SNOWDEN , PHILIP SNOWDEN, VISCOUNT

born July 18, 1864, Ickornshaw, Yorkshire, Eng.

died May 15, 1937, Tilford, Surrey

British politician.

From 1893 he was a lecturer and writer for the socialist Independent Labour Party (ILP), then became its leader (1903–06). In the House of Commons (1906–18, 1922–31), he excelled in debates on social and economic questions. He served as chancellor of the Exchequer in James Ramsay MacDonald 's governments (1924, 1929–31) and in 1931 secured Britain's abandonment of the gold standard.