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Chamberlain was born to a political family well established in the ranks of the bourgeoise, being the youngest son of Joseph Chamberlain, a Victorian Cabinet minister, and the half-brother of Austen, a Chancellor of the Exchequer. <ref name=":0" /> | Chamberlain was born to a political family well established in the ranks of the bourgeoise, being the youngest son of Joseph Chamberlain, a Victorian Cabinet minister, and the half-brother of Austen, a Chancellor of the Exchequer. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
He was educated at Rugby and Mason College, Birmingham. When he was 21 Chamberlain left for the [[Commonwealth of The Bahamas|Bahamas]] to manage a 20,000 acre estate before returning to Birmingham when the venture failed | He was educated at Rugby and Mason College, Birmingham. When he was 21 Chamberlain left for the [[Commonwealth of The Bahamas|Bahamas]] to manage a 20,000 acre estate before returning to Birmingham when the venture failed to being a manufacturer.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
== Political Career == | == Political Career == | ||
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In 1918 Chamberlain was elected Conservative MP for Birmingham Ladywood, but refused to serve under Lloyd George in the Conservative-[[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] coalition government. In 1922 he became Postmaster General under [[Andrew Bonar Law]], where he proved his judgement and ability. He was quickly made Minister of Health and, under [[Stanley Baldwin]] he soon graduated to Chancellor of the Exchequer.<ref name=":0" /> | In 1918 Chamberlain was elected Conservative MP for Birmingham Ladywood, but refused to serve under Lloyd George in the Conservative-[[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] coalition government. In 1922 he became Postmaster General under [[Andrew Bonar Law]], where he proved his judgement and ability. He was quickly made Minister of Health and, under [[Stanley Baldwin]] he soon graduated to Chancellor of the Exchequer.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
Following the quick failure of the first [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government in October 1924 a general election was called in which Chamberlain was challenged for his seat by future leader of the [[British Union of Fascists]], [[Oswald Mosley]] who was at the time a Labour candidate. The hard fought campaign offended Chamberlains ego and the vote was very close with two recounts having to be called before a final result of a victory to Chamberlain by 77 votes was declared, with accusations of deceit surfacing. Even after his victory Chamberlain continued to be infuriated by Mosley with | Following the quick failure of the first [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government in October 1924 a general election was called in which Chamberlain was challenged for his seat by future leader of the [[British Union of Fascists]], [[Oswald Mosley]] who was at the time a Labour candidate. The hard fought campaign offended Chamberlains ego and the vote was very close with two recounts having to be called before a final result of a victory to Chamberlain by 77 votes was declared, with accusations of deceit surfacing. Even after his victory Chamberlain continued to be infuriated by Mosley with comments such as 'once more we have got the old dud back at the Ministry of Health.' With his seat now more precarious Chamberlain feared losing his place in Parliament and moved to the nearby constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston despite Mosley also not standing in Ladywood in the next election.<ref>{{Citation|author=Stephen Dorril|year=2006|title=Blackshirt: Sir Oswald Mosley and British Fascism|title-url=https://annas-archive.org/md5/d8fc820201ee75b01e4709b84b36c378|chapter=Chapter Six: The Labour Party}}</ref> | ||
In 1931 [[Ramsay MacDonald]] made him Chancellor in his national government, and Baldwin retained him in turn.<ref name=":0" /> | In 1931 [[Ramsay MacDonald]] made him Chancellor in his national government, and Baldwin retained him in turn.<ref name=":0" /> | ||