George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie

George Kenneth Hotson Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie (September 22, 1931–January 26, 2003), known to many as "Gentleman George", was a British politician whose long career as Conservative MP for Ayr (1964–1992) included periods as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1979 to 1986, and Secretary of State for Defence from 1986 to 1989.

Political career

He was initially selected to stand for the Perth and Kinross seat in a by-election in late 1963, but agreed to stand aside to allow the new Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home the chance to enter Parliament. Following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather the 1st Viscount, Younger became Member of Parliament for Ayr in 1964. A summary of his political career follows:

Related Topics:
Perth and Kinross - 1963 - Alec Douglas-Home - Member of Parliament - Ayr - 1964

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• 1965–1967: Scottish Conservative Whip
• 1967–1970: Deputy-Chairman of the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Association
• 1970–1974: Parliamentary Under Secretary, Scottish Office
• 1974: Minister of State for Defence
• 1974–1976: Chairman of the Conservative Party of Scotland (having been Deputy Chairman from 1967 to 1970)
• 1979–1986: Secretary of State for Scotland
• 1986–1989: Secretary of State for Defence
• 1987–1988: President of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations

He succeeded Michael Heseltine as Secretary of State for Defence when Heseltine resigned from the cabinet over a dispute about helicopters known as the Westland crisis.

Related Topics:
Michael Heseltine - Helicopter - Westland crisis

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