Edward Heath
Born in Broadstairs, KentBorn on 9th of July 1916
Died in Salisbury, Wiltshire
Died on 17th of July 2005
Quotes from Edward Heath
'We may be a small island, but '... More
Edward “Ted” Heath was the man who took Britain into the European Union. Prime Minister from 1970-1974, his premiership was marked by economic problems and escalating troubles in Northern Ireland.
Edward Heath was born on July 9, 1916 in Broadstairs Kent. He went to Chatham House Grammar School and onto Balliol College, Oxford where his musical ability gained him an organ scholarship. Speaking in the Oxford Union he opposed appeasement to Germany and was pro-Republican during the Spanish Civil War. Standing in the Oxford by-election of 1938 he famously accused the government of “turning all four cheeks to Hitler”. In his travels through Europe just before WWII Heath met many of the leading Nazis including Himmler, Goebbels and Goering, and this served to confirm his opposition to appeasement. During the war Heath served in the Royal Artillery rising to the rank of Major, and was decorated and mentioned in despatches. He later headed the Honourable Artillery Company.
Following the war Heath joined the Civil Service, then became Conservative MP for Bexley in the 1950 general election. In 1951 he was appointed to the Whips’ Office rising to Chief Whip in 1955 under Anthony Eden. Following Eden’s resignation over Suez Heath became Minster of Labour in the Macmillan Government. In 1960 Heath began negotiations to get Britain into the then Common Market.
With a boring voice and no charisma Heath needed a gimmick, which he found in building a persona as a racing yachtsman, pictured regularly at the helm of his craft Morning Cloud, bought in 1969, the year he won the Sydney-Hobart Race. He never married, and rumours regarding his sexuality followed him through his political career.
In 1965, following the Conservative defeat of 1964, Heath was elected Leader of the Opposition, leading the Conservative Party to victory in 1970. His premiership, however, was troubled by crippling strikes, inflation and the Three Day Week. In 1973 Heath finally managed to take the UK into Europe. Having presided over 3 out 4 election defeats he lost the leadership in 1975 to Margaret Thatcher, for which he never forgave her. Heath continued to serve as a back bench MP only retiring from parliament in 2001. Following several years of ill-health Sir Edward Heath died on June 17, 2005 in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
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http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page128.asp Number 10 Biography
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