James Ramsey MacDonald Biography

Birth of James Ramsey MacDonald

Appointed Member of Independent Labour Party

Appointed First Secretary of the Labour Party, 1st term

The Independent Labour Party nominee Ramsay MacDonald is elected as Secretary of the Labour Representation Committee

The Labour Represention Committee is founded at a Conference in London

During the "Khaki election" the new Labour Party has only £33 expenses and wins just 62,698 votes

During the "Khaki election" the new Labour Party has only £33 expenses and wins just 62,698 votes

Support for the LRC is boosted by the Taff Vale Case, a dispute between strikers and a railway company that ended with the union being ordered to pay £23,000 damages for a strike

The acquiescence to the Taff Vale Case of the Conservative Government to business interests (traditional allies of the Liberal Party in opposition to the Conservative's landed interests) intensified support for the LRC against a government that appeared to have little concern for workers

Appointed Member of London County Council

Support for the LRC is boosted by the Taff Vale Case, a dispute between strikers and a railway company that ended with the union being ordered to pay £23,000 damages for a strike

The Taff Vale judgement effectively made strikes illegal since employers could recoup the cost of lost business from the unions

The acquiescence to the Taff Vale Case of the Conservative Government to business interests (traditional allies of the Liberal Party in opposition to the Conservative's landed interests) intensified support for the LRC against a government that appeared to have little concern for workers

Publication of "Socialism and Society"

Appointed First Secretary of the Labour Party, 2nd term

The LRC ins 29 seats, helped by a secret Gladstone¿MacDonald pact in 1903 between Ramsay MacDonald and Liberal Chief Whip Herbert Gladstone to avoid splitting the opposition vote between Labour and Liberal candidates

Elected Member of Parliament for Leicester

Appointed Party Leader of the Labour Party, 1st term

The LRC ins 29 seats, helped by a secret Gladstone¿MacDonald pact in 1903 between Ramsay MacDonald and Liberal Chief Whip Herbert Gladstone to avoid splitting the opposition vote between Labour and Liberal candidates

Publication of "Labour and the Empire"

Publication of "Socialism & Government"

Appointed Party Leader of the Labour Party, 2nd term

Appointed Treasurer

Publication of "Labour and the Empire"

Publication of "The Social Unrest". Publication of "The Awakening of India"

Publication of "The Social Unrest". Publication of "The Awakening of India"

Loses the leadership due to his opposition to World War 1

Resigns the Party leadership because of British involvement in World War I

Publication of "The Government of India". Publication of "Parliament and Revolution"

Publication of "The Government of India". Publication of "Parliament and Revolution"

Loses the Woolwich election because of his anti-war record

Elected Member of Parliament for Aberavon

Appointed Party Leader of the Labour Party, 2nd term. Appointed Party Leader of the Labour Party

Labour come 2nd with 138 seats

The Labour Party win 30.7% of votes cast & 191 MPs

Britain recognozes the Soviet Government & makes plans for a loan

The Zinoviev letter published by the Daily Mail loses the Labour Party the election. After election week the Zinoviev letter is shown to be a forgery

The Labour Party wins 33.3% of votes cast & 151 MPs

A Cabinet Committee proposes a national grid

Liberals & Conservatives vote against the Government on a "Workers Weekly" article

The Zinoviev letter published by the Daily Mail loses the Labour Party the election. An alleged letter from Zinoviev calls for Labour Party communists to revolt. After election week the Zinoviev letter is shown to be a forgery

Appointed Secretary of the Labour Party

Appointed Foreign Minister

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term

Hosts a Conference to discuss the implementation of the Dawes Plan

Hosts a Conference to discuss the implementation of the Dawes Plan

Persuades Germany to sign for fresh agreements on peace & reparaions

Hosts a Conference to discuss the implementation of the Dawes Plan

The French agree to the Dawes Plan

The USA & Great Britain sign an agreement for complete parity in all naval vessels

The USA & Great Britain sign an agreement for complete parity in all naval vessels

MacDonald forms the new Labour Government

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term

Labour wins 37.1% of votes cast & 287 MPs

British troops restore order in Palestine

Britain & Russia resume diplomatic relations

The tonnage ratio for US, British & Japanese cruiser fleets will be 10:10:7. The resolutions of the Washington conference of 1922 are reinforced

Opens the London conference on naval disarmament

Unemployment reaches 2,000,000

The Irish demand independence

Opening day of the Imperial Conference

Recommends an end to Jewish immigration into Palestine in the Passfield White Paper

Recommends an end to Jewish immigration into Palestine in the Passfield White Paper

Recommends an end to Jewish immigration into Palestine in the Passfield White Paper

A conference on India opens in London

Concluding day, agrees on the nature of Dominion status

The election takes place during a run on the pound & divisions over expenditure cuts. Calls an election to ask for a "doctors mandate" for the National Government

MacDonald continues in office by leaving the Labour Party

The Cabinet is split over MacDonalds cuts in employment benefit

The May Report announces a budget deficit of 120 million pounds

The May Report announces a budget deficit of 120 million pounds

The May Report announces a budget deficit of 120 million pounds

The Cabinet splits over the need for economy cuts

Resigns to head a National Coalition Government & seek general financial confidence

George V asks MacDonald to form a National Government

Resigns in order to head a National Coalition Government to seek financial confidence

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain 3rd term

Conservative 470, Labour 52, Liberals 33 & others 5 seats. A victory for the National Government. 554 seats for the national Government, 470 Tories & 52 Labour

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term

The Statute of Westminster provides for a course of independence for the Dominions

The Statute of Westminster provides for a course of independence for the Dominions

Samuels Liberals resign from the national Government over imperial preference

The Lytton Report on the conflict between China and Japan accuses Japan of being the aggressor

The Lytton Report on the conflict between China and Japan accuses Japan of being the aggressor

A pact between France, Germany, Great Britain and Italy is signed

Appointed Lord President of the Council

Resigns due to ill health

Resigns due to ill health

Death of James Ramsey MacDonald, aboard "Reina del Pacifico" crossing the Atlantic