Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC (12th June 1897 – 14th January 1977) was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957. He was also Foreign Secretary for three periods between 1935 and 1955, including during World War II. He is best known for his outspoken opposition to appeasement in the 1930s, his diplomatic leadership in the 1940s and 1950s, and the failure of his Middle East policy during the Suez Crisis in 1956 that ended his premiership.
It was Eden's radio announcement on the 14th of May, 1940 which announced the formation of the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), who went on to become the Home Guard.