Michael Heseltine was born in 1933. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he read politics, philosophy and economics. In 1957 he founded Haymarket, which is now one of the largest independent magazine companies in the country with extensive interests overseas.

He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001, and a Cabinet Minister in various departments between 1979 and 1986 and between 1990 and 1997. Departmental briefs included Defence, Trade and Industry, Environment and Transport. He was Deputy Prime Minister from 1995 to 1997.

He rejoined the Haymarket Board of Directors on leaving Government in 1997, and became chairman of the Haymarket Group in March 1999. Lord Heseltine is also an enthusiastic gardener and has created an arboretum to house his collection of over 3000 different trees and shrubs.