Macmillan implemented another Cabinet reshuffle, appointing new members to key positions in his government.

Indonesia sponsored a rebellion in the British protectorate of Brunei, leading to Macmillan dispatching Gurkhas to put down the rebellion against the sultan.

The report, also known as the Beeching I report, was published on 27 March 1963. It emphasized the need for modernization and profitability in the British railway system, leading to the implementation of the Beeching Axe which resulted in the closure of many railway lines and disconnecting towns from the network.

After the truth about the scandal emerged, John Profumo resigned on June 5, 1963. The scandal not only implicated Profumo but also raised questions about the morality of Harold Macmillan's government.

President Kennedy visited Macmillan's country home, Birch Grove, on 29–30 June 1963, for talks about the planned Multilateral Force. This visit marked their last meeting, as Kennedy was assassinated shortly after the end of Macmillan's premiership.

Sukarno announced Indonesia's intention to 'gobble Malaysia raw', leading to an undeclared war between Britain and Indonesia that lasted from 1963 to 1966.

In 1963, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan resigns from his position, leading to a change in leadership in the UK government.

On 18 October 1963, Harold Macmillan resigned from his position as Prime Minister citing health problems worsened by the Profumo Affair.

In September 1964, Harold Macmillan refused a peerage and retired from the House of Commons. He then started working on his memoirs.

Harold Macmillan's inability to address his wife's affair with Robert Boothby and the subsequent personal turmoil significantly affected his public persona and personal life. The affair's revelation and its continuation until Lady Dorothy's death in 1966 had a lasting impact on Macmillan.

On 24 February 1984, Macmillan was created Earl of Stockton and Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden, becoming the last non-royal recipient of a hereditary peerage.

At a dinner in November 1985, Macmillan made a speech comparing Thatcher's privatisation policy to 'selling the family silver'. He mentioned the sale of assets like Georgian silver, furniture, and Canalettos, criticizing the privatization of profitable parts of the steel industry and railways.

Harold Macmillan was widowed from 21 May 1966 until his death on 29 December 1986, a total of 21 years, making him the British prime minister widowed the longest in recent times.

A private funeral for Harold Macmillan was held on January 5, 1987, at St Giles' Church in West Sussex, attended by family members, political figures like Thatcher and Heath, and other mourners. He was laid to rest beside his wife and son.

A public memorial service for Harold Macmillan took place on February 10, 1987, at Westminster Abbey, attended by the Queen and thousands of mourners. It was a significant event to honor his legacy.