Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940,) fully Arthur Neville Chamberlain, was a British Conservative political leader, who served as prime minister 1937–40. He promoted appeasement towards the fascist powers in the 1930s.
Born in Birmingham, Neville was the son of the politician Joseph Chamberlain. Educated at Rugby and Birmingham University, Neville was Lord Mayor of Birmingham 1915–16 and a Conservative member of parliament from 1918. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer 1923–24 and 1931–37, Minister for Health 1924–29, and became prime minister in 1937.
As prime minister, Chamberlain confronted Adolf Hitler’s threat to European peace with a policy of appeasement towards Germany, Italy, and Japan. In 1938, he signed the Munich Agreement surrendering the Sudetenland to Germany.
Following Hitler’s invasion of Poland, Chamberlain declared war in September 1939. Chamberlain’s war leadership proved inadequate, and Winston Churchill replaced him after the loss of Norway.
Nicholas Milton’s Neville Chamberlain’s Legacy: Hitler, Munich and the Path to War is due in 2020.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Neville Chamberlain
How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas masks here because of a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing. It seems still more impossible that a quarrel which has already been settled in principle should be the subject of war.
—Neville Chamberlain
We should seek by all means in our power to avoid war, by analyzing possible causes, by trying to remove them, by discussion in a spirit of collaboration and good will. I cannot believe that such a program would be rejected by the people of this country, even if it does mean the establishment of personal contact with the dictators.
—Neville Chamberlain
Thrift is that habit of character that prompts one to work for what he gets, to earn what is paid him; to invest a part of his earnings; to spend wisely and well; to save, but not hoard.
—Neville Chamberlain
Topics: Thrift
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Ramsay MacDonald British Head of State
Winston Churchill British Head of State
David Lloyd George British Liberal Statesman
Harold Macmillan British Head of State
Benjamin Disraeli British Head of State
William Ewart Gladstone English Liberal Statesman
Margaret Thatcher British Head of State
Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor American-born British Politician
E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax British Politician
Oliver Cromwell British Head of State