(1916–)
a British Conservative politician who became leader of the Conservative Party in 1965 and later Prime Minister (1970–4). He is mainly remembered for taking Britain into the European Union in 1973. Faced with economic problems and strikes, he called a general election in 1974, which the Conservatives lost. In 1975 he was replaced as party leader by Margaret Thatcher . He remains a firm supporter of the European Union. He was made a knight in 1992.