49 Facts About Harold Wilson's

Harold Wilson's was the Leader of the Labour Party from 1963 to 1976, and was a Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1983.

Harold Wilson's was later an economic history lecturer at New College, Oxford, and a research fellow at University College, Oxford.

Harold Wilson's reputation was low when he left office and was still poor in 2016.

Harold Wilson's's stated ambitions of substantially improving Britain's long-term economic performance, applying technology more democratically, and reducing inequality went to some extent unfulfilled.

Harold Wilson's came from a political family: his father James Herbert Wilson was a works chemist who had been active in the Liberal Party, going as far as to be Winston Churchill's deputy election agent in a 1908 by-election, but later joined the Labour Party.

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Harold Wilson's's mother Ethel was a schoolteacher before her marriage; in 1901 her brother Harold Seddon settled in Western Australia and became a local political leader.

Harold Wilson's's father, working as an industrial chemist, was made redundant in December 1930, and it took him nearly two years to find work; he moved to Spital in Cheshire, on the Wirral, to do so.

Harold Wilson's graduated in PPE with "an outstanding first class Bachelor of Arts degree, with alphas on every paper" in the final examinations, and a series of major academic awards.

Harold Wilson's continued in academia, becoming one of the youngest Oxford dons of the century at the age of 21.

Harold Wilson's was a lecturer in Economic History at New College from 1937, and a research fellow at University College.

Harold Wilson's was to remain passionately interested in statistics, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society in 1943.

Harold Wilson's was instrumental as prime minister in appointing Claus Moser as head of the Central Statistical Office, and was president of the Royal Statistical Society between 1972 and 1973.

Harold Wilson's was selected for the constituency of Ormskirk, then held by Stephen King-Hall.

Harold Wilson's served as Praelector in Economics at University College between his resignation and his election to the House of Commons.

Harold Wilson's used this time to write A New Deal for Coal, which used his wartime experience to argue for the nationalisation of the coal mines on the grounds of the improved efficiency he predicted would ensue.

Harold Wilson's stood instead for the new seat of Huyton near Liverpool, and was narrowly elected; he served there for 33 years until 1983.

Harold Wilson's made it a priority to reduce wartime rationing, which he referred to as a "bonfire of controls".

Harold Wilson's ended rationing of potatoes, bread and jam, as well as shoes and some other clothing controls.

Harold Wilson's was not seriously considered for the job of Chancellor when Cripps stepped down in October 1950—it was given to Gaitskell—possibly in part because of his cautious role during devaluation.

Harold Wilson's was supported in this by Richard Crossman, but his actions angered Bevan and the other Bevanites.

Harold Wilson's coined the term "Gnomes of Zurich" to ridicule Swiss bankers for selling Britain short and pushing the pound sterling down by speculation.

Harold Wilson's conducted an inquiry into the Labour Party's organisation following its defeat in the 1955 general election; its report compared Labour's organisation to an antiquated "penny farthing" bicycle, and made various recommendations for improvements.

Harold Wilson's argued that "the Britain that is going to be forged in the white heat of this revolution will be no place for restrictive practices or for outdated measures on either side of industry".

Harold Wilson's's government undertook the easing of means testing for non-contributory welfare benefits, the linking of pensions to earnings, and the provision of industrial-injury benefits.

Harold Wilson's government made significant reforms to education, most notably the expansion of comprehensive education and the creation of the Open University.

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Harold Wilson's government put faith in economic planning as a way to solve Britain's economic problems.

Harold Wilson's government presided over a rate of unemployment which was low by historic standards but did rise during his period in office.

Harold Wilson's had entered power at a time when unemployment stood at around 400,000.

Education held special significance for a socialist of Harold Wilson's generation, given its role in both opening up opportunities for children from working-class backgrounds and enabling Britain to seize the potential benefits of scientific advances.

Harold Wilson's government made a variety of changes to the tax system.

Harold Wilson's policy angered the left-wing of his Labour Party, who opposed the Vietnam War.

Harold Wilson's's government offered some rhetorical support for the US position.

Harold Wilson's was unable to get into the boat and was left in the cold water, hanging on to the fenders of the motorboat.

Harold Wilson's was close to death before he was saved by the father of novelist Isabel Wolff.

Harold Wilson's gained a three-seat majority in another election later that year, on 10 October 1974.

Harold Wilson's refused to pressure a reluctant British Army to face down the Ulster loyalist paramilitaries who were intimidating utility workers.

Harold Wilson's claimed that he had always planned on resigning at the age of 60 and that he was physically and mentally exhausted.

Harold Wilson's's doctor had detected problems which would later be diagnosed as colon cancer, and Wilson had begun drinking brandy during the day to cope with stress.

Harold Wilson's was appointed in 1976 to chair the Committee to Review the Functioning of Financial Institutions which reported in June 1980.

Harold Wilson's famously floundered in the role, and in 2000, Channel 4 chose one of his appearances as one of the 100 Moments of TV Hell.

Harold Wilson's had a picture taken with other Labour Lords on 15 June 1994, just under a year before his death.

Harold Wilson's died from colon cancer and Alzheimer's disease on 24 May 1995, aged 79.

Harold Wilson's's death came five months before that of his predecessor Alec Douglas-Home.

Harold Wilson's sued the pop group the Move for libel after the band's manager Tony Secunda published a promotional postcard for the single "Flowers in the Rain", featuring a caricature depicting Wilson in bed with his female assistant, Marcia Williams.

Harold Wilson's pledged not to devalue sterling, but did exactly that in 1967; he promised to keep unemployment low, but had by 1970 accepted a higher rate of joblessness than the Conservatives had managed.

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Harold Wilson's retracted that claim, saying there was only one man.

Harold Wilson's has found no evidence of any truth in the allegations.

Harold Wilson's has given me his personal assurance that the stories are false.

Portrait of Harold Wilson's Wilson, painted by the Scottish portrait artist Cowan Dobson, hangs today at University College, Oxford.