Heseltine, << HEHZ uhl tyn, >> Michael Ray Dibdin (1933-…), was deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1995 to 1997. A member of the Conservative Party, he served under Prime Minister John Major.
Heseltine was born on March 21, 1933, in Swansea, Wales. He was educated at Oxford University. He worked as a real-estate developer and publisher before entering politics. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1966. From 1970 to 1974, he held posts in the Ministry of Transport, the Department of the Environment, and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Heseltine served as secretary of state for the environment from 1979 to 1983 and for defense from 1983 until he resigned in 1986. Heseltine challenged Thatcher for party leadership in 1990. When it was clear Thatcher would not win, she resigned. John Major was elected party leader and became prime minister. Major appointed Heseltine secretary of state for the environment in 1990. Heseltine held that post until 1992. He was secretary of state for trade and industry from 1992 to 1995, when Major appointed him deputy prime minister. Heseltine served in the House of Commons from 1966 until he retired in 2001. Queen Elizabeth II awarded him a life peerage in 2001. He became Baron Heseltine of Thenford and began to sit in the House of Lords.
