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William George papers 6

Who was David Lloyd George?

Lloyd George was born in Manchester in 1863 and brought up in Llanystumdwy by his widowed mother. He established himself as a solicitor in Cricieth and began taking an active role in local politics. In 1890 he was elected MP for Caernarfon boroughs. He played an important part in the 'Cymru Fydd' (Young Wales) movement that was campaigning for Welsh home rule, but following its failure he distanced himself from Welsh matters and concentrated on wider radical subjects.

He climbed the political ladder and became Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1908 until 1915 when he was responsible for a number of important measures to improve the lives of ordinary people through establishing a national health insurance and pension scheme. Lloyd George is remembered mainly for the part he played in the First World War, 1914-1918. As the Minister for Munitions (1915-16), War Minister (1916) and Prime Minister he became a symbol of Britain's commitment to the war.

Further reading

  • William George. My brother and I. London, 1958.
  • Cyril Parry. David Lloyd George. Dinbych : Gwasg Gee, c 1984.
  • John Grigg. Lloyd George : the young Lloyd George. London : Penguin, 2002.