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List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by age

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This is a list of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by age. This table can be sorted to display prime ministers of the United Kingdom by name, order of office, date of birth, age at appointment, length of retirement, or lifespan. Age at appointment is determined by the day a prime minister assumed office for the first time. Length of retirement is determined from the day a prime minister leaves office for the final time until their death.

Two measures of longevity are given; this is to allow for the differing number of leap days occurring within the life of each prime minister. The first figure is the number of days between date of birth and date of death, allowing for leap days; in parentheses the same period given in years and days, with the number of whole years that the prime minister had lived, and the days being the remaining number of days from their last birthday. Where the prime minister in question is still living, their longevity is measured up to 21 November 2024.

List of prime ministers

[edit]
Living as of November 2024
Prime Minister Date of birth Premiership
John Major[1] (1943-03-29) 29 March 1943 (age 81) 1990–1997
Gordon Brown[1] (1951-02-20) 20 February 1951 (age 73) 2007–2010
Tony Blair[1] (1953-05-06) 6 May 1953 (age 71) 1997–2007
Theresa May[1] (1956-10-01) 1 October 1956 (age 68) 2016–2019
Keir Starmer[1] (1962-09-02) 2 September 1962 (age 62) 2024–present
Boris Johnson[1] (1964-06-19) 19 June 1964 (age 60) 2019–2022
David Cameron[1] (1966-10-09) 9 October 1966 (age 58) 2010–2016
Liz Truss[1] (1975-07-26) 26 July 1975 (age 49) 2022
Rishi Sunak[1] (1980-05-12) 12 May 1980 (age 44) 2022–2024
Key to table

  Living
  Currently in office
  Prime Ministers who served two or more non-consecutive terms
a   indicates the prime minister died in office.

No. Name Born Date of first appointment Age Final end of service Age Post–premiership/
Time period between two non-consecutive tenures (in italics) 		Death Lifespan
1 Robert Walpole (1676-08-26)26 August 1676 3 April 1721 (1721-04-03) 44 years, 220 days 11 February 1742 (1742-02-11) 65 years, 169 days 3 years, 35 days (1745-03-18)18 March 1745 68 years, 204 days
(25,040 days)
2 Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington 1673 16 February 1742 (1742-02-16) 68–69 years (1743-07-02)2 July 1743 69–70 years 0 days (1743-07-02)2 July 1743a 69–70 years
(25,577 days)
3 Henry Pelham (1694-09-25)25 September 1694 27 August 1743 (1743-08-27) 48 years, 336 days 6 March 1754 (1754-03-06) 59 years, 162 days 0 days (1754-03-06)6 March 1754a 59 years, 162 days
(21,711 days)
4 Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (1693-07-21)21 July 1693 16 March 1754 (1754-03-16) 60 years, 238 days 26 May 1762 (1762-05-26) 68 years, 309 days 6 years, 175 days (1768-11-17)17 November 1768 75 years, 119 days
(27,512 days)
5 William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire (1720-05-08)8 May 1720 16 November 1756 (1756-11-16) 36 years, 192 days 29 June 1757 (1757-06-29) 37 years, 52 days 7 years, 95 days (1764-10-02)2 October 1764 44 years, 147 days
(16,218 days)
6 John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-05-25)25 May 1713 26 May 1762 (1762-05-26) 49 years, 1 day 8 April 1763 (1763-04-08) 49 years, 318 days 28 years, 337 days (1792-03-10)10 March 1792 78 years, 290 days
(28,779 days)
7 George Grenville (1712-10-14)14 October 1712 16 April 1763 (1763-04-16) 50 years, 184 days 10 July 1765 (1765-07-10) 52 years, 269 days 5 years, 126 days (1770-11-13)13 November 1770 58 years, 30 days
(21,214 days)
8 Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730-05-13)13 May 1730 13 July 1765 (1765-07-13) 35 years, 61 days 1 July 1782 (1782-07-01) 52 years, 49 days 0 days (1782-07-01)1 July 1782a 52 years, 49 days
(19,042 days)
9 William Pitt the Elder (1708-11-15)15 November 1708 30 July 1766 (1766-07-30) 57 years, 257 days 14 October 1768 (1768-10-14) 59 years, 334 days 9 years, 209 days (1778-05-11)11 May 1778 69 years, 177 days
(25,379 days)
10 Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (1735-09-28)28 September 1735 14 October 1768 (1768-10-14) 33 years, 16 days 28 January 1770 (1770-01-28) 34 years, 122 days 41 years, 45 days (1811-03-14)14 March 1811 75 years, 167 days
(27,560 days)
11 Frederick North, Lord North (1732-04-13)13 April 1732 28 January 1770 (1770-01-28) 37 years, 290 days 27 March 1782 (1782-03-27) 49 years, 348 days 10 years, 131 days (1792-08-05)5 August 1792 60 years, 114 days
(22,029 days)
12 William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne (1737-05-02)2 May 1737 4 July 1782 (1782-07-04) 45 years, 63 days 26 March 1783 (1783-03-26) 45 years, 328 days 22 years, 42 days (1805-05-07)7 May 1805 68 years, 5 days
(24,841 days)
13 William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738-04-14)14 April 1738 2 April 1783 (1783-04-02) 44 years, 353 days 4 October 1809 (1809-10-04) 71 years, 173 days 26 days (1809-10-30)30 October 1809 71 years, 199 days
(26,131 days)
14 William Pitt the Younger (1759-05-28)28 May 1759 19 December 1783 (1783-12-19) 24 years, 205 days 23 January 1806 (1806-01-23) 46 years, 240 days 0 days (1806-01-23)23 January 1806a 46 years, 240 days
(17,041 days)
15 Henry Addington (1757-05-30)30 May 1757 17 March 1801 (1801-03-17) 43 years, 291 days 10 May 1804 (1804-05-10) 46 years, 346 days 39 years, 281 days (1844-02-15)15 February 1844 86 years, 261 days
(31,671 days)
16 William Grenville (1759-10-25)25 October 1759 11 February 1806 (1806-02-11) 46 years, 109 days 25 March 1807 (1807-03-25) 47 years, 151 days 26 years, 293 days (1834-01-12)12 January 1834 74 years, 79 days
(27,107 days)
17 Spencer Perceval (1762-11-01)1 November 1762 4 October 1809 (1809-10-04) 46 years, 337 days 11 May 1812 (1812-05-11) 49 years, 192 days 0 days (1812-05-11)11 May 1812a 49 years, 192 days
(18,078 days)
18 Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool (1770-06-07)7 June 1770 8 June 1812 (1812-06-08) 42 years, 1 day 9 April 1827 (1827-04-09) 56 years, 306 days 1 year, 239 days (1828-12-04)4 December 1828 58 years, 180 days
(21,364 days)
19 George Canning (1770-04-11)11 April 1770 12 April 1827 (1827-04-12) 57 years, 1 day 8 August 1827 (1827-08-08) 57 years, 119 days 0 days (1827-08-08)8 August 1827a 57 years, 119 days
(20,937 days)
20 F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich (1782-11-01)1 November 1782 31 August 1827 (1827-08-31) 44 years, 303 days 8 January 1828 (1828-01-08) 45 years, 68 days 31 years, 20 days (1859-01-28)28 January 1859 76 years, 88 days
(27,846 days)
21 Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-05-01)1 May 1769 22 January 1828 (1828-01-22) 58 years, 266 days 9 December 1834 (1834-12-09) 65 years, 222 days 17 years, 280 days (1852-09-14)14 September 1852 83 years, 136 days
(30,451 days)
22 Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764-03-13)13 March 1764 22 November 1830 (1830-11-22) 66 years, 254 days 9 July 1834 (1834-07-09) 70 years, 118 days 11 years, 8 days (1845-07-17)17 July 1845 81 years, 126 days
(29,710 days)
23 William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne (1779-03-15)15 March 1779 16 July 1834 (1834-07-16) 55 years, 123 days 30 August 1841 (1841-08-30) 62 years, 168 days 7 years, 86 days (1848-11-24)24 November 1848 69 years, 254 days
(25,456 days)
24 Robert Peel (1788-02-05)5 February 1788 10 December 1834 (1834-12-10) 46 years, 308 days 29 June 1846 (1846-06-29) 58 years, 144 days 4 years, 3 days (1850-07-02)2 July 1850 62 years, 147 days
(22,792 days)
25 Lord John Russell (1792-08-18)18 August 1792 30 June 1846 (1846-06-30) 53 years, 316 days 26 June 1866 (1866-06-26) 73 years, 312 days 11 years, 336 days (1878-05-28)28 May 1878 85 years, 283 days
(31,328 days)
26 Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (1799-03-29)29 March 1799 23 February 1852 (1852-02-23) 52 years, 331 days 25 February 1868 (1868-02-25) 68 years, 333 days 1 year, 240 days (1869-10-23)23 October 1869 70 years, 208 days
(25,775 days)
27 George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-01-28)28 January 1784 19 December 1852 (1852-12-19) 68 years, 326 days 30 January 1855 (1855-01-30) 71 years, 2 days 5 years, 319 days (1860-12-14)14 December 1860 76 years, 321 days
(28,079 days)
28 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784-10-20)20 October 1784 6 February 1855 (1855-02-06) 70 years, 109 days 18 October 1865 (1865-10-18) 80 years, 363 days 0 days (1865-10-18)18 October 1865a 80 years, 363 days
(29,582 days)
29 Benjamin Disraeli
(Term 1) 		(1804-12-21)21 December 1804 27 February 1868 (1868-02-27) 63 years, 68 days 1 December 1868 63 years, 346 days 5 years, 83 days (1881-04-19)19 April 1881 76 years, 119 days
(27,878 days)
30 William Ewart Gladstone
(Term 1) 		(1809-12-29)29 December 1809 3 December 1868 (1868-12-03) 58 years, 340 days 17 February 1874 64 years, 51 days 6 years, 67 days (1898-05-19)19 May 1898 88 years, 141 days
(32,283 days)
(29.) Benjamin Disraeli
(Term 2) 		(1804-12-21)21 December 1804 20 February 1874 69 years, 71 days 21 April 1880 75 years, 122 days 363 days (1881-04-19)19 April 1881 76 years, 119 days
(27,878 days)
(30.) William Ewart Gladstone
(Term 2) 		(1809-12-29)29 December 1809 23 April 1880 70 years, 116 days 9 June 1885 75 years, 163 days 238 days (1898-05-19)19 May 1898 88 years, 141 days
(32,283 days)
31 Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(Term 1) 		(1830-02-03)3 February 1830 23 June 1885 (1885-06-23) 55 years, 140 days 28 January 1886 55 years, 359 days 179 days (1903-08-22)22 August 1903 73 years, 200 days
(26,862 days)
(30.) William Ewart Gladstone
(Term 3) 		(1809-12-29)29 December 1809 1 February 1886 76 years, 35 days 21 July 1886 76 years, 205 days 6 years, 21 days (1898-05-19)19 May 1898 88 years, 141 days
(32,283 days)
(31.) Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(Term 2) 		(1830-02-03)3 February 1830 25 July 1886 56 years, 172 days 11 August 1892 62 years, 189 days 2 years, 313 days (1903-08-22)22 August 1903 73 years, 200 days
(26,862 days)
(30.) William Ewart Gladstone
(Term 4) 		(1809-12-29)29 December 1809 11 August 1892 82 years, 226 days 2 March 1894 84 years, 63 days 4 years, 78 days (1898-05-19)19 May 1898 88 years, 141 days
(32,283 days)
32 Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847-05-07)7 May 1847 5 March 1894 (1894-03-05) 46 years, 302 days 22 June 1895 (1895-06-22) 48 years, 46 days 33 years, 333 days (1929-05-21)21 May 1929 82 years, 14 days
(29,964 days)
(31.) Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(Term 3) 		(1830-02-03)3 February 1830 25 June 1895 65 years, 142 days 11 July 1902 (1902-07-11) 72 years, 158 days 1 year, 42 days (1903-08-22)22 August 1903 73 years, 200 days
(26,862 days)
33 Arthur Balfour (1848-07-25)25 July 1848 12 July 1902 (1902-07-12) 53 years, 352 days 4 December 1905 (1905-12-04) 57 years, 132 days 24 years, 105 days (1930-03-19)19 March 1930 81 years, 237 days
(29,821 days)
34 Henry Campbell-Bannerman (1836-09-07)7 September 1836 5 December 1905 (1905-12-05) 69 years, 89 days 3 April 1908 (1908-04-03) 71 years, 211 days 19 days (1908-04-22)22 April 1908 71 years, 228 days
(26,159 days)
35 H. H. Asquith (1852-09-12)12 September 1852 5 April 1908 (1908-04-05) 55 years, 206 days 5 December 1916 (1916-12-05) 64 years, 84 days 11 years, 72 days (1928-02-15)15 February 1928 75 years, 156 days
(27,548 days)
36 David Lloyd George (1863-01-17)17 January 1863 6 December 1916 (1916-12-06) 53 years, 324 days 22 October 1922 (1922-10-22) 59 years, 278 days 22 years, 155 days (1945-03-26)26 March 1945 82 years, 68 days
(30,018 days)
37 Bonar Law (1858-09-16)16 September 1858 23 October 1922 (1922-10-23) 64 years, 37 days 20 May 1923 (1923-05-20) 64 years, 246 days 163 days (1923-10-30)30 October 1923 65 years, 44 days
(23,784 days)
38 Stanley Baldwin
(Term 1) 		(1867-08-03)3 August 1867 22 May 1923 (1923-05-22) 55 years, 292 days 22 January 1924 (1924-01-22) 56 years, 173 days 288 days (1947-12-14)14 December 1947 80 years, 133 days
(29,352 days)
39 Ramsay MacDonald
(Term 1) 		(1866-10-12)12 October 1866 22 January 1924 (1924-01-22) 57 years, 102 days 4 November 1924 58 years, 23 days 4 years, 213 days (1937-11-09)9 November 1937 71 years, 28 days
(25,960 days)
(38.) Stanley Baldwin
(Term 2) 		(1867-08-03)3 August 1867 4 November 1924 57 years, 93 days 5 June 1929 61 years, 306 days 6 years, 2 days (1947-12-14)14 December 1947 80 years, 133 days
(29,352 days)
(39.) Ramsay MacDonald
(Term 2) 		(1866-10-12)12 October 1866 5 June 1929 62 years, 236 days 7 June 1935 (1935-06-07) 68 years, 238 days 2 years, 155 days (1937-11-09)9 November 1937 71 years, 28 days
(25,960 days)
(38.) Stanley Baldwin
(Term 3) 		(1867-08-03)3 August 1867 7 June 1935 (1935-06-07) 67 years, 308 days 28 May 1937 (1937-05-28) 69 years, 298 days 10 years, 200 days (1947-12-14)14 December 1947 80 years, 133 days
(29,352 days)
40 Neville Chamberlain (1869-03-18)18 March 1869 28 May 1937 (1937-05-28) 68 years, 71 days 10 May 1940 (1940-05-10) 71 years, 53 days 183 days (1940-11-09)9 November 1940 71 years, 236 days
(26,168 days)
41 Winston Churchill
(Term 1) 		(1874-11-30)30 November 1874 10 May 1940 (1940-05-10) 65 years, 162 days 26 July 1945 (1945-07-26) 70 years, 238 days 6 years, 93 days (1965-01-24)24 January 1965 90 years, 55 days
(32,927 days)
42 Clement Attlee (1883-01-03)3 January 1883 26 July 1945 (1945-07-26) 62 years, 204 days 26 October 1951 (1951-10-26) 68 years, 296 days 15 years, 347 days (1967-10-08)8 October 1967 84 years, 278 days
(30,958 days)
(41.) Winston Churchill
(Term 2) 		(1874-11-30)30 November 1874 26 October 1951 (1951-10-26) 76 years, 330 days 6 April 1955 (1955-04-06) 80 years, 126 days 9 years, 294 days (1965-01-24)24 January 1965 90 years, 55 days
(32,927 days)
43 Anthony Eden (1897-06-12)12 June 1897 6 April 1955 (1955-04-06) 57 years, 298 days 9 January 1957 (1957-01-09) 59 years, 211 days 20 years, 5 days (1977-01-14)14 January 1977 79 years, 216 days
(29,070 days)
44 Harold Macmillan (1894-02-10)10 February 1894 10 January 1957 (1957-01-10) 62 years, 335 days 18 October 1963 (1963-10-18) 69 years, 250 days 23 years, 72 days (1986-12-29)29 December 1986 92 years, 322 days
(33,924 days)
45 Alec Douglas-Home (1903-07-02)2 July 1903 19 October 1963 (1963-10-19) 60 years, 109 days 16 October 1964 (1964-10-16) 61 years, 106 days 30 years, 358 days (1995-10-09)9 October 1995 92 years, 99 days
(33,702 days)
46 Harold Wilson
(Term 1) 		(1916-03-11)11 March 1916 16 October 1964 (1964-10-16) 48 years, 219 days 19 June 1970 (1970-06-19) 54 years, 100 days 3 years, 259 days (1995-05-24)24 May 1995 79 years, 74 days
(28,928 days)
47 Edward Heath (1916-07-09)9 July 1916 19 June 1970 (1970-06-19) 53 years, 345 days 4 March 1974 (1974-03-04) 57 years, 238 days 31 years, 135 days (2005-07-17)17 July 2005 89 years, 8 days
(32,515 days)
(46.) Harold Wilson
(Term 2) 		(1916-03-11)11 March 1916 4 March 1974 (1974-03-04) 57 years, 358 days 5 April 1976 (1976-04-05) 60 years, 25 days 19 years, 49 days (1995-05-24)24 May 1995 79 years, 74 days
(28,928 days)
48 James Callaghan (1912-03-27)27 March 1912 5 April 1976 (1976-04-05) 64 years, 9 days 4 May 1979 (1979-05-04) 67 years, 38 days 25 years, 326 days (2005-03-26)26 March 2005 92 years, 364 days
(33,967 days)
49 Margaret Thatcher (1925-10-13)13 October 1925 4 May 1979 (1979-05-04) 53 years, 203 days 28 November 1990 (1990-11-28) 65 years, 46 days 22 years, 131 days (2013-04-08)8 April 2013 87 years, 177 days
(31,954 days)
50 John Major (1943-03-29)29 March 1943 28 November 1990 (1990-11-28) 47 years, 244 days 2 May 1997 (1997-05-02) 54 years, 34 days 27 years, 203 days 81 years, 237 days
(29,823 days)
51 Tony Blair (1953-05-06)6 May 1953 2 May 1997 (1997-05-02) 43 years, 361 days 27 June 2007 (2007-06-27) 54 years, 52 days 17 years, 147 days 71 years, 199 days
(26,132 days)
52 Gordon Brown (1951-02-20)20 February 1951 27 June 2007 (2007-06-27) 56 years, 127 days 11 May 2010 (2010-05-11) 59 years, 80 days 14 years, 194 days 73 years, 275 days
(26,938 days)
53 David Cameron (1966-10-09)9 October 1966 11 May 2010 (2010-05-11) 43 years, 214 days 13 July 2016 (2016-07-13) 49 years, 278 days 8 years, 131 days 58 years, 43 days
(21,228 days)
54 Theresa May (1956-10-01)1 October 1956 13 July 2016 (2016-07-13) 59 years, 286 days 24 July 2019 (2019-07-24) 62 years, 296 days 5 years, 120 days 68 years, 51 days
(24,888 days)
55 Boris Johnson (1964-06-19)19 June 1964 24 July 2019 (2019-07-24) 55 years, 35 days 6 September 2022 (2022-09-06) 58 years, 79 days 2 years, 76 days 60 years, 155 days
(22,070 days)
56 Liz Truss (1975-07-26)26 July 1975 6 September 2022 (2022-09-06) 47 years, 42 days 25 October 2022 (2022-10-25) 47 years, 91 days 2 years, 27 days 49 years, 118 days
(18,016 days)
57 Rishi Sunak (1980-05-12)12 May 1980 25 October 2022 (2022-10-25) 42 years, 166 days 5 July 2024 (2024-07-05) 44 years, 54 days 139 days 44 years, 193 days
(16,264 days)
58 Keir Starmer (1962-09-02)2 September 1962 5 July 2024 (2024-07-05) 61 years, 307 days Incumbent 62 years, 80 days
(22,726 days)
No. Name Born Date (first appointment) Age End of service Age Post–premiership/Time period between two non-consecutive tenures (in italics) Date of death Lifespan

Graphical representation

[edit]

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and they are listed in order of office.

Keir StarmerRishi SunakLiz TrussBoris JohnsonTheresa MayDavid CameronGordon BrownTony BlairJohn MajorMargaret ThatcherJames CallaghanEdward HeathHarold WilsonAlec Douglas-HomeHarold MacmillanAnthony EdenClement AttleeWinston ChurchillNeville ChamberlainRamsay MacDonaldStanley BaldwinBonar LawDavid Lloyd GeorgeH. H. AsquithHenry Campbell-BannermanArthur BalfourArchibald Primrose, 5th Earl of RoseberyRobert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of SalisburyWilliam Ewart GladstoneBenjamin DisraeliHenry John Temple, 3rd Viscount PalmerstonGeorge Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of AberdeenEdward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of DerbyJohn Russell, 1st Earl RussellRobert PeelWilliam Lamb, 2nd Viscount MelbourneCharles Grey, 2nd Earl GreyArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of WellingtonF. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount GoderichGeorge CanningRobert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of LiverpoolSpencer PercevalWilliam Grenville, 1st Baron GrenvilleHenry Addington, 1st Viscount SidmouthWilliam Pitt the YoungerWilliam Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of PortlandWilliam Petty, 2nd Earl of ShelburneFrederick North, Lord NorthAugustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of GraftonWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of ChathamCharles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of RockinghamGeorge GrenvilleJohn Stuart, 3rd Earl of ButeWilliam Cavendish, 4th Duke of DevonshireThomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of NewcastleHenry PelhamSpencer Compton, 1st Earl of WilmingtonRobert Walpole

The following chart shows prime ministers by their age (living prime ministers in green), with the years of their premiership in blue.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jones, Ian (5 July 2024). "Sunak defeat means UK will have eight living ex-prime ministers". Evening Standard.
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