Key facts
- David Cameron was born on October 9, 1966.
- He is the first Etonian prime minister since the early 1960s.
- Cameron is a distant relative of the Queen.
- He is the youngest prime minister since the 2nd Earl of Liverpool in 1812, entering office at age 43.
- He studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University.
As David Cameron reaches his 60th birthday, a look back at his life and career reveals a figure who, despite projecting a modern image, shares traits with earlier Conservative leaders. Born on October 9, 1966, Cameron is the first former pupil of Eton College to become Prime Minister since the early 1960s and is distantly related to the Queen.
At 43, he became the youngest Prime Minister since the 2nd Earl of Liverpool in 1812, and was six months younger than Tony Blair when Blair took office in 1997. Like Blair, Cameron has a young family and a self-consciously modern political style, marked by a fondness for indie rock and a willingness to engage with the media. However, some associates recall him as a "slippery" and "ruthlessly ambitious" individual.
Cameron, who studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University, has spoken of a happy childhood, though one where complaining was discouraged. His father, Ian Cameron, a stockbroker, overcame significant physical challenges, and his mother, Mary, served as a Justice of the Peace for 30 years. Cameron attended Heatherdown preparatory school before going to Eton.