Roy Jenkins

Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead, OM, PC (11 November 1920 – 5 January 2003) was a British Labour Party, SDP and Liberal Democrat politician, and biographer of British political leaders.

The Right Honourable The Lord Jenkins of Hillhead OM PC
President of the European Commission
In office 6 January 1977 – 19 January 1981
Preceded by	François-Xavier Ortoli
Succeeded by	Gaston Thorn
Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
In office 16 July 1988 – 19 December 1997
Leader	Paddy Ashdown
Preceded by	The Baroness Seear (Liberal)
Succeeded by	The Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank
Chancellor of the University of Oxford
In office 14 March 1987 – 5 January 2003
Vice-Chancellor	The Lord Neill Sir Richard Southwood Sir Peter North Sir Colin Lucas
Preceded by	The Earl of Stockton
Succeeded by	The Lord Patten of Barnes
Leader of the Social Democratic Party
In office 7 July 1982 – 13 June 1983
Deputy	David Owen
Preceded by	The Gang of Four
Succeeded by	David Owen
Home Secretary
In office 5 March 1974 – 10 September 1976
Prime Minister	Harold Wilson James Callaghan
Preceded by	Robert Carr
Succeeded by	Merlyn Rees
In office 23 December 1965 – 30 November 1967
Prime Minister	Harold Wilson
Preceded by	Frank Soskice
Succeeded by	James Callaghan
Shadow Home Secretary
In office 25 November 1973 – 5 March 1974
Leader	Harold Wilson
Preceded by	Shirley Williams
Succeeded by	Jim Prior
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
In office 8 July 1970 – 10 April 1972
Leader	Harold Wilson
Preceded by	George Brown
Succeeded by	Edward Short
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 19 June 1970 – 10 April 1972
Leader	Harold Wilson
Preceded by	Iain Macleod
Succeeded by	Denis Healey
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 30 November 1967 – 19 June 1970
Prime Minister	Harold Wilson
Preceded by	James Callaghan
Succeeded by	Iain Macleod
Minister of Aviation
In office 18 October 1964 – 23 December 1965
Prime Minister	Harold Wilson
Preceded by	Julian Amery
Succeeded by	Fred Mulley
Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead
In office 25 March 1982 – 11 June 1987
Preceded by	Tam Galbraith
Succeeded by	George Galloway
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Stechford
In office 23 February 1950 – 31 March 1977
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Andrew MacKay
Member of Parliament for Southwark Central
In office 29 April 1948 – 23 February 1950
Preceded by	John Martin
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	Roy Harris Jenkins (1920-11-11)11 November 1920 Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales
Died	5 January 2003(2003-01-05) (aged 82) East Hendred, Oxfordshire, England
Political party	Labour (Before 1981) Social Democrats (1981–1988) Liberal Democrats (1988–2003)
Alma mater	Cardiff University Balliol College, Oxford
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	British Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Royal Artillery
Battles/wars	Second World War

Jenkins was elected to Parliament as a Labour MP in 1948. He served as Home Secretary from 1965 to 1967 and Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1967 and 1970. He was elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party on 8 July 1970,[1] but resigned in 1972 because he supported entry to the European Communities, while the party opposed it.

In 1977, he was appointed President of the European Commission, serving until 1981. He was the first British holder of this office, and is likely to be the only such (considering the United Kingdom's decision in June 2016 to leave the European Union).[2]

He was also a known historian, biographer and writer. His A Life at the Centre (1991) is thought to be as one of the best autobiographies of the later 20th century, which "will be read with pleasure long after most examples of the genre have been forgotten".[3]