Chris Patten was born in 1944 and educated at St Benedict's
School, Ealing and Balliol College Oxford. He was Director of the
Conservative Research Department (1974-79), MP for Bath (1979-92),
a Minister (1983-92), and Chairman of the Conservative Party
(1990-92).
From 1992-97 he was Governor of Hong Kong; and from 1998-99
Chairman of the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern
Ireland. He was European Commissioner for External Affairs
(1999-2004).
He was made a Companion of Honour in 1998, and a Life Peer in
2005. He has written 'The Tory Case', 'East and West', 'Not Quite
The Diplomat' and 'What Next? - Surviving the 21st Century'.
Lord Patten is Chancellor of the University of Oxford, co-chair
of the International Crisis Group, and is a board member of
Bridgepoint, Russell Reynolds and EDF.
(Photograph © Phil Sayer)
