Neville Chamberlain
Prime Minister who pursued appeasement and led Britain into WWII.
Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 – 9 November 1940) served as Britain’s prime minister from May 1937 to May 1940, and led the Conservative Party from May 1937 until October 1940. He is most famous for his policy of appeasement, especially the Munich Agreement he signed on 30 September 1938, which handed over the German-speaking Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany. After Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, triggering the Second World War, Chamberlain announced Britain’s declaration of war two days later and oversaw the country during the conflict’s first eight months. He resigned as prime minister on 10 May 1940.
Before entering national politics, Chamberlain worked in business and local government, and had a brief stint as Director of National Service in 1916–1917. He followed his father, Joseph Chamberlain, and his half-brother, Austen Chamberlain, into Parliament at the 1918 general election, winning the new Birmingham Ladywood seat at age 49. He turned down a junior ministerial post and remained a backbencher until 1922. Promoted quickly, he became Minister of Health in 1923 and then Chancellor of the Exchequer. After a short Labour government, he returned as Minister of Health from 1924 to 1929, introducing several reforms. In 1931, he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in the National Government.
Chamberlain took over from Stanley Baldwin as prime minister on 28 May 1937. His time in office was dominated by how to handle an increasingly aggressive Germany, and his actions at Munich were widely popular with the British public at the time. As Hitler continued his aggression, Chamberlain promised to defend Poland’s independence if it were attacked. That alliance led Britain to declare war after Germany invaded Poland, though the resulting “Phoney War” provided no real help to Poland. The failure to stop the German invasion of Norway led to the Norway Debate in the House of Commons in May 1940. Chamberlain’s wartime leadership was heavily criticized by all parties, and in a confidence vote his government’s majority shrank dramatically. Realizing that a national government required Labour and Liberal support—which they would not give under him—Chamberlain resigned as prime minister. He was succeeded by Winston Churchill, though he remained Conservative Party leader. Until ill health forced him to step
- born
- 18 March 1869
- died
- 9 November 1940
- field
- Politics
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- Appeasement policy and the Munich Agreement
Lore & Background
Neville Chamberlain was born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, the only son of Joseph Chamberlain's second marriage. He was educated at home and at Rugby School, then at Mason College. After an unsuccessful attempt at sisal farming in the Bahamas, he entered business as managing director of Hoskins & Company, a metal ship berth manufacturer. He entered local politics, becoming Lord Mayor of Birmingham in 1915, and later served briefly as Director of National Service under David Lloyd George, a relationship marked by mutual hatred.
Chamberlain was elected to Parliament in 1918 for Birmingham Ladywood at age 49. He declined a junior ministerial post, remaining a backbencher until 1922. He was rapidly promoted to Minister of Health and then Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1923. After a short Labour government, he returned as Minister of Health from 1924 to 1929, introducing reform measures. He became Chancellor of the Exchequer again in 1931 in the National Government.
Chamberlain succeeded Stanley Baldwin as prime minister on 28 May 1937. His premiership was dominated by policy toward an increasingly aggressive Germany. The Munich Agreement was widely popular at the time. After Germany invaded Poland, Chamberlain pledged to defend Poland's independence, leading to the declaration of war. The Norway Debate in May 1940 heavily criticized his war conduct; his government's majority was greatly reduced in a vote of confidence. He resigned on 10 May 1940, succeeded by Winston Churchill. Chamberlain served as Lord President of the Council until ill health forced his resignation on 22 September 1940. He died of cancer on 9 November 1940.
Reader's Guide
Chamberlain's reputation remains controversial among historians. Initially held in high regard, his standing was eroded by works such as Guilty Men (July 1940), which blamed him and his associates for the Munich accord and for allegedly failing to prepare the country for war. Most historians in the generation after his death, led by Churchill in The Gathering Storm, held similar views. Some later historians, citing government papers released under the thirty-year rule, have taken a more favorable perspective, arguing that going to war with Germany in 1938 would have been disastrous as the UK was unprepared. Nonetheless, Chamberlain is still unfavorably ranked among British prime ministers. His support for Churchill proved vital during the May 1940 war cabinet crisis.
Did You Know?
- Chamberlain described himself as a 'reverent agnostic' and showed no interest in organized religion.
- He spent six years in the Bahamas trying to establish a sisal plantation, which failed and cost his father £50,000.
- Chamberlain was a founding member of the national United Hospitals Committee of the British Medical Association in 1906.
- He halved the lord mayor's expense allowance and cut back on civic functions during his term as Lord Mayor of Birmingham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Neville Chamberlain?
Arthur Neville Chamberlain was a British Conservative politician who held the office of Prime Minister from May 1937 through May 1940. He is best remembered across European political history for his controversial strategy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany in the late 1930s.
What was Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement?
Appeasement was Chamberlain's diplomatic approach of conceding territorial demands to Adolf Hitler in the hope of preventing a broader continental war. Its most prominent act was allowing Germany to absorb the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in 1938.
What was the Munich Agreement and why is it so well known?
Signed on 30 September 1938, the agreement permitted Nazi Germany to annex the German-speaking Sudetenland while Czechoslovakia was excluded from the talks. It became a lasting symbol of failed diplomacy when Hitler seized the remainder of Czechoslovakia only months afterward.
How did Neville Chamberlain bring Britain into World War II?
After Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, Chamberlain declared war on behalf of Britain two days later, formally entering the Second World War. He continued to lead the country through the early months of the conflict before stepping down.
How did Neville Chamberlain's time in power end?
Chamberlain resigned as Prime Minister in May 1940 amid a loss of parliamentary confidence over the Norwegian campaign, with Winston Churchill taking over. He passed away on 9 November 1940, just a few months after leaving office.
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