Geoffrey Howe (1926-), Politician

(Richard Edward) Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon

Sitter in 9 portraits
Politician. Born at Port Talbot and educated at Winchester and Cambridge, he became a barrister, and became a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1965. Howe became a Conservative member of Parliament in 1964. He was Margaret Thatcher's Chancellor of the Exchequer (1979-83), Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1983-9), and Leader of the House of Commons and Deputy Prime Minister (1989-90). His resignation, over differences of opinion with Margaret Thatcher over Europe, led to Thatcher's own fall from power. He was created a Life Peer in 1992.