Oldest living prime minister of the United Kingdom

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This is a list of the oldest living prime ministers of the United Kingdom since its Creation in 1721.

List

Not all prime ministers live to become the oldest of their time. Of the 49 deceased prime ministers, 30 eventually became the oldest of their lifetime, while 19 did not (including 4 of the 7 prime ministers who died in office, Earl of Wilmington, Henry Pelham, and Viscount Palmerston being the only exceptions). Henry Addington became the oldest living prime minister when Duke of Grafton died in 1811 and remained so until his death in 1844, for a record of almost 33 years. Edward Heath became the oldest living prime minister after the death of James Callaghan, but he survived Callaghan by only 113 days. On two occasions the oldest living prime minister lost this distinction not by his death, but due to the appointment of a prime minister who was older. Robert Walpole lost this distinction when Earl of Wilmington was appointed, then a year later when Wilmington died in office Walpole regained it until his own death in 1745 for a total period of 22 years, and 207 days. Earl of Rosebery lost it when Henry Campbell-Bannerman was appointed, but regained it when Campbell-Bannerman died. Consequently, Rosebery too was the oldest living prime minister twice: first from 1903 to 1905 (after the death of Lord Salisbury), and a second time after Campbell-Bannerman's death in 1908 until his own death in 1929 for a total period of 23 years, and 134 days. Edward Heath was the oldest to acquire this distinction at age 89. Anthony Eden, who was 79 years and 216 days old when he died, was the oldest prime minister to die without also being the oldest prime minister. Harold Wilson who died on 24 May 1995 at 79 years and 74 days old, is the most recent prime minister to die without ever acquiring this distinction.

Prime ministerTime as oldest livingAgeDuration (years, days)
Became oldestCeased to be oldestStartEnd
Robert Walpole 3 April 172111 February 174244 years, 220 days65 years, 169 days20 years, 314 days
Earl of Wilmington 11 February 17422 July 174369701 year, 141 days
Robert Walpole 2 July 174318 March 174566 years, 310 days68 years, 204 days1 year, 259 days
Henry Pelham 18 March 17456 March 175450 years, 174 days59 years, 162 days8 years, 353 days
Duke of Newcastle 16 March 175417 November 176860 years, 238 days75 years, 119 days14 years, 246 days
Earl of Chatham 17 November 176811 May 177860 years, 2 days69 years, 177 days9 years, 175 days
Earl of Bute 11 May 177810 March 179264 years, 351 days78 years, 290 days13 years, 304 days
Lord North 10 March 17925 August 179259 years, 332 days60 years, 114 days148 days
Duke of Grafton 5 August 179214 March 181156 years, 312 days75 years, 167 days18 years, 221 days
Henry Addington 14 March 181115 February 184453 years, 288 days86 years, 261 days32 years, 338 days
Earl Grey 15 February 184417 July 184579 years, 339 days81 years, 126 days1 year, 152 days
Duke of Wellington 17 July 184514 September 185276 years, 77 days83 years, 136 days7 years, 59 days
Viscount Goderich 14 September 185228 January 185969 years, 318 days76 years, 88 days6 years, 136 days
Earl of Aberdeen 28 January 185914 December 186075 years, 0 days76 years, 321 days1 year, 321 days
Viscount Palmerston 14 December 186018 October 186576 years, 55 days80 years, 363 days4 years, 308 days
Lord John Russell 18 October 186528 May 187873 years, 61 days85 years, 283 days12 years, 222 days
Benjamin Disraeli 28 May 187819 April 188173 years, 158 days76 years, 119 days2 years, 326 days
William Ewart Gladstone 19 April 188119 May 189871 years, 111 days88 years, 141 days17 years, 30 days
Marquess of Salisbury 19 May 189822 August 190368 years, 105 days73 years, 200 days5 years, 95 days
Earl of Rosebery 22 August 19035 December 190556 years, 107 days58 years, 212 days2 years, 105 days
Henry Campbell-Bannerman 5 December 190522 April 190869 years, 89 days71 years, 228 days2 years, 139 days
Earl of Rosebery 22 April 190821 May 192960 years, 351 days82 years, 14 days21 years, 29 days
Arthur Balfour 21 May 192919 March 193080 years, 300 days81 years, 237 days302 days
David Lloyd George 19 March 193026 March 194567 years, 61 days82 years, 68 days15 years, 7 days
Stanley Baldwin 26 March 194514 December 194777 years, 235 days80 years, 133 days2 years, 263 days
Winston Churchill 14 December 194724 January 196573 years, 14 days90 years, 55 days17 years, 41 days
Clement Attlee 24 January 19658 October 196782 years, 21 days84 years, 278 days2 years, 257 days
Harold Macmillan 8 October 196729 December 198673 years, 240 days92 years, 322 days19 years, 82 days
Alec Douglas-Home 29 December 19869 October 199583 years, 180 days92 years, 99 days8 years, 284 days
James Callaghan 9 October 199526 March 200583 years, 196 days92 years, 364 days9 years, 168 days
Edward Heath 26 March 200517 July 200588 years, 260 days89 years, 8 days113 days
Margaret Thatcher 17 July 20058 April 201379 years, 277 days87 years, 177 days7 years, 265 days
John Major 8 April 2013Current oldest living PM70 years, 10 daysCurrent oldest living PM7 years, 80 days

See also

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