On January 9th 1957 Anthony Eden, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, resigned from his office on health reasons.

The health problems and following resignation were an outcome of the Suez Crisis which started in 1956 when Nasser, the President of Egypt, nationalised the Suez Canal which was controlled by Britain. Events deteriorated from that point, with Israel invading Egypt, later backed by France and the UK. They were forced to withdraw by the US, USSR and UN.

Doctors warned Eden that remaining in office would put his life at stake due to the pressures of the Crisis.

Image: By unknown, British 20th century [OGL (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/1/)], via Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Anthony-Eden_number_10_Official.jpg)