# Roy Jenkins

> British politician (1920–2003)

**Wikidata**: [Q323488](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q323488)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Jenkins)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/roy-jenkins

## Summary
Roy Jenkins was a British politician who lived from 1920 to 2003. He is best known as a key figure associated with the Social Democratic Party and for his leadership of the Jenkins Commission within the European Commission from 1977 to 1981.

## Biography
- **Born:** November 11, 1920
- **Died:** January 5, 2003
- **Nationality:** United Kingdom (British)
- **Education:** Attended Balliol College, Oxford; University of Oxford; and Aneurin Bevan School.
- **Known for:** Serving as a British politician, author, and biographer; founding member of the Social Democratic Party; President of the European Commission.
- **Employer(s):** European Commission (Jenkins Commission).
- **Field(s):** Politics, Literature.

## Contributions
Roy Jenkins led the **Jenkins Commission**, which served as a college of the European Commission. This body was established on January 6, 1977, and operated until 1981. He was also instrumental in the political landscape of the United Kingdom as a leading figure in the **Social Democratic Party**, a political party that was founded on March 26, 1981, and remained active until 1988.

## FAQs
**What was Roy Jenkins's role in the European Commission?**
Roy Jenkins led the Jenkins Commission, a college of the European Commission that was established on January 6, 1977, and served until 1981.

**What political party is Roy Jenkins associated with?**
He was a key figure in the Social Democratic Party in the United Kingdom, a party founded on March 26, 1981.

**What awards did Roy Jenkins receive?**
He received numerous awards including the Order of the Companions of Honour, the Order of Merit, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal, among others.

## Why They Matter
Roy Jenkins's significance lies in his dual impact on both British domestic politics and European international governance. His leadership of the Jenkins Commission marked a specific era in the history of the European Commission. Domestically, his association with the Social Democratic Party represents a notable shift in the UK political landscape during the 1980s. His career bridged the gap between national government service and broader European administrative leadership.

## Notable For
- **Order of Merit:** Recipient of this prestigious award.
- **Order of the Companions of Honour:** Received for his service.
- **Benjamin Franklin Medal:** Awarded for his contributions.
- **Leadership Roles:** Served as a Member of Parliament and as President of the European Commission.
- **Author:** Recognized for his work as a writer and biographer.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Roy Harris Jenkins was born on November 11, 1920. His educational background includes studies at Balliol College, Oxford, the University of Oxford, and the Aneurin Bevan School.

### Political Career and the Social Democratic Party
Jenkins was a prominent British politician. A significant part of his legacy involves the **Social Democratic Party** (SDP). The SDP was a political party in the United Kingdom that commenced operations on March 26, 1981, and continued until 1988. The party headquarters was located at Q27083953. Jenkins's involvement placed him at the center of a major political realignment in the UK during the early 1980s.

### The Jenkins Commission (1977–1981)
Jenkins served as the head of the **Jenkins Commission**. This commission was a college of the European Commission. It was officially founded on January 6, 1977. The commission concluded its term in 1981. This period defined his contribution to European political integration and administration.

### Awards and Recognitions
Throughout his life, Jenkins received a multitude of honors. He was a recipient of the **Order of Merit** and the **Order of the Companions of Honour**. His literary and diplomatic contributions were recognized with the **Benjamin Franklin Medal**. Other notable awards include the **Robert H. Jackson Award**, the **Heine Award**, and the **Mozart Medal**. He was also a member of the **American Academy of Arts and Sciences** and the **American Philosophical Society**.

### Personal Details and Identifiers
Roy Jenkins held the title of **Baron Jenkins of Hillhead**. He passed away on January 5, 2003. In academic and library archives, he is identified by numerous identifiers including VIAF ID 121441805, Library of Congress ID n50028076, and Wikidata ID Q323488. His full name is recorded as Roy Harris Jenkins.

## References

1. Dictionary of Welsh Biography
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. The Peerage
5. Hansard 1803–2005
6. pace.coe.int
7. [Der Karlspreisträger 1972 Roy Jenkins](http://www.karlspreis.de/de/preistraeger/roy-jenkins-1972/vita)
8. [The 2002 Wolfson History Prize Winners](https://www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk/past-winners/2002-winners/)
9. [Source](http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154)
10. [Source](https://www.history.org.uk/aboutus/resource/8702/the-medlicott-medal)
11. [Source](https://www5.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/sites/www.open.ac.uk.students.ceremonies/files/files/Honorary%20graduate%20cumulative%20list(7).xlsx)
12. International Standard Name Identifier
13. Virtual International Authority File
14. CiNii Research
15. SNAC
16. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
17. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
18. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
19. Proleksis Encyclopedia
20. Munzinger Personen
21. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
22. BBC Things
23. Goodreads
24. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
25. UK House of Commons Election Results at Constituency Level
26. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
27. LIBRIS. 2012
28. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
29. Catalogo of the National Library of India