 |
 Sir
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
was Prime Minister during World War II,
in which capacity he provided strength to
citizens experiencing the Blitz. Defeated
in the 1945 General Election, he was
returned to office in 1951. |
|
 Sir Robert
Anthony Eden served as
Secretary of War and Foreign Secretary
during World War II. He succeeded
Churchill as Prime Minister in 1955, and
served in that office until 1957. During
his tenure England, France and Israel
launched an assault on Egypt in response
to nationalization of the Suez Canal. |
|
| |
 Sir
Alec Douglas-Home served in
a variety of ministerial positions before
being named Prime Minister in 1963. He
only served until 1964, however, after
which he took a seat in the House of
Lords. |
|
 Harold
Macmillan became Prime
Minister following Britain's failed
attempt to seize control of the Suez
Canal. Although he was able to calm the
furor caused by the debacle, he was
unable to overcome problems caused by his
own government. |
|
| |
 Edward VII
served the longest period as heir
apparent in British history before
finally becoming the oldest person to
assume the British throne, in 1901. As
king, he was able to use his relationship
to nearly every other European sovereign
to improve relations between Britain and
other nations. |
|
 George
V became king in 1910. In
1911, he and his wife became the only
reigning British monarchs to visit India.
During World War I, he and the Queen
gained lasting popularity for their
courage and devotion. In 1917, he changed
the family name from Hanover to Windsor. |
|
| |
 Nancy Langhorne
Shaw Astor was elected to
the House of Commons in 1919, despite
being an American. Although she was the
second woman to be elected to that body,
she was the first to actually take her
seat. She ultimately served until
retiring from politics in 1945. |
|
 George
VI became king upon the
abdication of his older brother in 1936.
During World War II he gained the
public's admiration for refusing to leave
London during the Blitz and by living on
the same war-time rations as everyone
else. |
|
| |
 Her
Royal Highness Princess Margaret
was the sister of Queen Elizabeth II. She
was for many years the darling of royal
watchers around the world because of her
numerous charitable ventures, as well as
for her numerous "lifestyle
mistakes." |
|
 Elizabeth
II became heir apparent to
the crown upon the abdication of her
uncle, Edward VIII. She became queen upon
the death of her father in 1952, and
still occupies the throne today. |
|
| |
 His Royal
Highness Prince Andrew is
the third child of Queen Elizabeth. He
was a pilot in the Royal Navy from 1979
until 2001, during which time he served
in the Falkland Islands conflict. |
|
 Her Royal
Highness Princess Anne is
the second child of Queen Elizabeth. An
avid horsewoman, she has participated in
numerous international competitions,
including the 1976 Olympic Games. |
|
| |
 Vere
Brabazon Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough
was the first Governor General of Canada
to not officially represent the British
government. During his tenure the
trans-Canadian phone system was
inaugurated, and the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation was created. |
|
 Margaret
Thatcher became the first
woman Prime Minister in 1979, and
subsequently served three consecutive
terms. Her government oversaw
improvements in the nation's economy, and
she herself was a familiar figure
internationally. |
|
| |
 Sir
Harold Wilson served two
separate terms as Prime Minister. His
first term was marked by economic
decline, a revolution in Rhodesia, and
support for the United States efforts in
Vietnam. His second term was only
marginally more successful. |
|
|
