| Born to a family of rich, Conservative industrialists,
Stanley Baldwin was educated at Harrow and Trinity College,
Cambridge. After considering a career in the Church, he joined
the family iron-mongering business, becoming a financial
director.
He won his father's old seat of Bewdley for the Conservatives in
1908. He became Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the
wartime coalition, and by 1921 was the President of the Board of
Trade. Despite his involvement, he helped break the coalition by
voicing his mistrust of
Lloyd George and supporting
Bonar Law. Under Bonar Law he was made Chancellor
of the Exchequer, and he arranged terms for the settlement of
the war debt with America.
Baldwin succeeded Bonar Law in 1923, despite "having reached the
limit of my ambitions as Chancellor". He soon called a General
Election, advocating protectionism, but failed to gain a working
majority. The prize of government went instead for the first
time to Labour. MacDonald's Labour government lost the next
election, and Baldwin was returned as Prime Minister in November
1924, holding his second premiership until 1929. He achieved a
European non-aggression pact, a Pensions Act and the extension
of the franchise to women aged over 21; as well as a huge
home-building programme. During the General Strike of 1926 he
organised the maintenance of essential services and refused
negotiation until the Strike was called off.
Baldwin was the de facto figurehead of the 1930s National
Government, and properly regained the premiership after the 1935
election. In 1936 Germany began rearming, contrary to treaty
obligations, but Baldwin did not follow suit, believing that a
national mood of pacifism would not allow it.
Baldwin has also been credited with enabling the monarchy to
survive the abdication of King Edward VIII. He managed the
crisis and acted as an intermediary between the king and the
people during 1936-37.
In May 1937 he resigned, and was made Earl Baldwin of Bewdley.
Stanley Baldwin was a serious Christian, but also a masterly
politician. He encouraged the rise of Labour to divide the
Liberals. The Liberal Party had recently been one of the most
powerful and successful parties, but it was never to run a
government again. He was also adept at public relations and
cultivated an attractive image of England voters wanted. This
was particularly true of his frequent popular radio broadcasts.
However, his electoral success and political achievements were
forgotten as he was, perhaps unfairly, remembered as one of the
leaders who failed to prevent World War 2. |
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