Anthony Eden Facts for Kids

Ministerial offices

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
In office 28 October 1951 – 6 April 1955
Prime Minister	Sir Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Herbert Morrison
Succeeded by	Harold Macmillan
In office 22 December 1940 – 26 July 1945
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill
Preceded by	The Viscount Halifax
Succeeded by	Ernest Bevin
In office 22 December 1935 – 20 February 1938
Prime Minister	Stanley Baldwin Neville Chamberlain
Preceded by	Sir Samuel Hoare
Succeeded by	The Viscount Halifax
Leader of the House of Commons
In office 22 November 1942 – 26 July 1945
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Sir Stafford Cripps
Succeeded by	Herbert Morrison
Secretary of State for War
In office 11 May 1940 – 22 December 1940
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Oliver Stanley
Succeeded by	David Margesson
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
In office 3 September 1939 – 14 May 1940
Prime Minister	Neville Chamberlain Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Sir Thomas Inskip
Succeeded by	The Viscount Caldecote
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
In office 31 December 1933 – 7 June 1935
Prime Minister	Ramsay MacDonald
Preceded by	Stanley Baldwin
Succeeded by	The Marquess of Londonderry
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
In office 3 September 1931 – 18 January 1934
Prime Minister	Ramsay MacDonald
Preceded by	Hugh Dalton
Succeeded by	The Earl Stanhope

Parliamentary offices

Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 12 July 1961 – 14 January 1977 Hereditary Peerage
Preceded by	Earldom created
Succeeded by	The 2nd Earl of Avon
Member of Parliament for Warwick and Leamington
In office 6 December 1923 – 10 January 1957

Preceded by

Ernest Pollock

Succeeded by

John Hobson

Personal details

Born

Robert Anthony Eden

12 June 1897
Windlestone Hall, County Durham, England

Died

14 January 1977 (aged 79)
Alvediston, Wiltshire, England

Political party

Conservative

Spouses

Beatrice Beckett

(m. 1923; div. 1950)
Clarissa Spencer-Churchill

(m. 1952)

Children

3, including Nicholas

Education

Eton College

Alma mater

Christ Church, Oxford

Military service

Branch/service

British Army

Years of service

1915–1919
1920–1923
1939 (as Territorial)

Rank

Major

Unit

Battles/wars

First World War

Awards

Military Cross

n.b.

Robert Anthony Eden, also known as Sir Anthony Eden, was a very important British politician. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1957. He was also the Foreign Secretary several times. This made him a key person in how Britain dealt with other countries. He was especially important during World War II.

Who Was Anthony Eden?
Images for kids
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Who Was Anthony Eden?

Anthony Eden was born on June 12, 1897. His full name was Robert Anthony Eden. He came from a wealthy family in County Durham, England. He went to famous schools like Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford University.

Early Life and Military Service

During World War I, Eden served in the British Army. He fought bravely and was awarded the Military Cross. This medal is given for acts of bravery in battle. His time in the war deeply affected him.

A Career in Politics

After the war, Eden became involved in politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in 1923. He quickly became known for his skills in foreign affairs. In 1935, he became the Foreign Secretary. This job meant he was in charge of Britain's relationships with other countries.

He resigned from this role in 1938. This was because he disagreed with Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement. Appeasement meant trying to avoid war by giving in to some of Adolf Hitler's demands. Eden believed this was a dangerous approach.

World War II and Beyond

When World War II began, Eden returned to government. He served as Winston Churchill's Foreign Secretary during the war. He played a big part in working with other countries against the Axis powers. He was a trusted advisor to Churchill.

After the war, he continued to be a leading figure. He became Foreign Secretary again from 1951 to 1955. During this time, he helped shape Britain's role in the post-war world.

Becoming Prime Minister

In 1955, Winston Churchill retired. Anthony Eden then became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Many people had expected him to take this role for a long time. He was a popular and experienced politician.

The Suez Crisis

A major challenge during his time as Prime Minister was the Suez Crisis in 1956. This was a big international event. It involved Egypt taking control of the Suez Canal, which was very important for trade. Britain, France, and Israel took military action.

This decision caused a lot of debate and criticism. It put a lot of stress on Eden. His health, which was already not good after a surgery in 1953, got worse. The Suez Crisis and his health issues led to his resignation. He stepped down as Prime Minister in 1957.

Later Life and Legacy

After leaving office, Eden's health continued to decline. He died on January 14, 1977, at the age of 79. He was given the title of 1st Earl of Avon in 1961.

Historians have different views on his time as Prime Minister. The Suez Crisis is often seen as a difficult moment in his career. However, his long and distinguished service as Foreign Secretary is widely praised. He was a key figure in British politics for many years.

Eden had three sons. His title, Earl of Avon, was passed to his youngest son, Nicholas Eden. When Nicholas died, the title ended.

Images for kids

The Uffizi Society Oxford, ca. 1920. Anthony Eden is fourth from the left, seated.
Eden with French Prime Minister Léon Blum in Geneva in 1936.
Eden with Mackenzie King and Winston Churchill meeting Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Quebec Conference in 1943.
At the Potsdam Conference: Foreign Ministers Vyacheslav Molotov, James F. Byrnes, and Anthony Eden, July 1945.
Geneva Conference, July 21, 1954. The final meeting on Indochina.
Tomb at St Mary's church, Alvediston, Wiltshire.