Leon Brittan

The Right Honourable The Lord Brittan of Spennithorne PC QC DL
Brittan in 1996
Vice-President of the European Commission
In office 16 March 1999 – 15 September 1999
President	Manuel Marín (acting)
Preceded by	Manuel Marín
Succeeded by	Neil Kinnock
European Commission 1989–1999 European Commissioner for External Relations In office 23 January 1995 – 15 September 1999 President Jacques Santer Manuel Marín (acting) Preceded by Frans Andriessen Succeeded by The Lord Patten of Barnes European Commissioner for Trade In office 6 January 1993 – 15 September 1999 President Jacques Delors Jacques Santer Manuel Marín (acting) Preceded by Frans Andriessen Succeeded by Pascal Lamy European Commissioner for Competition In office 6 January 1989 – 6 January 1993 President Jacques Delors Preceded by Peter Sutherland Succeeded by Karel Van Miert
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
In office 2 September 1985 – 24 January 1986
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	Norman Tebbit
Succeeded by	Paul Channon
Secretary of State for the Home Department
In office 11 June 1983 – 2 September 1985
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	William Whitelaw
Succeeded by	Douglas Hurd
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office 5 January 1981 – 11 June 1983
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	John Biffen
Succeeded by	Peter Rees
Minister of State for Home Affairs
In office 4 May 1979 – 5 January 1981
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	The Lord Boston of Faversham
Succeeded by	Patrick Mayhew
Member of Parliament for Richmond (Yorks)
In office 9 June 1983 – 31 December 1988
Preceded by	Timothy Kitson
Succeeded by	William Hague
Member of Parliament for Cleveland and Whitby
In office 28 February 1974 – 13 May 1983
Preceded by	James Tinn
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	Leon Brittan (1939-09-25)25 September 1939 London, England
Died	21 January 2015(2015-01-21) (aged 75) London, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Diana Peterson ​ (m. 1980)​ [1]
Children	2
Relatives	Samuel Brittan (brother)
Education	Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge Yale University
Profession	Barrister
Awards	Knight Bachelor (1989)

Leon Brittan, Baron Brittan of Spennithorne, PC, QC, DL (25 September 1939 – 21 January 2015) was a British Conservative politician and barrister who served as a European Commissioner from 1989 to 1999. As a member of Parliament from 1974 to 1988, he served several ministerial roles in Margaret Thatcher's government, including Home Secretary from 1983 to 1985.