biography
| name: |
Eden, Sir (Robert) Anthony, 1st Earl of Avon
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pronunciation:
[eedn]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1897–1977)
|
| biography:
| British statesman and prime minister (1955–7), born at Windlestone Hall, Durham, NE England, UK. He studied at Oxford, and served in World War 1 (MC, 1917). He became a Conservative MP in 1923, and was foreign under-secretary (1931), Lord Privy Seal (1933) and foreign secretary (1935), resigning in 1938 over differences with Chamberlain. In World War 2 he was first dominions secretary, then secretary of state for war, and foreign secretary (1940–5). Again foreign secretary (1951–5), he was involved with the negotiations in Korea and Indo-China, and the 1954 Geneva Summit Conference. He succeeded Churchill as prime minister, and in 1956 ordered British forces (in collaboration with the French and Israelis) to occupy the Suez Canal Zone. His action was condemned by the UN and caused a bitter controversy in Britain which did not subside when he ordered a withdrawal. In failing health, he abruptly resigned in 1957. He was created an earl in 1961. |
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