Who was Ramsay MacDonald? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In October

Died At Age: 71

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Margaret MacDonald

children: Malcolm MacDonald

Prime Ministers Political Leaders

Died on: November 9, 1937

place of death: Atlantic Ocean

More Facts

education: Birkbeck, University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science

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1

What political party did Ramsay MacDonald belong to?

Ramsay MacDonald belonged to the Labour Party.
2

When did Ramsay MacDonald become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

Ramsay MacDonald became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1924.
3

What was Ramsay MacDonald's stance on foreign policy?

Ramsay MacDonald was known for his policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
4

What major economic crisis occurred during Ramsay MacDonald's time as Prime Minister?

The Great Depression occurred during Ramsay MacDonald's time as Prime Minister.
5

What was Ramsay MacDonald's role in the formation of the National Government in the UK?

Ramsay MacDonald was instrumental in forming the National Government in the UK during the 1930s.

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Childhood & Early Life

James Ramsay MacDonald was born on October 12, 1866 in the village of Lossiemouth in Scotland. He was the illegitimate son of John MacDonald, a plowman and a Highlander from the Black Isle of Ross, and Anne Ramsay, a housemaid.

He received his elementary education from the Free Kirk School in Lossiemouth and the Drainie Parish School. Subsequently, he worked as a pupil-teacher and later moved to Bristol to work as a clergyman’s assistant.

While working, he joined the Bristol branch of the Social Democratic Federation (SDF), a Marxist-oriented society. His went to London in 1886.

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Career

After being employed on a clerical job in London for several years, he joined the Independent Labour party (ILP), in 1894. The following year, he ran unsuccessfully as an ILP candidate for a seat in Parliament.

In 1896, he got married and subsequently became a journalist, writing for Labour and Socialist journals. Over the next few years, MacDonald rose in his career and gained reputation is the society.

In 1900, upon the formation of the Labour Representation Committee (LRC), which later transformed into the Labour Party, MacDonald was unanimously chosen its first secretary.

In 1911, he became Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

During World War I, MacDonald’s opposition to the British entry in the Great War resulted in decline of his popularity. He was heavily criticized by the press and as a result, MacDonald resigned from his post.

In 1922, MacDonald returned to the parliament and became the Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and therefore Leader of the Opposition.

In January 1924, George V asked him to form a government which resulted in the first-ever Labour government in Great Britain and MacDonald became the Prime Minister of United Kingdom. But, his administration lasted less than a year and faced heavy defeat in the elections of November 1924.

During the next five years, the Labour Party regained the lost ground due to the failure of the Baldwin government to tackle unemployment. In the 1929 elections, his party joined hands with several Liberals against the Conservative Party and as a result, the Labourites won the election and MacDonald returned to power.

During his second government, the world economic situation steadily worsened, giving rise to a mounting unemployment. Disagreement on measures to resolve this problem resulted in the division of his cabinet which brought about MacDonald's resignation in August 1931.

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Subsequently, the support of other party leaders persuaded him to include the opposition members in his government and thus, MacDonald was able to retain his position by forming a cross-party national government.

This act of coalition government soon lost him the support of many of his Labour party members who dubbed MacDonald a traitor for his action. Despite this, the new government was able to stabilize the financial situation and MacDonald continued as prime minister, with very little Labour support.

Over the years, deteriorating health greatly reduced his efficiency and in March 1935, he resigned from his post of Prime Minister and became the Lord President of the Council, a post he retained until 1937.

Major Works

Although his first Labour government in 1924 lasted less than a year, this short term established the fact that the Labour Party was amply skilled and efficient enough to run the government. This led to the return of MacDonald’s Labour government in 1929, and for the third time in 1931 as a coalition national government. A powerful orator, he also earned much public admiration for his pacifism.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1896, he married Margaret Ethel Gladstone, a feminist and social reformer. The marriage was a quite happy one, and the couple were blessed with six children. In 1911, his wife died from blood poisoning which left MacDonald devastated and he never married again.

In 1936, his condition worsened and a sea voyage was recommended to restore his health. Unfortunately, he died on November 9, 1937, aboard the liner, Reina del Pacifico, at sea, at the age of 71. After the funeral, his ashes were buried alongside his wife at Spynie in his native Morayshire.

Facts About Ramsay MacDonald

Ramsay MacDonald was the first British Prime Minister to come from a working-class background, having started his career as a teacher and journalist.

MacDonald was a prolific writer and speaker, known for his eloquence and ability to communicate complex political ideas in a clear and accessible manner.

Despite facing criticism for his leadership during the Great Depression, MacDonald was praised for his efforts to address unemployment and economic hardship through social welfare policies.

MacDonald was a dedicated family man, known for his close relationship with his children and grandchildren, who often accompanied him on official trips and engagements.

Ramsay MacDonald Biography

You wanted to know

What political party did Ramsay MacDonald belong to?

When did Ramsay MacDonald become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

What was Ramsay MacDonald's stance on foreign policy?

What major economic crisis occurred during Ramsay MacDonald's time as Prime Minister?

What was Ramsay MacDonald's role in the formation of the National Government in the UK?