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Harold Macmillan 1957

Dubbed 'Supermac' by the cartoonist Vicky, Macmillan increased the Conservative majority in the 1959 election.
Dubbed 'Supermac' by the cartoonist Vicky, Macmillan increased the Conservative majority in the 1959 election.
©Estate of Pamela Chandler/National Portrait Gallery, London

Conservative Government
10 January 1957 - 13 October 1963

On the resignation of Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan became Prime Minister. Despite the Suez Crisis, prosperity in Britain increased, allowing Macmillan to claim that the British public had 'never had it so good'. However, the bubble of economic prosperity and global trading conditions did not last. The Conservatives increased their majority in the election of 1959, returning 365 MPs, to Labour's 258 and the Liberals' six.

Cabinet members
Position Name Dates
Prime Minister H. Macmillan 10 Jan 57 - 13 Oct 63
First Secretary of State R. Butler 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63
Lord President Marquis of Salisbury 13 Jan 57 - 29 Mar 57
  Earl of Home 29 Mar 57 - 17 Sep 57 
  Viscount Hailsham 17 Sep 57 - 14 Oct 59 
  Earl Home 14 Oct 59 - 27 Jul 60 
  Viscount Hailsham 27 Jul 60 - 13 Oct 63 
Lord Chancellor Viscount Kilmuir 14 Jan 57 - 13 Jul 62
  Lord Dilhorne 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63
Lord Privy Seal R. Butler 13 Jan 57 - 14 Oct 59
  Viscount Hailsham 14 Oct 59 - 27 Jul 60
  E. Heath 27 Jul 60 - 13 Oct 63 
Chancellor of the Exchequer P. Thorneycroft 13 Jan 57 - 6 Jan 58
  D. Heathcoat Amory 6 Jan 58 - 27 Jul 60
  S. Lloyd 27 Jul 60 - 13 Jul 62 
  R. Maudling 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63 
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs S. Lloyd 14 Jan 57 - 27 Jul 60
  Earl of Home 27 Jul 60 - 13 Oct 63 
Secretary of State for Home Affairs R. Butler 13 Jan 57 - 13 Jul 62
  H. Brooke 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63 
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries D. Heathcoat Amory 14 Jan 57 - 6 Jan 58
  J. Hare 6 Jan 58 - 27 Jul 60 
  C. Soames 27 Jul 60 - 13 Oct 63 
Secretary of State for Aviation D. Sandys 14 Oct 59 - 27 Jul 60
  P. Thorneycroft 27 Jul 60 - 16 Jul 62 
Secretary of State for the Colonies A. Lennox Boyd 14 Jan 57 - 14 Oct 59
  I. MacLeod 14 Oct 59 - 9 Oct 61 
  R. Maudling 9 Oct 61 - 13 Jul 62 
  D. Sandys 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63 
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations Earl of Home 14 Jan 57 - 27 Jul 60 
  D. Sandys 27 Jul 60 - 13 Jul 62 
Minister for Defence D. Sandys 13 Jan 57 - 14 Oct 59 
  P. Thorneycroft 14 Oct 59  - 13 Oct 63
Minister of Education Viscount Hailsham 13 Jan 57 - 17 Sep 57
  G. Lloyd 17 Sep 57 - 14 Oct 59 
  Sir D. Eccles 14 Oct 59 - 13 Oct 63 
Minister of Health E. Powell 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63
Minister for Housing and Local Government H. Brooke 13 Jan 57 - 9 Oct 61
  C. Hill 9 Oct 61 - 13 Jul 62 
  Sir K. Joseph 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63 
Minister of Labour and National Service I. MacLeod 14 Jan 57 - 14 Oct 59
  E. Heath 14 Oct 59 - 27 Jul 60 
  J. Hare 27 Jul 60 - 13 Oct 63 
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster C. Hill 13 Jan 57 - 9 Oct 61
  I. MacLeod 9 Oct 61 - 13 Oct 63 
Paymaster-General R. Maudling 17 Sep 57 - 14 Oct 59
  Lord Mills 14 Oct 59 - 9 Oct 61 
  H. Brooke 9 Oct 61 - 13 Jul 62 
  J. Boyd-Carpenter 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63 
Minister without Portfolio Lord Mills 9 Oct 61 - 14 Jul 62
  W. Deedes 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63 
Minister for Power Lord Mills 13 Jan 57 - 14 Oct 59
Minister for Science Viscount Hailsham 14 Oct 59 - 13 Oct 63
Secretary of State for Scotland J. MacLay 13 Jan 57 - 13 Jul 62
  M. Noble 13 Jul 62 - 13 Oct 63  
President of the Board of Trade Sir D. Eccles 13 Jan 57 - 14 Oct 59
  R. Maudling 14 Oct 59 - 9 Oct 61 
  F. Erroll 9 Oct 61 - 13 Oct 63 
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation H. Watkinson 13 Jan 57 - 14 Oct 59
Minister for Transport E. Marples 14 Oct 59 - 13 Oct 63

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