John Major
John Major, (1943- ). British Conservative politician; prime minister (1990- ). Major was brought up in south London, the son of a circus performer turned small businessman. After various labouring jobs, he began a career in banking and served in local government. He entered parliament in 1979 and achieved his first ministerial position seven years later. In 1989-90 he became in swift succession foreign secretary, chancellor of the exchequer, and prime minister on the fall of Margaret Thatcher (November 1990). During the first months of his premiership he was faced with the international crisis that culminated in the Gulf War (1991). While continuing to pursue many of Thatcher’s policies, he adopted a more conciliatory low-key style, notably in his dealings with Europe. Under his leader-ship, the Conservatives were unexpectedly returned to power in the general election of 1992. Subsequently, however, his government was weakened by disunity on European policy and a series of scandals, and Major himself became highly unpopular. In 1995 he took the unprecedented step of resigning the leadership of the Conservative party in order to force an election, which he won. The main achievement of his second administration was the beginning of exploratory peace talks in Northern Ireland, resulting in a ceasefire from 1994.
