Gordon Brown

Scottish Member of Parliament, Chancellor of the Exchequer for ten years under Tony Blair before becoming British Prime Minister on June 27, 2007. In the mid-1990s, he wanted to be the next Labour Leader but was upstaged in 1997 by his friend and former roommate, Tony Blair. They initially worked well together to define their new Labour party, with Brown writing some of Blair's early campaign speeches and working as the junior partner. The second of three boys whose dad was a minister, young Gordon formed political opinions early, having been influenced by the poverty he witnessed on the streets of Glasgow as he was growing up. Naturally athletic, he was an avid player of football. A head kick during a rugby game resulted in four surgeries and loss of sight in his left eye. During recovery he spent a lot of time listening to the radio, following political developments, and firming up his views. Brown entered Edinburgh University at the age of 16 and graduated when he was 21, subsequently earning his doctorate degree. His began his career in education, first as Rector of Edinburgh University and then lecturer for that institution and Caledonian University. He followed up with a short stint as a Scottish TV researcher from 1980-1983. In 1983 he made his second bid for a seat in Parliament, this time successfully. He has remained in politics ever since, representing his Scottish constituencies. In 1997 he rose to the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Labour Party Government when Tony Blair became Prime Minister. He is seen as somewhat bookish, in command of statistics to support his ideas, tough-minded, sometimes moody and introspective. With his “savage wit” and brilliant speeches, he has been known to flay his opponents.. His detractors have accused him of being a control freak, who doesn’t bother to listen to others and runs the Treasury with "Stalinist ruthlessness.” His relationship with Tony Blair deteriorated somewhat, ostensibly over policies, but back room pundits have presumed that Brown has resented Blair’s long stay in the Prime Minister’s office. Nevertheless, Brown has been careful to support Blair’s policies publicly while leaving room for change, and Blair endorsed Brown’s nomination for the Labour Party leadership in 2007. Brown married Sarah Macaulay on August 3, 2000 in North Queensferry, Fife. The first years of their marriage have witnessed unspeakable pain along with great joy. Their daughter Jennifer Jane Brown was born at 12:16 PM GMT on December 28, 2001 at Forth Park Hospital in Kirkaldy, Fife. The infant, born seven weeks prematurely, weighed less than two and one half pounds at birth. Just ten days later, she suffered a brain hemorrhage and died on January 7, 2002 at 5:20 PM GMT in Edinburgh. The couple’s first son John came along on October 17, 2003 at 9:28 AM BST in Edinburgh, Scotland. Less than one year later, Brown's mother died in Aberdeen on September 19, 2004 (his father had died in 1998). The Browns welcomed their second son on July 17, 2006 at 9 AM in Edinburgh according to the parents’ announcement; shortly afterward the child, named James Fraser Vaughan Brown, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Fulfilling his ambition, Brown became Prime Minister on June 27, 2007, when the Queen asked him to form a new government. He happily complied. BBC News reported that he arrived at Buckingham Palace at 13:51 (1:51 PM) BST and left the Palace at 1448 BST (2:48 PM) after talking with the Queen for 55 minutes. After the elections held on May 7, 2010 resulted in no clear majority, Brown announced his intention to step down. Brown's rivals, Nicolas Clegg and David Cameron formed a coalition and Cameron was named the new Prime Minister on May 11, 2010.. Link to Wikipedia biography Link to Astrodienst discussion forum