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Boris Johnson
Official portrait of Boris Johnson as prime minister
Official portrait, 2019
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office
24 July 2019 – 6 September 2022
Monarch Elizabeth II
Deputy Dominic Raab
Preceded by Theresa May
Succeeded by Liz Truss
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office
23 July 2019 – 5 September 2022
Preceded by Theresa May
Succeeded by Liz Truss
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
In office
13 July 2016 – 9 July 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May
Preceded by Philip Hammond
Succeeded by Jeremy Hunt
Mayor of London
In office
3 May 2008 – 9 May 2016
Deputy
  • Richard Barnes
  • Victoria Borwick
  • Roger Evans
Preceded by Ken Livingstone
Succeeded by Sadiq Khan
Member of Parliament
for Uxbridge and South Ruislip
In office
7 May 2015 – 12 June 2023
Preceded by John Randall
Succeeded by Steve Tuckwell
Member of Parliament
for Henley
In office
7 June 2001 – 4 June 2008
Preceded by Michael Heseltine
Succeeded by John Howell
Shadow Cabinet portfolios
2004 Arts
2005–2007 Higher Education
Personal details
Born
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson

(1964-06-19) 19 June 1964 (age 60)
New York City, US
Citizenship
  • United Kingdom
  • United States (until 2016)
Political party Conservative
Spouses
Allegra Mostyn-Owen
(1987⁠–⁠1993)
(m. 1993; div. 2020)
(m. 2021)
Parents
  • Stanley Johnson
  • Charlotte Fawcett
Relatives Johnson family
Residence Brightwell Manor
Education
Occupation
  • Politician
  • author
  • journalist
Signature

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022.

Many people have different opinions about Boris Johnson in British politics. His supporters often say he is funny, clever, and entertaining.

Early Life and Education

Boris Johnson was born in New York City in the United States. He is the oldest of four children. His father, Stanley Johnson, used to be a politician in the European Parliament. His mother, Charlotte Fawcett, was a painter.

Johnson went to school at the European School in Brussels. He also studied at Ashdown House and Eton College. Later, he studied Classics (ancient Greek and Roman history and languages) at Balliol College, Oxford.

Early Career in Media

After university, Johnson started working at The Times newspaper in 1987. He then moved to The Daily Telegraph, where he wrote important articles about politics. His writing was popular, and he won an award for it.

He also wrote columns for The Spectator magazine and reviewed cars for GQ magazine.

Johnson became well-known after appearing on the BBC comedy show Have I Got News for You in 1998. He was invited back many times, even as a guest host. This made him a recognisable face, and he appeared on other TV shows like Top Gear.

From 1999 to 2008, Boris Johnson was the editor of The Spectator magazine.

Political Journey

Boris Johnson on the podium
Johnson giving a victory speech in City Hall after being elected as the Mayor of London
Arriva London bus LT2 (LT61 BHT) 2011 New Bus for London, Victoria bus station, route 38, 27 February 2012 (1)
The New Routemaster bus introduced by Johnson's administration
Boris 2012
Johnson at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Johnson became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 2001. He was part of the main opposition team for a while. In 2008, he was elected Mayor of London. He left his job as an MP to focus on being mayor. He was re-elected as mayor in 2012. Johnson did not run for a third term and stepped down in May 2016.

In 2015, he was elected as an MP again for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Johnson was a leading figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union, known as Brexit. After the public voted for Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May made him the foreign secretary. He later resigned from this role in 2018 because he disagreed with May's plans for Brexit.

Johnson then became the leader of the Conservative Party and succeeded Theresa May as prime minister.

Prime Minister (2019–2022)

On 24 July 2019, Boris Johnson became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He worked with Dominic Cummings, who had helped him during the Brexit campaign.

Johnson met with Macron for Brexit issue
Johnson discussing Brexit with French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris
Johnson signed Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
Johnson signing the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement

Johnson re-opened talks about Brexit with the European Union. After agreeing to a new Brexit deal, but not getting enough support in Parliament, he called a new general election in December 2019. His party won by a large amount.

During his time as prime minister, his government dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. They introduced emergency rules to help control the virus and started a country-wide vaccination programme.

In terms of international relations, Johnson supported a large free trade agreement between the European Union and South American countries. His government also focused on the "Special Relationship" with the United States. In 2022, his government introduced a plan to send people who entered the UK illegally to Rwanda.

In July 2022, Johnson announced his resignation as prime minister. This happened after many members of his government resigned. Liz Truss, who was his foreign secretary, took over as prime minister.

After Being Prime Minister (2022–Present)

Johnson remained an MP until June 2023.

In October 2023, Johnson announced he would join the television channel GB News. He will work as a commentator and programme maker for upcoming elections.

Johnson's book Unleashed was released in October 2024.

Interesting Facts About Boris Johnson

  • As a child, Boris Johnson had severe deafness. He had many operations to have grommets put in his ears.
  • Johnson was given the middle name "Boris" after a friend of his parents, Boris Litwin.
  • He was the first prime minister to be born outside British territories.
  • Johnson knows several languages, including French, Italian, German, Spanish, Latin, and Ancient Greek.
  • He admires the ancient Greek statesman Pericles.

Boris Johnson Quotes

  • "It is easy to make promises - it is hard work to keep them."
  • "I'm in politics to change things - if possible, for the better."
  • "My friends, as I have discovered myself, there are no disasters, only opportunities. And, indeed, opportunities for fresh disasters."
  • "We cannot turn our backs on Europe. We are part of Europe."

Personal Life

Boris Johnson was born in New York City to British parents. This meant he had both British and American dual citizenship. In 2016, he gave up his US citizenship.

Relationships and Family

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds on 2020 Commonwealth Day
Johnson with his then-fiancée Carrie Symonds at the 2020 Commonwealth Day service

In 1987, Johnson married Allegra Mostyn-Owen. They divorced in 1993. Twelve days later, Johnson married Marina Wheeler, a lawyer. They had four children together: Lara Lettice, Milo Arthur, Cassia Peaches, and Theodore Apollo. Johnson and Wheeler separated in 2018 and divorced in 2020.

In 2019, Johnson began living with Carrie Symonds. They got engaged in late 2019, and their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, was born in April 2020.

On 29 May 2021, Johnson married Carrie Symonds. Their daughter, Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, was born in December 2021. Their third child, a son named Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson, was born in July 2023.

Johnson is the oldest of four children. His siblings are Rachel Johnson, a writer; Leo Johnson, a broadcaster; and Jo Johnson, a former politician. He also has two half-siblings from his father's second marriage.

Johnson has a varied family background. His paternal grandfather was an RAF pilot. His great-grandfather, Ali Kemal, was a Turkish journalist and politician. Johnson's ancestry also includes English, German, and French roots. He has described himself as a "one-man melting pot" because of his diverse family history.

Honours and Awards

Freedom order
Order of Liberty

Books by Boris Johnson

  • Friends, Voters, Countrymen (2001)
  • Johnson's Column (2003)
  • Lend Me Your Ears (2003)
  • Seventy-Two Virgins (2004)
  • Aspire Ever Higher / University Policy for the 21st century (2006)
  • The Dream of Rome (2006)
  • Have I Got Views For You (2006)
  • Life in the Fast Lane: The Johnson Guide to Cars (2007)
  • The Perils of the Pushy Parents: A Cautionary Tale (2007)
  • Johnson's Life of London (2011)
  • The Churchill Factor (2014)
  • Unleashed (2024)

Images for kids

See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Boris Johnson para niños

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