John Patten, Baron Patten
| The Right Honourable The Lord Patten PC | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of State for Education | |
| In office 10 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Prime Minister | John Major |
| Preceded by | Kenneth Clarke (Education and Science) |
| Succeeded by | Gillian Shephard |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | |
| In office 13 June 1987 – 10 April 1992 | |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher John Major |
| Preceded by | David Mellor |
| Succeeded by | Michael Jack |
| Minister of State for Housing | |
| In office 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987 | |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | Ian Gow |
| Succeeded by | The Hon. William Waldegrave |
| Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon Oxford (1979–1983) | |
| In office 3 May 1979 – 8 April 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Evan Luard |
| Succeeded by | Evan Harris |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Lord Temporal | |
| Life peerage 17 June 1997 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1945 |
| Party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Louise Rowe (m. 1978) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge |
John Haggitt Charles Patten, Baron Patten, PC (born 17 July 1945) is a British politician. He was formerly Conservative Member of Parliament for Oxford and subsequently for Oxford West and Abingdon.
Early life
A Roman Catholic, he was educated by the Jesuits at Wimbledon College before graduating from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Patten then moved to the University of Oxford, working as a Geography Fellow, and taught political geography to former UK Prime Minister Theresa May while she was a student at St Hugh's College, Oxford.[1][2]
Parliamentary career
He was first elected for Oxford in 1979, transferring to Oxford West and Abingdon in 1983 after boundary changes divided the seat. He stood down at the 1997 general election. The seat was subsequently won by the Liberal Democrat Evan Harris.
Patten was offered the role of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by Margaret Thatcher, but refused.[3]
Patten served as Secretary of State for Education from 1992 to 1994. He was interviewed at some length by Brian Sherratt in 1994 regarding his role as Secretary of State.[4] While he was Education Secretary, Patten described Birmingham education chief Tim Brighouse as "a madman... wandering the streets, frightening the children." Brighouse sued, and won substantial damages which were donated to educational charities.[5]
House of Lords
Patten was created a life peer as Baron Patten of Wincanton in the County of Somerset on 17 June 1997.[6] In 2013, Patten voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.
 
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Crest Rising from a mount Vert a buzzard Sable grasping in the dexter claws a long cross Or. Escutcheon Vert a chief per fess Vert and vairy Argent and Sable. Supporters On either side a horse Sable langued Vert standing upon a compartment of grass Vert growing therefrom two Madonna lilies slipped and leaved Proper. Motto Curriculum Curre (Run The Race)[7] |
Family
He is married to the businesswoman Louise Patten, whom he taught at St Hugh's College, Oxford,[8] and they have one daughter, Mary-Claire, married to Daniel Lloyd Johnson of Essex.[9]
Other work
He was on the governing body of Abingdon School from 1983 to 1986.[10] He has been a senior advisor to Charterhouse Capital Partners since 2001.[11]
References
- Back to citation Mendick, Robert (16 July 2016). "Theresa May: the highest achiever of all in the starry, Oxford University geography class of '74". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- Back to citation Brennan, Zoe (2 August 2016). "Theresa May, the thinking woman's woman". The Spectator. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- Back to citation Michael White (22 August 2012). "David Cameron's cabinet reshuffle: gossip, guesswork and predictions". The Guardian.
- Back to citation Ribbins, P. and Sherratt, B., Radical Educational Policies and Conservative Secretaries of State, Cassell, 1997, pp. 168–199
- Back to citation Wilby, Peter, "The secrets of Saint Tim", The Guardian, 24 April 2007
- Back to citation "No. 54812". The London Gazette. 20 June 1997. p. 7187.
- Back to citation Debrett's Peerage. 2008.
- Back to citation Mendick, Robert (16 July 2016). "Theresa May: the highest achiever of all in the starry, Oxford University geography class of '74". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- Back to citation Louise Patten, Evening Standard, 27 August 2009
- Back to citation "The Liberator" (PDF). The Abingdonian.
- Back to citation "Lord John Patten". Charterhouse Capital Partners.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John Patten