Today in 1963, the Earl of Home arrived at 10 Downing Street after being elected to replace Harold Macmillan as leader of the Conservative Party. The former Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, had been battling illness for some time and announced his resignation at the Conservative Party conference less than a week previously. Four candidates emerged to take over: RAB Butler, Reginald Maudling, Lord Hailsham and Lord Home. The leadership battle became increasingly bitter, and split the party into two camps - one supporting Mr Butler, and another behind Mr Maudling. Lord Home, who had been foreign secretary in the Macmillan Government, was initially regarded as an outsider and was the only one of the four who expressed reluctance to take up the post. He also has a low public profile outside the House of Commons, but as the rivalry between the two camps became a bitter feud, Lord Home's name was increasingly mentioned as the compromise candidate.
Mr Macmillan's choice of a peer to succeed him as prime minister - the first to hold the office since 1895 - was highly controversial and was greeted with bewilderment by the supporters of RAB Butler, who was widely believed to have been the prime minister's favoured candidate. The press and the opposition also attacked Lord Home's aristocratic background and perceived lack of a public profile. Lord Home renounced his hereditary title soon afterwards and became Sir Alec Douglas-Home. He was prime minister for less than a year, making little impression before losing the General Election of 1964 to the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. When Sir Alec resigned as leader of the opposition in July 1965, his successor was chosen by a ballot of Conservative MPs for the first time. T he shadow Chancellor, Edward Heath, won. Sir Alec served as foreign secretary for Mr Heath in opposition and in government after 1970. He left the Commons before the October 1974 general election and was given a life peerage with the title, Baron Home of the Hirsel. He remained a prominent figure in the House of Lords until his death in October 1995.
