Derick Heathcoat-Amory, 1st Viscount Amory Facts for Kids

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Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 6 January 1958 – 27 July 1960
Prime Minister	Harold Macmillan
Preceded by	Peter Thorneycroft
Succeeded by	Selwyn Lloyd
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
In office 28 July 1954 – 6 January 1958
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan
Preceded by	Thomas Dugdale
Succeeded by	John Hare
Minister of State for Trade
In office 3 September 1953 – 28 July 1954
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Office Created
Succeeded by	Derek Walker-Smith
Minister of Pensions
In office 5 November 1951 – 3 September 1953
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill
Preceded by	George Isaacs
Succeeded by	Osbert Peake
Member of Parliament for Tiverton
In office 5 July 1945 – 1 September 1960
Preceded by	Gilbert Acland-Troyte
Succeeded by	Robin Maxwell-Hyslop

Personal details
Born	(1899-12-26)26 December 1899 London, England
Died	20 January 1981(1981-01-20) (aged 81) Devon, England
Political party	Conservative
Alma mater	Christ Church, Oxford

Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1920–1948
Rank	Lieutenant-Colonel
Battles/wars	Second World War

Derick Heathcoat-Amory, 1st Viscount Amory (born 26 December 1899 – died 20 January 1981) was an important British Conservative politician. He was a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.

He is best known for being the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1958 to 1960. This job is like being the country's main money manager. He also served as the head of the University of Exeter from 1972 until he passed away in 1981.

Early Life and School
What Did He Do?
Hobbies and Interests
National Honours
See also

Early Life and School

Derick Heathcoat-Amory was born in London, England, on 26 December 1899. His father was Sir Ian Heathcoat-Amory, 2nd Baronet.

He went to Ludgrove School and then Eton College, which are both famous schools. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford University, where he earned a Master of Arts degree.

What Did He Do?

Early Career and Military Service

Derick Heathcoat-Amory started his career in local government. In 1932, he became a councillor for Devon County Council. He also worked in textile factories and banking.

He joined the army's Territorial Army in 1920. He rose through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant in 1922 and a captain in 1926. By 1935, he was a major. During the Second World War, he was injured and captured during a big battle called Operation Market-Garden. He left the army in 1948 with the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Political Journey

In 1945, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the area of Tiverton. His grandfather had also been an MP for the same area.

When the Conservative Party won the election in 1951, Derick Heathcoat-Amory was given important government jobs:

In 1951, he became the Minister of Pensions. This role was about helping people who needed financial support.
In 1953, he became the Minister of State for Trade. This job focused on the country's business and trade with other nations.
In 1954, he joined the Cabinet, which is a group of the most important government ministers. He became the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This role involved looking after farming and fishing in the UK.

Chancellor of the Exchequer

In 1958, Harold Macmillan, who was the Prime Minister, chose Derick Heathcoat-Amory to be the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This is one of the most powerful jobs in the government. The Chancellor is in charge of the country's money, taxes, and economy. He held this important role until 1960. During his time as Chancellor, he made decisions to manage the country's money and keep the economy stable.

Later Life and Honors

After leaving the House of Commons in 1960, he was given a special title and became Viscount Amory. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords.

From 1965 to 1970, he was the Governor (like a chairman) of the Hudson's Bay Company. This is a very old company from North America. He received many high honors, including being made a Knight of the Garter in 1968, which is a very special award. He also became the Chancellor of Exeter University in 1972, a role he held until his death.

Hobbies and Interests

Derick Heathcoat-Amory loved sailing. He was known for having his yacht brought up the Thames river after he gave his important Budget speeches as Chancellor. The Civil Service Sailing Association still gives out the Heathcoat Amory Trophy each year for excellent sailing achievements.

He passed away in January 1981 at the age of 81.