Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare: key obituary facts
Is Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare dead? Yes. Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare died on October 5, 2026, at age 86.
Cause of death: Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare known for?
He was an English author and former politician (born 1940).
More about Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare
Born: 15 April 1940.
Place of birth: City of London Maternity Hospital.
Gender: male.
Occupation: politician, novelist, writer, playwright, science fiction writer, children's writer.
Nationality: United Kingdom.
Education: Brasenose College, Wellington School.
Father: William Archer.
Mother: Lola Cook.
Spouse: Mary Archer.
Children: William Harold Archer, James Archer.
Also known as: Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare, Jeffrey Howard Archer.
Occupations: Novelist, short story writer, playwright.
Genres: Thriller, drama.
Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare, the British politician and author, died October 5, 2026, aged 86.
Born in London on April 15, 1940, he was educated at Wellington School and Brasenose College. Archer entered the House of Commons as MP for Louth in 1969 and served until 1974.
After coming close to bankruptcy, he did not seek re-election and rebuilt his finances through fiction. His 1979 novel Kane and Abel became an international bestseller, with an estimated 34 million copies sold; worldwide sales of his books exceeded 320 million. His works also included Only Time Will Tell and A Prison Diary, and his writing encompassed thrillers, drama, short stories and plays. Archer returned to Conservative politics as the party’s deputy chairman from 1985 to 1986, resigning after a newspaper alleged he had paid money to a sex worker. He won a civil case over the claim in 1987 and received substantial damages. Made a life peer in 1992, he later became the first Conservative candidate selected to run for mayor of London. He retired from the House of Lords in 2024.