Sir John Nott who led the recapture of the Falkland Islands as Margaret Thatcher's Defence Secretary left a fortune to his family after his death at 92
Sir John Nott, the former Defence Secretary who played a key role in Britain's handling of the Falklands War, left an estate valued at £2 million to his family following his death last year at the age of 92.
A key figure in Margaret Thatcher's government, Sir John served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1981 to 1983.
He was thrust into the spotlight in 1982 when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, prompting Britain to launch a military response.
Though he had previously proposed cuts to the Royal Navy, Sir John oversaw the successful campaign to retake the islands, cementing his place in history.
Famously, he once walked out of a TV interview with Sir Robin Day after the veteran broadcaster dismissed him as a 'here today, gone tomorrow politician.'
His will saw him leave an estate valued at £2,049,785 to his wife and three children.
Born in 1932, he was educated at Cambridge University before serving in the Army and later entering politics as Conservative MP for St Ives in 1966. He also held the role of Trade Secretary before leaving politics in 1983.
After Westminster, he turned to business, running an investment firm and writing his memoirs.
Sir John Nott, the former Defence Secretary who played a key role in Britain's response to the Falklands War, left an estate valued at £2 million to his family following his death aged 92
(L-R) Prime minister Margaret Thatcher with ministers Geoffrey Howe, Keith Joseph, John Nott and Norman Tebbit on the Conservative front bench in the House of Commons
Sir John was thrust into the spotlight in 1982 when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, prompting Britain to launch a military response
Sir John was thrust to the forefront of Mrs Thatcher's government when Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982.
His speech the day after the invasion on April 2, 1982, was seen as poor, prompting calls for him to quit, and Sir John offered to resign twice.
The politician was among those who initially believed that the islands could not be recaptured.
Although Mrs Thatcher tried to save him, foreign secretary Lord Carrington felt culpable for the invasion and could not be persuaded to stay in post.
Sir John revealed after Britain's victory in the conflict that he 'wasn't much aware' where the Falklands were before the invasion.
He told the BBC: 'Of course I knew that we had some Royal Marines there, but I had to remind myself as to where the Falkland Islands were, when the scrap merchants landed on South Georgia.'
Coverage in the Daily Mail on October 6, 1982, when Sir John urged the nation to be proud of Britain's victory in the Falklands War
In October 1982, Sir John walked out of an interview with broadcaster Robin Day during the Conservative Party conference
'I had a huge great globe in my room in the Ministry of Defence and I went over to it to rediscover the geographical position of the Falklands.
'I was a bit horrified to see how far away they were.'
Sir John was part of a five-man war cabinet that was led by Mrs Thatcher and chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Terence Lewin during the ten-week conflict.
He stepped down as defence secretary in January 1983 and then quit as an MP at that year's election.
In later life, Sir John ran his 200-acre farm in Cornwall and enjoyed hunting, fishing and shooting.
