Harold MacMillan

Date of Birth: February 10, 1894

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: December 29, 1986

Biography

Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. Born into a publishing family, Macmillan was educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford. His early political career began when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Stockton-on-Tees in 1924. During World War II, he served in various ministerial positions and was an influential figure in the post-war Conservative government. As Prime Minister, Macmillan is best remembered for his efforts to modernize the British economy and his role in decolonisation, overseeing the independence of many British colonies in Africa and the Caribbean. His famous “Wind of Change” speech in 1960 signaled a shift in British policy towards the decolonization of Africa. After resigning as Prime Minister due to ill health, he continued to influence British politics until his death in 1986. Macmillan was also a prolific writer, authoring several books on politics and history.

5 Interesting Facts about Harold MacMillan

1. Harold Macmillan was known for his oratory skills, often dubbed “Supermac” by the British press for his charisma and political acumen.

2. He was severely wounded during World War I, which left him with physical and mental scars that influenced his later policies.

3. Macmillan was the first British Prime Minister to visit the Soviet Union since Winston Churchill, helping to ease Cold War tensions.

4. He played a crucial role in the Suez Crisis, ultimately leading to the withdrawal of British forces from Egypt.

5. Macmillan was an avid reader and bibliophile, with a personal library of over 35,000 books.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harold MacMillan

1. “Events, dear boy, events.”

2. “You’ve never had it so good.”

3. “The wind of change is blowing through this continent.”

4. “Tradition does not mean that the living are dead, it means that the dead are living.”

5. “A Foreign Secretary is forever poised between the cliché and the indiscretion.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Harold Macmillan’s net worth was estimated to be around £5 million, largely due to his family’s publishing business, Macmillan Publishers.

Children

Harold Macmillan had four children with his wife, Lady Dorothy Cavendish: 1. Maurice Macmillan, Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden (1921–1984) 2. Lady Caroline Faber (1923–2016) 3. Lady Catherine Amery (1926–1991) 4. Sarah Macmillan (1930–1970)