Jeffrey Archer

Jeffrey Archer’s career began with early life experiences in London and Weston-super-Mare. Born Jeffrey Howard Archer on April 15, 1940, in London, he spent his formative years in Somerset. He attended Wellington School, Somerset, and later the University of Oxford Delegacy of Extra-Mural Studies, where he studied for a Diploma of Education. At Oxford, he was notable for his athletic achievements, including sprinting and hurdling, and became president of the Oxford University Athletic Club in 1965/6. During this period, he also engaged in charity fundraising, notably for Oxfam, securing support from The Beatles for a fundraising drive.

Archer’s political career started as a Conservative councillor for Havering on the Greater London Council from 1967 to 1970. He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Louth, Lincolnshire, in a 1969 by-election. However, his political tenure faced challenges, including a financial scandal in 1974 involving a fraudulent investment scheme that left him significantly in debt, leading to his decision not to seek re-election. He later made a return to politics as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party from 1985 to 1986, appointed by Margaret Thatcher. This role ended with his resignation following a newspaper report accusing him of paying money to a prostitute, an accusation he later successfully sued the Daily Star over for libel. He was made a life peer in 1992 as Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare and was selected as a candidate for mayor of London in 1999, withdrawing after allegations of perjury in his 1987 libel case resurfaced. He was subsequently convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001, serving a prison sentence.

Following his financial difficulties and exit from parliamentary politics, Archer embarked on a successful writing career. His first novel, “Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less,” published in 1976, marked the beginning of his literary success. His 1979 novel “Kane and Abel” became a global bestseller, selling an estimated 34 million copies worldwide and was later adapted into a television mini-series by CBS in 1985. Other notable works include “First Among Equals” (1984), adapted into a 10-part TV series, and “The Clifton Chronicles” series (2011-2016). His books have collectively sold over 320 million copies worldwide. During his imprisonment, he wrote the three-volume memoir “A Prison Diary,” and his experiences inspired short stories in “Cat O’ Nine Tales.” He continues to write, with his ongoing William Warwick series and recent statements about a final novel.