Hurd, Douglas Richard Hurd, Baron 1930-
English Conservative politician

He was born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, the son of Baron Hurd, and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge before joining the diplomatic service in 1952. After posts in Peking (Beijing), New York and Rome, he joined the Conservative Party research department in 1966. Moving into active politics, he became private and then political secretary to Edward Heath (1968-74). As MP for Mid-Oxon (1974-83) then Witney (1983-97), he held junior posts in Margaret Thatcher's government (1979-84). Resignations by senior Cabinet Ministers made Hurd's progress rapid, from Northern Ireland Secretary (1984-85) to Home Secretary in 1985 and, unexpectedly, Foreign Secretary (1989-95). He was unsuccessful in the leadership contest following Thatcher's resignation (1990). After leaving the Cabinet he turned to writing political thrillers and was awarded a life peerage in 1997.