Sir Austen Chamberlain

Sir Austen Chamberlain (Joseph Austen Chamberlain) , 1863-1937, British statesman; son of Joseph Chamberlain and half brother of Neville Chamberlain . He entered Parliament as a Conservative in 1892. He was chancellor of the exchequer (1903-5), secretary of state for India (1915-17), a member of Lloyd George's war cabinet (1918), again (1919-21) chancellor of the exchequer, and lord privy seal (1921-22). Although he succeeded Andrew Bonar Law as Conservative leader in 1921, he opposed the Conservative withdrawal that brought down Lloyd George 's government in 1922. From 1924 to 1929, Chamberlain was foreign secretary under Stanley Baldwin . The Locarno Pact of 1925 was largely his work, and in the same year he was awarded (with Charles G. Dawes ) the Nobel Peace Prize. He last held a cabinet position in 1931, but he continued to be influential in Parliament until his death.

Bibliography: See his Down the Years (1935), Politics from Inside (1936), and Seen in Passing (1937); Sir Charles Petrie, Life and Letters of Sir Austen Chamberlain (1939-40); biography by D. Dutton (1985).

Chamberlain, Sir Austen (1863–1937). The only 20th‐cent. leader of the Conservative Party who failed to obtain the premiership, Chamberlain none the less enjoyed a ministerial career of distinction. His rise owed much to the patronage of his father Joseph. Chancellor of the Exchequer under Balfour (1903–5), he strongly supported tariff reform. During the First World War he accepted responsibility for the failure of the Mesopotamian campaign, resigning as secretary of state for India in 1917. But he was soon recalled to the Exchequer, and remained a leading supporter of Lloyd George's coalition until its fall in October 1922. He succeeded Bonar Law as Conservative leader in 1921, but lost his chance of the premiership through loyalty to Lloyd George. As foreign secretary under Baldwin (1924–9) he is best remembered for the Locarno treaties of 1925.

Chamberlain, Sir Austen (1863–1937). The only 20th-cent. leader of the Conservative Party who failed to rise to the premiership, Chamberlain none the less enjoyed a ministerial career of considerable length and distinction. His rise owed much to the patronage of his father Joseph, but he ultimately emerged in his own right as a politician of standing. Chancellor of the Exchequer under Balfour (1903–5), he strongly supported tariff reform. During the First World War he accepted responsibility for the failure of the Mesopotamian campaign, resigning as secretary of state for India in 1917. But he was soon recalled to high office, returned to the Exchequer, and remained a leading supporter of Lloyd George's coalition until its fall in October 1922. He succeeded Bonar Law as Conservative leader in 1921 (having withdrawn from the leadership contest ten years earlier in the latter's favour), but lost his chance of the premiership through loyalty to Lloyd George.

As foreign secretary under Baldwin (1924–9) he is best remembered for the Locarno treaties of 1925, which, despite later misgivings, were hailed at the time as a great step towards European harmony, winning Chamberlain both the Garter and the Nobel peace prize. After a brief spell at the Admiralty, Chamberlain retired to the back benches in 1931, becoming one of very few British politicians who warned of the dangers posed by Hitler's Germany. Stiff and formal in appearance and manner, Chamberlain was often a difficult colleague. But he won respect for his loyalty and sense of principle. His diaries have been published by the Royal Historical Society.

David Dutton