Guide to the Papers of Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (as filmed by the AJCP), 1923-1938

Request this via the Catalogue

Filter Online content

Some materials from this collection are available online.

Show only online content

Online content

View online

Summary

Collection number:

M2497

Creator:

Stanley Baldwin, Earl of Bewdley

Extent:

23 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-987654321)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

This collection comprises of correspondence and press cuttings relating to Australian defence, unemployment, migration to Australia and NZ, Imperial conference, visits to Australia, Australian political matters.

The main correspondents include: Lord Derby; Sir Maurice Hankey; NZ Governor General; Australian Governor General; Viscount Bledisloe; Stanley Bruce and EJ Harding.

All letters are to/from Baldwin unless otherwise stated.

Biographical / Historical:

Stanley Baldwin (1867-1947), 1st Earl Baldwin (created 1937), was born at Bewdley, Worcestershire, the only son of Alfred Baldwin, who owned and managed an iron foundry. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and joined his father's business in 1888, became a partner in 1890 and managing director of Baldwins Ltd in 1902.In 1908 Baldwin succeeded his father as the Conservative member for Bewdley in the House of Commons. He was a fairly obscure backbencher until he was appointed financial secretary to the Treasury in 1917, serving under Andrew Bonar Law, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In 1921 he became president of the Board of Trade in the Lloyd George Government. Disenchanted with Lloyd George and his supporters, Baldwin played a leading role in the fall of the coalition government and the recall of Bonar Law from retirement in 1922. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer in Law's government. When Law retired due to illness in May 1923, King George V appointed Baldwin as Prime Minister and he was elected leader of the Conservative Party, a position that he held until 1937.Baldwin's first ministry was short-lived, as following a poor performance in the 1923 general election it was defeated in Parliament in January 1924. The MacDonald ministry in turn was defeated in October 1924 and, as a result of the following general election, Baldwin returned to power. He remained in office until defeated in the general election in May 1929. Industrial relations was a major preoccupation, culminating in the general strike of May 1926, which Baldwin handled adroitly. The depression and financial crisis destroyed the Labour Government in 1931. Baldwin expected to return to the prime ministership, but in August 1931 the King persuaded him to serve in a National Government led by Ramsay MacDonald. He held the post of Lord President of the Council until June 1935 when he exchanged positions with MacDonald. His third ministry was overshadowed by the worsening situation in Europe, beginning with the Abyssinian crisis in 1935, and the abdication of King Edward VIII in December 1936. Baldwin resigned as Prime Minister and as a member of the House of Commons in May 1937.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.