David Lloyd George
Having been brought up in North Wales, Lloyd George qualified as a solicitor before winning a by-election as a Liberal in the tightly contested seat of Caernarfon Borough in 1890 aged 27.
In 1906 he was made President of the Board of Trade, before being promoted to Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1908, a post he held until 1915.
Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, George was appointed Minister of Munitions. He held that post until he was appointed Prime Minister (PM) in December 1916.
George held office during the final years of the First World War. In 1919, he signed the Treaty of Versailles which led to the establishment of the League of Nations and the war reparations settlement.
portrait of david lloyd george
George’s government was responsible for the Government of Ireland Act that partitioned Ireland and created two governments (one in Belfast and one in Dublin) with limited devolved powers.
By mid 1921, George was in favour of a truce and led the British delegation during the truce negotiations. The signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty led to the creation of the Irish Free State and consolidated the partition of Ireland.
George resigned in 1922 and did not hold political office again.
In 1944 he was made Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, and died the following year aged 82. He is buried on the banks of the River Dwyfor.