The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Wilson, Harold

Born Mar. 11, 1916, in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Statesman and politician of Great Britain.

After graduating from Oxford University, Wilson taught economics there. He joined the Labour Party in 1937. He held a number of responsible positions in government from 1940 to 1944. In 1945 he became a member of Parliament. He was minister of trade in C. Attlee’s Labour government from 1947 to 1951. He joined the executive committee of the Labour Party in 1952, and he became party leader in February 1963 after the death of H. Gaitskell. He holds centrist views in the Labour Party, although he was affiliated with its left wing during the initial period of his political activity. He was prime minister from 1964 to 1970 and was elected prime minister again in 1974. Wilson is the author of a number of works and studies on economic problems.

REFERENCES

Kay, E. Pragmatic Premier. London [1967].
Foot, M. The Politics of Harold Wilson. London [1968].

References in periodicals archive

An auction of political and personal treasures collected by former Prime Minister Harold Wilson raised more than PS200,000 when they went under the hammer in Stafford.

Royal links and THAT coat make PS200k

The catalogue for the auction next week has now been released and items to be sold include one of Huddersfield-born Harold Wilson's trademark Gannex raincoats and several tobacco pipes.

Harold Wilson's personal effects go up for auction; HUDDERSFIELD-BORN PRIME MINSTER'S COLLECTION IS BELIEVED TO BE WORTH MORE THAN PS65K AND INCLUDES PIPES, MACS, BOOKS AND HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

A RAINCOAT and several trademark pipes owned by Harold Wilson are set to go under the hammer in the Midlands next week in what is being billed as an auction of a "prime minister's entire life".

Harold Wilson's pipes and cigars in auction sale

HAROLD Wilson's former right-hand woman Baroness Falkender has died.

Wilson aide Falkender dies; SUNDAY SHORTS

For example, there's a Vanden Plas Princess R that was used by Harold Wilson, a customised Mini once owned by Cilla Black, and a Lotus Elan that had been donated to the Prince's Trust.

HAMMER TIME; ON THE ROAD

Theresa May won the vote in scenesthat recall the 1970s - when Harold Wilson was stuck with first ahung parliament, then a majority of three.

'Worse than the 70s!' Dennis Skinner blasts 'disgraceful' Tories for making sick MP vote on Brexit in a wheelchair; Labour's veteran Beast of Bolsover hit out after Naz Shah was wheeled through the Commons in pyjamas with a sick bucket on her lap

Harold Wilson was the Prime Minister at that time and "the balance of payments" was uppermost as one of Harold Wilson's problems.

A lesson from capitalist history; Views of Wales

On reading the conclusions of the Chilcot Report, I'm reminded of the sharp contrast between Tony Blair and his predecessor as a Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, who was the Prime Minister at the time of the Vietnam War.

Wilson saved us from Vietnam; LETTERS

However, one simple access to the internet shows that this programme was first transmitted in 1966 when Harold Wilson's Labour Party was in power.

Not milking issue to point out error

The event, held at the Harold Wilson field, attracted visitors from Thornaby and beyond for a fund day which featured birds of prey, a dog show, children's games, fairground rides and more.

Thousands enjoyed fun at weekend fair

It is named after former prime minister Harold Wilson, who established the rule in 1966 amid concern from MPs that their phones were being tapped.

Tap fears inspired the rules

There are many instances of Labour misinformation over the years, headed surely by Harold Wilson who, when devaluing the pound by 10%, said on national TV "the pound in your pocket will still buy the same amount of goods" delivered with his usual panache!

Don't blame Thatcher; Views of the North