Ramsay MacDonald

James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS (12 October 1866 in Lossie, Morayshire – 9 November 1937) wis a Breetish statesman wha wis the first iver Labour Prime Meenister o the Unitit Kinrick, leadin a Labour Govrenment in 1924, a Labour Govrenment frae 1929 tae 1931, an a Naitional Govrenment frae 1931 tae 1935.

MacDonald, alang wi Keir Hardie an Arthur Henderson, wis ane o the three preencipal foonders o the Labour Pairty. He wis chairman o the Labour MPs afore 1914 an, efter an eclipse in his career caused bi his opposeetion tae the First Warld War, he wis Leader o the Labour Pairty frae 1922. The seicont Labour Govrenment (1929–31) wis dominatit bi the Great Depression. He formed the Naitional Govrenment fur tae cairy oot spendin cuts fur tae defend the gowd staundart, but it haed tae be abandoned efter the Invergordon Mutiny, an he cried a general election in 1931 seekin a "doctor's mandate" tae fix the economy. The Naitional coaleetion wan an owerwhelmin laundslide an the Labour Pairty wis reduced tae a rump o aroond 50 seats in the Hoose o Commons. His heal gaed doun the brae an he stuid doun as Prime Meenister in 1935, remeenin as Laird Preses of the Cooncil till reteerin in 1937. He dee'd later that year.

MacDonald's speeches an beuks made him an important theoreteecian. Historian John Shepherd states that "MacDonald's naitural gifts o an imposin presence, eesome featurs an a perswasive oratory deleevert wi an arrestin Hielands accent made him the iconic Labour leader". After 1931, MacDonald wis repeatitly an bitterly denoonced bi the Labour muivement as a traitor tae thair cause. Syne the 1960s, historians hae defendit his reputation, emphasis in his earlier role in biggin up the Labour Pairty, dealin wi the Great Depression, an as a forerinner o the poleetical realignments o the 1990s an 2000s.John Shepherd, "The Lad from Lossiemouth." History today 57#11 (2007): 31+

Aerly life

Macdonald wis born tae a hoosemaid an ae ferm wirkir in Morayshire, on 12 October 1866. His parents wir niver mairrit. He wis educatit at the Free Kirk schuil an Drainie pairish schuil afore leavin at feifteen year auld tae wirk on a ferm an as a pupil teacher at the schuil. Whan he wis echteen he wis taen tae Bristol bi a meenester Mordaunt Crofton tae help stert ae boy's an men's group at St Stephen's Kirk. In Bristol he learnt anent politics an jynt the Social Democratic Foundation.

References


Category:1866 births
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MacDonald, James Ramsay
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