- British prime minister (1963-1964).
- He was the last Conservative Party leader to achieve office not by general election or election within the party but by what was termed "emergence". Harold Macmillan, who was resigning on the grounds of ill health, put forward Home's name to the Queen as a means of preventing the more popular but non-aristocratic 'Rab' Butler from succeeding him. As the party was in power at the time (October 1963), Home's position was confirmed by his being sent for by the Queen to "kiss hands" and receive the seals of office.
- The last Prime Minister to have previously sat in the House of Lords.
- His titles were: Sir Alexander (Alec) Frederick Douglas-Home, 14th Earl of Home; Lord Home; Lord Dunglass; Baron Douglas of Douglas; and Chief of the Name and Arms of Home. When he disclaimed his hereditary peerages for life on 23 October 1963, he kept his title "Sir" as a Knight of the Thistle. In 1975 he was created Baron Home of the Hirsel; this was a life peerage and so not inherited by his son who is known as the 15th Earl of Home.
- Educated at Eton College, he became the last British prime minister to have received a private schooling until Tony Blair was elected in 1997.
- Despite the same spelling, the second part of his surname is pronounced "Hume/Whom", and not "Home".
- Older brother of William Douglas-Home and Henry Douglas-Home.
- Uncle of Robin Douglas-Home and Charles Douglas-Home.
- Father of David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home.
- Foiled a plot to kidnap himself in April 1964. Two student radicals followed Douglas-Home's car to the house of Baron Tweedsmuir, where he was staying as a guest. Douglas-Home, who was alone at the time, answered the door and found the two students, who announced that they were going to kidnap him. Douglas-Home replied "I suppose you realize if you do, the Conservatives will win the election by 200 or 300." After packing some items, he offered his would be kidnappers some beer, which they accepted. They were eventually convinced by Douglas-Home to abandon the plan and leave the house voluntarily. He never spoke publicly of this incident because he did not want his bodyguard's career to be destroyed. He did tell Quintin Hogg, who served as Lord Chancellor during Douglas-Home's premiership, in 1977. Hogg recorded this conversation in his personal diaries.
- The only Prime Minister to have played first class cricket at the school, club and county levels.
- He is the first Prime Minister to have been born in the 20th Century.
- Was the eldest of seven children in his family.
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