Neville Chamberlain
Who was Neville Chamberlain?
Conservative Prime Minister best known for his policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany and for signing the Munich Agreement in 1938.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Neville Chamberlain (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Arthur Neville Chamberlain was born on March 18, 1869, in Birmingham, England, to well-known politician Joseph Chamberlain. He went to Rugby School and then Mason Science College, which later turned into the University of Birmingham. He also studied at the University of London. Unlike many of his peers who joined Parliament early, he started his career in business and local government instead of national politics.
Before Fame
Before getting into national politics, Chamberlain spent several years managing a sisal plantation in the Bahamas for his father, but the business ended up failing after seven years. When he returned to Birmingham, he got involved in local business and civic activities and served as Lord Mayor of Birmingham from 1915 to 1916. He also briefly worked as Director of National Service in 1916 and 1917 under Prime Minister David Lloyd George, though his time there ended in frustration. It wasn't until the 1918 general election, at the age of 49, that he became a Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood, following in the footsteps of his father Joseph and his half-brother Austen Chamberlain.
Key Achievements
- Served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940
- Introduced significant public health and housing reform measures as Minister of Health from 1924 to 1929
- Served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the National Government beginning in 1931
- Signed the Munich Agreement in September 1938, negotiating directly with Adolf Hitler over the Sudetenland
- Led Britain's declaration of war against Nazi Germany on 3 September 1939 following the invasion of Poland
Did You Know?
- 01.Chamberlain did not enter Parliament until age 49, making him one of the older first-time MPs of his era.
- 02.He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Strasbourg in 1939, the same year Britain declared war on Germany.
- 03.His famous declaration of 'peace for our time' after returning from Munich in 1938 was made while waving the signed agreement with Hitler at Heston Aerodrome.
- 04.Chamberlain was married to Anne Chamberlain, and the couple had no children.
- 05.He died on 9 November 1940 in Reading, just six months after resigning as Prime Minister, from bowel cancer.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| honorary doctorate from the University of Strasbourg | 1939 | — |