Michael Fallon | |||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Official portrait, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary of State for Defence | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 15 July 2014 – 1 November 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | David Cameron Theresa May | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Philip Hammond | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Gavin Williamson | ||||||||||||||||||||
Minister for Portsmouth | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 16 January 2014 – 15 July 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Matt Hancock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Minister of State for Energy | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 28 March 2013 – 15 July 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | John Hayes | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Matt Hancock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Minister of State for Business and Enterprise | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 4 September 2012 – 15 July 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Mark Prisk | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Matt Hancock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 4 September 2010 – 4 September 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | The Lord Ashcroft | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Sarah Newton | ||||||||||||||||||||
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 24 July 1990 – 14 April 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher John Major | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Robert Jackson | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Eric Forth | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lord Commissioner of the Treasury | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 10 May 1990 – 22 July 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Stephen Dorrell | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Greg Knight | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Michael Cathel Fallon 14 May 1952 Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Wendy Elisabeth Payne
(m. 1986) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Epsom College | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | University of St Andrews | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sir Michael Cathel Fallon KCB (born 14 May 1952) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 2014 to 2017. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Sevenoaks from 1997 to 2019, having previously served as MP for Darlington from 1983 to 1992.
Fallon attended the independent Epsom College and read Classics and Ancient History at the University of St Andrews. After university he joined the Conservative Research Department. Elected for Darlington at the 1983 general election, he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Science in 1990. He lost his seat as MP for Darlington at the 1992 general election.
Fallon re-entered Parliament at the 1997 general election as MP for Sevenoaks. He served as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2012, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise from 2012 to 2014, Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change from 2013 to 2014 and Minister for Portsmouth in 2014. In the 2014 cabinet reshuffle he was promoted to Secretary of State for Defence. He resigned from the post after being implicated in the 2017 Westminster sexual misconduct allegations.