The Welshman who became prime minister during the First World War and served as an MP for 50 years
Lloyd George was to become one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century. He was born in Manchester, but raised in the picturesque village of Llanystumdwy. Here the Lloyd George Museum, along with Highgate, his Victorian childhood home with its shoemaking workshop, tell the story of this remarkable man.
On the death of his father in 1864, the young Lloyd George went to live with his uncle Richard at Llanystumdwy, where he attended the National School as a child.
In 1884 Lloyd George passed his final Law examination and set up his own practice as a solicitor in Criccieth. He was elected Liberal Member of Parliament for the Caernarfon Boroughs in 1890 by the narrowest of margins, winning by a majority of 18 votes. He held this position for 50 years.
Perhaps one of his greatest achievements was the introduction of a pension for the elderly in 1908, while serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lloyd George became Prime Minister on 7 December 1916, at a critical stage in the First World War. He had previously held the posts of Minister of Munitions and Secretary of State for War.
He is also remembered as the prime minister who gave women the vote, but he failed to solve the problems in Ireland.
After the death of his wife Margaret in 1941, Lloyd George married Frances Stevenson in 1943. In the 1945 New Year’s Honours List he became Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor. On 26 March he died at Ty Newydd, Llanystumdwy.
Lloyd George is buried in Llanystumdwy on the banks of the River Dwyfor. Take time to visit his grave there, with its Clough Williams-Ellis design.