Lord Mayor of Birmingham, 1915-1916, then served as Director-General of National Service during the First World War (1916-1917). Elected as Conservative MP for Ladywood, Birmingham in 1918, becoming a minister in 1922 as Postmaster-General. Served as Paymaster-General (1923), Minister of Health (1923, then again 1924-1929 and 1931) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1923-1924 and 1931-1937). Became Prime Minister in 1938, resigning in 1940.