John Major

John Major in 1996, National Archives and Records Administration, Attributed to PFC Tracey L. Hall-Leahy

Place of Birth: Surrey Mid Eastern, Surrey, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 29 March, 1943

Ethnicity: English, as well as one eighth Irish, likely one eighth Welsh

John Major is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, from 28 November, 1990 to 2 May, 1997. He was also a Member of Parliament for Huntingdon/Huntingdonshire, from 3 May, 1979 to 14 May, 2001, Chancellor of the Exchequer, from 26 October, 1989 to 28 November, 1990, Leader of the Conservative Party, from 27 November, 1990 to 19 June, 1997, and Leader of the Opposition, from 2 May, 1997 to 19 June, 1997, among other duties.

Prime Minister Major is the son of Gwendolyn/Gwendolen Minny/Minnie (Coates) and Tom Major-Ball (born Abraham Thomas Ball), who was a music hall performer and circus artiste.

Prime Minister Major’s paternal grandfather was Abraham Ball (the son of John Ball and Caroline Smith). Prime Minister Major’s great-grandfather John was the son of Joseph Ball and Ann Bournes. Caroline was the daughter of Francis Smith and Mary.

Prime Minister Major’s paternal grandmother was Sarah Ann O’Marrah/Marrah (the daughter of Thomas Leeson Marrah/vel O’Marrah and Margaret Thomas). Thomas was Irish. Margaret was likely of Welsh ancestry, and was the daughter of Peter Thomas and Margaret.

Prime Minister Major’s maternal grandfather was Harry Sewell Coates (the son of David Coates and Emma Sewell). David was the son of David Coates and Sarah Brocklesbury/Brocklesby. Emma was the daughter of Jonas Sewell and Eliza Mills.

Prime Minister Major’s maternal grandmother was Ada Florence Moore (the daughter of William Moore and Lucy Anne/Ann Crust). William was the son of William Moore and Rebecca Tasker. Lucy was the daughter of Samuel Richard Crust and Lucy Palmer.

Prime Minister Major is a fifth cousin, once removed, of his immediate predecessor as British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. His five times maternal great-grandparents, John Crust and Elizabeth Coxon, from West Keal, Lincolnshire, were also the four times maternal great-grandparents of Margaret Thatcher.

Sources: Genealogies of Prime Minister John Major – http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://www.edwardjdavies.info

Information about Prime Minister Major’s ancestry – Edward J. Davies, “The Ancestry of Sir John Major”, Genealogists’ Magazine

Relationship between Prime Ministers Major and Margaret Thatcher – http://www.independent.co.uk