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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Stanley Baldwin
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(1867–1947, earl Baldwin 1937) Conservative politician who was prime minister three times (1923–4, 1924–9, 1935–7) and whose terms of office included two major political crises, the *General Strike and the *abdication. His cultivated image of being a plain man, typical of the average citizen, was to some extent justified (in spite of considerable family wealth from coal mines and steel mills) and it helped him in coping with each of these problems. He entered parliament in 1908.
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After various ministerial appointments in Lloyd George's coalition governments, he took a prominent stand against continuing the coalition when he supported Bonar *Law in the *Carlton Club meeting of 1922; and when Law became prime minister after the resulting election, Baldwin was made chancellor of the exchequer. Illness then forced Law to resign (1923) and Baldwin succeeded him as prime minister. For the rest of his political career he alternated the premiership with Ramsay *MacDonald, serving under him in the *national government from 1931 to 1935 and then following him at its head. In 1937 he retired and was succeeded by Neville *Chamberlain.
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