Ramsay MacDonald

British Prime Ministers of the 20th Century

by Kevin Morgan

James Ramsay MacDonald (1866-1937) was the Labour party's first prime minister, in 1924 and 1929-35. In 1900 he was the first secretary of the newly formed Labour Representation Committee (the original name for the party). Ramsay Macdonald became prime minister with Liberal support in January 1924. When a letter (probably a forgery) from Grigori Zinoviev, the head of the Communist Intrnational, urging armed revolution was published in the press a few days before the general election of 1924 as an anti-leftist scare his coalition government was defeated. In 1929 Labour was for the first time the largest party, but his new government had to grapple with the problems of the Depression. Head of a 'national' government, he alternated the premiership with Stanley Baldwin. He resigned in 1935.

157 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2006

About the author

Kevin Morgan is an Australian author and researcher renowned for his investigative work into historical legal injustices. His notable book, "Gun Alley: Murder, Lies and Failure of Justice," delves into the 1921 wrongful conviction and execution of Colin Campbell Ross for the murder of 12-year-old Alma Tirtschke in Melbourne. Morgan's meticulous research played a pivotal role in posthumously pardoning Ross in 2008, marking Australia's first pardon of a judicially executed individual.
Beyond "Gun Alley," Morgan has authored several other works, including a biography of Ramsay MacDonald, reflecting his diverse interests and commitment to uncovering historical truths.