Clement Attlee.

Name: Attlee's Great Contemporaries
Author: Clement Attlee

Clement Richard Attlee

Born 3 Jan 1883 London, United Kingdom

Died 8 Oct 1967 London, United Kingdom

Citizenship United Kingdom

9 min read

Reading time

1,656

Words

Mar 11, 2026

Published

Book

Awards

TL;DR

Clement Attlee won a landslide victory in the 1945 general election, defeating Winston Churchill. As Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951, he established the National Health Service in 1948 and oversaw the independence of India in 1947. His government also nationalized key industries and created the modern welfare state.

Identity & family.

KIN · 8

Names, aliases, and relatives of Clement Attlee — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Clement Richard Attlee

Nicknames Clem

Aliases British Prime Minister Atlee, Lord Attlee

PARENTS: Ellen Bravery Watson Henry Attlee
SPOUSES: Violet Helen Millar
CHILDREN: Janet Attlee Lady Felicity Attlee Lady Alison Davis
SIBLINGS: Thomas Simons Attlee Bernard Henry Bravery Attlee

At a glance.

STATS

Clement Attlee by the numbers — life, work, and family.

84 Years lived

1 Book

7 Awards

1 Marriage

3 Children

Who was Clement Attlee?

BIOGRAPHY

Clement Attlee — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Clement Richard Attlee grew up in a middle-class family in Putney, London. His father, Henry Attlee, was a solicitor; his mother, Ellen Bravery Watson. Born on January 3, 1883, he attended Haileybury and Imperial Service College, studied at University College, Oxford, and trained as a barrister at City Law School. Initially a supporter of the Conservative Party and imperialism, his political views shifted leftward after witnessing poverty in London’s East End.

Career

Attlee became Labour Party leader in 1935 and served as Deputy Prime Minister under Churchill in the wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945. He led Labour to a landslide victory in the 1945 general election, becoming Prime Minister. His government established the National Health Service in 1948 and granted India independence in 1947. Earlier, Attlee had supported appeasement but reversed his position by 1938, opposing the Munich Agreement.

Personal life

Attlee married Violet Helen Millar on January 10, 1922; they had three children: Janet, Lady Felicity, and Lady Alison. He had two brothers, Thomas and Bernard. Attlee died on October 8, 1967 in Westminster, London, from pneumonia at age 84.

Legacy

Attlee’s establishment of the National Health Service in 1948 transformed healthcare in Britain. He also oversaw the independence of India in 1947. Honored on a British commemorative stamp in 2014, his awards include the Order of Merit and Knight of the Garter. His government nationalized key industries and created the modern welfare state.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 7

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Clement Attlee — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Fellow of the Royal Society
Knight of the Garter
Order of Merit
Companion of Honour
Victory Medal
1914–15 Star
British War Medal

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 1

Clement Attlee's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Attlee's Great Contemporaries

by Clement R. Attlee

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 3

A wall of memorable lines from Clement Attlee — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Democracy Means Government by Discussion, but It Is Only Effective If You Can Stop People Talking.
Russian Communism Is the Illegitimate Child of Karl Marx and Catherine the Great.
A Tory Minister Can Sleep in Ten Different Women’s Beds in a Week. a Labour Minister Gets It in the Neck If He Looks at His Neighbour’s Wife Over the Garden Fence.

Did you know?

FACTS · 12

Little-known facts about Clement Attlee — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Attlee strongly supported appeasement from 1935 to 1938, then reversed his position and became a vocal critic of the Munich Agreement. The Labour Party opposed rearmament; on 21 December 1933 he said the party was unalterably opposed to anything in the nature of rearmament. On 8 March 1934, he stated the party was out for total disarmament. On 30 July 1934, Labour moved a censure motion against the government for expanding the RAF, and Attlee denied the need for increased air arms. On 22 May 1935, after Hitler’s Reichstag speech, Attlee saw a chance to halt the armaments race. He also denounced the 1937 Defence White Paper.
His party received more votes than the Conservatives in the 1951 General Election, but lost seats due to the collapse of the Liberal vote.
Used 13,000 troops to end the London dock strike in 1949.
Pictured on one of a set of eight British commemorative postage stamps honoring Prime Ministers, issued 14 October 2014. Other prime ministers featured included William Pitt the Younger, Charles Grey, Robert Peel, William Gladstone, Winston Churchill, Harold Wilson, and Margaret Thatcher.
He believed Anthony Eden had been forced into taking a strong stand on the Suez Crisis by his backbenchers.
Leader of the Labour Party from October 25, 1935 to December 7, 1955.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from July 26, 1945 to October 26, 1951.
As a young man he supported the Conservative Party and was a major supporter of imperialism, before moving to the left.
After becoming Prime Minister in 1945 he initially intended to transform India into a self-governing Dominion of the British Empire in 1948, but in February 1947 he accepted full independence was inevitable.
Until Rishi Sunak, he was the last UK Prime Minister not to serve under Queen Elizabeth II. His term ended four months before she ascended the throne. He outlived her first Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.
Attlee authorized the bombing of Dresden in February 1945 while Churchill was at the Yalta Conference.
He played a major role in crushing the Quit India movement in 1942-43.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 38

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Clement Attlee.

When was Clement Attlee born?

Clement Attlee was born on January 3, 1883. He was born in Putney, Wandsworth, London, England.
Where was Clement Attlee born?

Clement Attlee was born in Putney, Wandsworth, London, England, UK. This is a district in south-west London.
When did Clement Attlee die?

Clement Attlee died on October 8, 1967. He passed away in Westminster, London, England, UK at the age of 84.
How old was Clement Attlee when he died?

Clement Attlee was 84 years old when he died. He passed away on October 8, 1967.
Where did Clement Attlee die?

Clement Attlee died in Westminster, London, England, UK. This is in central London.
How did Clement Attlee die?

Clement Attlee died of pneumonia. He passed away on October 8, 1967 in Westminster, London.
What was Clement Attlee's real name?

Clement Attlee’s real name is Clement Richard Attlee. He was known as Clem to his friends.
What nationality was Clement Attlee?

Clement Attlee was British. He held citizenship of the United Kingdom.
Who were Clement Attlee's parents?

Clement Attlee’s parents were Henry Attlee and Ellen Bravery Watson. His father was a solicitor.
Who was Clement Attlee married to?

Clement Attlee was married to Violet Helen Millar. They married on January 10, 1922 and she died on June 7, 1964.
Did Clement Attlee have children?

Yes, Clement Attlee had three children: Janet Attlee, Lady Felicity Attlee, and Lady Alison Davis.
Did Clement Attlee have any siblings?

Yes, Clement Attlee had two siblings: Thomas Simons Attlee and Bernard Henry Bravery Attlee.
Where did Clement Attlee go to school?

Clement Attlee attended Haileybury and Imperial Service College, then University College, Oxford, and later City Law School to train as a barrister.
What awards did Clement Attlee win?

Clement Attlee received many awards including Fellow of the Royal Society, Knight of the Garter, Order of Merit, Companion of Honour, Victory Medal, 1914–15 Star, and British War Medal.
How many awards did Clement Attlee win?

Clement Attlee won seven major awards, including the Order of Merit and Knight of the Garter.
How tall was Clement Attlee?

Clement Attlee was 5 feet 9 inches tall, which is 1.75 meters. His height was average for the time.
What was Clement Attlee's nickname?

Clement Attlee’s nickname was Clem. It was a common shortening of his first name used by friends and colleagues.
What aliases did Clement Attlee use?

Clement Attlee was sometimes referred to as British Prime Minister Atlee or Lord Attlee after being made a peer. These were informal titles.
What was Clement Attlee known for?

Clement Attlee is best known for being Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, establishing the National Health Service, and granting India independence.
Was Clement Attlee married?

Yes, Clement Attlee was married to Violet Helen Millar. They were married from January 10, 1922 until her death on June 7, 1964.
What political party did Clement Attlee lead?

Clement Attlee led the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955. He served as Leader of the Opposition and later as Prime Minister.
When was Clement Attlee Prime Minister?

Clement Attlee served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from July 26, 1945 to October 26, 1951. He took office after a landslide election victory.
What major policies did Clement Attlee implement?

Clement Attlee’s government established the National Health Service in 1948, nationalized key industries, and granted independence to India in 1947.
How did Clement Attlee defeat Winston Churchill?

Clement Attlee’s Labour Party won a landslide victory in the 1945 general election, defeating Winston Churchill’s Conservatives. This was a major political upset.
What was Clement Attlee's role in World War II?

Clement Attlee served as Deputy Prime Minister in Winston Churchill’s wartime coalition government from 1940 to 1945, handling domestic affairs.
Did Clement Attlee support the bombing of Dresden?

Yes, Clement Attlee authorized the bombing of Dresden in February 1945 while Churchill was at the Yalta Conference. This remains a controversial decision.
What was Clement Attlee's stance on appeasement?

Clement Attlee initially supported appeasement from 1935 to 1938, then reversed his position and became a critic of the Munich Agreement. He opposed rearmament earlier.
How did Clement Attlee handle the Indian independence?

Clement Attlee initially planned for dominion status by 1948, but in February 1947 he accepted full independence, which was granted later that year.
Was Clement Attlee the last Prime Minister not to serve under Queen Elizabeth II?

Until Rishi Sunak, Clement Attlee was the last UK Prime Minister not to serve under Queen Elizabeth II. His term ended four months before she ascended the throne in 1952.
What commemorative stamp featured Clement Attlee?

Clement Attlee appeared on a British commemorative stamp issued on October 14, 2014, as part of a set honoring eight prime ministers.
How did Clement Attlee deal with the 1949 London dock strike?

Clement Attlee used 13,000 troops to end the London dock strike in 1949, demonstrating his willingness to use military force in industrial disputes.
What was Clement Attlee's view on the Suez Crisis?

Clement Attlee believed that Anthony Eden was forced into a strong stance on the Suez Crisis by his own backbenchers, not by external pressure.
Did Clement Attlee support the Quit India movement?

Clement Attlee played a major role in crushing the Quit India movement in 1942-43, as part of the British government’s response to Indian nationalism.
Where did Clement Attlee receive his education?

Clement Attlee was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College, University College, Oxford, and City Law School. He studied law and became a barrister.
What honors did Clement Attlee receive?

Clement Attlee received the Order of Merit, Knight of the Garter, Companion of Honour, and was a Fellow of the Royal Society, among other medals.
How long was Clement Attlee leader of the Labour Party?

Clement Attlee was leader of the Labour Party for exactly 20 years, from October 25, 1935 to December 7, 1955.
Why did Clement Attlee's party win more votes in 1951 but lose seats?

In the 1951 general election, Labour received more votes than the Conservatives, but the collapse of the Liberal vote allowed the Conservatives to win more seats.
Was Clement Attlee a Conservative before joining Labour?

As a young man, Clement Attlee supported the Conservative Party and was a major supporter of imperialism, before moving leftwards politically.

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Audited & updated by

Michael is the last person to read a profile before it goes live, which makes him the one who catches what everyone else missed. 5 years as a copy editor has given him a sharp sense for what's off. A wrong year, a vague credit, a sentence that almost makes sense but doesn't quite. He's especially thorough with filmographies. He'll tell you that's where most of the errors hide. He's right.

Published on March 11, 2026

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