Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson
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| In office 1 September 1931 – 25 October 1932 |
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| Preceded by | Stanley Baldwin |
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| Succeeded by | George Lansbury |
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| In office 7 June 1929 – 24 August 1931 |
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| Preceded by | Austen Chamberlain |
| Succeeded by | 1st Marquess of Reading |
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| In office 23 January – 4 November 1924 |
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| Preceded by | William Bridgeman |
| Succeeded by | Sir William Joynson-Hicks |
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| Born | 13 September 1863 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | October 20, 1935 (aged 72) London, England |
| Political party | Labour |
Arthur Henderson (September 13, 1863 – October 20, 1935) was a British union leader, politician, disarmament advocate, and the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Arthur Henderson Baron Rowley, PC ( 27 August 1893 &ndash 28 August 1968) was a British Labour Party politician Arthur Henderson may refer to Arthur Henderson (1863&ndash1935 British politician and union leader Leader of the Labour Party Arthur Henderson Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. The Nobel Peace Prize ( Swedish, Danish and Nobels fredspris is one of five Nobel Prizes Bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor The Leader of the Opposition (sometimes known as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons) in the United Kingdom is the politician who leads Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Stanley Baldwin 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC (3 August 1867 &ndash 14 December 1947 was a British Conservative politician statesman and major George Lansbury ( 21 February 1859 &ndash 7 May 1940) was a British Politician, socialist, Christian pacifist The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a member of the United Kingdom Government heading the Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain KG ( 16 October 1863 &ndash 17 March 1937) was a British Statesman, Rufus Daniel Isaacs (later Rufus Isaacs) 1st Marquess of Reading, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC, KC The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. William Clive Bridgeman 1st Viscount Bridgeman, PC, JP, DL, ( 31 December 1864 &ndash 14 August 1935) was a William Joynson-Hicks 1st Viscount Brentford (23 June 1865 – 8 June 1932 popularly known as Jix, was a British Conservative Party politician most Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Disarmament refers to the act of reducing limiting or abolishing Weapons. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Nobel Peace Prize ( Swedish, Danish and Nobels fredspris is one of five Nobel Prizes Bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor This is a list of Nobel Prize Laureates awarded for their outstanding contributions to Humanitarian causes for Peace, work in Literature He served three short terms as the leader of the Labour Party from 1908-10, 1914-17 and 1931-32. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the
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Early life
Arthur Henderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1863, the son of a textile worker who died when Arthur was only 10 years old. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common After his father's death, the Hendersons moved to Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. Newcastle upon Tyne ( (often shortened to Newcastle) is a city and Metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, England England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland
Henderson worked in a locomotive factory from the age of 12. After finishing his apprenticeship at seventeen, Arthur Henderson moved to Southampton for a year and then returned to work as an iron moulder (a type of foundryman) in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England He converted to Methodism (having previously been a Congregationalist) in 1879. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This had a major impact on Henderson and he became a Lay Preacher. In 1884, Henderson lost his job, and concentrated on his education, and preaching commitments. Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
Union leader
However by 1892, Henderson had entered the complex world of Trade Union politics, when he was elected as a paid organiser for the Iron Founders Union, and was also a representative on the North East Conciliation Board. Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming
Henderson believed that strikes caused more harm than they were worth, and tried to avoid them whenever he could. For this reason he opposed the formation of the General Federation of Trade Unions, as he was convinced it would lead to more strikes.
The Labour Party
In 1900, Henderson was one of the 129 trade union and socialist delegates, who passed Keir Hardie's motion to create the Labour Representation Committee (LRC), and in 1903, Henderson was elected treasurer of the LRC, and was also elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Barnard Castle following a by-election. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar James Keir Hardie (15 August 1856 - 26 September 1915 was a Scottish Socialist and labour leader and was the first independent labour Member of Parliament Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Barnard Castle is a town in Teesdale, County Durham, England named after the castle around which it grew up
In 1906, the LRC changed its name to the Labour Party and won 29 seats in the general election of that year (which was a landslide victory for the Liberal Party). Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the In Politics, a landslide victory (or landslide) is the victory of a candidate or Political party by an overwhelming margin in an Election The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party
In 1908, when Hardie resigned as Leader of the Labour Party, Henderson was elected to replace him, and was leader for two fairly quiet (from Labour's perspective) years, before resigning in 1910. Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting
Cabinet Minister
In 1914, the First World War broke out, and the then-Labour leader, Ramsay MacDonald, resigned in protest. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United Henderson was elected to replace him, and in 1915, following Prime Minister Asquith's decision to create a coalition government, became the first member of the Labour Party to become a member of the Cabinet, as President of the Board of Education. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Herbert Henry Asquith 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC ( 12 September 1852 &ndash 15 February 1928) served The Secretary of State for Education and Skills was the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government
In 1916, David Lloyd George forced Asquith to resign and became Prime Minister. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year David Lloyd George 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor OM, PC (17 January 1863 &ndash 26 March 1945 was a British Statesman and the only Henderson became a member of the small War Cabinet with the job of Minister without Portfolio. A War Cabinet is a committee formed by a government in time of war A Minister without Portfolio is either a Government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry. Other labour and union representatives to join Henderson in Lloyd george's coalition government were; John Hodge and George Barnes. John Hodge became Minister of Labour whilst Barnes became Minister of Pensions[1]. Henderson resigned in August 1917 when his idea for an international conference on the war was voted down by the rest of the cabinet; shortly afterwards he resigned as Labour leader. Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
The coupon election and the 1920s
Henderson lost his seat in the "coupon election" of December 14, 1918, an election announced within twenty four hours of the end of hostilities in World War I that resulted in a landslide victory for a coalition formed by presiding Prime Minister Lloyd George[1] Henderson returned to Parliament in 1919 after winning a by-election in Widnes. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All David Lloyd George 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor OM, PC (17 January 1863 &ndash 26 March 1945 was a British Statesman and the only Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Widnes was a County constituency in England, based on the town of Widnes, in Lancashire. After his election, he became Labour's chief whip, only to lose his seat in the 1922 general election. Whip is a role in party-based politics whose primary purpose is to ensure control of the formal decision-making process in a parliamentary legislature Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
Again, he returned to Parliament via a by-election, this time representing Newcastle East, however he lost this seat in the 1923 general election, but returned to Parliament two months later after winning a by-election in Burnley. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Burnley is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He was appointed Home Secretary in the first ever Labour government (led by MacDonald). The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office This government was defeated in 1924, and lost the following election partially because of the Zinoviev letter printed in the right-wing broadsheet the Daily Mail. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The " Zinoviev Letter " is a 1924 letter that was allegedly addressed from Grigori Zinoviev, president of the presidium of the Executive Committee of the Communist The Daily Mail is a British newspaper currently published in a tabloid format
Unusually, Henderson was re-elected in 1924, and he refused to challenge MacDonald for the party leadership, despite being apparently begged by other MPs to do just that. Worried about factionalism in the Labour Party, he published a pamphlet called Labour and the Nation, in which he attempted to clarify the Labour Party's goals.
One interesting note is that the Communist Party and its leaders in the USSR, specifically Lenin himself, considered Henderson a dupe and held him and his positions in very low regard. In a February 10, 1922, letter to the Soviet Foreign Affairs Commissar Georgy Chicherin in relation to the Genoa Conference, Lenin wrote pejoratively:[2]
"Henderson is as stupid as Kerensky, and for this reason he is helping us. Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky (Алекса́ндр Фёдорович Ке́ренский Aleksandr Fjëdorovich Kerenskij) ( June 11, 1970) served . . .
Furthermore. This is ultrasecret. It suits us that Genoa be wrecked. . . but not by us, of course. Think this over with Litvinov and Ioffe and drop me a line. Of course, this must not be mentioned even in secret documents. return this to me, and I will burn it. We will get a loan better without Genoa, if we are not the ones that wreck Genoa. We must work out cleverer maneuvers so that we are not the ones that wreck Genoa. For example, the fool Henderson and Co. will help us a lot if we cleverly prod them. . . .
Everything is flying apart for "them". It is total bankruptcy (India and so on). We have to push a falling one unexpectedly, not with our hands. "
(Emphasis added. ) There is no information as to whether Lenin's disparaging comments about Arthur Henderson have some relation to the coining of the phrase "useful idiot". In political Jargon, the term " useful idiot " was used to describe Soviet sympathizers in western countries and the alleged attitude
Foreign Secretary
In 1929, Labour formed another minority government, and MacDonald appointed Henderson as Foreign Secretary, a position Henderson used to try to reduce the tensions that had been building up in Europe since the end of the War. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a member of the United Kingdom Government heading the Diplomatic relations were re-established with the USSR and the League of Nations was given Britain's full support. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The League of Nations was an International organization founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920 The government was able to function properly, even without a parliamentary majority. However this did not last. The Great Depression plunged the government into a terminal crisis.
The MacDonald "betrayal"
The crisis began in 1931 when a key committee discovered that the budget was facing a serious deficit. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This generated a crisis of confidence in the British financial system which threatened the Pound's position on the Gold Standard. The gold standard is a monetary system in which a region's common media of exchange are paper notes that are normally freely convertible into pre-set fixed quantities of Gold The Labour Cabinet agreed that it was essential to maintain the Gold Standard and that the Budget needed to be balanced, but divided seriously over some of the measures proposed. Henderson found himself at the head of a minority of nearly half the Cabinet who could not accept a cut in unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefits are payments made by Governments to unemployed people With the Cabinet so clearly divided it decided to resign office. On August 24, 1931 it was announced the MacDonald was forming an emergency National Government with members of all parties in order to tackle the crisis. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In the United Kingdom the term National Government is in an abstract sense used to refer to a coalition of some or all UK major political parties. However the Labour Party repudiated this government, and the National Executive expelled from the party MacDonald and all other Labour members who supported him (Henderson cast the only vote against this). Henderson now became leader of the party as it became ever more hostile to the Government. With the economic and political situation still uncertain, the National Government decided to call a general election, and in the largest landslide in British political history, it won an overwhelming majority. The UK general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday Labour was reduced to just 46 MPs, and yet again Henderson lost his seat. The following year he relinquished the party leadership.
Later career
Henderson returned to Parliament after winning a by-election (Clay Cross), and spent the rest of his life trying to halt the gathering storm of war. Clay Cross was a County constituency centred on the village of Clay Cross in north-east Derbyshire. He chaired the Geneva Disarmament Conference and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934. The Disarmament Conference of 1932-34 (sometimes World Disarmament Conference or Geneva Disarmament Conference) was an effort by member states of the League of The Nobel Peace Prize ( Swedish, Danish and Nobels fredspris is one of five Nobel Prizes Bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Arthur Henderson died aged 72 in 1935. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Two of his sons also became Labour politicians. His second son William was created Baron Henderson in 1945 while his third son Arthur was made Baron Rowley in 1966. William Watson Henderson 1st Baron Henderson PC ( 8 August 1891 – 4 April 1984) was a British Labour politician Baron Henderson, of Westgate in the City and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Arthur Henderson Baron Rowley, PC ( 27 August 1893 &ndash 28 August 1968) was a British Labour Party politician
References
- ^ Hopkins, eric, A Social History of the English Working Classes, 1815-1945, Hodder and Stoughton 1979. p219
- ^ Handwritten note at the Russian Center for the Preservation and Study of Documents of Recent History, fond 2, opis 2, delo 1,1119. Published as Document 88 in The Unknown Lenin, ed. Richard Pipes, Yale University Press, 1996, ISBN 0-300-06919-7
External links
Richard Edgar Pipes (born July 11, 1923) is an American historian who specializes in Russian history, particularly with respect to the history of the Yale University Press is a book Publisher founded in 1908. It became an official department of Yale University in 1961, but remained Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories Sir Joseph Whitwell Pease 1st Baronet ( 23 June 1828 &ndash 23 June 1903) was a British politician A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Barnard Castle was a County constituency centred on the town of Barnard Castle in County Durham, which returned one Member of Parliament to the The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom William Hall Walker 1st Baron Wavertree ( December 25, 1856 &ndash February 2, 1933) was a British businessman Art collector A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Widnes was a County constituency in England, based on the town of Widnes, in Lancashire. The UK general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922 It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Newcastle upon Tyne East will be a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The UK general election of 1923 was held on 6 December 1923 The Conservatives, led by Stanley Baldwin, won the most seats but Labour, led by Sir Robert William Aske 1st Baronet ( 29 December 1872 &ndash 10 March 1954) was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom David Daniel Irving, known as Dan Irving ( 31 October 1854 - 25 January 1924) was a British Socialist activist and A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Burnley is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The UK general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday Vice Admiral Gordon Campbell VC, DSO & Two Bars ( January 6, 1886 - July 3, 1953) was an English naval A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Clay Cross was a County constituency centred on the village of Clay Cross in north-east Derbyshire. Results |} Total votes cast 20991488 All parties shown Conservatives include Ulster Unionists Seats won by the Independent Labour Party (ILP are Joseph Albert Pease 1st Baron Gainford PC JP DL, ( 17 January 1860 &ndash 15 February 1943) was an English The Secretary of State for Education and Skills was the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes 1st Marquess of Crewe KG ( 12 January 1858 – 20 June 1945) was a British Statesman Thomas Wodehouse Legh 2nd Baron Newton, PC, DL ( 18 March, 1857 – 21 March, 1942) was a British diplomat HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the United Kingdom. Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett ( 13 February 1847 &ndash 30 July 1919) was a Liberal Party politician in England. William Clive Bridgeman 1st Viscount Bridgeman, PC, JP, DL, ( 31 December 1864 &ndash 14 August 1935) was a The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office William Joynson-Hicks 1st Viscount Brentford (23 June 1865 – 8 June 1932 popularly known as Jix, was a British Conservative Party politician most Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain KG ( 16 October 1863 &ndash 17 March 1937) was a British Statesman, The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a member of the United Kingdom Government heading the Rufus Daniel Isaacs (later Rufus Isaacs) 1st Marquess of Reading, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC, KC Stanley Baldwin 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC (3 August 1867 &ndash 14 December 1947 was a British Conservative politician statesman and major The Leader of the Opposition (sometimes known as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons) in the United Kingdom is the politician who leads George Lansbury ( 21 February 1859 &ndash 7 May 1940) was a British Politician, socialist, Christian pacifist The Treasurer of the Labour Party is a position on the National Executive Committee of the British Labour Party. James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United James Keir Hardie (15 August 1856 - 26 September 1915 was a Scottish Socialist and labour leader and was the first independent labour Member of Parliament The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the George Nicoll Barnes CH PC ( January 2, 1859 &ndash April 21, 1940) was a Scottish Politician and a James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United The General Secretary is the most senior employee of the British Labour Party. James 'Bonnor' Middleton (born 30 September 1865 in Chester-le-Street, England, died 23 December 1913 in Cape Town James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the William Adamson (2 April 1863 &ndash 23 February 1936 was born in Dunfermline, Scotland and worked as a miner in Fife where he became involved with The Treasurer of the Labour Party is a position on the National Executive Committee of the British Labour Party. For the US congressional representative from Indiana see Arthur H James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the George Lansbury ( 21 February 1859 &ndash 7 May 1940) was a British Politician, socialist, Christian pacifistDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic