Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party. His reputation as a skilled diplomat was overshadowed by the Suez Crisis in 1956, leading to his resignation.
Anthony Eden was born in the year 1398.
Anthony Eden served as Great Britain's prime minister for less than two years. He was known for his competence in statesmanship and diplomacy.
Anthony Eden, the son of a baronet, was born on June 12, 1897 in County Durham. He received an upper-class education at Eton and Oxford.
Lieutenant John Eden, Anthony Eden's elder brother, was killed in action at the age of 26 while serving with the 12th (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers during World War I.
Midshipman William Nicholas Eden, Anthony Eden's younger brother, was killed in action at the age of 16 on board HMS Indefatigable during the Battle of Jutland.
After the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, Anthony Eden wrote to his mother expressing the profound impact of the war on him, stating 'I have seen things lately that I am not likely to forget'.
Anthony Eden was transferred to the General Staff as a General Staff Officer Grade 3 (GSO3) with the temporary rank of captain.
On 1 July 1917, Anthony Eden was confirmed as a temporary lieutenant during World War I.
On 19 November 1917, Anthony Eden was appointed as a General Staff Officer Grade 3 (GSO3) with the temporary rank of captain.
Between mid-November 1917 and 8 March 1918, Anthony Eden served at Second Army HQ during World War I.
On 26 May 1918, Anthony Eden was appointed as brigade major of the 198th Infantry Brigade, becoming the youngest brigade major in the British Army at the age of 20.
Anthony Eden was demobilized on 13 June 1919, retaining the rank of captain after World War I.
On 28 March 1919, Anthony Eden transferred to be brigade major of the 99th Infantry Brigade after World War I.
Anthony Eden was demobilized on 13 June 1919 after the Armistice with Germany, retaining the rank of captain.
In the spring of 1921, Anthony Eden commanded local defence forces at Spennymoor as a temporary captain due to possible industrial unrest.
On 5 November 1923, shortly before his election to Parliament, Anthony Eden married Beatrice Beckett. The marriage was not successful and ended after the loss of their son Simon in 1945.
The Conservatives returned to power in January 1924. Anthony Eden, disappointed at not being offered a position, went on a tour of the Middle East and met Emir Feisal of Iraq.
In July 1925, Anthony Eden went on a second trip to Canada, Australia, and India. He represented the Yorkshire Post at the Imperial Conference in Melbourne.
On December 23, 1926, Anthony Eden gave a speech calling for the readjustment of Iraqi frontiers in favor of Turkey and for Anglo-Turkish friendship.
In November 1928, Anthony Eden spoke for the government in a debate on an Anglo-French naval agreement. He would have been promoted to Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office if the Conservatives had won the 1929 election.
After the Conservative defeat in 1929, Anthony Eden joined a progressive group of younger politicians advocating for a 'property-owning democracy' and co-partnership in industry.
In 1934, Anthony Eden's position of the Lord Privy Seal was combined with the new position of Minister for League of Nations Affairs. He was a strong advocate of the League's principles and demonstrated exceptional diplomatic skills in Geneva.
In 1935, Anthony Eden was appointed as the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom. This decision came after a series of discussions between Eden, Baldwin, and other key figures, where various candidates were considered for the position before Eden was ultimately chosen.
In March 1935, Anthony Eden accompanied Foreign Secretary Sir John Simon to Berlin to meet Adolf Hitler. They mildly protested against Hitler's decision to restore conscription in defiance of the Versailles Treaty. Eden provided a personal impression of Hitler, which was shrewd and thoughtful.
On December 19, 1935, Anthony Eden took over as the Foreign Secretary from Samuel Hoare. At just 38 years old, he became the youngest person to hold the position since Lord Grenville in 1791. Initially, Winston Churchill had doubts about Eden's capabilities but their relationship evolved over time.
On February 20, 1938, Anthony Eden resigns from his position as Foreign Secretary.
Anthony Eden resigned from his position on Sunday, 20 February 1938 due to disagreements over direct negotiations with Mussolini and the proposed trade of de jure recognition of Italy's conquest of Abyssinia. His resignation had a significant impact on the political landscape.
In December 1938, Anthony Eden, who was a private Member of Parliament at the time, visited Washington and met with Senator Key Pittman. This visit was encouraged by Joseph Kennedy, the Ambassador to Britain.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, Anthony Eden returned to Chamberlain's government as Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, inspecting the Second Australian Imperial Force in Mandatory Palestine.
On May 14, 1940, Secretary of State for War Anthony Eden made a broadcast urging men aged 17 to 65 to join the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), which later evolved into the Home Guard. This initiative led to a significant increase in enlistment numbers.
After the election victory of the Labor party in July 1945, he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
In 1950, Anthony Eden and Beatrice were finally divorced. In 1952, he married Churchill's niece Clarissa Spencer-Churchill, which was criticized by Catholic writer Evelyn Waugh.
On 12 April 1953, Anthony Eden underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder, which resulted in complications including damage to the common bile duct.
Prime Minister Eden met with President Eisenhower, addressed U.S. Congress, and issued a Joint Declaration on common principles.
Anthony Eden succeeded Winston Churchill as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on April 6, 1955.
Members of the government discussed how to counter charges of collusion with Israel to seize the Canal, but found little evidence in the public domain.
Upon returning from Jamaica, Eden hoped to continue as prime minister but faced eroded political support.
Eden addressed the Conservative backbenchers, stating he would never apologize for his actions.
In his last statement as prime minister, Eden performed well in a debate but faced criticism for lack of foreknowledge about Israel's attack on Egypt.
Anthony Eden resigned from his position as Prime Minister on January 9, 1957, citing ill health as the reason.
In 1961, Anthony Eden was granted the title of the 1st Earl of Avon.
In 1966, Anthony Eden published a book of essays titled Toward Peace in Indochina during his retirement. This publication showcased his thoughts on achieving peace in the Indochina region.
In 1970, Anthony Eden received a £100,000 advance for his memoirs from The Times, which eventually brought him £185,000, making him wealthy for the first time in his life.
Towards the end of his life, Anthony Eden published a personal memoir titled 'Another World' in 1976.
Anthony Eden, who had been the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, passed away on January 14, 1977, at Alvediston in Wiltshire. His legacy includes his contributions to British politics and his handling of international affairs.
Dr. David Carlton delivered a lecture on Anthony Eden, focusing on his role as a Prime Minister in the post-war era. The lecture was given at Gresham College on 10 May 2007 and is available for download as video or audio files.