Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom (1721–2026): Complete List, Timeline and Key Facts

Prime Minister office is the one of the most influential political positions in the world and United Kingdom has produced the some of the history’s most important leaders. From pioneering leadership of the Robert Walpole in the year 1721 to the former PM tenure of Keir Starmer, all the British prime ministers have guided the nation with the times like wars, industrial revolutions, imperial expansion, economic transformations and global challenges.

Since the year 1721, total 58 individuals served as the Prime Minister of the country across the 79 separate terms. This role has evolved the significantly over the three centuries and it showcases the changes in the Britain’s political system and the its position in world affairs.

So, Let’s visit the complete list of the UK Prime Ministers from 1721 to 2026, along with the key historical milestones and some interesting facts.

Who Was the First Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

Although this position was not formally defined at that time, Robert Walpole is widely recognized as the Britain’s first Prime Minister.

He served from 1721 to 1742 and he established many of the conventions which continue to shape the office in today’s time.

Long tenure of Walpole has helped to strengthen the parliamentary government and he laid the foundation for the modern British political system.

Evolution of the United Kingdom and Its Prime Ministers

The history of the British prime ministers can be divided into three major periods such as,

Kingdom of Great Britain (1721-1800)

This period followed the union of the England and Scotland and it witnessed the emergence of the Prime Minister’s office as the central institution of government.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801-1921)

The Act of Union 1801 was created a new political entity and bringing the Ireland formally into the United Kingdom.

There were several influential leaders including William Pitt the Younger, Benjamin Disraeli and William Ewart Gladstone has served during this era.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1922-2026)

After the establishment of the Irish Free State in the year 1922, the modern United Kingdom has emerged. This period saw leaders such as the Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair shape the contemporary Britain.

Complete List of Prime Ministers of Great Britain (1721-1800)

Sr. No	Prime Minister Name	Party	Term
1	Robert Walpole	Whig	1721–1742
2	Spencer Compton,	Earl of Wilmington Whig	1742–1743
3	Henry Pelham	Whig	1743–1754
4	Duke of Newcastle (1st Term)	Whig	1754–1756
5	Duke of Devonshire	Whig	1756–1757
6	Duke of Newcastle (2nd Term)	Whig	1757–1762
7	Earl of Bute	Tory	1762–1763
8	George Grenville	Whig	1763–1765
9	Marquess of Rockingham (1st Term)	Whig	1765–1766
10	William Pitt the Elder	Whig	1766–1768
11	Duke of Grafton	Whig	1768–1770
12	Lord North	Tory	1770–1782
13	Marquess of Rockingham (2nd Term)	Whig	1782
14	Earl of Shelburne	Whig	1782–1783
15	Duke of Portland (1st Term)	Whig	1783
16	William Pitt the Younger (1st Term)	Tory	1783–1801

Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1921)

The nineteenth century has witnessed the major constitutional reforms, industrialization and the expansion of the British Empire.

Notable leaders during this era included such as,

• Spencer Perceval
• Robert Peel
• Benjamin Disraeli
• William Ewart Gladstone
• David Lloyd George

Total of 36 prime ministerial terms were served during this period and it shaped the Britain’s rise as the global power.

Sr. No	Prime Minister Name	Party	Term
17	Henry Addington	Tory	1801–1804
18	William Pitt the Younger	Tory	1804–1806
19	Lord Grenville	Whig	1806–1807
20	Duke of Portland	Tory	1807–1809
21	Spencer Perceval	Tory	1809–1812
22	Earl of Liverpool	Tory	1812–1827
23	George Canning	Tory	1827
24	Viscount Goderich	Tory	1827–1828
25	Duke of Wellington	Tory	1828–1830
26	Earl Grey	Whig	1830–1834
27	Viscount Melbourne	Whig	1834
28	Sir Robert Peel	Conservative	1834–1835
29	Viscount Melbourne	Whig	1835–1841
30	Sir Robert Peel	Conservative	1841–1846
31	Lord John Russell	Whig	1846–1852
32	Earl of Derby	Conservative	1852
33	Earl of Aberdeen	Peelite	1852–1855
34	Viscount Palmerston	Liberal	1855–1858
35	Earl of Derby	Conservative	1858–1859
36	Viscount Palmerston	Liberal	1859–1865
37	Earl Russell	Liberal	1865–1866
38	Earl of Derby	Conservative	1866–1868
39	Benjamin Disraeli	Conservative	1868
40	W. E. Gladstone	Liberal	1868–1874
41	Benjamin Disraeli	Conservative	1874–1880
42	W. E. Gladstone	Liberal	1880–1885
43	Marquess of Salisbury	Conservative	1885–1886
44	W. E. Gladstone	Liberal	1886
45	Marquess of Salisbury	Conservative	1886–1892
46	W. E. Gladstone	Liberal	1892–1894
47	Earl of Rosebery	Liberal	1894–1895
48	Marquess of Salisbury	Conservative	1895–1902
49	Arthur Balfour	Conservative	1902–1905
50	Henry Campbell-Bannerman	Liberal	1905–1908
51	H. H. Asquith	Liberal	1908–1916
52	David Lloyd	Liberal	1916–1922

Prime Ministers of the Modern United Kingdom (1922–2026)

The modern era has seen the Britain as to navigate the world wars, decolonization, economic reforms, European integration, Brexit and changing global geopolitics.

Sr. No	Prime Minister Name	Party	Term
53	Andrew Bonar Law	Conservative	1922–1923
54	Stanley Baldwin (1st)	Conservative	1923–1924
55	Ramsay MacDonald (1st)	Labour	1924
56	Stanley Baldwin (2nd)	Conservative	1924–1929
57	Ramsay MacDonald (2nd)	Labour/National Labour	1929–1935
58	Stanley Baldwin (3rd)	Conservative	1935–1937
59	Neville Chamberlain	Conservative	1937–1940
60	Winston Churchill (1st)	Conservative/Coalition	1940–1945
61	Clement Attlee	Labour	1945–1951
62	Winston Churchill (2nd)	Conservative	1951–1955
63	Anthony Eden	Conservative	1955–1957
64	Harold Macmillan	Conservative	1957–1963
65	Alec Douglas-Home	ConservativeConservative	1963–1964
66	Harold Wilson (1st)	Labour	1964–1970
67	Edward Heath	Conservative	1970–1974
68	Harold Wilson (2nd)	Labour	1974–1976
69	James Callaghan	Labour	1976–1979
70	Margaret Thatcher	Conservative	1979–1990
71	John Major	Conservative	1990–1997
72	Tony Blair	Labour	1997–2007
73	Gordon Brown	Labour	2007–2010
74	David Cameron	Conservative	2010–2016
75	Theresa May	Conservative	2016–2019
76	Boris Johnson	Conservative	2019–2022
77	Liz Truss	Conservative	Sept–Oct 2022
78	Rishi Sunak	Conservative	2022–2024
79	Keir Starmer	Labour	2024–2026

Current Prime Minister of the UK in 2026

On 22nd June, 2026 Keir Starmer has resigned form the post of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He assumed the office after the Labour Party’s victory in the general election in the year 2024 and it ended the 14 year rule of the Conservative Party.

He will continue as Interim PM till the new Prime Minister takes the charge.

Interesting Facts About UK Prime Ministers

Robert Walpole was the Britain’s first Prime Minister

William Ewart Gladstone served as the Prime Minister four separate times which is more than any other individual.

Margaret Thatcher became the Britain’s first woman Prime Minister in the year 1979 and she served for the 11 years and making her as the longest-serving Prime Minister of the twentieth century.

PM Winston Churchill is remembered for his wartime leadership and his inspirational speeches during the Second World War.

Liz Truss served for just only 49 days and making her as the shortest-serving Prime Minister in the British history.