Leonard James Callaghan, 1st Baron Callaghan of Cardiff (1912-2005)

Leonard James Callaghan, 1st Baron Callaghan of Cardiff (27 March 1912 - 26 March 2005) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979, as well as serving in other governmental offices.

 Birth and Family 

Leonard James Callaghan was born on the 27th March 1912 at 38 Funtington Road, Copnor; the second child and only son of James Garoghan (1887-1921) (Callaghan's surname differing from his father's due to a family name change that occured before he was born) and his wife Charlotte Gertrude Cundy (1879-1961). Callaghan had an elder sister: Dorothy Gertrude M Callaghan (1904-1982).

 Career 

Callaghan worked at inland revenue for years after completing his education until the outbreak of the Second World War; in which he served in the Royal Navy as a lieutenant. After the war, Callaghan became the Labour MP for Cardiff South in 1945; a position which led him to become popular with fellow MP's and also granted him higher positions in government (eg. Parliamentary Advisor to the Police Federation).

However, in 1964, Callaghan was made Chancellor of the Exchequer (a position which he held for three years) after the general election; which was followed by him becoming Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and the Leader of the Labour Party. As a result of his promotion to the latter, Callaghan was elected Prime Minister in 1976 as the eldest person to be elected to the position since Winston Churchill.

Callaghan served as Prime Minister for four years until his resignation in 1980; where he was succeeded in the position by Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher.

 Marriage and Issue 

Callaghan married Audrey Elizabeth Moulton (1913-2005), daughter of Frank Moulton (1887-1956) and Clara Kempton (1881-1961), in September 1938 in Maidstone. The marriage produced three children: Margaret Ann Callaghan (1939), Julie E Callaghan (1943) and Michael J Callaghan (1946).

 Death 

Callaghan died on the 27th March 2005 at his home in Rignor at the age of 92, merely eleven days after the death of his wife; thus making him the longest living Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to date.