James Harold Wilson KG PC OBE (1916 - 1995)

Born 11 Mar 1916 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 24 May 1995 at age 79 in Lambeth, London, England, United Kingdom

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As Prime Minister Harold Wilson enacted social reforms in education, health, housing, gender equality, price controls, pensions, provisions for disabled people and child poverty.

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Biography

Harold Wilson KG PC OBE is Notable.

James Harold Wilson, son of James Wilson and Ethel Seddon, was born on March 11, 1916^[1] in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.^[2]

In 1934 Wilson attended Jesus College, Oxford , studying Modern History for a year before transferring to Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He graduated with a first class BA. At the age of 21 he became one of the youngest Oxford University dons of the century. From 1937 he was a lecturer in Economic History at New College and a Research Fellow at University College.^[3]

Wilson married Gladys Mary Baldwin, daughter of Rev Daniel Baldwin on January 1, 1940 in the chapel at Mansfield College, Oxford.^[4][5]

Wilson served as Shadow Chancellor from 1955 to 1961, then as Shadow Foreign Secretary from 1961 to 1963 under the leadership of Hugh Gaitskell. When Gaitskell died suddenly in 1963, Wilson fought and won a leadership contest against George Brown and James Callaghan.^[6]

Wilson's first term as Prime Minister was from 1964 to 1970. In which time two major acts were passed:

• Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 - suspended the death penalty in England, Wales and Scotland.^[7]

• Sexual Offences Act 1967 - decriminalisation of certain homosexual offences.^[8]

Wilson and his government also created the hugely successful Open University. By 1981, 45,000 students had received degrees through the Open University.^[9]

Wilson's second term as Prime Minister was from 1976 to 1978. In this time he concentrated heavily on domestic policy, achieving social reforms in education, health, housing, gender equality, price controls, pensions, provisions for disabled people and child poverty. On March 16 1976, Wilson stunned the nation when he announced his intention to resign, a decision that he claimed he had made 2 years previously.^[10]

James Harold Wilson died May 24, 1995 in London, England. He is buried at St Mary's Old Church Churchyard on the Isles of Scilly.^[11][12]

• Space Page: List of Prime Minister of England and United Kingdom. (https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Space:List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_England_and_United_Kingdom.&public=1)

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 [database on-line] Original data: General Register Office. James Harold Wilson; Reg Dist. Lambeth; County. London; Reg No. B49; 24118. Entry No. 167.
2. ↑ "England and Wales, Birth Registration Index, 1837-1920", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2FY3-23X : accessed 09 Jun 2014), James H Wilson, 1916.
3. ↑ Wilson, Harold. Memoirs: The Making of a Prime Minister 1916-64. illustrated edition ed. England: Weidenfeld & Nicolson & Michael Joseph, 1986.
4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Harold Wilson," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harold_Wilson&oldid=609868800 (accessed June 10, 2014).
5. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV82-36RH : 8 October 2014), James H Wilson and null, 1940; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1940, quarter 1, vol. 3A, p. 5160, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
6. ↑ Simkin, John. "Harold Wilson." Spartacus Educational. http://spartacus-educational.com/PRwilsonHa.htm (accessed June 10, 2014).
7. ↑ National Archives. "Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965." legislation.gov.uk. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1965/71/contents (accessed June 10, 2014).
8. ↑ National Archives. "Sexual Offences Act 1967." legislation.gov.uk. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1967/60 (accessed June 10, 2014).
9. ↑ Breach of Promise – Labour in Power, 1964–70 by Clive Ponting
10. ↑ Goodman, Geoffrey. "Harold Wilson." The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/1995/may/25/obituaries (accessed June 10, 2014).
11. ↑ James Harold Wilson." Find A Grave. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 June 2014. Find A Grave James Harold Wilson
12. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZD-798F : 4 September 2014), James Harold Wilson, May 1995; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death Registration, Lambeth, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

See also:

• Wikipedia article on Harold Wilson giving an in depth view of his political career.

• Obituary: Lord Wilson of Rievaulx in the Independent newspaper.

• Wikidata: Item Q128956, en:Wikipedia