Ramsay MacDonald

British prime minister in 1924 and 1929 to 1935

James Ramsay MacDonald FRS ( James McDonald Ramsay; 12 October 1866 – 9 November 1937) was a British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom three times. He helped to build the Labour Party and became its first Prime Minister in 1924. His third period as Prime Minister was during the crisis of the Great Depression, when he formed a "National Government" in which a majority of MPs were from the British Conservative Party. He was expelled from the Labour Party.


Ramsay MacDonald

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office
5 June 1929 – 7 June 1935
MonarchGeorge V
Preceded byStanley Baldwin
Succeeded byStanley Baldwin
In office
22 January 1924 – 4 November 1924
MonarchGeorge V
Preceded byStanley Baldwin
Succeeded byStanley Baldwin
Leader of the Opposition
In office
4 November 1924 – 5 June 1929
MonarchGeorge V
Prime MinisterStanley Baldwin
Preceded byStanley Baldwin
Succeeded byStanley Baldwin
In office
21 November 1922 – 22 January 1924
MonarchGeorge V
Prime MinisterBonar Law
Stanley Baldwin
Preceded byH. H. Asquith
Succeeded byStanley Baldwin
Leader of the Labour Party
In office
22 November 1922 – 1 September 1931
DeputyJohn Robert Clynes
Preceded byJohn Robert Clynes
Succeeded byArthur Henderson
In office
6 February 1911 – 5 August 1914
Chief WhipGeorge Henry Roberts
Arthur Henderson
Preceded byGeorge Barnes
Succeeded byArthur Henderson
Lord President of the Council
In office
7 June 1935 – 28 May 1937
Prime MinisterStanley Baldwin
Preceded byStanley Baldwin
Succeeded byThe Viscount Halifax
Leader of the House of Commons
In office
5 June 1929 – 7 June 1935
Preceded byStanley Baldwin
Succeeded byStanley Baldwin
In office
22 January 1924 – 3 November 1924
Preceded byStanley Baldwin
Succeeded byStanley Baldwin
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
In office
22 January 1924 – 3 November 1924
Preceded byThe Marquess Curzon
Succeeded byAusten Chamberlain
Member of Parliament
for the Combined Scottish Universities
In office
31 January 1936 – 9 November 1937
Preceded byNoel Skelton
Succeeded bySir John Anderson
Member of Parliament
for Seaham
In office
30 May 1929 – 14 November 1935
Preceded bySidney Webb
Succeeded byEmanuel Shinwell
Member of Parliament
for Aberavon
In office
15 November 1922 – 30 May 1929
Preceded byJohn Edwards
Succeeded byWilliam Cove
Member of Parliament
for Leicester
In office
8 February 1906 – 14 December 1918
Preceded byJohn Rolleston
Henry Broadhurst
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
James MacDonald Ramsay

(1866-10-12)12 October 1866
Lossiemouth, Morayshire, Scotland, UK
Died9 November 1937(1937-11-09) (aged 71)
Atlantic Ocean (on holiday aboard the ocean liner Reina del Pacifico)
Resting placeSpynie Cemetery, Morayshire
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour (until 1931)
National Labour (from 1931)
Spouse(s)
Margaret Gladstone
(m. 1896; died 1911)
Children
Parents
  • John MacDonald
  • Anne Ramsay
Alma materBirkbeck, University of London
ProfessionPolitician
SignatureCursive signature in ink

MacDonald was an illegitimate child. He was born in Lossiemouth, Scotland. He graduated from elementary school and then high school.

Later he worked as a teacher for some time in his high school. In 1885, MacDonald became a member of the Social Democratic Federation.

In 1886, he moved to London, where he became an accountant. On November 13, 1887, MacDonald witnessed Bloody Sunday, after which he published a pamphlet. For some time, MacDonald was also interested in Scottish politics among Scots in London and spoke in support of Scotland for Scotland. At the same time, MacDonald received an evening education at the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution, but shortly before the exams he had to give up his education due to nervous exhaustion.

As Prime Minister change

The main achievement of the first MacDonald government was the realization by the British that Labor did not intend to carry out radical changes, but was ready to act for the common good. At the same time, due to lack of public support and a lack of seats in the House of Commons, Labor had not been able to do much of what it had said it would do - in particular, there was no widespread nationalization and community service.