 Online College and University Degree Guide
| Anthony Eden was Prime Minister during the Suez Crisis of 1956 – a crisis that was to end his political career. Anthony Eden’s political pedigree went back to pre-1939 when he accompanied Neville Chamberlain to the Munich talks with Hitler in September 1938.
Anthony Eden was born on June 12th 1897 in Bishop Auckland, Durham. He was born into an aristocratic family and was educated at Eton and at Christ Church College, Oxford. He served in World War One and was awarded the Military Cross for saving a fellow officer.
His political career began in 1923 when he was elected the Conservative member for Warwick & Leamington. He made his first Parliamentary speech in 1924 on the subject of air defence. In Parliament he showed a keen interest in defence and foreign affairs, rising soon to become Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Foreign Office in 1926, and later Under-Secretary in Ramsay MacDonald's National Government.
Eden spent much time in Geneva pursuing his interest in the League of Nations, and in 1935 he became the Minister for League of Nations Affairs in Stanley Baldwin's third government. He was a passionate advocator of the League principles, and proved himself an excellent diplomat and negotiator.
Eden became Foreign Secretary at the age of just 38. During his first two years in the post, international affairs were dominated by aggressive fascist policies in Europe, which he tried to address through negotiation. Nevertheless, he later resigned in objection to Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement.
During World War Two Eden rejoined the government as (Commonwealth) Dominions Secretary, and in Winston Churchill's coalition he became Secretary of State for War, during which time he set up the Home Guard.
Churchill then appointed Eden as the head of the Foreign Office, reflecting the PM's deep admiration for him. Churchill even recommended Eden to George VI as his successor should he himself be killed during the course of the war.
At this time Eden also took on the role of Leader of the House of Commons. From 1945-51 Eden was the Deputy Leader of the Opposition facing Attlee's Labour government, and then returned to government in 1951 as Churchill's Foreign Secretary.
These were immensely challenging times, with the Cold War at its peak and trouble in the Middle East. Over-work damaged Eden's health, yet he continued to impress as a negotiator, and received the Order of the Garter for his services. Eden was regarded a peacemaker at a time of international crisis.
However, the Suez Crisis of 1956 was Eden’s donwfall. Britain was considered to be an international bully, along with France, when British troops were parachuted into Egypt supported by both the Royal Navy and the RAF. Politically isolated at an international level, Eden was persuaded to resign as Prime Minister, which he did in January 1957.
Anthony Eden died on January 14th, 1977 at Alvediston, Salisbury, Wiltshire
If you have any enquiries or notice any problems please contact me at enquiries@historylearningsite.co.uk | |
| © 2000-2010 historylearningsite.co.uk | ||