ABSTRACT
The fall of the Lloyd George Coalition on 19 October 1922 marked the decisive watershed in Neville Chamberlain’s political career. Like so many Conservative leaders between the wars, Chamberlain was a major beneficiary of the unique situation created by the Carlton Club revolt. When the bulk of the party’s most experienced leadership resigned rather than submit to the wishes of rebellious subordinates, Bonar Law was forced ‘to depend upon the under-secretaries and bottle-washers of the late Government’ to form his administration.1 Within the ranks of this so-called ‘Second Eleven’, Chamberlain had undoubtedly established a strong claim to ministerial preferment, but few could have predicted the meteoric rise that these developments made possible. Appointed as Postmaster-General outside the Cabinet in October 1922, within ten months he had risen, via the Ministry of Health, to become Chancellor of the Exchequer and one of Baldwin’s closest ministerial confidants. Thereafter, he remained at the pinnacle of national and Conservative politics until his death in 1940. Moreover, beyond its direct implications for Chamberlain’s career advancement, October 1922 marked an equally significant personal watershed. With Austen stranded in the political wilderness while he rapidly rose to prominence on the Conservative frontbench, Neville Chamberlain swiftly moved out of the shadow of his older half-brother. Perhaps for the first time in his life, he was now his own man, standing on terms of equality with his more fortunate and privileged sibling. The rise to office even induced a heady sense of walking in the footsteps of his remote but revered father. Having both become Lord Mayor after four years on the Council, Chamberlain noted with particular satisfaction that they had also both achieved ministerial office only four years after entering the Commons.2
