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Oswald Mosley

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Oswald Mosley

Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet (16 November 1896 – 3 December 1980), was a British politician who rose to fame during the 1920s and 1930s when, disillusioned with mainstream politics, he turned to fascism. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Harrow from 1918 to 1924 and for Smethwick from 1926 to 1931. He founded the British Union of Fascists (BUF) in 1932 and led it until its forced disbandment in 1940. After military service during the First World War, Mosley became the youngest sitting member of Parliament, representing Harrow from 1918, first as a member of the Conservative Party, then an independent, and finally joining the Labour Party. At the 1924 general election he stood in Birmingham Ladywood against the future Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, coming within 100 votes of defeating him. Mosley returned to Parliament as the Labour MP for Smethwick at a by-election in 1926 and served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Labour government of 1929–1931. In 1928 he succeeded his father as the sixth Mosley baronet, a title in his family for over a century. Some considered Mosley a rising star and a possible future prime minister. He resigned in 1930 over discord with the government's unemployment policies. He chose not to defend his Smethwick constituency at the 1931 general election, instead unsuccessfully standing in Stoke-on-Trent. Mosley's New Party became the British Union of Fascists (BUF) in 1932. As its leader he publicly espoused antisemitism and sought alliances with Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Fascist violence under Mosley's leadership culminated in the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, during which anti-fascist demonstrators including trade unionists, liberals, socialists, communists, anarchists and British Jews prevented the BUF from marching through the East End of London. Mosley subsequently held a series of rallies around London, and the BUF increased its membership there. In 1939 Mosley was implicated in a fascist conspiracy organised by the Right Club against the British government by Archibald Maule Ramsay, albeit all evidence indicates that he soon distanced himself from them, viewing the group and its aims as too extreme. In May 1940, after the outbreak of the Second World War, Mosley was imprisoned and the BUF was made illegal. He was released in 1943 and, politically disgraced by his association with fascism, moved abroad in 1951, spending most of the remainder of his life in France and Ireland. He stood for Parliament during the post-war era but received relatively little support. During this period he was an advocate of pan-European nationalism, developing the Europe a Nation ideology, and was an early proponent of conspiracy theories concerning Holocaust-denial.

Infobox

Preceded by
Harry Mallaby-Deeley
Succeeded by
Sir Isidore Salmon
Prime Minister
Ramsay MacDonald
Constituency
Harrow
Born
Oswald Ernald Mosley16 November 1896Mayfair, London, England
Died
3 December 1980(1980-12-03) (aged 84)Orsay, Essonne, France
Political party
Conservative (1918–1922)Labour (1924–1931)New Party (1931–1932)British Union of Fascists (1932–1940)Union Movement(1948–1973)National Party of Europe (1962–1980)
Spouse(s)
mw- Lady Cynthia Curzon (m. 1920; died 1933) Hon. Diana Mitford (m. 1936)
Relations
Daniel Mosley (great-grandson)
Children
5, including Nicholas and Max
Parent
Sir Oswald Mosley, 5th Baronet
Education
Winchester College
Alma mater
Royal Military College, Sandhurst
Allegiance
British Empire
Branch/service
British Army 16th The Queen's Lancers Royal Flying Corps
Years of service
1914–1918
Rank
Lieutenant
Battles/wars
First World War Second Battle of Ypres Battle of Loos
Awards
mw- 1914–15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal
Party
Conservative (1918–1922)Labour (1924–1931)New Party (1931–1932)British Union of Fascists (1932–1940)Union Movement(1948–1973)National Party of Europe (1962–1980)

Tables

Coat of arms of Oswald Mosley · Coat of arms
Crest An eagle displayed ermine. Escutcheon Sable, a chevron between three pickaxes argent. Motto Mos legem regit. "Custom rules the law".
General election 1966: Shoreditch and Finsbury · Electoral record
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
11,499
Candidate
46.9
Votes
+10.1
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
24,519
Candidate
53.5
Votes
−2.2
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
mw- ±%
Labour
Ronald Brown
17,456
71.1
+2.7
Conservative
Roger Sims
5,957
24.3
−7.3
Union Movement
Oswald Mosley
1,126
4.6
New
Majority
11,499
46.9
+10.1
Turnout
24,519
53.5
−2.2
Labour hold
Swing
+5.0
General election 1959: Kensington, North[134] · Electoral record
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
877
Candidate
2.51
Votes
−5.3
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
34,912
Candidate
67.8
Votes
−1.9
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
George Rogers
14,925
42.8
−11.2
Conservative
Robert Bulbrook
14,048
40.2
−5.8
Liberal
Michael Louis Hydleman
3,118
8.9
New
Union Movement
Oswald Mosley
2,821
8.1
New
Majority
877
2.51
−5.3
Turnout
34,912
67.8
−1.9
Labour hold
Swing
−2.7
General election 1931: Stoke-on-Trent · Electoral record
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
6,654
Candidate
15.2
Votes
N/A
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
43,716
Candidate
75.9
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Conservative
Ida Copeland
19,918
45.6
Labour
Ellis Smith
13,264
30.3
New Party
Oswald Mosley
10,534
24.1
New
Majority
6,654
15.2
N/A
Turnout
43,716
75.9
Conservative gain from Labour
Swing
General election 1929: Smethwick[135][page needed] · Electoral record
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
7,340
Candidate
20.6
Votes
−2.8
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
35,669
Candidate
78.9
Votes
+0.3
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
Oswald Mosley
19,550
54.8
−2.3
Unionist
Roy Wise
12,210
34.2
+0.5
Liberal
Maude Egerton Marshall
3,909
11.0
+1.8
Majority
7,340
20.6
−2.8
Turnout
35,669
78.9
+0.3
Labour hold
Swing
−1.4
1926 Smethwick by-election[135][page needed] · Electoral record
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
6,582
Candidate
23.4
Votes
+18.8
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
35,862
Candidate
78.6
Votes
+0.4
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Labour
Oswald Mosley
16,077
57.1
+4.8
Unionist
Marshall James Pike
9,495
33.7
−14.0
Liberal
Edwin Bayliss
2,600
9.2
New
Majority
6,582
23.4
+18.8
Turnout
35,862
78.6
+0.4
Labour hold
Swing
−9.4
General election 1924: Birmingham Ladywood · Electoral record
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
77
Candidate
0.2
Votes
−3.8
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
27,200
Candidate
80.5
Votes
+8.5
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Unionist
Neville Chamberlain
13,374
49.1
−4.1
Labour
Oswald Mosley
13,297
48.9
+2.1
Liberal
Alfred William Bowkett
539
2.0
New
Majority
77
0.2
−3.8
Turnout
27,200
80.5
+8.5
Unionist hold
Swing
−2.0
General election 1923: Harrow[135][page needed] · Electoral record
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
4,646
Candidate
19.8
Votes
−12.2
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
23,512
Candidate
64.5
Votes
−0.6
Registered electors
Registered electors
Party
Registered electors
Party
36,475
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Independent
Oswald Mosley
14,079
59.9
−6.1
Unionist
Edward Hugh Frederick Morris
9,433
40.1
+6.1
Majority
4,646
19.8
−12.2
Turnout
23,512
64.5
−0.6
Registered electors
36,475
Independent hold
Swing
−6.1
General election 1922: Harrow[135][page needed] · Electoral record
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
7,422
Candidate
32.0
Votes
N/A
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
23,158
Candidate
65.1
Votes
+14.7
Registered electors
Registered electors
Party
Registered electors
Party
35,592
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Independent
Oswald Mosley
15,290
66.0
N/A
Unionist
Charles Ward-Jackson
7,868
34.0
−48.3
Majority
7,422
32.0
N/A
Turnout
23,158
65.1
+14.7
Registered electors
35,592
Independent gain from Unionist
Swing
General election 1918: Harrow[135][page needed] · Electoral record
C
C
Party
C
Party
Unionist
Candidate
Oswald Mosley
Votes
13,959
%
82.3
±%
N/A
Majority
Majority
Party
Majority
Party
10,934
Candidate
64.6
Votes
N/A
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
16,957
Candidate
50.4
Votes
N/A
Registered electors
Registered electors
Party
Registered electors
Party
33,651
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
Party
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
C
Unionist
Oswald Mosley
13,959
82.3
N/A
Independent
Arthur Robert Chamberlayne
3,007
17.7
New
Majority
10,934
64.6
N/A
Turnout
16,957
50.4
N/A
Registered electors
33,651
Unionist hold
Swing
N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
· External links
Preceded byHarry Deeley
Preceded byHarry Deeley
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded byHarry Deeley
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Member of Parliament for Harrow 1918–1924
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Succeeded byIsidore Salmon
Preceded byJohn Davison
Preceded byJohn Davison
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded byJohn Davison
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Member of Parliament for Smethwick 1926–1931
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Succeeded byRoy Wise
Political offices
Political offices
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Political offices
Preceded byThe Lord Cushendun
Preceded byThe Lord Cushendun
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded byThe Lord Cushendun
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1929–1930
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Succeeded byClement Attlee
Baronetage of Great Britain
Baronetage of Great Britain
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Baronetage of Great Britain
Preceded byOswald Mosley
Preceded byOswald Mosley
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded byOswald Mosley
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Baronet of Ancoats1928–1980
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Succeeded byNicholas Mosley
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded byHarry Deeley
Member of Parliament for Harrow 1918–1924
Succeeded byIsidore Salmon
Preceded byJohn Davison
Member of Parliament for Smethwick 1926–1931
Succeeded byRoy Wise
Political offices
Preceded byThe Lord Cushendun
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1929–1930
Succeeded byClement Attlee
Baronetage of Great Britain
Preceded byOswald Mosley
Baronet of Ancoats1928–1980
Succeeded byNicholas Mosley

References

  1. Renamed the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists in 1936 and subsequently renamed the British Union in 1937
  2. In Mosley 1968, p. 35, Mosley claims that it was "only relieved by learning and homosexuality" and that he did not enjoy
  3. Arrested in the sense of stunned or gripped.
  4. Amato 2002, pp. 278–279, quotes national archive document HO 283/11, which states that among the property seized followi
  5. Walsh 2007: "In 1946, through his solicitor, Mosley told officials in Dublin that he was interested in settling in Irela
  6. Skidelsky 1975, p. 486: "In April 1948, he endorsed a plan by Oswald Pirow, a former South African cabinet minister and
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