George Tomlinson (British politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Tomlinson
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| Minister of Education | |
| In office 7 February 1947 – 26 October 1951 |
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| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
| Preceded by | Ellen Wilkinson |
| Succeeded by | Florence Horsbrugh |
| Minister of Works | |
| In office August 1945 – February 1947 |
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| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
| Preceded by | Duncan Sandys |
| Succeeded by | Charles Key |
| Member of Parliament for Farnworth |
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| In office 1938–1952 |
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| Preceded by | Guy Rowson |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Thornton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 March 1890 Rishton, Lancashire |
| Died | 22 September 1952 (aged 62) Manor House Hospital, Golders Green, London |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouses | Ethel, née Pursell (m. 1914) |
| Children | One daughter |
George Tomlinson (born 21 March 1890 – died 22 September 1952) was a British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. He held important government jobs, including Minister of Education.
Contents
Early Life and Work
George Tomlinson was born in a town called Rishton in Lancashire, England. His father, John Tomlinson, worked as a cotton weaver. George went to Wesleyan Elementary School in Rishton.
Starting Work Young
When George was just 12 years old, he started working. He became a weaver in a cotton mill. For the first year, he worked part-time. After that, he worked full-time.
Union Work
In 1912, George became the president of the Rishton branch. This was for the Amalgamated Weavers' Association. This group helped cotton weavers with their rights.
Family Life
George Tomlinson married Ethel Pursell on 4 September 1914. Ethel also worked as a cotton weaver. They had one daughter together.
During World War I
During the First World War, George Tomlinson was a conscientious objector. This means he chose not to fight in the war. Instead, he worked on farms for three years. This was his way of helping his country.
Political Career
George Tomlinson became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1938. He represented the Farnworth area in Lancashire. He kept this job until he died in 1952. He was 62 years old when he passed away.
Wartime Government Role
From 1941 to 1945, George worked in Winston Churchill's government. This was during the Second World War. He was a joint Parliamentary Secretary. He worked under Ernest Bevin in the Ministry of Labour.
Post-War Government Roles
After the war, the Labour Party won the election. Clement Attlee became the Prime Minister. George Tomlinson joined Attlee's government.
- Minister of Works: From August 1945 to February 1947, he was the Minister of Works. This job involved looking after government buildings.
- Minister of Education: From February 1947 to October 1951, he became the Minister of Education. He took over after Ellen Wilkinson died. In this role, he was in charge of schools and education across the country.
International Work
In 1944, George Tomlinson went to the United States. He was a British delegate at the International Labour Conference. This meeting was about workers' rights around the world.
Legacy
After George Tomlinson's death, a school was named after him. The George Tomlinson School opened in Kearsley in 1953. In 2010, the school changed its name to Kearsley Academy.
Biography
A book about George Tomlinson's life was written in 1954. It was written by Fred Blackburn, another Labour politician. The book included a foreword by Clement Attlee.
