Oswald Mosley

Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet (November 16, 1896 – December 3, 1980) was a British politician principally known as the founder of the British Union of Fascists. He was also the sixth baronet of a title established in 1720.

Post-war politics

After the war Mosley was contacted by his former supporters and persuaded (initially against his will) to rejoin active politics. He formed the Union Movement, calling for a single nation state covering the continent of Europe. This stance has been cited by opponents of British membership of the European Union as evidence that its concept was originated by fascists, although academic studies of fascism generally regard this as a development of some of the currents in pre-war European fascism and not connected to the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community. The Union Movement's meetings were often physically disrupted as had Mosley's meetings before the war, and largely by the same opponents. This led to Mosley's decision, in 1951, to leave England and live in Ireland. He later moved to Paris. Of his decision to leave he said "You don't clear up a dungheap from underneath it."

Related Topics:
Union Movement - European Union - European Coal and Steel Community - 1951 - Ireland - Paris

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Mosley briefly returned to Britain in order to fight the 1959 general election at North Kensington, shortly after the Notting Hill race riots of 1958. Concerns over immigration were beginning to come into the spotlight for the first time and Mosley led his campaign on this issue. When Mosley's final share of the vote was less than he expected, he launched a legal challenge to the election on the assumption that the result had been rigged (the election was upheld). He returned for the last time to contest the 1966 general election, before he wrote his autobiography, My Life (1968) and retired. In 1977 he was nominated for the post of Lord Rector of Glasgow University. He polled over 100 votes but finished bottom of the poll.

Related Topics:
1959 general election - Kensington - Notting Hill - 1958 - 1966 - 1968 - 1977 - Lord Rector of Glasgow University

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He had three children by Cimmie, including Nicholas Mosley who wrote a biography of his father. By Diana Mitford he had two sons, including Max Mosley who is president of the FIA. Mosley was a noted philanderer and had numerous affairs including, during his first marriage, with his wife's sister Lady Alexandra Metcalfe, as well as her stepmother, Grace Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston, the American-born widow of Lord Curzon of Kedleston.

Related Topics:
Nicholas Mosley - Max Mosley - FIA - Lady Alexandra Metcalfe - Grace Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston - Lord Curzon of Kedleston

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