Young, Janet (1926–2002)

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Young, Janet (1926–2002)

British politician. Name variations: Baroness Young. Born Oct 23, 1926; died Sept 6, 2002; educated at Oxford University; m. Geoffrey Young; children: 3.

Was member of Oxford City Council (1957–72) and leader of Conservative Group; was offered life peerage (1971) and became first conservative woman to be Whip in House of Lords (1972); was under-secretary of State for Education (1973–74) and vice-chair of Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher; became Cabinet minister of State in Department of Education and Science, the 1st female leader of the House of Lords (1981–83), and minister of State for Foreign Commonwealth office (1983–87).