Stanley Baldwin was a British politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on three separate occasions between 1923 and 1937. He is often remembered as a figure who oversaw a period of relative stability and peace in British politics during a time of great global upheaval. Early Life and Political Career Stanley Baldwin was born on August 3, 1867, in Bewdley, Worcestershire, England. His family was wealthy and well-connected, with his father, Alfred Baldwin, serving as a Member of Parliament for many years. Baldwin was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied history and law. Baldwin's political career began in earnest in 1908 when he was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Bewdley, his father's former constituency. Over the next few years, Baldwin gained a reputation as a reliable and hardworking politician, and he was appointed to a number of ministerial positions within the government. Baldwin's first major role in government came in 1922 when he was appointed as the President of the Board of Trade in the Conservative government led by Andrew Bonar Law. However, Bonar Law resigned due to ill health just a few months later, and Baldwin was chosen as his successor. First Term as Prime Minister Baldwin's first term as Prime Minister began in 1923, following a general election in which no single party won a majority. Baldwin's Conservatives formed a coalition government with the Liberal Party, and Baldwin became Prime Minister with the support of the Liberals. During his first term as Prime Minister, Baldwin oversaw a number of important initiatives, including the passage of the 1924 Pensions Act, which provided old-age pensions for retired workers. He also worked to improve relations with the United States and to build closer ties with the British Empire. However, Baldwin's government was not without its challenges. In 1926, a major general strike paralyzed the country, and Baldwin was forced to intervene to bring the situation under control. He also faced criticism from some quarters for his handling of the economy, which was struggling in the aftermath of World War I. Second Term as Prime Minister Baldwin was re-elected as Prime Minister in 1924, but he was forced to resign in 1929 following another hung parliament. The Labour Party, led by Ramsay MacDonald, formed a minority government, and Baldwin returned to the opposition benches. Baldwin was back in power just two years later, however, when the Conservatives won a resounding victory in the 1931 general election. Baldwin became Prime Minister once again, this time leading a National Government that included both Conservatives and Liberals. Baldwin's second term as Prime Minister was marked by continued economic difficulties, and he was forced to make difficult decisions about spending cuts and other austerity measures. He also had to navigate the growing threat posed by Nazi Germany, which was becoming increasingly aggressive in its foreign policy. Third Term as Prime Minister Baldwin was re-elected for a third term as Prime Minister in 1935, but by this point, his health was starting to fail. He was also facing growing opposition from within his own party, with some Conservatives arguing that he was not doing enough to prepare for the possibility of war with Germany. Baldwin's third term as Prime Minister was dominated by the crisis in Europe, and he worked tirelessly to build alliances with other European powers in an effort to contain the threat posed by Nazi Germany. He also oversaw the rearmament of the British military and the introduction of conscription. Despite these efforts, however, Baldwin's health continued to decline, and in 1937 he resigned as Prime Minister. He remained active in politics for several more years.