Tony Blair

On 29 March 1980, Blair married Cherie Booth and the couple has four children.

Blair, who was an Anglican, converted to the Catholicism in secret. This information was revealed on December 22, 2007.

In 2010, his memoir titled, ‘A Journey’ was published; it is one of the fastest-selling autobiographies of all times.

Tony Blair was born to Leo and Hazel Blair and was raised in Durham, England, where he attended ‘The Chorister School’ from 1961 to 1966.

His father was a famous attorney who ran for the parliament as a Tory in 1963, but, after suffering a serious stroke he became mute and had to abandon his political dreams. This drove his family into financial difficulties and Tony who was only 10, gradually learned to live through hardships.

After completing school, he attended the Fettes College, Edinburgh, where he used to perform rock music, taking inspiration from the great musician Mick Jagger. He left Fettes and went to the St John's College, Oxford, to study Law, where he joined the college rock band, ‘Ugly Rumors’.

At Oxford, his association with Peter Thompson, a fellow student and priest, influenced and shaped Blair’s political and religious outlook. His interest in the political affairs germinated and he decided to actively participate in politics.

After completing his graduation in 1975, he entered ‘Lincoln's Inn’, where he joined as an apprentice under Lord Chancellor, Alexander Irvine.

He stepped into the world of politics by joining the Labour Party and in 1982 he was chosen to represent the party in the parliament for Beaconsfield District. Although he lost his first election, he was nevertheless seen as a potential candidate. In 1983, he won the election, earning a seat in the parliament representing Sedgefield District.

After his election, his hard work and dedication towards the party continued to impress the party members which fuelled his political growth and propelled his rise. In 1984, he was appointed as the assistant Treasury spokesman.

As the Treasury spokesman, one of his primary moves was opposing the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher. In 1987, he was promoted to the position of spokesman of the Trade and Industry.

In 1988, he was made the Shadow Secretary of Energy by the Shadow ministry. The Shadow ministry or cabinet is an alternative cabinet comprising members from the opposition who keep a close eye on the policies and actions of the government.

Later, when Neil Kinnock, the leader of the opposition, resigned in 1992, Blair was made the Shadow Home Secretary serving under John Smith, the newly elected leader of the party.

In 1994, John Smith died unexpectedly of a cardiac arrest, and Blair was elected as the Leader of the Opposition and was also appointed to the Privy Council.

Following his election as the leader of the Labour party in the parliament, he proposed several policies pertaining to taxation, crimes and education, along with various other reformative measures. In 1996, in one of Labour Party’s conference he mentioned that ‘education, education, and education’, were his top three priorities.