biography
| name: |
Wilson (of Rievaulx), (James) Harold Wilson, Baron
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1916–95)
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| biography:
| British statesman and prime minister (1964–70, 1974–6), born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, N England, UK. He studied at Oxford, where he became a lecturer in economics in 1937. A Labour MP in 1945, he became President of the Board of Trade (1947–51), and the principal Opposition spokesman on economic affairs. An able and hard-hitting debater, in 1963 he succeeded Gaitskell as leader of the Labour Party, becoming prime minister in 1964. His economic plans were badly affected by a balance of payments crisis, leading to severe restrictive measures. He was also faced with the problem of Rhodesian independence, opposition to Britain's proposed entry into the European Economic Community, and an increasing conflict between the two wings of the Labour Party. Following his third general election victory, he resigned suddenly as Labour Party leader in 1976. Knighted in 1976, he became a life peer in 1983. |
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