The Lord Patten of Barnes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Official portrait, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chancellor of the University of Oxford | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 20 September 2003 – 31 July 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vice-Chancellor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | The Lord Jenkins of Hillhead | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Commissioner for External Relations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 16 September 1999 – 22 November 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nominated by | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Leon Brittan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Benita Ferrero-Waldner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
28th Governor of Hong Kong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 9 July 1992 [1] – 30 June 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarch | Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Secretary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | David Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Tung Chee-hwa (as Chief Executive) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman of the Conservative Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 28 November 1990 – 11 May 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | John Major | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Kenneth Baker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Norman Fowler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chairman of the BBC Trust | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 1 May 2011 – 6 May 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Sir Michael Lyons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Diane Coyle (Acting) Rona Fairhead, Baroness Fairhead | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Christopher Francis Patten 12 May 1944 Cleveleys, Lancashire, England[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Lavender Thornton (m. 1971) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 3, including Alice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | St Benedict's School, Ealing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford (BA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards |
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Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 彭定康 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, KG, CH, PC (Chinese: 彭定康;[3] born 12 May 1944), is a British politician who was the 28th and last Governor of Hong Kong from 1992 to 1997 and Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1992. He was made a life peer in 2005 and served as Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 2003 to 2024. He is one of two living former governors of Hong Kong, alongside David Wilson.
Patten was born in Thornton Cleveleys in Lancashire and subsequently raised in west London. He studied history at Balliol College, Oxford, and, after graduating in 1965, he began working for the Conservative Party.
Patten was elected Member of Parliament for Bath in 1979. He was appointed Secretary of State for the Environment by Margaret Thatcher in 1989 as part of her third ministry, becoming responsible for implementation of the unpopular poll tax. On John Major's succession as Prime Minister in 1990, Patten became Chairman of the Conservative Party and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. As party chairman, he successfully orchestrated a surprise Conservative electoral victory in 1992, but lost his own seat.
Patten was then appointed the last governor of Hong Kong, to oversee the final years of British administration in the colony and prepare for its transfer to China in 1997. During his tenure, his government significantly expanded the territory's social welfare programmes and introduced democratic reforms to the electoral system.[4]
Following his governorship, Patten led the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, a major implementation step of the Northern Ireland peace process pursuant to the Good Friday Agreement from 1998 to 1999. He was European Commissioner for External Relations from 1999 to 2004 and Chairman of the BBC Trust from 2011 to 2014.
John Tepper Marlin Lord Patten
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