Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare (born 15 April 1940) is an English author and former politician. Alongside his literary work, Archer was a Member of Parliament (1969–74), deputy chairman of the Conservative Party (1985–86) and was made a life peer in 1992. Having suffered several controversies, his political career ended with his conviction and subsequent imprisonment (2001–03) for perjury and perverting the course of justice.