Hugh Dalton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Dalton PC
Dalton in 1940
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office 31 May 1948 – 28 February 1950
Prime Minister	Clement Attlee
Preceded by	The Lord Pakenham
Succeeded by	A. V. Alexander
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 27 July 1945 – 13 November 1947
Prime Minister	Clement Attlee
Preceded by	John Anderson
Succeeded by	Stafford Cripps
President of the Board of Trade
In office 22 February 1942 – 23 May 1945
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill
Preceded by	John Llewellin
Succeeded by	Oliver Lyttelton
Minister of Economic Warfare
In office 15 May 1940 – 22 February 1942
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Ronald Cross
Succeeded by	Roundell Palmer
Chairman of the Labour Party
In office 9 October 1936 – 8 October 1937
Leader	Clement Attlee
Preceded by	Jennie Adamson
Succeeded by	George Dallas
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
In office 11 June 1929 – 3 September 1931
Prime Minister	Ramsay MacDonald
Preceded by	Anthony Eden
Succeeded by	James Stanhope
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 28 January 1960 – 13 February 1962 Life Peerage
Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland
In office 14 November 1935 – 18 September 1959
Preceded by	Aaron Curry
Succeeded by	James Boyden
In office 30 May 1929 – 7 October 1931
Preceded by	Ruth Dalton
Succeeded by	Aaron Curry
Member of Parliament for Peckham
In office 29 October 1924 – 10 May 1929
Preceded by	Collingwood Hughes
Succeeded by	John Beckett
Personal details
Born	(1887-08-26)26 August 1887 Neath, Wales
Died	13 February 1962(1962-02-13) (aged 74)
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	King's College, Cambridge, London School of Economics and Political Science

Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton (born August 26, 1887 – died February 13, 1962) was an important British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party.

He is best known for being the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1945 to 1947. This job is like being the country's chief financial officer.

Before that, he helped shape the Labour Party's ideas on foreign policy in the 1930s. He believed Britain needed to be strong and ready to defend itself. He also strongly disagreed with Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of trying to avoid war by giving in to demands from other countries.

During World War II, Dalton was part of Winston Churchill's government. He was in charge of economic warfare and helped create a special group called the Special Operations Executive.

After the war, as Chancellor, he worked to manage Britain's money. He had to resign from his job in 1947 after accidentally sharing some budget information too early. Even so, he later returned to government in other roles.

Early Life and Education

Hugh Dalton was born in Neath, Wales. His father was a church leader who worked for Queen Victoria. He was also a teacher to princes, including the future King George V.

Dalton went to Summer Fields School and then Eton College. Later, he studied at King's College, Cambridge. There, he became known for his socialist ideas, which were quite new at the time. People even called him "Comrade Hugh." He also studied at the London School of Economics (LSE).

During World War I, Dalton served in the army. He was a lieutenant on the battlefronts in France and Italy. He even received an Italian award for his bravery. After the war, he became a lecturer at the LSE.

Starting a Political Career

Dalton tried several times to become a Member of Parliament (MP). He finally won a seat in 1924, representing Peckham.

In 1929, he became the MP for Bishop Auckland. His wife, Ruth Dalton, had held this seat before him.

Because he was very good at economics, he quickly moved up in the Labour Party. He joined the shadow cabinet in 1925. He also gained experience in foreign policy. From 1929 to 1931, he worked at the Foreign Office.

He lost his seat in 1931 but was re-elected in 1935. In 1935, Dalton wrote an important book called Practical Socialism for Britain. This book shared his ideas for how a future Labour government could plan the country's economy.

Views on Foreign Policy

Dalton became the Labour Party's main speaker on foreign policy. At first, many in the Labour Party believed in avoiding war. However, the Spanish Civil War changed many minds.

Dalton believed Britain needed to build up its military. He felt this was important to protect the country from threats, especially from Germany. He strongly disagreed with the policy of "appeasement." This policy involved giving in to the demands of aggressive countries to avoid war.

He was a strong critic of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. In March 1939, Germany took over parts of Czechoslovakia. Dalton spoke in Parliament, saying that Britain's promise to protect Czechoslovakia had been broken. He called for Chamberlain to resign. Dalton warned that Britain faced a growing danger. He supported the idea of countries working together to stop further aggression.

World War II Roles

When World War II began, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister. Dalton joined Churchill's government. From 1940 to 1942, he was the Minister of Economic Warfare. In this role, he helped create the Special Operations Executive. This group carried out secret missions during the war.

Later, in 1942, he became the President of the Board of Trade. Here, he worked to control prices and ensure fair trade.

Leading the Economy as Chancellor

After the Labour Party won the 1945 election, Dalton hoped to become Foreign Secretary. However, he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer instead. This was a very important job, as Britain faced many economic challenges after the war.

Britain's economy had been focused on the war effort. Now, it needed to change back to peacetime. The country also needed financial help from the United States and Canada. Dalton, along with Ernest Bevin, Clement Attlee, Herbert Morrison, and Stafford Cripps, was one of the five most important leaders in the new Labour government.

One of Dalton's main goals as Chancellor was to keep interest rates low. This was called "cheaper money." He wanted to avoid high interest rates and unemployment, which had happened after the First World War. Low interest rates also helped keep down the cost of nationalizing industries.

Dalton's policies aimed to help ordinary people. He increased money for food subsidies to keep living costs down. He also helped fund council houses and supported family allowances. These allowances provided money to families with children. He also increased spending on education and helped create the National Land Fund. This fund was used to protect national parks and open spaces.

Budget Leak and Resignation

In 1947, Dalton was about to give his autumn budget speech. As he walked into the House of Commons, he spoke to a journalist. He accidentally told the reporter some details about the new tax changes.

This information was printed in the evening newspapers before he had finished his speech. This was a big problem, as it meant the stock market could react to the news too early. This incident led to his resignation. Stafford Cripps took over as Chancellor.

Returning to Government

Dalton returned to the government in 1948. He became the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. This was a role without a specific department.

In 1950, he became the Minister of Town and Country Planning. This job involved planning how towns and the countryside would develop. He was a big fan of the outdoors and served as president of the Ramblers Association. This group encourages walking tours.

In 1951, he approved the creation of the Pennine Way. This is a long walking path across England. He also helped promote the careers of younger politicians. He left government after the Labour Party lost the 1951 election.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1914, Dalton married Ruth. They had a daughter who sadly passed away when she was very young.

Dalton's personal writings, including his diaries, are kept at the LSE Library. These diaries have been made available online.

In 1960, he was given the title Baron Dalton. This made him a life peer, allowing him to sit in the House of Lords.

Images for kids

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  Dalton (right), Minister of Economic Warfare, and Colin Gubbins, chief of the Special Operations Executive, talking to a Czech officer during a visit to Czech troops near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

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  Dalton in 1962

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  The paved surface of the Pennine Way on Black Hill in the Peak District National Park