born Nov. 16, 1896, London, Eng.
died Dec. 3, 1980, Orsay, near Paris, France
English politician and fascist.
He served in the House of Commons (1918–31) as, successively, a Conservative, an Independent, and a Labourite. After a visit to Italy, he founded the British Union of Fascists in 1932. With his followers, he distributed anti-Semitic propaganda, conducted hostile demonstrations in the Jewish sections of eastern London, and wore Nazi-style uniforms. During World War II he was interned (1940–43) with his wife, Diana Guinness, a sister of Jessica and Nancy Mitford and friend of Adolf Hitler . In 1948 Mosley founded the Union Movement, an amalgam of right-wing book clubs.