Rutlish School, Merton Park, London, England, United Kingdom
John Major was educated at Rutlish Grammar School (now Rutlish School) from 1954 to 1959, left school at sixteen to work as a clerk and eventually ended up working in the banking sector.
College/University
Career
Gallery of John Major
2010
London, United Kingdom
Former Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, Cherie Blair, Norma Major, John Major, Baroness Thatcher, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg listen to Pope Benedict XVI as he addresses religious leaders and representatives of civil society, academia, culture and business during his visit to Westminster Hall on September 17, 2010, in London, United Kingdom. Photo by Christopher Furlong
Gallery of John Major
2012
London, England, United Kingdom
Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, LOCOG Chair Lord Sebastian Coe and former Prime Minister John Major (front) enjoy the atmosphere as they watch the Track Cycling on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Velodrome on August 7, 2012, in London, England. Photo by Pascal Le Segretain
Gallery of John Major
2012
10 Downing St, Westminster, London SW1A 2AA, United Kingdom
British Prime Minister David Cameron (2nd R) and his wife Samantha Cameron (L) welcome former Prime Minister John Major (2nd L) and his wife, Norma Major (R) to Number 10 Downing Street on July 24, 2012, in London, England. Photo by Oli Scarff
Gallery of John Major
2012
London, England, United Kingdom
Former British prime minister John Major watches the boats from the deck of 'Havengore' during the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant on June 3, 2012, in London, England. Photo by Leon Neal
Gallery of John Major
2012
10 Downing St, Westminster, London SW1A 2AA, United Kingdom
(L-R) Former Prime Ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown chat before posing for a photograph with the Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron, ahead of a Diamond Jubilee lunch at 10 Downing Street on July 24, 2012, in London, England. Photo by Stefan Rousseau
Gallery of John Major
2013
Buckingham Palace, London, England, United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth II and Sir John Major (left) inspect a book during a reception for The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust at Buckingham Palace on October 23, 2013, in London, England. Photo by Andrew Matthews
Gallery of John Major
2013
The Ivy Club, London, England, United Kingdom
(L-R) Sarah Standing, Norma Major, Sir John Major, and Nanette Newman attend NYT tribute to legendary director and president of the National Youth Theatre from 1983 to 2005, Bryan Forbes at The Club at The Ivy on October 21, 2013, in London, England.
Gallery of John Major
2014
Banqueting House, London, England, United Kingdom
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, shakes hands with John Major as he visits RUSI (Royal United Services Institute) to present the Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) Prize 2014 in the Banqueting House on November 21, 2014, in London, England. Photo by Arthur Edwards
Gallery of John Major
2014
Windsor, England, United Kingdom
Former British Prime Minister John Major (C) walks during the Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony procession on June 16, 2014, in Windsor, England. Photo by Toby Melville
Gallery of John Major
2015
London, England, United Kingdom
(left to right) Kenyan Ophthalmologist Dr Hillary Rono, former British Prime Minister Sir John Major, Countess of Wessex and Baroness Verma at The Royal Society in central London during an event hosted by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to mark the day Queen Elizabeth II became the longest serving Monarch on September 9, 2015 in London, England. Photo by Rick Findler
Gallery of John Major
2016
Bristol, United Kingdom
British Prime Minister David Cameron (2nd L) stands with Labour MP Harriet Harman (L) as former Conservative Prime Minister John Major addresses pro-EU "Vote Remain" supporters during a rally on June 22, 2016, in Bristol, United Kingdom. Photo by Geoff Caddock
Gallery of John Major
2016
Derry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Sir John Major (L) and Tony Blair speak as they walk across the Peace Bridge on June 9, 2016, in Derry, Northern Ireland. Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell
Gallery of John Major
2016
Derry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Sir John Major and Tony Blair make a joint EU appeal on June 9, 2016, in Derry, Northern Ireland. Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell
Gallery of John Major
2017
London, England, United Kingdom
Former British Prime Minister John Major delivers a speech on Britain's exit from the European Union, on February 27, 2017, in London, England. Photo by Carl Court
Gallery of John Major
2018
London, England, United Kingdom
Former British Prime Ministers David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major during the annual Remembrance Sunday memorial on November 11, 2018, in London, England, United Kingdom. Photo by Leon Neal
Gallery of John Major
2018
St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, United Kingdom
John Major and Norma Major attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein
Gallery of John Major
2018
Marlborough House, London, England, United Kingdom
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L) meets with former British Prime Minister John Major (C) as they attend the 2018 Commonwealth Day reception at Marlborough House on March 12, 2018, in London, England. Photo by Jeff Spicer
Gallery of John Major
2018
Somerset House, London, England, United Kingdom
Sir John Major gives a speech on Brexit at Somerset House on February 28, 2018, in London, England. Photo by Leon Neal
Gallery of John Major
2019
Marlborough House, London, England, United Kingdom
Former Prime Minister John Major and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland attend the annual Commonwealth Day reception at Marlborough House on March 11, 2019, in London, England, United Kingdom.
Gallery of John Major
2019
King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meet John Major at King's College London on March 19, 2019, in London, England to officially open Bush House, the latest education and learning facilities on the Strand Campus. Photo by Joe Maher
Achievements
Huntingdon Library, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom
Bust of Major by Shenda Amery in Huntingdon Library
Membership
Awards
Order of the Garter
2013
Windsor, England, United Kingdom
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major joins members of the royal family and Knights Garter on a procession from the Castle to St Georges Chapel for the annual service in the annual Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle on June 17, 2013, in Windsor, England. Photo by Ian Vogler
Former Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, Cherie Blair, Norma Major, John Major, Baroness Thatcher, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg listen to Pope Benedict XVI as he addresses religious leaders and representatives of civil society, academia, culture and business during his visit to Westminster Hall on September 17, 2010, in London, United Kingdom. Photo by Christopher Furlong
Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, LOCOG Chair Lord Sebastian Coe and former Prime Minister John Major (front) enjoy the atmosphere as they watch the Track Cycling on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Velodrome on August 7, 2012, in London, England. Photo by Pascal Le Segretain
10 Downing St, Westminster, London SW1A 2AA, United Kingdom
British Prime Minister David Cameron (2nd R) and his wife Samantha Cameron (L) welcome former Prime Minister John Major (2nd L) and his wife, Norma Major (R) to Number 10 Downing Street on July 24, 2012, in London, England. Photo by Oli Scarff
Former British prime minister John Major watches the boats from the deck of 'Havengore' during the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant on June 3, 2012, in London, England. Photo by Leon Neal
10 Downing St, Westminster, London SW1A 2AA, United Kingdom
(L-R) Former Prime Ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown chat before posing for a photograph with the Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron, ahead of a Diamond Jubilee lunch at 10 Downing Street on July 24, 2012, in London, England. Photo by Stefan Rousseau
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major joins members of the royal family and Knights Garter on a procession from the Castle to St Georges Chapel for the annual service in the annual Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle on June 17, 2013, in Windsor, England. Photo by Ian Vogler
Buckingham Palace, London, England, United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth II and Sir John Major (left) inspect a book during a reception for The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust at Buckingham Palace on October 23, 2013, in London, England. Photo by Andrew Matthews
(L-R) Sarah Standing, Norma Major, Sir John Major, and Nanette Newman attend NYT tribute to legendary director and president of the National Youth Theatre from 1983 to 2005, Bryan Forbes at The Club at The Ivy on October 21, 2013, in London, England.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, shakes hands with John Major as he visits RUSI (Royal United Services Institute) to present the Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) Prize 2014 in the Banqueting House on November 21, 2014, in London, England. Photo by Arthur Edwards
Former British Prime Minister John Major (C) walks during the Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony procession on June 16, 2014, in Windsor, England. Photo by Toby Melville
(left to right) Kenyan Ophthalmologist Dr Hillary Rono, former British Prime Minister Sir John Major, Countess of Wessex and Baroness Verma at The Royal Society in central London during an event hosted by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to mark the day Queen Elizabeth II became the longest serving Monarch on September 9, 2015 in London, England. Photo by Rick Findler
British Prime Minister David Cameron (2nd L) stands with Labour MP Harriet Harman (L) as former Conservative Prime Minister John Major addresses pro-EU "Vote Remain" supporters during a rally on June 22, 2016, in Bristol, United Kingdom. Photo by Geoff Caddock
Former British Prime Minister John Major delivers a speech on Britain's exit from the European Union, on February 27, 2017, in London, England. Photo by Carl Court
Former British Prime Ministers David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major during the annual Remembrance Sunday memorial on November 11, 2018, in London, England, United Kingdom. Photo by Leon Neal
St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, United Kingdom
John Major and Norma Major attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein
Marlborough House, London, England, United Kingdom
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L) meets with former British Prime Minister John Major (C) as they attend the 2018 Commonwealth Day reception at Marlborough House on March 12, 2018, in London, England. Photo by Jeff Spicer
Marlborough House, London, England, United Kingdom
Former Prime Minister John Major and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland attend the annual Commonwealth Day reception at Marlborough House on March 11, 2019, in London, England, United Kingdom.
King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meet John Major at King's College London on March 19, 2019, in London, England to officially open Bush House, the latest education and learning facilities on the Strand Campus. Photo by Joe Maher
Rutlish School, Merton Park, London, England, United Kingdom
John Major was educated at Rutlish Grammar School (now Rutlish School) from 1954 to 1959, left school at sixteen to work as a clerk and eventually ended up working in the banking sector.
(John Major's autobiography is one of the most personal an...)
John Major's autobiography is one of the most personal and revealing ever written by a former British Prime Minister. Eagerly awaited, the remarkable story of his life, from an extraordinary childhood to becoming an influential leader at the forefront of global politics and subsequent fall, is candid, scrupulous, and unsparing.
More Than A Game: The Story of Cricket's Early Years
(The former Prime Minister examines the early history of o...)
The former Prime Minister examines the early history of one of the great loves of his life in a book that sheds new light on the summer game’s social origins.
(Former Prime Minister John Major takes a remarkable journ...)
Former Prime Minister John Major takes a remarkable journey into his own unconventional family past to tell the richly colorful story of the British music hall. Music hall was one of the glories of Victorian England. Sentimental, vulgar, but patriotic and champion of the underdog, it held a mirror to the audiences’ hopes, fears and the general absurdity of life.
John Major is an American politician, public official, banker and author. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997.
Background
John Major was born on March 29, 1943, in St Helier, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. He is the younger son of Thomas Major and Gwendolyn Minny Coates. His father was Abraham Thomas Ball, later to take the stage name Major, a master bricklayer in his early life, a juggler, acrobat and comedian in the theatre throughout his mid-life, and a businessman at the end.
His mother, Tom Major's second wife, also worked in the theatre. He was christened John Roy Major but only John Major was recorded on his birth certificate. He used his middle name until the early 1980s. He had a brother, Terry Major-Ball.
Education
John Major was educated at Rutlish Grammar School (now Rutlish School) from 1954 to 1959, left school at sixteen to work as a clerk and eventually ended up working in the banking sector. He is one of very few British Prime Ministers who did not attend a university.
John Major's political career began when he helped form the Brixton branch of the Young Conservatives in 1965 and was elected to Lambeth Borough Council in 1968, where he eventually became Chairman of the Housing Committee. Major was unsuccessful in his candidature for Camden, St Pancras North, in 1974, but became Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire in 1979, holding the seat until 1983 when he became Member of Parliament for the newly created Huntingdon constituency, which he has represented ever since.
He rose swiftly in the Conservative ranks and was made Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Home Office in 1981. Successively, he was Assistant Whip, Whip (1983-1985), Under-Secretary at Social Security (1985-1986), Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Security (1986-1987), and eventually Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1987-1989), a Cabinet post. Having filled the junior and less senior posts of government, Major then rose swiftly to the top in little more than sixteen months, between July 1989 and November 1990.
During that period he filled the post of Foreign Secretary (July to October 1989), and Chancellor of the Exchequer (October 1989 to November 1990) before defeating both Douglas Hurd and Michael Heseltine in the 1990 Conservative leadership contest to replace Thatcher, who had resigned after failing to secure the required first-ballot majority over Heseltine. Major then held the position of Prime Minister from November 1990 to May 1997.
As the new prime minister, Major called for party unity and took steps to achieve it by immediately appointing his electoral opponents to Cabinet positions: Heseltine as environment secretary and Hurd again as foreign secretary. His new Cabinet was substantially different from Thatcher's and served to demonstrate that Major was his own man and not, as his critics impugned, "Son of Thatcher."
The first problem confronting the new prime minister occurred within the Conservative Party when a black lawyer was selected as the party's parliamentary candidate in Cheltenham. This selection caused some blatantly racist opposition from a small group of local Tories, which Major quickly squelched. But Major also had to face long-term problems whose solutions have eluded both Tory and Labor governments for the past 20 years: integration with Europe and the ailing British economy.
Following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, John Major was appointed a special guardian to Princes William and Harry with responsibility for legal and administrative matters. He retired from the House of Commons at the General Election in May 2001.
Since leaving office, Major has maintained a low profile, indulging his love of cricket as President of Surrey County Cricket Club until 2002 and commentating on political developments in the manner of an elder statesman. In March 2001, he gave the tribute to Colin Cowdrey (Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge) at his memorial service in Westminster Abbey. In 2005, he was elected to the Committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). In February 2012, Major became chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.
He is currently a president of the Chatham House. On April 21, 2018, he attended the funeral of the late United States First Lady Barbara Bush at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. On December 5, 2018, he attended George H. W. Bush’s funeral.
John Major is the youngest British Prime Minister of the 20th century. In this position, he engaged in the first real negotiations with Sinn Fein to bring about peace in Northern Ireland and lay the groundwork for the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, which ended the thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland.
He was awarded the Companion of Honour by the Queen in 1999 and he stood down from Parliament in 2001. On St. George’s Day, 2005, Sir John was appointed a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
(John Major's autobiography is one of the most personal an...)
1999
Religion
John Major said he was wary of "politicians who parade their faith". He was embarrassed when interviewed on the radio in 1990 about his religious beliefs. In his memoirs, however, he admitted to being "a believer at a distance... a believer in the message more than the rituals of the Church."
Politics
John Major has said he thinks Brexit is a "colossal mistake" for young people and believes Britain will rejoin in EU in the future. Speaking at the One Young World global forum for young leaders, he said: "Young people have been let down, they overwhelmingly wished to remain in the EU, whereas many of their elders did not." He also added: "I have been a critic of Brexit, and I remain so. I think it's bad for the UK, bad for the EU and bad for Europe, and a colossal mistake. Other than that, I have no complaints about it."
He is a fierce critic of Boris Johnson. He has accused Boris Johnson of "wilfully" destroying the prospects of cross-agreement on Brexit with his Commons onslaught on the opposition. Major said Mr. Johnson was whipping up "fear and anger" for electoral purposes - a tactic he described as "profoundly un-Conservative.
Views
John Major's charitable interests include the Presidency of Asthma United Kingdom; and Patron of the Prostate Cancer Charity, Sightsavers United Kingdom, Mercy Ships and Support for Africa 2000. He supports a charity SeeAbility, for whom he has acted as vice president since 2013.
Quotations:
"When your back is against the wall, there is only one thing to do, and that is turn around and fight."
"The politician who never made a mistake never made a decision."
Personality
John Major has a lifelong passion for cricket and motor racing. He is also a supporter of Chelsea Football Club. His most recent CD favorites are Dreamland by Madeleine Peyroux, and the two Great American Songbook albums by Rod Stewart.
Interests
opera, cricket
Sport & Clubs
Chelsea Football Club
Music & Bands
Madeleine Peyroux, Rod Stewart
Connections
On October 3, 1970, John Major married Norma Christina Elizabeth Johnson (now Dame Norma Major). They have two children: Elizabeth and James.
