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'''Clement Richard Attlee''' (3 January 1883 - 8 October 1967) was the Prime Minister of the [[United Kingdom]] from 1945 to 1951. He was a member of the [[Labour Party]], and is remembered as the leader of the strongly socialist government that was elected in the aftermath of [[World War II]]. During the war, he served as [[Winston Churchill]]'s Deputy Prime Minister.

'''Clement Richard Attlee''' (3 January 1883 - 8 October 1967) was the Prime Minister of the [[United Kingdom]] from 1945 to 1951. He was a member of the [[Labour Party]], and is remembered as the leader of the strongly socialist government that was elected in the aftermath of [[World War II]]. During the war, he served as [[Winston Churchill]]'s Deputy Prime Minister.

Attlee was born in Putney in 1883. Educated at Haileybury and University College, [[Oxford]] he became a barrister in 1906. Attlee developed an interest in social problems while doing voluntary work at a boy's club in Stepney. Converted to socialism by reading the works of John Ruskin and William Morris, in 1913 Attlee became a tutor at the [[London School of Economics.]]  

Attlee was born in Putney, a middle-class [[London]] suburb, in 1883. Educated at Haileybury and University College, [[Oxford]] he became a barrister in 1906. Attlee developed an interest in social problems while doing voluntary work at a boy's club in Stepney. Converted to socialism by reading the works of [[John Ruskin]] and [[William Morris]], in 1913 Attlee became a tutor at the [[London School of Economics.]]  

In 1914 Attlee joined the [[British Army]] and served in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia , where he was badly wounded at El Hanna. After recovering back in England, Attlee was sent to France in 1918 and served on the Western Front for the last few months of the war. By the end of the First World War Attlee reached the rank of major.  

In 1914 Attlee joined the [[British Army]] and served in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia , where he was badly wounded at El Hanna. After recovering back in England, Attlee was sent to France in 1918 and served on the Western Front for the last few months of the war. By the end of the First World War Attlee reached the rank of major.  

In 1940 Attlee joined the coalition government headed by [[Winston Churchill]]. He was virtually deputy Prime Minister although this post did not formally become his until 1942. It was afterwards claimed that during the Second World War Attlee worked as a restraining influence on some of Churchill's more wilder schemes.  

In 1940 Attlee joined the coalition government headed by [[Winston Churchill]]. He was virtually deputy Prime Minister although this post did not formally become his until 1942. It was afterwards claimed that during the Second World War Attlee worked as a restraining influence on some of Churchill's more wilder schemes.  

In the 1945 General Election Attlee lead the Labour Party to its largest victory at the polls. During his six years in office he carried through a vigorous program of reform. The [[Bank of England]], the coal mines, civil aviation, cable and wireless services, gas, electricity, railways, road transport and steel were all nationalized. The National Health Service was introduced and independence was granted to [[India]] (1947) and [[Burma]].  

In the 1945 General Election Attlee lead the Labour Party to its largest victory at the polls. During his six years in office he carried through a vigorous program of reform. The [[Bank of England]], the coal mines, civil aviation, cable and wireless services, gas, electricity, railways, road transport and steel were all nationalized. The National Health Service was introduced and independence was granted to [[India]] (1947) and [[Burma]] (1948).  

In April 1951 Attlee's already weak position (the Labour majority in the House of Commons had been reduced to six) further deteriorated when two Labour leaders, Aneurin Bevan and Harold Wilson (afterward Prime Minister), resigned from the government over the introduction of National Health-service charges, that were bitterly opposed by the public.  When the Conservatives narrowly won the election of October 1951, Attlee resigned. On yielding the party leadership in December 1955, he was created an Earl. In 1937 he published The Labour Party in Perspective and in 1954 his memoirs, "As It Happened". He was active in the House of Lords until his death in 1967. [http://www.mdlg05075.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/attlee.htm]

In April 1951 Attlee's already weak position (the Labour majority in the House of Commons had been reduced to six) further deteriorated when two Labour leaders, Aneurin Bevan and Harold Wilson (afterward Prime Minister), resigned from the government over the introduction of National Health-service charges, that were bitterly opposed by the public.  When the Conservatives narrowly won the election of October 1951, Attlee resigned. On yielding the party leadership in December 1955, he was created an Earl. In 1937 he published The Labour Party in Perspective and in 1954 his memoirs, "As It Happened". He was active in the House of Lords until his death in 1967. [http://www.mdlg05075.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/attlee.htm]

[[Category:UK Prime Ministers|Attlee, Clement]]

[[Category:UK Prime Ministers|Attlee, Clement]]