Callaghan of Cardiff, James Callaghan, Baron

Callaghan of Cardiff, James Callaghan, Baron
▪ 2006

      British politician (b. March 27, 1912, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Eng.—d. March 26, 2005, Ringmer, East Sussex, Eng.), was the only person to hold the four highest offices in the United Kingdom—chancellor of the Exchequer (1964–67), home secretary (1967–70), foreign secretary (1974–76), and prime minister (1976–79)—but he was perhaps best remembered for the “Winter of Discontent” (1978–79), a period of high unemployment and massive trade-union strikes that brought the country to a standstill and ultimately toppled his government. Callaghan, who left school at age 17, became a full-time trade-union official in the mid-1930s. In 1945 he entered Parliament as a member of the Labour Party, and when Labour came to power in 1964 he joined the government. As chancellor of the Exchequer, he repeatedly resisted devaluing the pound but was compelled to do so in 1967 and subsequently resigned. Callaghan enjoyed greater success as home secretary, earning particular praise for his handling of unrest in Northern Ireland. As foreign secretary he negotiated the U.K.'s continued membership in the European Economic Community (now the European Union). After succeeding Harold Wilson as prime minister in 1976, Callaghan faced high inflation, a tight budget, and union unrest. Objections concerning pay constraints helped trigger a series of strikes in 1978–79. Callaghan was denounced for his failure to rein in the industrial actions and for his apparently cavalier attitude to the growing chaos, including understaffed hospitals and streets filled with uncollected garbage. In March 1979 his government narrowly lost a no-confidence vote, and at the subsequent general elections in May, Labour was defeated by the Conservative Party led by Margaret Thatcher. Callaghan resigned the Labour leadership in 1980 but remained active in politics. He was made a life peer in 1987.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Callaghan, James Callaghan, Baron — ▪ prime minister of United Kingdom original name in full  Leonard James Callaghan  born March 27, 1912, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England died March 26, 2005, Ringmer, East Sussex  British Labour Party politician, who was prime minister from 1976 to …   Universalium

  • Callaghan (of Cardiff), (Leonard) James Callaghan, Baron — born March 27, 1912, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Eng. British politician. A trade union official, he entered the House of Commons as a Labour Party member in 1945. He served in Labour governments as chancellor of the Exchequer (1964–67), home… …   Universalium

  • Callaghan (de Cardiff), (Leonard) James Callaghan, barón — (n. 27 mar. 1912, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Inglaterra). Político británico. Dirigente sindical, ingresó a la Cámara de los Comunes en 1945 como miembro del Partido Laborista. Participó en gobiernos laboristas como Exchequer (ministro de hacienda)… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Baron Callaghan of Cardiff — James Callaghan Leonard James ( Jim ) Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (* 27. März 1912 in Portsmouth, Hampshire; † 26. März 2005 in East Sussex, Großbritannien) war ein britischer Politiker (Labour Pa …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • James Callaghan — Leonard James („Jim“) Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (* 27. März 1912 in Portsmouth, Hampshire; † 26. März 2005 in East Sussex, Großbritannien) war ein britischer Politiker (Labour Party) un …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • James Callaghan — Primer Minist …   Wikipedia Español

  • James — James, Henry James, Henry James, William * * * (as used in expressions) Agee, James Anderson, (James) Maxwell Audubon, John James Baldwin, James (Arthur) Balfour (de Whittingehame), Arthur James, 1 conde Ballard, J(ames) G(raham) Barrie, Sir… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • James Callaghan — Infobox Prime Minister honorific prefix = The Right Honourable name = James Callaghan honorific suffix = The Lord Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC imagesize = 250px office = Prime Minister of the United Kingdom monarch = Elizabeth II term start = 5… …   Wikipedia

  • baron — /bar euhn/, n. 1. a member of the lowest grade of nobility. 2. (in Britain) a. a feudal vassal holding his lands under a direct grant from the king. b. a direct descendant of such a vassal or his equal in the nobility. c. a member of the House of …   Universalium

  • Baron — /bann rddawonn /, n. Michel /mee shel /, (Michel Boyron), 1653 1729, French actor. * * * I Title of nobility, ranking in modern times immediately below a viscount or a count (in countries without viscounts). The wife of a baron is a baroness.… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”