Who Is John Stonehouse? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Born on July 28, 1925, John Stonehouse was a British politician known for his extraordinary life marked by allegations of espionage for Czechoslovakia. Stonehouse, who passed away on April 14, 1988, was a controversial figure whose life included a dramatic disappearance and a subsequent revelation that he had faked his own death. At the time of his death, he was 62 years old. Today, as we look back at his life in 2025, Stonehouse remains a figure of intrigue in British political history.
| Occupation | Fraudsters |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 28, 1925 |
| Age | 62 Years |
| Birth Place | Southampton, Hampshire, England |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 14 April, 1988 |
| Died Place | Totton, Hampshire, England |
Popularity
John Stonehouse's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While precise measurements of John Stonehouse's height and weight are not extensively documented, the average male politician of his time stood around 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a typical weight averaging between 160-180 pounds. Stonehouse, being a prominent public figure, likely maintained a presentation consistent with that of his peers.
Using false identities, Stonehouse set about transferring large sums of money between banks as a further means of covering his tracks. Under the name of 'Clive Mildoon', he deposited A$21,500 in cash at the Bank of New Zealand. The teller who handled the money later spotted 'Mildoon' at the Bank of New South Wales.
Inquiries led the teller to learn that the money was in the name of 'Joseph Markham', and he informed the local police. Stonehouse visited Copenhagen with Buckley around this time and returned to Australia unaware that he was now under surveillance.
The Australian police initially suspected him of being Lord Lucan, who had disappeared a fortnight before Stonehouse, following the murder of his children's nanny. They contacted Scotland Yard, requesting pictures of both Lucan and Stonehouse.
On his arrest, the police instructed Stonehouse to pull down his trousers in an attempt to establish whether or not he was Lucan, who had a 6 in scar on the inside of his right thigh.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
John Stonehouse was married to his wife, Barbara, in a relationship that lasted until their separation in 1978, shortly before his disappearance. They had three children together. Throughout his public life, Stonehouse was known to be a charismatic figure, which may have led to speculation regarding relationships outside of his marriage. However, there are no substantive records of any significant relationships or affairs after his marriage.
His father was local secretary of his trade union; Stonehouse joined the Labour Party at the age of sixteen. His mother, a former scullery maid, was the sixth female mayor of Southampton and a councillor on Southampton City Council from 1936 to 1970.
Net Worth and Salary
Estimating the net worth of John Stonehouse today presents challenges, as his financial dealings were often entangled in political controversy. At the time of his disappearance, his estimated net worth was around £600,000, a considerable sum during the 1970s. However, the fallout from his escapades impacted his financial standing significantly. In 2025, if he had survived, it's plausible that his net worth would have seen fluctuations tied to his past political career and any subsequent ventures.
Career, Business and Investments
John Stonehouse began his career in the public sector before transitioning to politics, becoming a Member of Parliament for Wednesbury and Oldbury. Amid his political aspirations, allegations emerged that he was involved in espionage activities during the Cold War, particularly with Czechoslovakia. Post his infamous disappearance attempt in 1974, Stonehouse attempted to reinvent himself and engaged in various business ventures, though many were shrouded in controversy. In hindsight, his career is a classic example of a fall from grace in the political realm.
Stonehouse served as a junior minister of aviation, where he was involved in the British Overseas Airways Corporation's order of Boeing 707 aircraft from the United States, against his own recommendation that they should buy the Super Vickers VC10, a British-made aircraft.
This led to accusations by Stonehouse against colleagues about the reasons for the decision.
In March 1968, Stonehouse negotiated an agreement providing a framework for the long-term development of technological co-operation between Britain and Czechoslovakia providing for the exchange of specialists and information, facilities for study and research in technology, and such other forms of industrial co-operation which might be agreed.
Social Network
Due to the era in which he was most active, social networking in the modern sense did not exist during Stonehouse's time. However, if he were alive today, it is likely he would engage on platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to share insights from his tumultuous political career. Additionally, he would likely be a subject of interest in various online forums and discussions dedicated to political history and espionage.
Stonehouse's rise continued while in the Colonial Office, and in 1967 he became Minister for Technology under Wilson. He later served as Postmaster General until the position was abolished by the Post Office Act 1969.
As Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in 1970, Stonehouse oversaw the controversial jamming of the offshore radio station Radio North Sea International. When Labour was defeated at the 1970 general election, he was not appointed to the Shadow Cabinet.
Education
John Stonehouse pursued his academic studies at the London School of Economics, where he earned a degree that informed his later political career. His education played a significant role in establishing an understanding of economics and governance, which he applied when serving in various political roles.
Stonehouse was educated at Taunton's School (now Richard Taunton Sixth Form College), Southampton, and served as a Royal Air Force pilot from 1944 until 1946. He then attended the London School of Economics (LSE), where he read for a BSc (Econ.) degree. During his time at the LSE, he was chairman of both the chess club and the Labour society.
The political scientist Bernard Crick, who was a contemporary of Stonehouse at university, recalls that his then nickname was 'Lord John', and that "his conversation was openly and restlessly about how best to get a parliamentary seat."
