Nicholas Eden, 2nd Earl of Avon
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Eden, 2nd Earl of Avon (3 October 1930 – 17 August 1985), styled Viscount Eden between 1961 and 1977, was a British Conservative
politician and younger son of Prime Minister Anthony Eden
and his first wife, Beatrice
(née Beckett). He succeeded in the earldom on the death of his father in 1977, his elder brother Pilot Officer
Simon Gascoigne Eden having been killed in action in June 1945, while serving as a navigator
with the RAF
in Burma.
Lord Avon served under Margaret Thatcher
as a Lord-in-Waiting
from 1980 to 1983, as Under-Secretary of State for Energy from 1983 to 1984 and as Under-Secretary of State for the Environment from 1984 until shortly before his death from AIDS
the following year at the age of 54. Widely known to have been homosexual, Lord Avon was unmarried and his titles died with him. The character of Peter Morton in the film Peter's Friends
is loosely inspired by him.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and younger son of Prime Minister Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
and his first wife, Beatrice
Beatrice Beckett
Beatrice Helen Beckett was the first wife of the British statesman Anthony Eden.- Early life :She was the third daughter of Sir William Gervase Beckett, baronet , a banker, Conservative MP, and chairman of the Yorkshire Post, and his wife, the Honourable Mabel Theresa Duncombe...
(née Beckett). He succeeded in the earldom on the death of his father in 1977, his elder brother Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
Simon Gascoigne Eden having been killed in action in June 1945, while serving as a navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
with the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in Burma.
Lord Avon served under Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
as a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
from 1980 to 1983, as Under-Secretary of State for Energy from 1983 to 1984 and as Under-Secretary of State for the Environment from 1984 until shortly before his death from AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
the following year at the age of 54. Widely known to have been homosexual, Lord Avon was unmarried and his titles died with him. The character of Peter Morton in the film Peter's Friends
Peter's Friends
Peter's Friends is a 1992 British comedy-drama film written by Rita Rudner and her husband Martin Bergman, and directed and produced by Kenneth Branagh....
is loosely inspired by him.