Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

British politician (1881-1959) · United Kingdom · Politicians · Died at 78

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He came within a breath of becoming Britain's wartime prime minister in May 1940, but stepped aside - leaving Churchill to face Hitler while Halifax pressed, weeks later, for peace talks as Dunkirk burned.

Politicians Politician Politics United Kingdom Europe 20th Century

A life in dates

1959Died23 December 19591957Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeAward1946Order of MeritAward1939Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of GrenobleAward1938“We are all alike determined to throw all our weight on the side of securing world peace through respect for law based on just settlements.”In their words21 June 1938Speech to the annual dinner of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (21 June 1938), quoted in The Times (22 June 1938), p. 18Read the whole statement

1937“Hitler invited me to begin our discussion, which I did by thanking him for giving me this opportunity.”In their words19 November 1937Diary entry (19 November 1937), quoted in Lord Halifax, Fulness of Days (1957), p. 185Read the whole statement

“He [Hitler] did not challenge this and said that formal agreement between the four Powers [Britain, France, Germany and Italy] might not be very difficult to achieve.”In their words19 November 1937Diary entry (19 November 1937), quoted in Lord Halifax, Fulness of Days (1957), pp. 185-186Read the whole statement

“Hitler was on the whole quiet and restrained, except now and again when he got excited; over Russia or the Press.”In their words19 November 1937Diary entry (19 November 1937), quoted in Lord Halifax, Fulness of Days (1957), pp. 188Read the whole statement

“One had a feeling all the time that we had a totally different set of values and were speaking in a different language.”In their words19 November 1937Diary entry (19 November 1937), quoted in Lord Halifax, Fulness of Days (1957), pp. 189Read the whole statement

1931“[It is] a question of personal appeal and conviction, rather than any argument.”In their words16 February 1931Letter (16 February 1931), quoted in Birkenhead, Halifax (1965), p. 296Read the whole statement

Knight of the GarterAward1926Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian EmpireAwardKnight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of IndiaAward1881Born16 April 1881

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

1st Earl of Halifax 1947

0929 fc-churchill-halifax

Bundesarchiv Bild 102-17986, Schorfheide, Lord Edward Frederik Halifax, Hermann Göring crop

Mussolini and Chamberlain in Rome 1939

Bundesarchiv Bild 102-17986, Schorfheide, Lord Edward Frederik Halifax, Hermann Göring

Coronation Park, Delhi 22

Coronation Park, Delhi 23

Coronation Park, Delhi 24

In their own words 10

Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

10 statements, newest first

We are all alike determined to throw all our weight on the side of securing world peace through respect for law based on just settlements.
Jun 21, 1938, Speech to the annual dinner of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (21 June 1938), quoted in The Times (22 June 1938), p. 18, Own words
Hitler invited me to begin our discussion, which I did by thanking him for giving me this opportunity.
Nov 19, 1937, Diary entry (19 November 1937), quoted in Lord Halifax, Fulness of Days (1957), p. 185, Own words
He [Hitler] did not challenge this and said that formal agreement between the four Powers [Britain, France, Germany and Italy] might not be very difficult to achieve.
Nov 19, 1937, Diary entry (19 November 1937), quoted in Lord Halifax, Fulness of Days (1957), pp. 185-186, Own words

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Awards

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George1957

Order of Merit1946

Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Grenoble1939

Knight of the Garter1931

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India1926

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire1926

Honorary Doctorate at the Laval University

Inter-Allied Victory Medals

Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Family

Parents

Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax

Partners

Spouse Lady Dorothy Onslow

Children

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About this person

Edward Wood rose through Conservative ranks to become Viceroy of India from 1926 to 1931, then Foreign Secretary from 1938 to 1940. He worked closely with Neville Chamberlain to appease Hitler through 1938, but after Kristallnacht and the seizure of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, he pivoted to deterrence and backed the guarantee to Poland. When Chamberlain fell in May 1940, Halifax was the leading candidate to succeed him but declined, believing he'd be a figurehead with Churchill running the war; his seat in the House of Lords became the official explanation. Weeks later, with British forces retreating to Dunkirk, he argued for approaching Italy to broker acceptable peace terms - Churchill overruled him after fierce cabinet battles. Halifax spent the rest of the war as Ambassador to the United States, serving until 1946.

Country

United Kingdom