John Patten, Baron Patten

John Haggitt Charles Patten, Baron Patten, PC (born 17 July 1945) is a former Conservative Member of Parliament for Oxford (UK Parliament constituency) and Oxford West and Abingdon.

The Right Honourable
The Lord Patten
PC
Secretary of State for Education
In office
10 April 1992 – 20 July 1994
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Preceded byKenneth Clarke (Education and Science)
Succeeded byGillian Shephard
Minister of State for Home Affairs
In office
13 June 1987 – 10 April 1992
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
John Major
Preceded byDavid Mellor
Succeeded byMichael Jack
Minister of State for Housing
In office
2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byIan Gow
Succeeded byThe Hon. William Waldegrave
Member of Parliament
for Oxford West and Abingdon
Oxford (1979–1983)
In office
3 May 1979 – 8 April 1997
Preceded byEvan Luard
Succeeded byEvan Harris
Personal details
Born (1945-07-17) 17 July 1945
Political partyConservative
Alma materSidney Sussex College, Cambridge

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 as 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.

Coat of arms of John Patten, Baron Patten
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 who 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
  1. 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.
  2. Brennan, Zoe (2 August 2016). "Theresa May, the thinking woman's woman". The Spectator. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  3. Michael White (22 August 2012). "David Cameron's cabinet reshuffle: gossip, guesswork and predictions". The Guardian.
  4. Radical Educational Policies and Conservative Secretaries of State, Ribbins P and Sherratt B, Cassell, 1997, pp 168-199
  5. "The secrets of Saint Tim", The Guardian, 24 April 2007
  6. "No. 54812". The London Gazette. 20 June 1997. p. 7187.
  7. Debrett's Peerage. 2008.
  8. 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.
  9. Louise Patten Archived 26 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Evening Standard, 27 August 2009
  10. "The Liberator" (PDF). The Abingdonian.
  11. "Lord John Patten". Charterhouse Capital Partners.
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