Haldane, Richard Burdon, 1st Viscount Haldane

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Haldane, Richard Burdon, 1st Viscount Haldane (1856–1928). Haldane was the son of a Perthshire landowner and was perhaps most famous for the report to which he gave his name when secretary for war. After a Scottish education, he became a successful Chancery barrister in London, though he had little skill in advocacy. In 1885 he was elected to Parliament for East Lothian and remained an MP until he left the Commons for the Lords in 1911. Haldane took office in Asquith's 1905 Liberal government as secretary for war. His reforms of the army earned him considerable respect. In 1911 he was created viscount and he became lord chancellor in 1912. In 1914 he returned to the War Office but his affinity with and affection for Germany and German philosophy caused public suspicion and criticism. He was dismissed by Asquith in 1915. He served briefly as lord chancellor in the first Labour government under Ramsay MacDonald.

Maureen Mulholland

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Haldane, Richard Burdon, 1st Viscount Haldane

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