The Lord Patten of Barnes

The Lord Patten of Barnes
Honorific-prefix	The Right Honourable
Name	The Lord Patten of Barnes
Caption	Patten in 2012
Office	Chancellor of the University of Oxford
Term start	2003
Term end	2023
Predecessor	Roy Jenkins
Successor	Vacant
Office1	Governor of Hong Kong
Monarch1	Elizabeth II
Term start1	9 July 1992
Term end1	30 June 1997
Predecessor1	Sir David Wilson
Successor1	Tung Chee-hwa (as Chief Executive of Hong Kong)
Office2	European Commissioner for External Relations
President2	Romano Prodi
Term start2	16 September 1999
Term end2	22 November 2004
Predecessor2	Leon Brittan
Successor2	Benita Ferrero-Waldner
Office3	Chairman of the Conservative Party
Leader3	John Major
Term start3	28 November 1990
Term end3	10 April 1992
Predecessor3	Kenneth Baker
Successor3	Norman Fowler
Birth name	Christopher Francis Patten
Birth date	12 May 1944
Birth place	Cleveleys, Lancashire, England
Party	Conservative
Spouse	Lavender Thornton, 1971
Alma mater	Balliol College, Oxford

The Lord Patten of Barnes is a prominent British politician, diplomat, and academic administrator. A key figure in the Conservative Party during the late 20th century, he served as the final Governor of Hong Kong overseeing the Handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. His distinguished career later included roles as a European Commissioner and a lengthy tenure as Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

Early life and education

Christopher Francis Patten was born in Cleveleys, Lancashire, and was educated at St. Benedict's School in London. He won a scholarship to read Modern History at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was a contemporary of future political figures like John Patten and Michael Howard. At Oxford, he served as President of the Oxford University Conservative Association and later as Chairman of the Oxford Union, honing the oratorical and political skills that would define his career.

Political career

After working in the Conservative Research Department and as a speechwriter for Edward Heath, Patten was elected as the Member of Parliament for Bath in the 1979 general election. He held several junior ministerial posts before entering the Cabinet in 1989 as Secretary of State for the Environment. A close ally of John Major, he was appointed Chairman of the Conservative Party in 1990, masterminding the party's surprise victory in the 1992 general election, though he famously lost his own seat in Bath to the Liberal Democrats candidate Don Foster.

Governor of Hong Kong

Following his electoral defeat, Patten was appointed as the 28th and final Governor of Hong Kong in 1992. His tenure was dominated by implementing political reforms and navigating the complex transition to Chinese sovereignty under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. His reform agenda, particularly to the Legislative Council, brought him into frequent diplomatic conflict with the Chinese government in Beijing. He presided over the Handover of Hong Kong ceremony on 1 July 1997, transferring the territory to the administration of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.

European Commissioner

In 1999, Patten was appointed as the European Commissioner for External Relations under the presidency of Romano Prodi. In this role, he was responsible for the European Union's foreign policy and diplomatic relations, overseeing a significant expansion of the Commission's development aid and managing relationships with regions including the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia. He played a key role in the establishment of the European External Action Service and was a vocal proponent of EU enlargement to include former Eastern Bloc nations.

Chancellor of the University of Oxford

Elected in 2003, Patten served as Chancellor of the University of Oxford for two decades, succeeding Roy Jenkins. As Chancellor, he was the ceremonial head of the university and an influential advocate for its global interests, academic freedom, and financial sustainability. His tenure saw major fundraising campaigns, controversies over issues such as tuition fees and free speech, and the university's navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic. He stepped down in 2023 and was succeeded on an interim basis by Sir Keith Peters.

Personal life and honours

He married Lavender Thornton in 1971; they have three daughters. Following his service in Hong Kong, he was created a life peer as Baron Patten of Barnes, of Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond, in 1997. His honours include being appointed a Companion of Honour in 1998 and receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 2019. He has authored several books on politics and history and served as a trustee for institutions like the British Museum and the BBC.

Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Category:Governors of Hong Kong Category:Chancellors of the University of Oxford Category:British life peers