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Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater

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Article Genealogy
Parent: Bedford School Hop 4
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Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater
Honorific-prefixThe Right Honourable The Lord King of Bridgwater
NameTom King
CaptionKing in 1990
OfficeSecretary of State for Defence
PrimeministerMargaret Thatcher, John Major
Term start24 July 1989
Term end10 April 1992
PredecessorGeorge Younger
SuccessorMalcolm Rifkind
Office2Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Primeminister2Margaret Thatcher
Term start22 September 1985
Term end224 July 1989
Predecessor2Douglas Hurd
Successor2Peter Brooke
Office3Secretary of State for Employment
Primeminister3Margaret Thatcher
Term start316 October 1983
Term end32 September 1985
Predecessor3Norman Tebbit
Successor3David Young
Office4Secretary of State for the Environment
Primeminister4Margaret Thatcher
Term start46 April 1982
Term end411 June 1983
Predecessor4Michael Heseltine
Successor4Patrick Jenkin
Office5Secretary of State for Transport
Primeminister5Margaret Thatcher
Term start55 January 1981
Term end56 April 1982
Predecessor5Norman Fowler
Successor5David Howell
Office6Minister of State for Local Government
Primeminister6Margaret Thatcher
Term start67 May 1979
Term end65 January 1981
Predecessor6John Silkin
Successor6Michael Heseltine
Office7Member of Parliament, for Bridgwater
Term start728 February 1970
Term end714 May 2001
Predecessor7Gerald Wills
Successor7Ian Liddell-Grainger
Birth nameThomas Jeremy King
Birth date13 June 1933
Birth placeLondon, England
PartyConservative
SpouseJane Tilney, 1960
Alma materEmmanuel College, Cambridge
BranchBritish Army
Serviceyears1954–1956
RankSecond Lieutenant
UnitRoyal Northumberland Fusiliers
BattlesMalayan Emergency

Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater is a British Conservative politician and life peer who served as a Member of Parliament for over three decades. He held several senior Cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, most notably as Secretary of State for Defence during the Gulf War. King was elevated to the House of Lords in 2001, taking the title Baron King of Bridgwater.

Early life and education

Thomas Jeremy King was born in London on 13 June 1933, the son of John Henry King and Phyllis Vernon. He was educated at Rugby School, a prestigious independent school in Warwickshire. He subsequently won a scholarship to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he read history and was elected President of the Cambridge Union Society.

Military service

After completing his studies at Cambridge University, King performed National Service in the British Army. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. His service included a deployment to British Malaya during the Malayan Emergency, where he was mentioned in despatches for his conduct.

Political career

King was first elected as the MP for Bridgwater at a by-election in 1970, succeeding Gerald Wills. Following the 1979 general election, he entered Margaret Thatcher's government as Minister of State for Local Government. He was promoted to the Cabinet in 1981 as Secretary of State for Transport, later serving as Secretary of State for the Environment during the Falklands War. He subsequently held the roles of Secretary of State for Employment and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, where he oversaw the implementation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. His final and most prominent Cabinet post was as Secretary of State for Defence from 1989 to 1992, a period encompassing the end of the Cold War, the Gulf War, and the Options for Change defence review. He stood down from the House of Commons at the 2001 general election.

Business and other roles

Upon leaving the House of Commons, King was appointed by Prime Minister Tony Blair as Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, a role he held until 2004. He has served as a director of several companies, including British Telecom and National Power. He was also a member of the Council of the Royal United Services Institute and has been involved with the Atlantic Council.

Personal life

King married Jane Tilney in 1960, and the couple have two sons and one daughter. His interests include sailing and gardening. He has maintained a long-standing connection to his former constituency in Somerset.

Honours and arms

King was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 1992 Resignation Honours. Following his retirement from the House of Commons, he was created a life peer as Baron King of Bridgwater, of Bridgwater in the County of Somerset, on 20 July 2001, allowing him to take a seat in the House of Lords. His coat of arms incorporates symbols representing his service in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and his political career in Somerset.

Category:1933 births Category:Living people Category:Conservative Party (UK) life peers Category:People educated at Rugby School Category:Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge Category:Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour Category:Royal Northumberland Fusiliers officers Category:Secretaries of State for Defence Category:Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland