James Ramsey Macdonald (1866-1937), statesman, was born on 12 October 1866 at Lossiemouth, Morayshire, and educated locally. He joined the Social Democratic Federation in 1885, and the Fabian Society in 1886. He earned a living from journalism until achieving financial security by his marriage to Margaret Ethel Gladstone in 1896. Macdonald was Secretary, 1900-1912, then Treasurer, 1912-1924, of the Labour Representation Committee. In 1906 he entered Parliament as M.P. for Leicester. He became Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party in 1922, and was the Labour Prime Minister, 1924 and 1929-1931. Following the resignation of the Labour government in 1931, MacDonald became the Premier of an all-party government, which won the general election in October that year. He resigned the premiership in 1935, and became Lord President of the Council. Macdonald died on 9 November 1937 during a voyage to South America. Sir Thomas Drummond Shiels (1881-1953), Labour politician, was Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, 1929-1931.