David Lloyd George Biography

Birth of David Lloyd George

Elected Member of Parliament

Appointed President of the Board of Trade

Serves under Campbell-Bannerman

Appointed President of the Board of Trade

Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Old Age Pensions Act creates non-contributory pensions for eligible elderly people.

Signs the registar for Churchills marriage to Clementine Hozier

Raises taxes on upper incomes & large Estates

Uses land taxation to help finance expanding social expenditure.

Proposes taxes based on increases in land values.

Lloyd George presents a redistributive budget financing welfare and naval expenditure through higher taxation.

Introduces welfare finance later linked to social reform thinking.

Introduces the Peoples Budget to the House of Commons.

Proposes new taxes on land, high incomes and estates.

Defends the Peoples Budget in a forceful Limehouse speech.

Attacks inherited wealth and argues for progressive taxation.

Sends the controversial budget measure to the House of Lords.

Secures the Finance Bills third reading in the Commons.

Finance Bill, the 3rd reading of the Finance Bill is passed in the House of Commons

The Lords reject the Budget by 350 votes to 75

Finance Bill, The Finance Bill is rejected by the House of Lords, 350 votes to 75

The Budget is presented to the House of Commons & passes by 324 votes to 231

The Lords passes the Budget without a division

Secures Royal Assent for the Finance Act.

Finally enacts the disputed People's Budget after constitutional conflict.

Participates in cross-party negotiations over House of Lords powers.

Explores compromise during the constitutional conference.

Considers a Grand Coalition to resolve the constitutional crisis

The 3rd reading of the Finance Bill is carried in the House of Commons

The Finance Bill is rejected in the Lords by 350 votes to 75. The Commons is prorogued & a general election campaign begins

The Commons is prorogued & a general election campaign begins

Introduces Health & Unemployment Insurance

Responsible for Part I of the National Insurance Act, introducing Health Insurance

Introduces Health & Unemployment Insurance

Signals British willingness to defend its international position.

Warns Germany not to endanger peace over Morocco during his Mansion House speech. The Germans call Lloyd-Georges Mansion House speech, "warning bordering on menace"

Warns Germany against threatening British interests during the Agadir crisis.

The Germans call Lloyd-Georges Mansion House speech, "warning bordering on menace"

Creates contributory health and unemployment insurance for covered workers.

Establishes contributory protection against sickness and unemployment.

Secures Royal Assent for the National Insurance Act.

The National Insurance Act creates contributory health and unemployment insurance schemes.

Creates health insurance for many workers, a precursor to later NHS debates.

Secures enactment of the National Insurance Act.

Purchases shares in Marconi after the Government agrees a contract with them

Brings national health insurance contributions into operation.

Extends contributory medical and sickness benefits to insured workers.

Provisional Collection of Taxes Act makes the Budget law after read in Parliament

Provisional Collection of Taxes Act makes the Budget law after read in Parliament

Provisional Collection of Taxes Act makes the Budget law after read in Parliament

Exonerated of illegally dealing in Marconi shares by a debate in the House of Commons

Uses a major Bedford speech to promote rural social reform.

Launches a campaign advocating reform of land ownership and taxation.

Emergency bank holidays and debt moratoria help contain financial panic at the outbreak of war.

Emergency currency legislation restricts gold payments and introduces Treasury notes during the war.

Appointed Minister of Munitions

Suggests an attack on Turkey or Austria to end the deadlock in western front

Lloyd George establishes central control over weapons production, labour and industrial supplies.

The Government calls a truce & leaves the Republicans in control of much of the South

The Government calls a truce & leaves the Republicans in control of much of the South

The Government calls a truce & leaves the Republicans in control of much of the South

Rejects Betmanns Peace Note & demands the defeat of Germany by a "knock out blow"

Forms a 5 man War Cabinet, himself, Bonar Law, Curzon & Milner

Appointed Secretary for War

At a conference in Chantilly in November 1916, and a series of subsequent meetings, the Entente agreed on an offensive strategy where they would overwhelm the Central Powers by means of attacks on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts

Lloyd George sought to find ways of avoiding a repeat of the British casualties involved in the Battle of the Somme, and proposed an alternative strategy at a conference in Rome, which would involve the offensive being focused on the Italian front.

The new French Commander in Chief, Robert Nivelle, believed that a concentrated attack by French forces on the Western Front in Spring 1917 could break the German front and lead to a quick victory.

The new French Commander in Chief, Robert Nivelle, believed that a concentrated attack by French forces on the Western Front in Spring 1917 could break the German front and lead to a quick victory

Creates a permanent secretariat to record War Cabinet conclusions and circulate papers systematically.

Establishes central food control to manage imports, prices and supplies during wartime shortages.

Builds a small advisory staff around Downing Street to collect statistics and bypass departmental delay.

Uses Maurice Hankey's organisation to provide the War Cabinet with continuous records and coordinated information.

Creates a dedicated shipping ministry to control scarce merchant tonnage during the submarine crisis.

Creates machinery for directing civilian labour toward military and essential industrial needs.

Introduces frequent War Cabinet meetings as the central mechanism for directing the war.

Resigns from Asquiths Coalition Government

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term

Accepts the premiership after Asquith resigns and begins forming a new coalition government.

Creates a small War Cabinet intended to accelerate strategic and administrative decisions.

Confirms Curzon, Bonar Law, Milner and Henderson as colleagues in the new War Cabinet.

Promises more concentrated control of manpower, shipping, food and strategy under the new administration.

Addresses the Commons on the new government's policy and the scale of the national war effort.

An Act is passed giving women the vote for the 1st time, includes 6 million women

Expands imperial consultation so Dominion governments can contribute to common strategy.

Orders closer government supervision of food stocks, imports and domestic production.

Backs measures to increase British agricultural output and reduce dependence on imported food.

Invites Dominion prime ministers to take part directly in high-level wartime deliberations.

Makes merchant shipping capacity a central War Cabinet concern as losses and imports tighten.

Supports stronger organisation of civilian labour for munitions, transport and essential services.

Arrested for a plot to murder Lloyd George on a golf course

The Wheeldon family is arrested for the attempted murder of Lloyd George

Attends Allied discussions in Rome and argues for greater attention to the Italian front.

Outlines his war aims in a speech to TU delegates at Central Hall, Westminster

Presses an alternative Allied strategy intended to avoid another Somme-scale battle in France.

Directs departments to reduce unnecessary use of merchant tonnage and protect essential imports.

Reviews emergency measures after Germany announces unrestricted submarine warfare.

Links increased home production with the need to reduce pressure on vulnerable merchant shipping.

Places food, munitions and essential raw materials ahead of less critical imports.

Announces restrictions on imports to conserve merchant shipping for food and war materials.

Warns Parliament that solving the shipping shortage is essential to Allied success.

Backs cultivation measures intended to increase grain production and reduce import dependence.

Supports limiting publication of detailed shipping losses to deny useful information to Germany.

Supports Allied relations with the new Russian authorities after the fall of the Tsar.

Reviews the growing financial requirements of the war with senior ministers.

Suggests a conference of Irish representatives as a route toward wartime political settlement.

Presents proposals intended to reopen negotiations over Irish self-government during the war.

States that Home Rule cannot be imposed on areas of Ulster that reject it.

Welcomes the capture of Baghdad as an important success in the Mesopotamian campaign.

Promotes closer cooperation with the United States on finance, shipping and military supply.

Reviews the British offensive at Arras within the wider Allied spring strategy.

Supports stronger convoy protection as submarine losses threaten Britain's supply system.

Presides over meetings bringing British and Dominion leaders together for common wartime policy.

Supports wider imperial discussions on war policy and the future constitutional relationship of the Empire.

Reassesses Allied strategy as the French spring offensive fails to produce the expected breakthrough.

Welcomes American entry into the war as a major reinforcement of the Allied coalition.

Defends wartime controls intended to prevent hostile material circulating through foreign channels.

Sends Arthur Henderson to Russia to assess political conditions and Allied cooperation.

Proposes a representative convention to seek an agreed settlement of the Irish constitutional question.

Backs the adoption of escorted convoys for merchant ships facing the U-boat campaign.

Supports continued Allied cooperation after Philippe Petain replaces Nivelle in French command.

Orders further measures to conserve tonnage while the convoy system begins reducing losses.

Monitors the French Army crisis after failed offensives and widespread indiscipline.

Backs measures intended to reduce wheat consumption and conserve imported grain.

Supports stronger public economy in food consumption as shipping shortages continue.

The Government appeals to farmers to use more women workers

Welcomes the successful British attack at Messines as a major tactical achievement.

Pays tribute in Parliament to Major William Redmond after his death during the Messines fighting.

Supports closer examination of wartime spending as government expenditure continues to rise.

Reviews merchant losses as the expanding convoy system begins improving protection.

Examines the strategic case for the Flanders offensive proposed by the military command.

Defends the proposed Irish Convention as a means of seeking agreement without imposing a settlement.

Keeps the progress and cost of the Ypres offensive under War Cabinet review.

Strengthens central efforts to move labour into essential wartime industries and services.

Considers Pope Benedict XV's peace proposals while maintaining Allied demands for a durable settlement.

Opposes government participation in the proposed international socialist peace conference at Stockholm.

Accepts Arthur Henderson's resignation after disagreement over participation in the Stockholm socialist conference.

Approves transfer of British formations to help stabilise the Italian front.

Coordinates emergency Allied military support for Italy following the Caporetto defeat.

Reviews the mounting casualties and limited gains produced by the Flanders campaign.

Moves to reinforce Italy after the Austro-German breakthrough at Caporetto.

Supports a new permanent mechanism for coordinating Allied strategy after the Italian crisis.

Helps establish the Allied Supreme War Council after the Caporetto crisis.

Promotes creation of the Supreme War Council to coordinate Allied strategy.

Supports a permanent Allied body to coordinate operations on common fronts.

Explains to Parliament the agreement for closer Allied strategic coordination.

Pays parliamentary tribute after the deaths of General Stanley Maude and Neil Primrose.

Argues that stronger coordination among the Allies is essential to the conduct of the war.

Welcomes the British capture of Jerusalem during the Palestine campaign.

Wins the 1st post war "coupon" election. The Liberal Party wins 25.6% of votes cast & 163 MPs

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term

Reviews Allied and German manpower resources as divisions are transferred from the Eastern Front.

Supports wider compulsory rationing to protect civilian supplies during the final year of war.

Calls for younger men in essential industries to be replaced where possible and transferred to the forces.

States that the government will not yet extend compulsory military service to Ireland.

Presents new measures to release more men from industry for military service.

Defends further military service legislation as necessary to meet the army's manpower needs.

Supports Henry Wilson's appointment following Robertson's resignation.

Accepts Robertson's departure as Chief of the Imperial General Staff after the Versailles dispute.

Backs stronger Allied machinery at Versailles for coordinating reserves and strategy.

Welcomes legislation expanding the electorate while the war continues.

Explains the government's disagreement with Sir William Robertson over Allied strategic coordination.

Defends proposals for an Allied reserve controlled through common strategic machinery.

Presses for unified Allied command as German forces threaten the British and French armies.

Backs expansion of Foch's powers as the German offensive continues.

Answers criticism of government relations with newspapers and wartime information management.

Uses council meetings to press for unified Allied strategy.

Defends Lord Pirrie's appointment to strengthen merchant shipbuilding administration.

Confronts the emergency created by the opening German offensive on the Western Front.

Supports the agreement giving Ferdinand Foch authority to coordinate Allied armies in France.

Supports the elevation of Foch to wider command authority over Allied operations.

The Royal Airforce is founded

Highlights the contribution of Dominion troops during the German spring offensive.

Introduces emergency legislation to expand the pool of men available for military service.

Argues that Ireland can no longer remain excluded from compulsory military service.

Combines the conscription proposal with a renewed commitment to Irish self-government legislation.

Proposes raising the maximum military service age in response to the manpower emergency.

Reviews the German spring offensive and warns that the war has entered a critical phase.

Secures expanded military service powers during the emergency on the Western Front.

Reports on losses and reinforcements after the first phase of the German spring offensives.

Backs use of Allied shipping capacity to accelerate the arrival of United States forces.

Supports arrangements to speed the movement of American troops to the Western Front.

Answers General Maurice's public accusations concerning army strength and government statements.

Defeats the parliamentary challenge arising from the Maurice controversy and retains Commons support.

Defends official figures used to describe British manpower on the Western Front.

Reviews the new German attack on the Aisne as Allied forces face another major crisis.

The Cabinet forms the National Iron & Steel Industry Council

The Cabinet forms the Economic, Defence & Development Committee

The Cabinet forms the National Iron & Steel Industry Council

The Cabinet forms the National Iron & Steel Industry Council

The Cabinet forms the Economic, Defence & Development Committee

Reports the failure of the Austrian offensive in Italy as an important Allied success.

Praises the Italian resistance that defeats the Austrian attack along the Piave.

Reviews reinforcements and manpower after the heavy fighting of the spring.

Highlights the growing military importance of United States forces in the final Allied offensives.

Backs continued Allied attacks as German armies retreat from positions gained earlier in the year.

Reports improving Allied prospects after the failure of Germany's spring offensives.

Welcomes the Allied attack at Amiens as the strategic initiative begins shifting decisively.

Reviews Allied attacks breaking through the German defensive system on the Western Front.

Welcomes Bulgaria's armistice as the first collapse among Germany's principal allies.

Works with Allied leaders to establish military conditions for ending hostilities with Germany.

Considers Germany's request for an armistice and negotiations based on President Wilson's principles.

The Ottoman Empire ends hostilities with the Allies.

Turkey surrenders to the Allies

Reviews the strategic consequences of the Ottoman withdrawal from the war.

Reviews the final Allied military conditions to be imposed before hostilities can cease.

Austria-Hungary exits the war under Allied armistice terms.

Austria surrenders to the Allies

Explains the military and political consequences of Austria-Hungary leaving the war.

Reports to Parliament on Allied conferences dealing with Turkey, Austria-Hungary and Germany.

Announces the signed armistice terms and confirms that fighting will cease at eleven o'clock.

Addresses Parliament and the country as four years of war end with the German armistice.

German acceptance of Allied terms ends fighting on the Western Front.

Germany surrenders to the Allies

Announces the Kaiser should be prosecuted by an international court

Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos

Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos

Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos

Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos

Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos

Moves from wartime council work into peace conference diplomacy.

The Sinn Fein decalre the foundation of the Irish Republic

Lloyd George receives Allied proposals defining a provisional eastern limit for Polish administration north of Kholm while reserving claims farther east.

Allied experts present alternative Lines A and B for Eastern Galicia, differing over whether Lwow and the Drohobych oil region should remain with Poland.

The Allied leadership authorizes Poland to occupy Eastern Galicia to the Zbrucz while postponing a final sovereignty settlement.

Signs the settlement containing the League Covenant.

The Commission on Polish Affairs recommends recognizing complete Polish sovereignty west of its proposed eastern line while leaving claims beyond it unresolved.

A new Home Rule Bill is passed for Ireland to remain part of the Empire as a Dominion

A new Home Rule Bill proposes Parliaments in Dublin & Belfast & an all Irish Council

A new Home Rule Bill is passed for Ireland to remain part of the Empire as a Dominion

A new Home Rule Bill proposes Parliaments in Dublin & Belfast & an all Irish Council

A new Home Rule Bill is passed for Ireland to remain part of the Empire as a Dominion

A new Home Rule Bill proposes Parliaments in Dublin & Belfast & an all Irish Council

A new Home Rule Bill is passed for Ireland to remain part of the Empire as a Dominion

A new Home Rule Bill is passed for Ireland to remain part of the Empire as a Dominion

A new Home Rule Bill is passed for Ireland to remain part of the Empire as a Dominion

A new Home Rule Bill proposes Parliaments in Dublin & Belfast & an all Irish Council

Introduces a force of ex-servicemen counter the threat of the IRA

The Allies occupy Constantinople

Britain receives the Mesopotamia mandate after Ottoman defeat.

Britain receives the Palestine mandate at San Remo.

At Spa, Lloyd George supports using the previously proposed Allied eastern line as the basis for an armistice in the Polish-Soviet War.

The Allies complete the occupation of Constantinople

Under the Treaty of Sevres Turkey cedes Cyprus to Britain

Under the Treaty of Sevres a League of Nations mandate awards Transjordan to Britain

Under the Treaty of Sevres Turkey cedes Cyprus to Britain. Under the Treaty of Sevres a League of Nations mandate awards Transjordan to Britain

Miners walk out & make a claim for 2 shillings more per week

The Miners return to work

Becomes the 1st Prime Minister to reside in Chequers

An agreement is made to resume Anglo-Soviet trade relations

Northern Irelands 1st Parliament sits

The British Government & Sinn Fein agree a truce

Anglo-Irish peace talks begin

Britain signs a peace Treaty with Ireland

The Act of Union passed in 1800 is revoked after the Irish Free State is constituted

Orders the Irish to attack the IRA after the assassination of Wilson, they refuse

The Irish Free State will become part of the Commonwealth & be sovereign

The Chanak crisis leads to the downfall of the Government

The Irish Free State will become part of the Commonwealth & be sovereign

The Act of Union passed in 1800 is revoked after the Irish Free State is constituted

The Irish Free State will become part of the Commonwealth & be sovereign. The Irish agree the King should be Head of State

The Irish Free State will become part of the Commonwealth & be sovereign. The Irish agree the King should be Head of State

Orders the Irish to attack the IRA after the assassination of Wilson, they refuse

Government record concerning the IRA: Orders the Irish to attack the IRA after the assassination of Wilson, they refuse

Historical IRA record under Coalition Government: Orders the Irish to attack the IRA after the assassination of Wilson, they refuse

IRA context for David Lloyd George: Orders the Irish to attack the IRA after the assassination of Wilson, they refuse

Government record concerning the IRA: Orders the Irish to attack the IRA after the assassination of Wilson, they refuse

Historical IRA record under Coalition Government: Orders the Irish to attack the IRA after the assassination of Wilson, they refuse

IRA context for David Lloyd George: Orders the Irish to attack the IRA after the assassination of Wilson, they refuse

The Act of Union passed in 1800 is revoked after the Irish Free State is constituted

The Act of Union passed in 1800 is revoked after the Irish Free State is constituted

Great Britain grants Egypt independence

Great Britain grants Egypt independence

Great Britain grants Egypt independence

Britain declares Egypt a sovereign state, but British troops remain

Britain declares Egypt a sovereign state, but British troops remain

Britain declares Egypt a sovereign state, but British troops remain

Sultan Fuad I is crowned king of Egypt. England recognizes Egypt

Sultan Fuad I is crowned king of Egypt. England recognizes Egypt

Sultan Fuad I is crowned king of Egypt. England recognizes Egypt

Sultan Fuad I is crowned king of Egypt. England recognizes Egypt

Irish Republic rebels occupy 4 Government courts in Dublin

The Irish election produces a large majority for the pro-treaty party

The Irish Government attacks the Republicans who surrender 3 days later. Civil war continues for a year

League approval confirms British mandates in the Middle East.

The Conservatives decide to contest the election independently of the coalition

Resigns as Prime Minister

Appointed Party Leader of the Liberal Party

Heavily defeated despite leading a reunited Liberal Party

Cannot comeback due to prostrate problems & excluded from the National Government

Publication of "War Memoirs"

Visits Hitler, repoorts back that Hitler is arming for defence not attack. Impressed by Hitler's conquest of unemployment

Lloyd George votes against the Munich Agreement

Votes against the Munich Agreement

Publication of "The Truth About the Peace Treaty"

Lloyd George votes against the Munich Agreement

Votes against the Munich Agreement

Death of David Lloyd George