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Definition: Major from The Macquarie Dictionary
1.

born 1943, British Conservative Party politician; prime minister 1990--97.

Major, John

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
British Conservative politician, prime minister 1990–97. He was foreign secretary in 1989 and chancellor of the Exchequer 1989–90. His low-key, consensus style of leadership contrasted sharply with his predecessor Margaret Thatcher . He launched a joint UK–Irish peace initiative on Northern Ireland in 1993, which led to a general ceasefire in 1994. His Back to Basics campaign to restore traditional values was undermined by a series of scandals involving Conservative ministers, and continuing party divisions led to his resigning as party leader in June 1995 to force a leadership vote, which he won narrowly. The Conservatives were heavily defeated in the 1997 general election, after which Major stepped down as party leader. In 2001 he retired from the House of Commons to pursue a career in business. Major's personal popularity and success in the 1991 US-led war against Iraq helped win the Conservatives another term in 1992. However in his second term Major faced mounting internal…
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Full text Article Major, John

From Philip's Encyclopedia
British statesman, prime minister (1990-97). Major entered Parliament in 1979. In 1989, Margaret Thatcher made him foreign secretary, then chancellor of the exchequer. Following Mrs Thatcher's resignation, Major emerged as her compromise successor. He moderated the excesses of Thatcherism; such as…
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1943–, British statesman, b. John Major Ball. Raised in a working-class area of London, he was elected to Lambeth borough council (1968–71) and entered Parliament as a Conservative in 1979. He became Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher 's chief secretary to the Treasury in 1987, foreign secretary in…
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Full text Article Major, John (1943 to )

From Chambers Dictionary of World History
British politician. He had a career in banking before becoming a Conservative MP in 1976. He rose to become Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was unexpectedly made Foreign Secretary in Margaret Thatcher 's cabinet reshuffle in 1989, and soon after replaced Nigel Lawson as Chancellor of the Exchequer. …
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English Conservative politician and Prime Minister (1990-7). He rose quickly under Margaret Thatcher to become Chancellor of the Exchequer on Lawson’s resignation (1989). After Thatcher’s downfall he became Prime Minister, and his government was reelected in 1992. I hope…to build a society of…
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Full text Article John Major (1943– )

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
He's Gallic. I think I am probably very English. I'm rather bad at all this self-analysis. Actually, I've given it up. I'm not exactly stiff upper lip or Princess Diana. Just English. Comparing and contrasting himself with Tony Blair after sharing a platform with him to campaign for a Yes vote in…
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Full text Article John Major 1943– 

From The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
British Conservative statesman, Prime Minister 1990–7 If the policy isn't hurting, it isn't working. on controlling inflation speech in Northampton, 27 October 1989; see political sayings and slogans Society needs to condemn a little more and understand a little less. interview with Mail on Sunday…
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Full text Article Major

From Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary Full text Article Biographical Names
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Full text Article POLITICIANS

From Collins Dictionary of Quotations
The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool all of the people all of the time. ADAMS, Franklin P. Nods and Becks (1944). [Of Lloyd George] He couldn’t see a belt without hitting below it. ASQUITH, Margot…
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Full text Article Major, John

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
(born March 29, 1943, London, Eng.) British politician and prime minister (1990–97). He was elected to the House of Commons as a member of the Conservative Party in 1979 and rose quickly through the party ranks. In 1989 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher appointed him foreign secretary and then…
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Full text Article Major, John.

From The Oxford Companion to British History
(b. 1943). Prime minister. Major entered the House of Commons in 1979 after a career in banking and during the next decade had a meteoric rise to power. His parliamentary career began in the whips’ office (1983–5) which clearly left its mark on him, and then in the Department of Health and Social…
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