Eden, Sir Anthony (1897-1977), Earl of Avon, succeeded Sir Winston Churchill as prime minister of the United Kingdom. He served in the post from April 1955 to January 1957. Eden was the leader of the British Conservative Party during that time. He was largely responsible for the United Kingdom’s decision to join France in attempting to seize the Suez Canal in October 1956 after the Egyptian government had nationalized (taken control of) it in July. He was criticized greatly for this. Under United Nations pressure, a cease-fire was quickly arranged (see Suez crisis). Eden resigned soon afterward.
Robert Anthony Eden was born on June 12, 1897, in Durham, England. He was one of five children born to Sir William Eden and Sybil Frances Grey. Young Anthony studied at Eton and Christ Church College, Oxford. During World War I (1914-1918), he fought in France and was awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service. Eden entered Parliament in 1923 as representative for Warwick and Leamington in the House of Commons. He became the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary in 1935. However, he resigned in 1938 because he disagreed with the way in which Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain yielded to the demands of dictators Adolf Hitler of Germany and Benito Mussolini of Italy. Eden returned as foreign secretary from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. He received the title Earl of Avon in 1961. Eden married twice and had two sons. He died on Jan. 14, 1977, in Alvediston, Wiltshire.
