Neville Chamberlain

The Right Honourable Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869–9 November, 1940) was a British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937–1940.

Lord Mayor of Birmingham

Although he would campaign for his father and brother during elections, Chamberlain first entered politics for himself in 1911 when he was elected as a councillor to Birmingham City Council and immediately became Chair of the Town Planning Committee. The same year he married Anne Vere. Under Chamberlain's direction, Birmingham soon adopted and brought into law one of the first town planning schemes in Britain. In 1913, Chamberlain took charge of a committee looking at housing conditions. The interim report of the committee could not be implemented immediately because of the war, but it did much to show Chamberlain's vision of improvements to housing conditions.

Related Topics:
1911 - 1913

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In 1915, like his father before him, he became Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Within the first two months he had won government approval to increase the electricity supply and organised the use of coal as part of the war effort; he also prevented a strike by the council workers. During this time, he also assisted in the creation of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the establishment of the Birmingham Municipal Bank, the only one of its type in the country which aimed to encourage savings so as to pay for the war loan. The Bank proved highly successful and lasted until 1976. Chamberlain was re-elected Lord Mayor in 1916, but did not complete his term. Broader horizons awaited.

Related Topics:
1915 - Lord Mayor - Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Birmingham Municipal Bank - 1976 - 1916

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