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A Prime Minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. They are usually, but need not always be, a politician. In many systems the Prime Minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the Government. In most systems they are the presiding member and chairperson of the cabinet. In a minority of systems, notably in semi-presidential system of government, a prime minister is the official who is appointed to manage the civil service and execute the directives of the President.
In parliamentary systems like the Westminster system, the prime minister is the presiding head of the government while the position of head of state (the King, Queen, President, or Governor-General facto), who may officially be the head of the executive, is largely ceremonial. The Prime Minister is often, but not always, a member of parliament and is expected with other ministers to ensure the passage of bills through the legislature. In some monarchies the prime minister also exercises executive powers (known as the Royal Prerogative) which are constitutionally vested in the Crown and can be exercised without the approval of parliament.
As well as being Head of Government, a prime minister may have other roles or titles—the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for example, is also First Lord of the Treasury.Contrary to popular perception the two posts are separate and need not be held by the one person. The last prime minister not to be First Lord of the Treasury was Lord Salisbury at the turn of the 20th century. 10 Downing Street is actually the First Lord's residence, not the Prime Minister's. As Salisbury was not First Lord he had to live elsewhere as prime minister. Prime ministers may take other ministerial posts—for example during the Second World War Winston Churchill was also Minister of Defence (although there was then no Ministry of Defence).
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Andrew Bonar Law - Born in Rexton, New Brunswick, Canada. Moved to Scotland and became leader of the Conservative Party, Secretary of State for the Colonies, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Became Prime Minister in 1922. (1858-1923)
Arthur Balfour - Appointed as Secetary for Scotland and became leader of the House of Commons in 1892. Served as prime minister from 1902-05. Events during his premiership included the 1902 Education Act and the ending of the Boer War. Issued the Balfour Declaration in 1917. (1848-1930).
Benjamin Disraeli - Statesman, prime minister in 1868, 1874-80 and novelist. His second tenure as prime minister was noted for British expansion and social reforms. His novels Coningsby, Sybil, and Tancred show concern about poverty and the injustice of the parliamentary system. (1804-81)
Clement Attlee - Member of the Labour Party. Served as prime minister from 1945-51. Presided over a number of social reforms, including establishment of the National Health Service and nationalization of some industries, services and the Bank of England. (1883-1967)
David Lloyd George - Gained reputation as an orator, solicitor and preacher. Joined the Liberal Party and became an alderman. Advocated insurance reform and women's rights. Served as prime minister from 1916-22. (1863-1945)
Duke of Portland - William Cavendish Bentinck received his title when his father died in 1762. Served as lord chamberlain and then became leader of the Whig administration. He also served as Home Secretary under Henry Addington. (1738-1809) (1738-1809)
Duke of Wellington - Arthur Wellesley was born in Dublin. He attended military school and became a brigade commander. Although he received some political appointments, he remained in the army. Was commander of the forces which defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Served as prime minister from 1828-1830. Buried in St Paul's Cathedral. (1769-1852)
Earl Grey - Born as Charles Grey. Was later granted the titles Viscount Howick and Earl Grey. Became Foreign Secretary and leader of the House of Commons and was responsible for the act abolishing the African Slave Trade. Served as prime minister from 1830-1834. (1764-1845)
Earl of Aberdeen - George Hamilton Gordon, was born in Edinburgh and became the 4th Earl in 1801. As special ambassador to Vienna he successfully negotiated the Treaty of Toplitz. Was prime minister from 1852-1855. (1784-1860)
Earl of Derby - Edward Stanley was the son of the 13th Earl of Derby. Belonged to the Whig Party and later joined the Conservative government. Held positions in parliament and became leader of the Protectionists. Served as prime minister three times. (1799-1868)
Earl of Rosebery - Archibald Philip Primrose. Served as Foreign Secretary under Gladstone. Appointed prime minister by Queen Victoria and was in office from 1894-95. Led the Liberal Party until he resigned in 1896. (1847-1929)
George Canning - Statesman, who served as secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, paymaster-general and treasurer of the navy under William Pitt. Appointed as prime minister in 1827.(1770-1827)
Henry Addington - Become speaker of the House of Commons in 1789 and was appointed prime minister in 1801. His stand against Catholic Emancipation proved to be unpopular. In 1804 he resigned when large numbers of his own party turned against him. The following year Addington was granted the title of Lord Sidmouth. (1757-1844)
Henry Campbell-Bannerman - Served in various parliament positions and became leader of the House of Commons. Opposed the Boer War and advocated comprehensive social reforms. (1836-1908)
Herbert Asquith - Liberal MP and served as prime minister from 1908-16. Introduced series of reforms including the Old Age Pensions Act and the People's Budget that resulted in a conflict with the House of Lords. Granted the title, the Earl of Oxford, in 1925. (1852-1928)
James Ramsay MacDonald - Born in Scotland, he became leader of the Labour Party in 1911. Became Britain's first Labour prime minister in 1923 for one year, when his government fell. Served again from 1929-31, when Great Depression led to collapse of the Labour government. (1866-1937).
Lord Grenville - Entered the House of Commons in 1782, was a strong supporter of Catholic Emancipation and strong opponent of the slave trade. A paralytic attack brought an end to his political career. (1759-1834)
Lord John Russell - Leader of the Whig campaign in the House of Commons for parliamentary reform and served as prime minister from 1846-52 and 1865-66. As an author, his writings concentrated on books about his political hero, Charles Fox. (1792-1878)
Lord Liverpool - Robert Jenkinson was born in London. Became the second Earl of Liverpool when his father died. Was leader of the House of Lords, appointed secretary of war and the colonies and served as prime minister for fifteen years. (1770-1828)
Lord Melbourne - William Lamb was born in London and was chief secretary of Ireland. Inherited his father's title in 1828, when he moved to the House of Lords. Became prime minister in 1834 for only a few months, but was reappointed the following year. (1779-1848)
Lord Palmerston - Served as Secretary at War under five prime ministers. Influenced foreign affairs from 1830-65 and supported liberal and national causes in Europe. Became prime minister at age 70 for three years, followed by second period when he was 75. (1784-1865)
Neville Chamberlain - Successful businessman before entering Parliament in 1918. Became cabinet minister and succeeded Baldwin as Conservative prime minister in 1937. Advocated foreign policy of appeasement and signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, which transferred to Germany the Sudetenland. Replaced in office in 1940 by Winston Churchill. (1869-1940)
Robert Cecil: Marquis of Salisbury - Became Secretary for India in Lord Derby's government and Foreign Secretary. Became leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister in 1885. Supported the policies that led to the Boer War. (1830-1903)
Sir Robert Peel - Served in the House of Commons and was appointed chief secretary for Ireland. Accepted the post of Home Secretary and was responsible for large-scale reform in the legal system. Was prime minister in 1834-35 and 1841-46. (1788-1850)
Spencer Perceval - Served in various posts of Parliament. Appointed prime minister in 1809 and served until 1812, the only British prime minister in history to be assassinated. (1762-1812)
Stanley Baldwin - Elected as Conservative Party MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and President of the Board of Trade. Served three times as prime minister. Dealt with labor unrest in coal mining industry. Praised for his handling of the abdication crisis in 1936, he resigned from office in May, 1937. (1867-1947)
Viscount Goderich - Born in London as Frederick Robinson. Elected to the House of Commons. Later as President of the Board of Trade he introduced the new Corn Laws and supported the Six Acts. Granted a peerage by prime minister, George Canning, he served as prime minister from 1827-28. In 1833 he was granted a new title, the Earl of Ripon. (1782-1847)
William Gladstone - Statesman and prime minister four times between 1868 and 1894. Leader of the Liberal Party. Advocated voting rights for working class males. (1809-1898).
William Pitt - Grew up with a strong interest in politics, served in the House of Commons and argued that parliamentary reform was necessary for the preservation of liberty. Was prime minister from 1783-1801 and 1804-6. (1759-1806)
Winston Churchill - Statesman, author, prime minister from 1940-45 and 1951-55. Won Nobel Prize for literature in 1953. Includes excerpts from his speeches. (1874-1965)
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