First Ladies of the UK Trivia Quiz

Answer: John Major

John Major succeeded Margaret Thatcher, both as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party in November 1990. He remained in power until May 1997 when the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair, swept to power in the general election. Norma Johnson was born with the surname Wagstaff but took her mother's maiden name after her father died in a motorcycle accident.

She married Major in 1970, with whom she had a son and daughter. She kept a low profile whilst at 10 Downing Street, but was created a Dame by the Queen in 1999 for her charity work.

Answer: James Callaghan

Jim Callaghan succeeded Harold Wilson as both leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister in April 1976, remaining in power until being defeated by Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives at the May 1979 general election. Audrey Moulton married Callaghan in 1938 when she was already a member of the Labour Party.

She later became a Labour councillor in London before devoting her later years to charity work. The Callaghans had two daughters and a son.

Answer: William Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone, a Liberal, served four separate terms as Prime Minister between 1868 and 1894. He eventually resigned the position at the age of 84. Catherine Glynne, the daughter of a Baronet, married Gladstone in 1839. They had eight children, and, apart from being a wife and mother, devoted much of her life to charitable causes.

Answer: David Cameron

David Cameron was elected leader of the Conservative Party in December, 2005, and became Prime Minister following the general election of May, 2010. He resigned in 2016 following the "Brexit" referendum. Samantha Sheffield, daughter of a Baronet, married Cameron in June, 1996, and had two daughters and two sons with him.

She worked in the fashion industry prior to moving into Downing Street, thereafter devoting her time to being a mother and supporting various charities.

Answer: Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson was elected leader of the Labour Party in 1963 following the death of Hugh Gaitskell. He served two terms as Prime Minister, between 1964 and 1976. Mary Baldwin married Wilson in 1940, with whom she had two sons. She died in 2018 at the age of 102, the first spouse of a Prime Minister to live to at least 100.

Answer: Harold Macmillan

Harold Macmillan became Conservative Party leader, and Prime Minister, in January, 1957, following the resignation of Anthony Eden. He resigned as an indirect result of the Profumo Scandal in October, 1963. Dorothy Cavendish was a daughter of the Duke of Cavendish, and married Macmillan in 1920. The couple had three daughters and one son together.

Answer: Tony Blair

Tony Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party in 1994 following the sudden death of John Smith. He led them to their first general election success since 1974 in May, 1997. Cherie Booth was the daughter of actor Tony Booth who had found fame in the 1960s/70s as the son-in-law of Alf Garnett in the sitcom "Til Death Us Do Part". Cherie, who married Blair in 1980, had a successful career as a lawyer.

The couple had one daughter and three sons, the youngest of whom, Leo, was the first child born to a serving UK Prime Minister since 1849.

Answer: Benjamin Disraeli

Benjamin Disraeli was elected leader of the Conservative Party, and Prime Minister, in 1868. He served two terms as PM, the second one ending in 1880. He was defeated by William Gladstone on both occasions. Mary Anne Evans married Disraeli in 1839; she was 12 years his senior, and the couple did not have any children. In 1868, she was bestowed with the title Viscountess Beaconsfield.

Answer: Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown served under Tony Blair as Chancellor of the Exchequer for ten years before succeeding him as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister in 2007. He stood down as party leader following their defeat at the 2010 general election. Sarah Macaulay married Brown in 2000; they had three children, a daughter (who sadly only lived for a few days) and two sons. Prior to her marriage, she founded the PR firm Hobsbawm Macaulay.

Answer: Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill served two terms a Prime Minister, the first during World War 2, and a second term between 1951-55. Originally a member of the Conseravtive Party, he joined the Liberals in 1904 but rejoined the Conservatives in 1924. Clementine Hozier married Churchill in 1908, and they had four daughters and one son together. Following Winston's death in 1965, she was created a life peer as Baroness Spencer-Churchill of Chartwell.