 |
James Gordon Brown
b. 20 Feb 1951, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Title: |
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury [1] |
| Term: |
27 Jun 2007 - 11 May 2010 |
| Chronology: |
27 Jun 2007, invited to form an Administration and accepted the offer to hold the post of Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, audience of the Queen, Buckingham Palace, London [2][3] |
|
28 Jun 2007, took the oath of office as First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service before the Queen in Council, Buckingham Palace, London [4] |
|
11 May 2010, tendered resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury (accepted), audience of the Queen, Buckingham Palace, London [5] |
| Biography: |
| Son of a minister of the Church of Scotland; was educated at Kirkcaldy West Primary School and Kirkcaldy High School (1961-1967); studied history in the University of Edinburgh (1967-1972); graduated from Edinburgh with First Class Honours M.A. in 1972; was elected Rector of the University of Edinburgh (1972-1975); worked as a lecturer at Glasgow College of Technology (1976-1980); was a member of the Scottish Labour Party executive (1977-1983); head of Scottish Television current affairs (1980-1983); after unsuccessful attempt to win a parliamentary seat in the Edinburgh South constituency (1979), he was elected Labour MP for Dunfermline East (1983-2005) and Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (from 2005); earned Ph.D. in history (1982); chairman of the Labour Party's Scottish Council (1983-1984); shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1987-1989); shadow Trade and Industry spokesperson (1989-1992); shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (1992-1997); sworn in as a member of the UK Privy Council (23 Jul 1996); was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer (3 May 1997 - 28 Jun 2007) in the government of Tony Blair; succeeded Blair as Leader of the Labour Party (24 Jun 2007 - 11 May 2010). |
| Biographical sources: "Gordon Brown: The Biography", by Paul Routledge (London: Simon and Schuster, 1998). |
| |
| [1] |
In accordance with The Minister for the Civil Service Order 1968 (SI 1968/1656), the Prime Minister is also Minister for the Civil Service (effective 1 Nov 1968). |
| [2] |
The Times, No. 69,050, Thursday June 28 2007, p. 80: "Court Circular. Buckingham Palace 27th June, 2007 <...> Her Majesty received in audience the Rt. Hon Gordon Brown MP and requested him to form a new Administration. The Rt. Hon Gordon Brown MP accepted The Queen's offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury."; The London Gazette, Number 58385, Friday 6 July 2007, p. 9754: "CABINET APPOINTMENTS / Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service / The Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP" |
| [3] |
Appointment as Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (prior to appointment as First Lord of the Treasury) by Letters Patent under the Great Seal is dated 12 May 1997, announced by the Crown Office 12 May 1997, and gazetted 16 May 1997 (The London Gazette, No. 54767, Friday, 16th May 1997, p. 5777). |
| [4] |
The Times, No. 69,052, Saturday June 30 2007, p. 81: "Court Circular. Buckingham Palace, 28th June, 2007 The Queen held a Council at 6.00 p.m. <...> The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP (Prime Minister) was sworn in as First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service." |
| [5] |
The Times Thursday May 13 2010 No 69946, p. 70: "Court Circular. Buckingham Palace 11th May, 2010 The Rt Hon Gordon Brown had an audience of The Queen this evening and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury which Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept." |
