The Lord Hague of Richmond | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Official portrait, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First Secretary of State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 12 May 2010 – 8 May 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | The Lord Mandelson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | George Osborne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the House of Commons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 14 July 2014 – 8 May 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Andrew Lansley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Chris Grayling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 12 May 2010 – 14 July 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | David Miliband | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Philip Hammond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 19 June 1997 – 13 September 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarch | Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | John Major | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Iain Duncan Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Conservative Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 19 June 1997 – 13 September 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | John Major | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Iain Duncan Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary of State for Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 5 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | John Major | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | John Redwood | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Ron Davies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | William Jefferson Hague 26 March 1961 Rotherham, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Ripon Grammar School Wath-upon-Dearne Comprehensive School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William Jefferson Hague, Baron Hague of Richmond, PC, FRSL (born 26 March 1961) is a British politician and life peer who was Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1997 to 2001. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond (Yorks) in North Yorkshire from 1989 to 2015. He was in the Cameron government as First Secretary of State from 2010 to 2015, Foreign Secretary from 2010 to 2014, and Leader of the House of Commons from 2014 to 2015.
Hague was educated at Wath-upon-Dearne Comprehensive School, the University of Oxford and INSEAD, subsequently being elected to the House of Commons at a by-election in 1989. Hague quickly rose through the ranks of the government of John Major and was appointed to Cabinet in 1995 as Secretary of State for Wales. Following the Conservatives' defeat at the 1997 general election by the Labour Party, he was elected Leader of the Conservative Party at the age of 36. Hague resigned as Conservative leader after the 2001 general election following his party's second defeat, at which the Conservatives made a net gain of just one seat. He returned to the backbenches, pursuing a career as an author, writing biographies of William Pitt the Younger and William Wilberforce. He also held several directorships, and worked as a consultant and public speaker. He was the first Leader of the Conservative Party since Austen Chamberlain (1921-22) to never assume the office of Prime Minister.
After David Cameron was elected Leader of the Conservative Party in 2005, Hague was reappointed to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Foreign Secretary. He also assumed the role of Senior Member of the Shadow Cabinet, serving as Cameron's deputy. Following the formation of the coalition government in 2010, Hague was appointed First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary. Cameron described him as his "de facto political deputy". On 14 July 2014, Hague stood down as Foreign Secretary and became Leader of the House of Commons. He did not stand for re-election at the 2015 general election and was succeeded by Rishi Sunak. He was awarded a life peerage in the 2015 Dissolution Honours List on 9 October 2015.