The Right Honourable William Adamson |
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Leader of the Labour Party | |
In office October 1917 – February 1921 |
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Preceded by | Arthur Henderson |
Succeeded by | J. R. Clynes |
Personal details | |
Born | 2 April 1863 Dunfermline, Fife |
Died | 23 February 1936 |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Labour |
Alma mater | None |
William Adamson (2 April 1863 – 23 February 1936) was a Scottish trade unionist and Labour politician. He was Leader of the Labour Party between 1917 and 1921 and served as Secretary of State for Scotland in 1924 and between 1929 and 1931 in the first two Labour administrations headed by Ramsay MacDonald.
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Adamson was born in Dunfermline, Fife, and was educated at a local dame school. He worked as a miner in Fife where he became involved with the National Union of Mineworkers. Between 1902 and 1908 he was Assistant Secretary of the Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan Miners' Association.[1]
Active with the new Labour Party, Adamson was first elected to Parliament for West Fife in the December 1910 general election[2][3] and became leader of the party in 1917, a position he held until 1921.[1] In 1918 he was sworn of the Privy Council.[4] He served as Secretary for Scotland and Secretary of State for Scotland in 1924[1][5] and between 1929 and 1931[1][6] in the Labour governments of Ramsay MacDonald.
However, he split with MacDonald after the formation of the National Government. Adamson lost his seat in the 1931 election which he contested for Labour against MacDonald's coalition.[1] He stood again in the 1935 election but again failed to take the seat, losing on this occasion to William Gallacher of the Communist Party of Great Britain.
Adamson died in February 1936, aged 72.
Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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Preceded by John Deans Hope |
Member of Parliament for West Fife Dec. 1910–1931 |
Succeeded by Charles Black Milne |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Arthur Henderson |
Leader of the British Labour Party 1917–1921 |
Succeeded by J. R. Clynes |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by The Viscount Novar |
Secretary for Scotland 1924 |
Succeeded by Sir John Gilmour, Bt |
Preceded by Sir John Gilmour, Bt |
Secretary of State for Scotland 1929-1931 |
Succeeded by Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bt |
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