Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee was born on the 3rd of January 1883 in Putney, Surrey. He grew up in a two-storey villa with a large garden and tennis court. Three servants and a gardener worked for his family. His father Henry Attlee was a wealthy London solicitor who served as president of the Law Society of England and Wales. The elder Attlee inherited family interests in milling and brewing before becoming a senior partner at Druces law firm. Clement attended Northaw Place preparatory school at age nine. In 1896 he followed his brothers to Haileybury College where he was a middling student. Frederick Webb Headley influenced him with Darwinist views during those years. At Oxford University College from 1901, Attlee read modern history alongside his brother Tom. They received generous stipends from their father and embraced rowing, reading and socializing. A tutor later described him as level-headed and industrious but lacking brilliance of style. He graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1904 with second-class honours. After training as a barrister at Inner Temple, he called to bar in March 1906. He worked briefly at his father's firm Druces and Attlee without enjoying legal work. Football played for non-League club Fleet occupied some of his time.
In 1906 Attlee became volunteer at Haileybury House charitable club for working-class boys in Stepney East End London. From 1907 to 1909 he served as the club manager until then his political views remained conservative. Shock struck him when witnessing poverty and deprivation among slum children. Private charity proved insufficient to alleviate suffering according to his new conviction. Direct action and income redistribution by state would have serious effect only. This sparked conversion to socialism that transformed his entire worldview. He joined Independent Labour Party ILP in 1908 becoming active local politics. Following father death November 1908 Attlee gave up legal career devoting himself to politics and social work. Father left him income £400 per year. In 1909 he stood unsuccessfully first election as ILP candidate Stepney Borough Council. Beatrice Webb employed him briefly secretary 1909 before Toynbee Hall position. He toured country explaining Chancellor David Lloyd George National Insurance Act summer 1911 bicycle. Tour covered Essex Somerset regions public meetings explained policy details. Year later became lecturer London School Economics teaching social science public administration. His transformation from imperialist conservative to committed socialist occurred through direct exposure to urban poverty.
Outbreak First World War August 1914 prompted Attlee apply join British Army initially application turned down age thirty-one seen too old. Eventually commissioned temporary lieutenant 6th Service Battalion South Lancashire Regiment the 30th of September 1914. Promoted captain the 9th of February 1915 appointed battalion adjutant the 14th of March. 6th South Lancashires part 38th Brigade 13th Western Division serving Gallipoli campaign Turkey. Decision fight caused rift older brother Tom conscientious objector spent much war prison period fighting Gallipoli collapsed falling ill dysentery put ship bound England recover. Woke wanting get back action possible asked let off ship Malta staying hospital recover. Hospitalisation coincided Battle Sari Bair seeing large number comrades killed. Returning informed company chosen hold final lines during evacuation Suvla Bay. Penultimate man evacuated last being General Stanley Maude. Later served Mesopotamian campaign what now Iraq April 1916 badly wounded hit leg shrapnel friendly fire storming enemy trench during Battle Hanna. Battle unsuccessful attempt relieve Siege Kut many fellow soldiers also wounded killed. Sent firstly India then back UK recover. the 18th of December 1916 transferred Heavy Section Machine Gun Corps the 1st of March 1917 promoted temporary rank major leading known Major Attlee inter-war period. Spent most 1917 training soldiers various locations England. From 2 to the 9th of July 1917 temporary commanding officer newly formed L later 10th Battalion Tank Corps Bovington Camp Dorset. From the 9th of July assumed command 30th Company same battalion did not deploy France December 1917 transferred back South Lancashire Regiment the 28th of November. After fully recovering injuries sent France June 1918 serve Western Front final months war. Discharged Army January 1919 returned Stepney old job lecturing part-time London School Economics.
Returned local politics immediate post-war period becoming mayor Metropolitan Borough Steponey one London deprived inner-city boroughs 1919. Council undertook action tackle slum landlords charging high rents refusing spend money keeping property habitable condition. Council served enforced legal orders homeowners repair property appointed health visitors sanitary inspectors reducing infant mortality rate took action find work returning unemployed ex-servicemen. Wrote first book The Social Worker 1920 setting out principles informing political philosophy underpinning government actions later years. Book attacked idea looking after poor could left voluntary action wrote civilised community composed self-reliant individuals some persons unable look lives periods question what happen solved three ways neglected cared organised community right left goodwill individuals community charity possible loss dignity equals right established law less galling allowance made rich man poor dependent view recipient character terminable caprice. George Lansbury Labour mayor neighbouring Poplar launched Poplar Rates Rebellion campaign disobedience seeking equalise poor relief burden across all London boroughs 1921. Attlee personal friend Lansbury strongly supported rebellion Herbert Morrison Labour mayor nearby Hackney main figures London Labour Party strongly denounced Lansbury rebellion developed lifelong dislike Morrison. At 1922 general election became Member Parliament constituency Limehouse Stepney admired Ramsay MacDonald helped get elected Labour Party leader 1922 leadership election served MacDonald Parliamentary Private Secretary brief 1922 parliament. First taste ministerial office came 1924 serving Under-Secretary State War short-lived first Labour government led MacDonald.
Remained Leader Opposition Second World War broke September 1939 ensuing disastrous Norwegian campaign resulted motion no confidence Neville Chamberlain. Although Chamberlain survived reputation administration badly publicly damaged clear coalition government necessary. Even personally prepared serve under Chamberlain emergency coalition government never able carry Labour with him. Consequently Chamberlain tendered resignation Labour Conservatives entered coalition government led Winston Churchill the 10th of May 1940 joining Cabinet Lord Privy Seal the 12th of May. Attlee Churchill quickly agreed War Cabinet consist three Conservatives initially Churchill Chamberlain Lord Halifax two Labour members initially himself Arthur Greenwood Labour should have slightly more than third posts coalition government. Attlee Greenwood played vital role supporting Churchill series War Cabinet debates whether negotiate peace terms Hitler following Fall France May 1940 supported gave majority needed War Cabinet continue Britain resistance. Only Attlee Churchill remained War Cabinet formation Government National Unity May 1940 through election 1945. Initially Lord Privy before becoming Britain first ever Deputy Prime Minister 1942 Dominions Secretary Lord President Council the 28th of September 1943. Generally low key vital role wartime government working behind scenes committees ensure smooth operation government pivotal British war effort home front. Coalition government three inter-connected committees effectively ran country Churchill chaired first two War cabinet Defence Committee Attlee deputising answering Parliament when Churchill absent instituted later chaired third body Lord President's Committee responsible overseeing domestic affairs. Arrangement suited men concerned most overseeing war effort. Largely created arrangements Churchill backing streamlining machinery government abolishing many committees acted conciliator government smoothing tensions frequently arose Labour Conservative Ministers. Many Labour activists baffled top leadership role man regarded little charisma Beatrice Webb wrote diary early 1940 looked spoke like insignificant elderly clerk distinction voice manner substance discourse realise little nonentity Parliamentary Leader Labour Party presumably future P.M pitiable.
Attlee government committed rebuilding British society ethical commonwealth using public ownership controls abolish extremes wealth poverty Labour ideology contrasted sharply contemporary Conservative Party defence individualism inherited privileges income inequality. On the 5th of July 1948 Clement Attlee replied letter dated the 22nd of June James Murray ten other MPs raised concerns West Indians arrived board Empire Windrush ship. Health Minister Aneurin Bevan fought hard against general disapproval medical establishment including British Medical Association creating National Health Service 1948 publicly funded healthcare system offered treatment all regardless income free charge point use. Reflecting pent-up demand long existed medical services NHS treated some 8.5 million dental patients dispensed more than 5 million pairs spectacles first year operation. Consultants benefited new system paid salaries providing acceptable standard living need resort private practice. Brought major improvements health working-class people deaths diphtheria pneumonia tuberculosis significantly reduced. Funds allocated modernisation extension schemes aimed improving administrative efficiency made nursing accommodation recruit more nurses reduce labour shortages keeping 60,000 beds out use efforts made reduce imbalance excess fever tuberculosis TB beds shortage maternity beds. BCG vaccinations introduced protection medical students midwives nurses contacts patients tuberculosis pension scheme set employees newly established NHS National Health Service Superannuation Regulations 1947 laid provisions beneficiaries officer pension retiring allowance injury allowance short service gratuity death gratuity widow's pension supplementary payments special classes officers allocation part pension injury allowance spouse dependent. Radioactive Substances Act 1948 set general provisions control radioactive substances numerous lesser reforms introduced great benefit certain segments British society mentally deficient blind. Between 1948 1951 Attlee government increased spending health £6 billion £11 billion increase over 80% 2.1% 3.6% GDP.
Foreign affairs Attlee government concerned four main issues post-war Europe onset Cold War establishment United Nations decolonisation. First two closely related Attlee assisted Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin attended later stages Potsdam Conference negotiated President Harry S Truman Joseph Stalin. Immediate aftermath war Government faced challenge managing relations Britain former wartime ally Stalin Soviet Union. Ernest Bevin passionate anti-communist based largely experience fighting communist influence trade union movement. Initial approach USSR foreign secretary wary suspicious automatically hostile. Attlee himself sought warm relations Stalin put trust United Nations rejected notions Soviet Union bent world conquest warned treating Moscow enemy turn one. Put sword point Foreign Office military all saw Soviets growing threat Britain role Middle East. Suddenly January 1947 Attlee reversed position agreed Bevin hardline anti-Soviet policy early goodwill gesture heavily criticised Attlee government allowed Soviets purchase under terms 1946 UK-USSR Trade agreement total 25 Rolls-Royce Nene jet engines September 1947 March 1948. Agreement included not use military purposes price fixed commercial contract total 55 jet engines sold USSR 1947. However Cold War intensified period Soviets well behind West jet technology reverse-engineered Nene installed own version MiG-15 interceptor used good effect US-UK forces subsequent Korean War several later MiG models. After Stalin took political control most Eastern Europe began subvert other governments Balkans Attlee Bevin worst fears Soviet intentions realised. Attlee Cabinet instrumental creation successful NATO defence alliance protect Western Europe against any Soviet expansion crucial contribution economic stability post-war Europe Attlee Cabinet instrumental promoting American Marshall Plan economic recovery Europe called one most bold enlightened good-natured acts history nations.
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Common questions
When was Clement Attlee born and where did he grow up?
Clement Richard Attlee was born on the 3rd of January 1883 in Putney, Surrey. He grew up in a two-storey villa with a large garden and tennis court.
What event caused Clement Attlee to convert from conservative views to socialism?
Witnessing poverty and deprivation among slum children while volunteering at Haileybury House charitable club sparked his conversion to socialism. This experience led him to believe that direct action and income redistribution by state would have serious effect only.
How long did Clement Attlee serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
Clement Attlee served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951. His government committed rebuilding British society using public ownership controls to abolish extremes wealth and poverty.
Which major social reforms were implemented during the Clement Attlee government between 1948 and 1951?
The Clement Attlee government created the National Health Service in 1948 which offered treatment all regardless income free charge point use. Between 1948 1951 Attlee government increased spending health £6 billion £11 billion increase over 80% 2.1% 3.6% GDP.
Who was Clement Attlee's partner in the coalition government formed on the 10th of May 1940?
Winston Churchill became Prime Minister when Clement Attlee joined Cabinet Lord Privy Seal the 12th of May 1940. Attlee later became Britain first ever Deputy Prime Minister 1942 Dominions Secretary Lord President Council the 28th of September 1943.