Rise of Neville Chamberlain

The Right Honourable Neville Chamberlain FRS
Chamberlain in 1921
Born	Arthur Neville Chamberlain (1869-03-18)18 March 1869 Edgbaston, Birmingham, England
Died	9 November 1940(1940-11-09) (aged 71) Heckfield, Hampshire, England
Resting place	Westminster Abbey
Alma mater	Mason College
Occupations	Businessman politician
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Anne de Vere Cole ​ (m. 1911)​
Children	2
Father	Joseph Chamberlain
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston
In office 30 May 1929 – 9 November 1940
Preceded by	Sir Francis Lowe
Succeeded by	Sir Peter Bennett
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood
In office 14 December 1918 – 30 May 1929
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Wilfrid Whiteley
Political offices Prime Minister of the United Kingdom In office 28 May 1937 – 10 May 1940 Monarch George VI Preceded by Stanley Baldwin Succeeded by Winston Churchill Leader of the Conservative Party In office 27 May 1937 – 9 October 1940 Preceded by Stanley Baldwin Succeeded by Winston Churchill Chairman of the Conservative Party In office 1930–1931 Preceded by J. C. C. Davidson Succeeded by The Lord Stonehaven Chancellor of the Exchequer In office 5 November 1931 – 28 May 1937 Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald Stanley Baldwin Preceded by Philip Snowden Succeeded by Sir John Simon In office 27 August 1923 – 22 January 1924 Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin Preceded by Stanley Baldwin Succeeded by Philip Snowden Minister of Health In office 25 August 1931 – 5 November 1931 Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald Preceded by Arthur Greenwood Succeeded by Hilton Young In office 6 November 1924 – 4 June 1929 Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin Preceded by John Wheatley Succeeded by Arthur Greenwood In office 7 March 1923 – 27 August 1923 Prime Minister Bonar Law Stanley Baldwin Preceded by Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen Succeeded by William Joynson-Hicks Paymaster General In office 5 February 1923 – 7 March 1923 Prime Minister Bonar Law Preceded by Tudor Walters Succeeded by William Joynson-Hicks Postmaster General In office 31 October 1922 – 5 February 1923 Prime Minister Bonar Law Preceded by Frederick Kellaway Succeeded by William Joynson-Hicks

The early life, business career and political rise of Neville Chamberlain culminated on 28 May 1937, when he was summoned to Buckingham Palace to "kiss hands" and accept the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Chamberlain had long been regarded as Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin's political heir, and when Baldwin announced his retirement, Chamberlain was seen as the only possible successor.

Chamberlain was born in 1869; his father was the politician and future Cabinet minister, Joseph Chamberlain. He was educated at Rugby School and Mason College (now Birmingham University); at neither institution was he particularly successful. After a period in a firm of chartered accountants, the younger Chamberlain spent six years in the Bahamas managing a sisal plantation in a failed attempt to recoup the family fortunes.

After returning to England in 1897, Chamberlain became a successful businessman in his home city of Birmingham. He was interested in social affairs, and successfully stood for Birmingham City Council in 1911. He became Lord Mayor of Birmingham in 1915. His second term was interrupted in December 1916 when Prime Minister David Lloyd George asked him to become Director of National Service. Chamberlain received little support from Lloyd George in the post, and his eight-month tenure sparked a hatred between the two which lasted Chamberlain's lifetime.

In 1918, Chamberlain was elected to the House of Commons, at age 49 the oldest man to enter Parliament and later become prime minister. After four years on the backbenches, Chamberlain saw rapid promotion, briefly becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer after less than a year as a minister. Chamberlain subsequently spent five years as Minister of Health, securing the passage of many reforming acts. After two years in opposition, Chamberlain became part of Ramsay MacDonald's National Government, and spent five and a half years as chancellor, directing Britain's financial policies as the nation emerged from the Depression. When Baldwin (who had replaced MacDonald as prime minister in 1935) retired in 1937, Chamberlain succeeded him.