Clement Attlee

In the north aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey lie the ashes of Prime Minister Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, PC, OM, CH, FRS. The inscription on the Indian black marble slab reads:

Clement Attlee 1883-1967 Prime Minister 1945-1951 for twenty years leader of the Labour Party

He was born on 3rd January 1883 in London, a son of Henry and his wife Ellen (Watson). Educated at Haileybury College and Oxford university he went on to become a lawyer. In the poorer parts of London he did social work at a boys club and became secretary of the settlement house Toynbee Hall. In the first world war he saw action at Gallipoli and entered politics in the 1920s. He became leader of the Labour Party in 1935 and in 1942 was deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government. At the General Election in July 1945 he was elected Prime Minister. He was created a Knight of the Garter, was a member of the Order of Merit and a Companion of Honour. He was buried on 7th November 1967 during his memorial service.

Further Reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004.