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{{Short description|Trade unionist and politician}}
{{other uses|William Adamson (disambiguation)}}
{{other uses|William Adamson (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
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| term_end = 14 February 1921
| term_end = 14 February 1921
| 3blankname = Chief Whip
| 3blankname = Chief Whip
| 3namedata = [[George Henry Roberts]]<br>[[William Tyson Wilson]]<br>[[Arthur Henderson]]
| 3namedata = [[George Henry Roberts]]<br />[[William Tyson Wilson]]<br />[[Arthur Henderson]]
| predecessor = [[Arthur Henderson]]
| predecessor = [[Arthur Henderson]]
| successor = [[J. R. Clynes]]
| successor = [[J. R. Clynes]]
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| predecessor2 = [[Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar|Ronald Munro Ferguson]]
| predecessor2 = [[Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar|Ronald Munro Ferguson]]
| successor2 = [[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Gilmour]]
| successor2 = [[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Gilmour]]
| order3 = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|West Fife]]
| order3 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|West Fife]]
| term_start3 = [[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|19 December 1910]]
| term_start3 = 19 December 1910
| term_end3 = [[1931 United Kingdom general election|27 October 1931]]
| term_end3 = 8 October 1931
| predecessor3 = [[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Gilmour, Bt]]
| predecessor3 = [[John Hope (Liberal politician)|John Deans Hope]]
| successor3 = [[Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso|Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bt]]
| successor3 = [[Charles Milne (politician)|Charles Milne]]


| birth_date = {{birth-date|2 April 1863|}}
| birth_date = {{birth-date|2 April 1863|}}
| birth_place = {{Nowrap|[[Dunfermline]], [[Fife]], Scotland,<br>[[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]}}
| birth_place = {{Nowrap|[[Dunfermline]], [[Fife]], Scotland}}
| death_date = {{death-date|23 February 1936|}} (aged 72)
| death_date = {{death-date|23 February 1936|}} (aged 72)
| death_place =
| death_place =
| nationality = [[British people|British]]
| nationality = [[British people|British]]
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| alma_mater = none
| spouse =
| spouse =
}}
}}


'''William Adamson''' (2 April 1863 – 23 February 1936) was a Scottish trade unionist and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] politician. He was [[Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the Labour Party]] from 1917 to 1921 and served as [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] in 1924 and during 1929–1931 in the first two Labour ministries headed by [[Ramsay MacDonald]].
'''William Adamson''' (2 April 1863 – 23 February 1936) was a Scottish trade unionist and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician. He was [[Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the Labour Party]] from 1917 to 1921 and was [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] in 1924 and during 1929–1931 in the first two Labour ministries headed by [[Ramsay MacDonald]].


==Background==
==Background==
Adamson was born in [[Dunfermline]], [[Fife]], and was educated at a local [[dame school]]. He worked as a miner in Fife where he became involved with the [[National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain)|National Union of Mineworkers]]. In 1902–08 he was Assistant Secretary of the [[Fife and Kinross Miners' Association]],<ref name="spartacus">[https://spartacus-educational.com/TUadamsonW.htm Spartacus-educational.com William Adamson] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214174724/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUadamsonW.htm |date=14 December 2009}}</ref> and he thereafter served as its General Secretary.<ref name="adamson">"[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/articleHL/40218 Adamson, William &#91;Willie&#93;]", ''[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]''</ref>
Adamson was born in [[Dunfermline]], [[Fife]], and was educated at a local [[dame school]]. He worked as a miner in Fife where he became involved with the [[National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain)|National Union of Mineworkers]]. In 1902–08 he was Assistant Secretary of the [[Fife and Kinross Miners' Association]],<ref name="spartacus">[https://spartacus-educational.com/TUadamsonW.htm Spartacus-educational.com William Adamson] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214174724/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUadamsonW.htm |date=14 December 2009}}</ref> and he thereafter served as its General Secretary.<ref name="adamson">David Howell, Adamson, William [Willie] (1863–1936), ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
[[File:William Adamson.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Adamson in 1920]]
[[File:William Adamson.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Adamson in 1920]]
Active with the new [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], Adamson was first elected to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] for [[West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|West Fife]] in the [[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|December 1910 general election]]<ref>[http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Fcommons.htm leighrayment.com House of Commons: Fairfield to Fylde South]</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28449 |date=23 December 1910 |page=9558 }}</ref> and became leader of the party in 1917, which he was until 1921.<ref name="spartacus"/> In 1918 he was sworn of the [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|Privy Council]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30764 |date=25 June 1918 |page=7461 }}</ref> In 1919, Adamson was confident that the experience of the [[First World War]] would "produce a different atmosphere and an entirely different relationship amongst all sections of our people" and would act as a watershed in the process of social reform.<ref>Philip Abrams Past & Present, The Failure of Social Reform, 1918–1920’ (1963), p.49</ref> He served as [[Secretary of State for Scotland|Secretary for Scotland]] and [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] in 1924<ref name="spartacus"/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=32901 |date=25 January 1924 |page=770 }}</ref> and between 1929 and 1931<ref name="spartacus"/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33505 |date=11 June 1929 |page=3856 }}</ref> in the Labour governments of [[Ramsay MacDonald]].
Active with the new [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], Adamson was first elected to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] for [[West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|West Fife]] in the [[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|December 1910 general election]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090810231350/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Fcommons.htm leighrayment.com House of Commons: Fairfield to Fylde South]}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28449 |date=23 December 1910 |page=9558 }}</ref> His victory was the only Labour gain from the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberals]] in that election.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Blewett |first1=Neal |title=The Peers, the Parties and the People: the General Elections of 1910 |date=1972 |publisher=Macmillan |pages=264–265}}</ref>


However, he split with MacDonald after the formation of the [[UK National Government|National Government]]. Adamson lost his seat in the [[1931 United Kingdom general election|1931 election]] which he contested for Labour against MacDonald's coalition.<ref name="spartacus"/> He stood again in the [[1935 United Kingdom general election|1935 election]] but again failed to take the seat, losing on this occasion to [[Willie Gallacher (politician)|William Gallacher]] of the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
Adamson was elected [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party]] on 24 October 1917, a post he held until 1921.<ref name="spartacus"/> He led the party into the [[1918 United Kingdom general election|general election of 1918]], which saw Labour gain 15 seats and become the largest opposition party in the House of Commons for the first time; however, there remained uncertainty as to whether Adamson or the leader of the independent Liberals, [[Donald Maclean (British politician)|Donald Maclean]] could claim to be the true [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|leader of the opposition]] in the Commons.

In 1918 he was sworn into the [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|Privy Council]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30764 |date=25 June 1918 |page=7461 }}</ref> In 1919, Adamson was confident that the experience of the [[First World War]] would "produce a different atmosphere and an entirely different relationship amongst all sections of our people" and would act as a watershed in the process of social reform.<ref>Philip Abrams Past & Present, The Failure of Social Reform, 1918–1920’ (1963), p.49</ref> He served as [[Secretary of State for Scotland|Secretary for Scotland]] and [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] in 1924<ref name="spartacus"/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=32901 |date=25 January 1924 |page=770 }}</ref> and between 1929 and 1931<ref name="spartacus"/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33505 |date=11 June 1929 |page=3856 }}</ref> in the Labour governments of [[Ramsay MacDonald]].

However, he split with MacDonald after the formation of the [[UK National Government|National Government]]. Adamson lost his seat in the [[1931 United Kingdom general election|1931 election]] which he contested for Labour against MacDonald's coalition.<ref name="spartacus"/> He stood again in the [[1935 United Kingdom general election|1935 election]] but again failed to take the seat, losing on this occasion to [[Willie Gallacher (politician)|William Gallacher]] of the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]].<ref name="adamson" />


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
[[File:The grave of William Adamson MP, Dunfermline Cemetery.JPG|thumb|The grave of William Adamson MP, [[Dunfermline]] Cemetery]]
[[File:The grave of William Adamson MP, Dunfermline Cemetery.JPG|thumb|The grave of William Adamson MP, [[Dunfermline]] Cemetery]]


Adamson was married to Christina Myles Marshall (1862–1935), a factory worker, with whom he had two daughters and two sons; one of the latter was killed during the [[First World War]].<ref name="adamson" />


⚫
Adamson died in February 1936, aged 72. He is buried in [[Dunfermline]] Cemetery, just north of the roundel at the end of the entrance avenue.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}
He was married to Christina Myles Marshall (1862-1935).

Adamson was father of [[William Murdoch Adamson]] and, through him, father-in-law of [[Jennie Adamson]], both Labour MPs.<ref name="cawp">{{cite web
| url = http://www.qub.ac.uk/cawp/UK%20bios/UK_bios_30s.htm#jennie
| title = Jennie Adamson
| work = Observatory
| publisher = Centre for Advancement of Women in Politics, [[Queens University Belfast]]
| accessdate = 17 May 2014
}}</ref>
⚫
He died in February 1936, aged 72. He is buried in [[Dunfermline]] Cemetery, just north of the roundel at the end of the entrance avenue.


==References==
==References==
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| title = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|West Fife]]
| title = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|West Fife]]
| years = [[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|Dec. 1910]]–[[1931 United Kingdom general election|1931]]
| years = [[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|Dec. 1910]]–[[1931 United Kingdom general election|1931]]
| before = [[John Hope (Liberal politician)|John Hope]]
| before = [[John Hope (Liberal politician)|John Hope]]
| after = [[Charles Milne]]
| after = [[Charles Milne (politician)|Charles Milne]]
}}
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{{succession box | title=[[Secretary of State for Scotland|Secretary for Scotland]] | before=[[Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar|The Viscount Novar]] | after=[[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Gilmour, Bt]] | years=1924}}
{{succession box | title=[[Secretary of State for Scotland|Secretary for Scotland]] | before=[[Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar|The Viscount Novar]] | after=[[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Gilmour]] | years=1924}}
{{succession box | title=[[Secretary of State for Scotland]] | before=[[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Gilmour, Bt]] | after=[[Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso|Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bt]] | years=1929–1931}}
{{succession box | title=[[Secretary of State for Scotland]] | before=[[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|Sir John Gilmour]] | after=[[Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso|Sir Archibald Sinclair]] | years=1929–1931}}
{{s-npo|union}}
{{s-npo|union}}
{{succession box|title=General Secretary of the [[Fife and Kinross Miners' Association]]|years=1908 – 1917|before=[[John Weir (trade unionist)|John Weir]]|after=James Cook}}
{{succession box|title=General Secretary of the [[Fife and Kinross Miners' Association]]|years=1908 – 1917|before=[[John Weir (trade unionist)|John Weir]]|after=James Cook}}
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[[Category:1863 births]]
[[Category:1863 births]]
[[Category:1936 deaths]]
[[Category:1936 deaths]]
[[Category:Scottish Labour Party MPs]]
[[Category:Scottish Labour MPs]]
[[Category:People from Dunfermline]]
[[Category:Politicians from Dunfermline]]
[[Category:British Secretaries of State]]
[[Category:Secretaries of State for Scotland]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Labour Party (UK)]]
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[[Category:20th-century Scottish politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish politicians]]
[[Category:Secretaries for Scotland]]

Latest revision as of 22:34, 28 August 2024

For other uses, see William Adamson (disambiguation).

The Right Honourable
William Adamson
Adamson in 1911
Leader of the Labour Party
In office
24 October 1917 – 14 February 1921
Chief WhipGeorge Henry Roberts
William Tyson Wilson
Arthur Henderson
Preceded byArthur Henderson
Succeeded byJ. R. Clynes
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office
7 June 1929 – 24 August 1931
Prime MinisterRamsay MacDonald
Preceded bySir John Gilmour
Succeeded byArchibald Sinclair
In office
22 January 1924 – 3 November 1924
Prime MinisterRamsay MacDonald
Preceded byRonald Munro Ferguson
Succeeded bySir John Gilmour
Member of Parliament
for West Fife
In office
19 December 1910 – 8 October 1931
Preceded byJohn Deans Hope
Succeeded byCharles Milne
Personal details
Born2 April 1863 (1863-04-02)
Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Died23 February 1936 (1936-02-24) (aged 72)
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour

William Adamson (2 April 1863 – 23 February 1936) was a Scottish trade unionist and Labour Party politician. He was Leader of the Labour Party from 1917 to 1921 and was Secretary of State for Scotland in 1924 and during 1929–1931 in the first two Labour ministries headed by Ramsay MacDonald.

Background

[edit]

Adamson was born in Dunfermline, Fife, and was educated at a local dame school. He worked as a miner in Fife where he became involved with the National Union of Mineworkers. In 1902–08 he was Assistant Secretary of the Fife and Kinross Miners' Association,[1] and he thereafter served as its General Secretary.[2]

Political career

[edit]
Adamson in 1920

Active with the new Labour Party, Adamson was first elected to Parliament for West Fife in the December 1910 general election.[3][4] His victory was the only Labour gain from the Liberals in that election.[5]

Adamson was elected Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party on 24 October 1917, a post he held until 1921.[1] He led the party into the general election of 1918, which saw Labour gain 15 seats and become the largest opposition party in the House of Commons for the first time; however, there remained uncertainty as to whether Adamson or the leader of the independent Liberals, Donald Maclean could claim to be the true leader of the opposition in the Commons.

In 1918 he was sworn into the Privy Council.[6] In 1919, Adamson was confident that the experience of the First World War would "produce a different atmosphere and an entirely different relationship amongst all sections of our people" and would act as a watershed in the process of social reform.[7] He served as Secretary for Scotland and Secretary of State for Scotland in 1924[1][8] and between 1929 and 1931[1][9] in the Labour governments of Ramsay MacDonald.

However, he split with MacDonald after the formation of the National Government. Adamson lost his seat in the 1931 election which he contested for Labour against MacDonald's coalition.[1] He stood again in the 1935 election but again failed to take the seat, losing on this occasion to William Gallacher of the Communist Party of Great Britain.[2]

Personal life

[edit]
The grave of William Adamson MP, Dunfermline Cemetery

Adamson was married to Christina Myles Marshall (1862–1935), a factory worker, with whom he had two daughters and two sons; one of the latter was killed during the First World War.[2]

Adamson died in February 1936, aged 72. He is buried in Dunfermline Cemetery, just north of the roundel at the end of the entrance avenue.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Spartacus-educational.com William Adamson Archived 14 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c David Howell, Adamson, William [Willie] (1863–1936), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  3. ^ leighrayment.com House of Commons: Fairfield to Fylde South[usurped]
  4. ^ "No. 28449". The London Gazette. 23 December 1910. p. 9558.
  5. ^ Blewett, Neal (1972). The Peers, the Parties and the People: the General Elections of 1910. Macmillan. pp. 264–265.
  6. ^ "No. 30764". The London Gazette. 25 June 1918. p. 7461.
  7. ^ Philip Abrams Past & Present, The Failure of Social Reform, 1918–1920’ (1963), p.49
  8. ^ "No. 32901". The London Gazette. 25 January 1924. p. 770.
  9. ^ "No. 33505". The London Gazette. 11 June 1929. p. 3856.
  • Torrance, David, The Scottish Secretaries (Birlinn 2006)
[edit]
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for West Fife
Dec. 1910–1931 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the British Labour Party
1917–1921 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary for Scotland
1924 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State for Scotland
1929–1931 		Succeeded by
Trade union offices
Preceded by General Secretary of the Fife and Kinross Miners' Association
1908 – 1917 		Succeeded by
James Cook
Preceded by Treasurer of the Scottish Miners' Federation
1914 – 1922 		Succeeded by
Edward Hawke
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=William_Adamson&oldid=1242816294"