John Benedict Eden, Baron Eden of Winton, (15 September 1925 – 23 May 2020), known as Sir John Eden, 9th Baronet, from 1963 to 1983, was a British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament for

Bournemouth West Bournemouth West is a parliamentary constituency in Dorset represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Jessica Toale, a member of the Labour Party. Constituency profile The constituency includes the western portion ...

from 1954 to 1983.

Background

Eden was the son of Sir Timothy Eden, 8th Baronet and Edith Mary Prendergast. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College ( ) is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school providing boarding school, boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small town of Eton, Berkshire, Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated Prime Mini ...

and St Paul's School,

New Hampshire New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

, in the US. He served as a

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

with the

Rifle Brigade The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts, and skirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle ...

2nd Gurkha Rifles The 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) was a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army before being transferred to the British Army on India's independence in 1947. The 4th Battalion joined the Indian Army as the 5th Bat ...

and the

Gilgit Scouts The Gilgit Scouts was a paramilitary force within the Gilgit-Baltistan region in northern Pakistan. They were raised by the British Raj in 1913, to assist the Gilgit-based British Political Agent in managing Gilgit Agency which formed the northe ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He was a nephew of

Sir Anthony Eden Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon (12 June 1897 – 14 January 1977) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1955 until his resignation in 1957. Achi ...

(1897–1977), who served as prime minister from 1955 to 1957, and he succeeded his father Sir Timothy Calvert Eden to his

baronetcies A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...

in 1963. He was the 9th Baronet of West Auckland and the 7th Baronet of Maryland.

Career

After unsuccessfully contesting the

1953 Paddington North by-election The 1953 Paddington North by-election was held on 3 December 1953, after the resignation of the incumbent Labour MP Bill Field, who had failed to overturn a conviction for "importuning for immoral purposes". The seat was retained by the Labour ...

, Eden was first elected as a

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

Member of Parliament (MP) for

at the 1954 Bournemouth West by-election, which he would continue to represent from 1954 until 1983. When first elected, he was the

Baby of the House Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament, from which the term originated. The title is named after the Father of the Hou ...

, the youngest member of the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

. He was appointed to the Privy Council on 10 April 1972 and was created a

life peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the D ...

as Baron Eden of Winton, of

Rushyford Rushyford is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated between Darlington and Durham, close to Newton Aycliffe and Chilton. About west of the village is Windlestone Hall, a 16th-century country house which was significantly enlarged ...

in the

County of Durham County Durham, officially simply Durham, is a ceremonial county in North East England.UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. The county borders Northumberland and Tyne an ...

on 3 October 1983, following his retirement from the House of Commons. He retired from the House of Lords on 11 June 2015 under the provisions of the

House of Lords Reform Act 2014 The House of Lords Reform Act 2014 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act was a private member's bill. It received royal assent on 14 May 2014. The Act allows members of the House of Lords to retire or resign – actions previous ...

. Following the death of Lord Healey on 3 October 2015, Eden became the oldest surviving former MP with the earliest date of first election. Appointments: * Member of the House of Commons Estimates committee (1960–1964) * Delegate to Council of Europe and West European Union (1960–1962) * Delegate to NATO Technology (June–October 1970) *

Minister of State for Industry The Minister of State for Industry is a mid-level role in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of His Majesty's Government. It has been held by Sarah Jones since 8 July 2024. Since 2024, the Mini ...

(1970–1972) * Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1972–1974) * Member of the House of Commons Expenditure committee (1974–1976) * Chairman of the Select Committee on EEC Legislation (1976–1979) * Chairman of the Select Committee on Home Affairs (1980–1983) * Chairman of the British Lebanese Association (1990–1998) * Chairman of the Royal Armouries Association (1986–1994) * Member of Timken Company International Advisory Board * Chairman of Lady Eden's Schools Ltd

Family life

Eden was twice married: * 1) Belinda Jane Pascoe (1954 – divorced 1974); four children **

The Honourable ''The Honourable'' (Commonwealth English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific Style ...

Emily Rose Eden (born 1959) ** The Honourable Arabella Charlotte Eden (born 1960) ** The Honourable Sir Robert Frederick Calvert Eden (born 30 April 1964). The 10th Baronet of West Auckland and 8th Baronet of Maryland. ** The Honourable John "Jack" Edward Morton Eden (born 1966). Heir presumptive to the baronetcies. * 2) Margaret Ann Gordon (1977 – his death 2020). A former wife of the Earl of Perth.

Arms

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Eden, John Benedict 1925 births 2020 deaths Baronets in the Baronetage of England Baronets in the Baronetage of Great Britain Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Conservative Party (UK) life peers Rifle Brigade officers Royal Gurkha Rifles officers Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom People educated at Eton College UK MPs 1951–1955 UK MPs 1955–1959 UK MPs 1959–1964 UK MPs 1964–1966 UK MPs 1966–1970 UK MPs 1970–1974 UK MPs 1974 UK MPs 1974–1979 UK MPs 1979–1983 John Eden Indian Army personnel of World War II British Army personnel of World War II Life peers created by Elizabeth II Peers retired under the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 Politicians from Bournemouth