Harold Macmillan

Harold Macmillan, also known as "Supermac," was a British leader who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. He was known for his clever thinking, jokes, and calm attitude. During World War I, he was seriously hurt and lived with pain for the rest of his life.

After the war, Macmillan worked in his family's book-publishing business and later became a member of Parliament. He held important government positions, including Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer, working closely with Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

When Anthony Eden resigned in 1957, Macmillan became Prime Minister. He believed in supporting the welfare state and a mixed economy. Under his leadership, Britain enjoyed a time of prosperity with low unemployment. He also worked to improve relations with the United States and helped guide the decolonisation of Africa. However, his time in office faced challenges, including scandals that troubled many people. After leaving office, Macmillan remained active in the House of Lords until his death in 1986 at the age of 92.

Early life

Harold Macmillan was born on 10 February 1894 in London to a publishing family. He grew up learning languages and attending schools such as Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford. He was interested in politics from a young age and admired leaders like David Lloyd George.

When World War I began, Macmillan volunteered for the army. He served in France and was wounded several times, including during the Battle of Loos and the Battle of the Somme. After being severely wounded, he spent time in the hospital recovering. Even after the war ended, he needed more time to heal fully. Later, he worked with his family’s publishing business before beginning his political career.

Personal life

Harold Macmillan, a British leader, had some rumors about his time at school, but these are not clearly proven.

Macmillan married Lady Dorothy Cavendish in 1920. They had four children together. Despite some difficulties in their marriage, Macmillan continued his career in politics. Lady Dorothy passed away in 1966. In his later years, Macmillan had close friends, including Ava Anderson and Eileen O’Casey.

Political career, 1924–1951

Member of Parliament (1924–1929)

Harold Macmillan tried to become a member of Parliament for a place called Stockton-on-Tees in 1924. He spent a lot of his own money on his campaign. He won because many people did not vote for another party. In 1927, he and three other politicians wrote a book about big changes they wanted. By 1928, a famous leader named David Lloyd George called him a "born rebel."

Macmillan lost his seat in Parliament in 1929 because many people in his area were struggling to find jobs. He almost became a candidate for another place called Hitchin in 1931, but another politician decided to stay, so Macmillan ran again in Stockton and won.

Member of Parliament (1931–1939)

During the 1930s, Macmillan worked hard but did not hold a big government job. He wrote several books and articles about his ideas for the country's future. In 1932, he visited the Soviet Union. He also wrote about how the government should help guide business and industry.

In 1936, Macmillan suggested a meeting between different political groups to work together, but leaders from both big parties turned him down. He supported some of Hitler's early meetings but not all of them. He also wrote about how Britain, France, and the Soviet Union should work together for peace.

Phoney War (1939–1940)

In early 1940, Macmillan visited Finland, which was being invaded by the Soviet Union. He spoke out about how the British government should help Finland. Later that year, he voted against the government, which helped change the leadership.

Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Supply (1940–1942)

In 1940, Macmillan got a government job helping to provide weapons and equipment for the army and air force. He traveled around the country to organize production and improve quality.

Colonial Under-Secretary (1942)

In 1942, Macmillan took a new job helping to manage the British colonies. He talked about working together with different groups in the colonies for better understanding and friendship.

Minister Resident in the Mediterranean (1942–1945)

Later in 1942, Macmillan went to work in Algeria, which had just been freed from enemy control. He worked closely with American leaders and helped negotiate peace with Italy in 1943. He was badly burned in a plane accident but recovered.

Air Secretary (1945)

After World War II ended in Europe, Macmillan served briefly as the leader for air matters for two months.

Opposition (1945–1951)

Macmillan lost his seat in 1945 but won another election later that year. He worked with Winston Churchill and others to support closer ties between European countries to prevent future wars.

Political career, 1951–1957

Housing Minister (1951–1954)

After the Conservative Party won the election in 1951, Macmillan became the Minister of Housing & Local Government. He was tasked with building 300,000 houses each year, more than before. At first, he felt unsure about this job. But he worked hard to meet this goal by the end of 1953, finishing a year early.

Minister of Defence (1954–1955)

From October 1954, Macmillan served as Minister of Defence. His work was sometimes limited because Churchill, the Prime Minister, was very involved. During this time, the government began relying more on nuclear weapons. In February 1955, they announced plans to build a hydrogen bomb, which was supported by both main political parties.

Foreign Secretary (1955)

In April 1955, Macmillan became Foreign Secretary. After returning from a meeting in Geneva that year, he famously said, 'There ain't gonna be no war.' He described his role as being careful with words, as anything he said that wasn’t obvious could cause trouble.

Chancellor of the Exchequer (1955–1957)

Budget

In December 1955, Macmillan became Chancellor of the Exchequer. He introduced a new way to save money called premium bonds in April 1956. Though some criticized this idea at first, it became very popular with people.

Suez

In November 1956, Britain, along with France and Israel, invaded Egypt after Egypt took control of the Suez Canal. Macmillan supported the invasion at first but later urged withdrawal when the United States opposed it. This event caused problems for Britain’s relationship with the United States and led to Eden’s resignation as Prime Minister in January 1957.

Succession to Eden

After the Suez crisis, many in the Conservative Party were unhappy. Eden resigned due to health issues on January 9, 1957. Queen Elizabeth II appointed Macmillan as Prime Minister after consulting with Churchill and others. Some were surprised because they thought Eden’s deputy, Rab Butler, would take the job. Macmillan began his time as Prime Minister unsure how long his government would last, but he ended up leading for more than six years.

Prime Minister (1957–1963)

Harold Macmillan became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1957 and served until 1963. Known as "Supermac," he aimed to present a calm and stylish image, different from his predecessor. He surrounded himself with experienced advisors and focused on both domestic improvements and international relations.

During his time in office, Macmillan worked to improve living standards and passed several important laws. He also played a key role in maintaining peace and cooperation between countries, especially during tense times with the Soviet Union. His leadership helped guide the country through significant changes, both at home and abroad.

Retirement, 1963–1986

Macmillan decided not to stay in politics forever and stepped down in 1964. He had served in Parliament for 37 years.

Oxford chancellor (1960–1986)

In 1960, Macmillan became the leader of Oxford University. He enjoyed talking with students and helping the university grow.

Return to Macmillan Publishers

After leaving politics, Macmillan helped run his family’s book company, Macmillan Publishers, until 1974.

London clubs

Macmillan was part of many clubs in London and often met friends there.

Political interventions

Even after retiring, Macmillan sometimes spoke up about politics. He once joked about a leader’s old shoes and later talked about working together during tough times.

Relations with Margaret Thatcher

When Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party, Macmillan shared his thoughts with others. He supported some of her ideas but also questioned others, like selling off parts of the country’s resources. He even gave a speech comparing it to selling off valuable family items.

Death and funeral

Harold Macmillan passed away on the evening of 29 December 1986 at Birch Grove, his family home near Horsted Keynes in West Sussex. He was 92 years old and had been becoming weaker and less able to see. His last words were, "I think I will go to sleep now."

Leaders from around the world honored him for his service. Thatcher called him "a very remarkable man and a very great patriot." US President Ronald Reagan praised his wisdom and humanity. A private funeral took place on 5 January 1987 at St Giles' Church in Horsted Keynes, with family and friends attending. A public memorial service was held later at Westminster Abbey.

Honours, awards and legacy

Harold Macmillan was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1962. Later, in 1976, he was given the Order of Merit. In 1984, he received the Freedom medal from the Roosevelt Study Center.

Macmillan's papers are kept at Oxford University's Bodleian Library. He also received many honorary degrees from universities, including:

• 1956 – Indiana University
• 1958 – DePauw University
• 1958 – Johns Hopkins University, with Eisenhower
• 1961 – Cambridge University

Historians have many opinions about Macmillan's time as Prime Minister. Some think he was very interesting and had a lasting reputation. Others see him as a skilled leader who could explain his ideas in a way that many people liked. Even though he faced many challenges, especially in the early 1960s, he is remembered for his style and how he handled his role during a changing time in Britain.

Arms

Harold Macmillan was known for his leadership during a time of change in Britain. He served as Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963 and was nicknamed "Supermac" for his calm and practical approach. During the First World War, he was injured while serving as a soldier, which shaped his experiences and perspective later in life.

Cabinets (1957–1963)

Harold Macmillan served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. During his time in office, he made several changes to his team of leaders, known as the Cabinet, over the years.

In the beginning of 1957, important roles included Lord Kilmuir as Lord Chancellor, Lord Salisbury as Lord President of the Council, and Rab Butler as Lord Privy Seal and Secretary of State for the Home Department. Other key members were Peter Thorneycroft as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Selwyn Lloyd as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Over the years, there were many changes in these roles. For example, in October 1959, Alec Douglas-Home took on the roles of Lord President of the Council and Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. By July 1962, in a major reshuffle called “The Night of the Long Knives,” Macmillan made big changes, removing a third of his Cabinet members and appointing new people to important positions. Rab Butler became Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State, and new faces like Sir Edward Boyle and Enoch Powell joined the Cabinet in roles such as Minister of Education and Minister of Health, respectively.

Cultural depictions

Further information: Cultural depictions of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom § Harold Macmillan

Harold Macmillan, known as "Supermac", has been shown in many plays, films, and television shows because he was a well-known leader of the United Kingdom. People liked his smart and calm way of handling things, and he often appeared in stories about British history.

Memoirs

Harold Macmillan wrote several books about his life and times. These books cover different periods, from the years before and during World War II to his time as a leader of Britain. The titles include topics like changes in the world, the challenges of war, and guiding the country through tough times.