Bill English

Birth Name: Simon William English

Place of Birth: Lumsden, Southland, New Zealand

Date of Birth: 30 December, 1961

Ethnicity: English, Irish

Bill English is a New Zealand politician. He was Prime Minister of New Zealand, from 12 December, 2016 to 26 October, 2017. He has served as Leader of the National Party, since 12 December, 2016, and Leader of the Opposition, since 26 October, 2017.

He was previously also Leader of the National Party, from 8 October, 2001 to 28 October, 2003. He has also been Minister of Finance, from 31 January, 1999 to 22 June, 1999, and again from 19 November, 2008 to 12 December, 2016, Treasurer of New Zealand, from 22 June, 1999 to 5 December, 1999, Leader of the Opposition (for the first time), from 8 October, 2001 to 28 October, 2003, Minister of Infrastructure, from 19 November, 2008 to 14 December, 2011, and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, from 19 November, 2008 to 12 December, 2016, among other duties.

Bill is the son of Norah (O’Brien) and Mervin Joseph English. He is married to Mary Scanlon, who is of Samoan and Italian descent. The couple has six children.

Bill’s paternal grandfather was James Patrick English (the son of Richard English and Mary Jane Casey). Richard was an Irish emigrant, from County Tipperary.

Bill’s paternal grandmother was Ethel Euphemia Crow (the daughter of Edmund Crow and Alice Maud Mary Moss). Edmund was the son of English emigrants, William Crow, of Polesworth, Warwickshire, and Julia Challenor, of Stafford, Staffordshire. Alice was born in Whichford, Warwickshire, England, the daughter of Edwin Moss and Alice Hall.

Bill’s maternal grandparents were surnamed O’Brien and Forde.

Sources: Genealogies of Bill English (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
https://www.myheritage.com

Article about Bill’s paternal ancestry – http://www.stuff.co.nz

1 Response

  1. Manila says:

    He has stepped down.

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