Tony Benn

British politician (1925–2014)

Anthony Neil WedgwoodTonyBenn, PC (3 April 1925 – 14 March 2014), formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate, was a British Labour Party politician.


Tony Benn
Tony Benn in 2007
President of the Stop the War Coalition
In office
21 September 2001 – 14 March 2014
Vice PresidentLindsey German
ChairmanAndrew Murray
Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byVacant
Secretary of State for Energy
In office
10 June 1975 – 4 May 1979
Prime MinisterHarold Wilson
James Callaghan
Preceded byEric Varley
Succeeded byDavid Howell
Secretary of State for Industry
In office
5 March 1974 – 10 June 1975
Prime MinisterHarold Wilson
Preceded byPeter Walker (Trade and Industry)
Succeeded byEric Varley
Chairman of the Labour Party
In office
20 September 1971 – 25 September 1972
LeaderHarold Wilson
Preceded byIan Mikardo
Succeeded byWilliam Simpson
Minister of Technology
In office
4 July 1966 – 19 June 1970
Prime MinisterHarold Wilson
Preceded byFrank Cousins
Succeeded byGeoffrey Rippon
Postmaster General
In office
15 October 1964 – 4 July 1966
Prime MinisterHarold Wilson
Preceded byReginald Bevins
Succeeded byEdward Short
Member of Parliament
for Chesterfield
In office
1 March 1984 – 7 June 2001
Preceded byEric Varley
Succeeded byPaul Holmes
Member of Parliament
for Bristol South East
In office
20 August 1963 – 9 June 1983
Preceded byMalcolm St Clair
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
In office
30 November 1950 – 17 November 1960
Preceded byStafford Cripps
Succeeded byMalcolm St Clair
Personal details
Born
Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn

(1925-04-03)3 April 1925
Marylebone, London, England
Died14 March 2014(2014-03-14) (aged 88)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)
Caroline DeCamp
(m. 1949; died 2000)
Children
ParentsWilliam Wedgwood Benn
Margaret Holmes
Alma materWestminster School
New College, Oxford
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service Royal Air Force
RankPilot officer
Battles/warsSecond World War

Benn was born in Marylebone, London, England. He was married to Caroline DeCamp (1926–2000) from 1949 until her death. Their four children are: Stephen, Hilary, Melissa and Joshua.[1] He had been a vegetarian since 1970.[2] He was also an agnostic.[3]

Benn inherited the title of Viscount Stansgate from his father, William Wedgwood Benn, in 1960. He became the first peer to renounce his title. This made him able to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1963. He was a Cabinet Minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. From 2001 to his death, he was President of the Stop the War Coalition.[4]

Benn died after an illness on 14 March 2014 in London. He was 88 years old. [5]

References change

  1. "Caroline Benn dies". BBC. 23 November 2000. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  2. Farndale, Nigel (12 August 2009). "Tony Benn: making mistakes is part of life". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  3. Benn, Tony (2007). More Time for Politics: Diaries 2001–2007. London: Hutchinson. p. 223. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  4. "Tony Benn Biography". Biography Online. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  5. "Labour stalwart Tony Benn dies at 88". BBC. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.

Other websites change