Lansbury, George 1859-1940
English politician

Born near Lowestoft, Suffolk, he worked for the reform of the conditions of the poor for many years before entering parliament. He was first elected Labour MP for Bow and Bromely in 1910, resigning in 1912 to stand again as a supporter of women's suffrage. He was defeated and was not re-elected until 1922. Meanwhile he founded the Daily Herald, which he edited until 1922, when it became the official paper of the Labour Party. In 1929 he became first Commissioner of Works and Leader of the Labour Party (1931-35). As a pacifist, he resigned in 1935 over Labour's hostile response to the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, but remained an MP until his death. Besides his help to the poor, he opened up London's parks for games and provided a bathing place on the Serpentine. He wrote My Life (1928). The actress Angela Lansbury is his daughter.