William Adamson

William Adamson ( born April 2, 1863 in Dunfermline, † February 23, 1936 ) was a Scottish trade unionist and politician ( Labour Party ).

Life

Adamson was born in Dunfermline and educated at a private elementary school. He worked as a miner in Fife, where he became involved with the National Union of Mineworkers. Between 1902 and 1908 he was Assistant Secretary of Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan Miners' Association.

Political career

Adamson's political rise began when he was first elected as a Labour MP for the constituency of West Fife in the House of Commons in December 1910.

In 1917 he became chairman of his party and held this position until 1921. In 1918 he became a member of the Privy Council.

He served as Minister of Scotland in 1924 and 1929-1931 in the Labour governments of Ramsay MacDonald. However, he fell out with MacDonald after the formation of the national government. Adamson lost his seat in the 1931 election.