Anne Chamberlain
Encyclopedia
Anne Vere Chamberlain, née Anne de Vere Cole (1883 – 12 February 1967) was the wife of British
Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain
.
Chamberlain was born to Major William Utting Cole, of West Woodhay House; he died in India
of cholera while she was young. Her mother, Jane de Vere, was Irish
, and traced her descent to the 15th Earl of Oxford
; she would inherit Issercleran in Craughwell, County Galway
in 1914. Her brother was the infamous prankster Horace de Vere Cole
(1881–1936); he inherited the family house sometime after 1889.
From childhood Anne loved to travel, going abroad to a different Europe
an country each year, later going to Canada
and East Africa
as a married woman.
She was married to Neville Chamberlain
in January 1911 until his death almost 30 years later.
Her husband, a successful businessman, was already forty-one years old and by then had expected to remain a bachelor. She emphatically supported her husband's entry into politics, preferably in the House of Commons, for which she, as did many others, thought him equipped. As a first step, he was elected in November 1911 to the Birmingham city council, winning the office of Lord Mayor
of Birmingham
in 1915. This marked the beginning of a public career in which Anne Chamberlain was to be Neville's constant companion, helper and trusted colleague, and to share in full his interests in housing and other political and social activities. A woman of charm, distinction and kindliness who moved through life with a quiet and confident dignity, she also possessed considerable ability and long experience in public affairs, adjusting her own individuality to his so that she was always a strength to him. To his everlasting joy Neville found in her the perfect partner, although in many respects their characters were completely antithetical. He was precise, meticulous, and in control of his emotions; she was somewhat impulsive and volatile. Nevertheless, they were a devoted couple, and Neville later claimed that he owed everything to her.
The couple had many tastes in common: a love of music and art, of books and flowers (while at 10 Downing Street
, she created a bright border where previously there had been some sad London
shrubs), and especially of the countryside and wildlife. She would accompany him on his outdoor excursions (though not always the whole way, for he was a prodigious walker), and learned much from his collections and studies of Lepidoptera
, plants and birds.
In literature she preferred Dickens
and Thackeray
, and especially liked works on history, biography and ancient religious rites. It was said her copy of The Golden Bough
went with her on most of her journeys. Archaeology was also an enduring interest of hers; one of the attractions of Chequers
for her was that it lay on the Icknield Way
.
In his biography, Keith Feiling
writes, "Of what he felt of his debt to his wife, he often spoke in public and, as it had been at Ladywood, so he repeats in a letter of 1937 on becoming Prime Minister: 'I should never have become P.M. if I hadn't had Annie to help me."
She was a widow for over twenty-six years. While living in Kings Norton
, the Chamberlains had two children: Dorothy Ethel (1911–1994; m. Lloyd) and Francis Neville (1914–1965; m. Parrott). She outlived Francis by two years and her husband by 27 years.
She is buried in St. Peter's Church, Harborne
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
.
Chamberlain was born to Major William Utting Cole, of West Woodhay House; he died in India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
of cholera while she was young. Her mother, Jane de Vere, was Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, and traced her descent to the 15th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford was an English peer and courtier.-Biography:John de Vere was the son of John de Vere and Alice Kilrington , and the great-grandson of Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford, succeeding his second cousin, John de Vere, 14th Earl of Oxford.Oxford was Esquire of the...
; she would inherit Issercleran in Craughwell, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
in 1914. Her brother was the infamous prankster Horace de Vere Cole
Horace de Vere Cole
William Horace de Vere Cole was a British eccentric prankster and poet...
(1881–1936); he inherited the family house sometime after 1889.
From childhood Anne loved to travel, going abroad to a different Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an country each year, later going to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
as a married woman.
She was married to Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
in January 1911 until his death almost 30 years later.
Her husband, a successful businessman, was already forty-one years old and by then had expected to remain a bachelor. She emphatically supported her husband's entry into politics, preferably in the House of Commons, for which she, as did many others, thought him equipped. As a first step, he was elected in November 1911 to the Birmingham city council, winning the office of Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1915. This marked the beginning of a public career in which Anne Chamberlain was to be Neville's constant companion, helper and trusted colleague, and to share in full his interests in housing and other political and social activities. A woman of charm, distinction and kindliness who moved through life with a quiet and confident dignity, she also possessed considerable ability and long experience in public affairs, adjusting her own individuality to his so that she was always a strength to him. To his everlasting joy Neville found in her the perfect partner, although in many respects their characters were completely antithetical. He was precise, meticulous, and in control of his emotions; she was somewhat impulsive and volatile. Nevertheless, they were a devoted couple, and Neville later claimed that he owed everything to her.
The couple had many tastes in common: a love of music and art, of books and flowers (while at 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
, she created a bright border where previously there had been some sad London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
shrubs), and especially of the countryside and wildlife. She would accompany him on his outdoor excursions (though not always the whole way, for he was a prodigious walker), and learned much from his collections and studies of Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
, plants and birds.
In literature she preferred Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
and Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
, and especially liked works on history, biography and ancient religious rites. It was said her copy of The Golden Bough
The Golden Bough
The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion is a wide-ranging, comparative study of mythology and religion, written by Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer . It first was published in two volumes in 1890; the third edition, published 1906–15, comprised twelve volumes...
went with her on most of her journeys. Archaeology was also an enduring interest of hers; one of the attractions of Chequers
Chequers
Chequers, or Chequers Court, is a country house near Ellesborough, to the south of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England, at the foot of the Chiltern Hills...
for her was that it lay on the Icknield Way
Icknield Way
The Icknield Way is an ancient trackway in southern England. It follows the chalk escarpment that includes the Berkshire Downs and Chiltern Hills.-Background:...
.
In his biography, Keith Feiling
Keith Feiling
Sir Keith Grahame Feiling was Chichele Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford, 1946–1950. He was noted for his conservative interpretation of the past, showing an empire-oriented ideology in defence of hierarchical authority, paternalism, deference, the monarchy, Church, family,...
writes, "Of what he felt of his debt to his wife, he often spoke in public and, as it had been at Ladywood, so he repeats in a letter of 1937 on becoming Prime Minister: 'I should never have become P.M. if I hadn't had Annie to help me."
She was a widow for over twenty-six years. While living in Kings Norton
Kings Norton
Kings Norton is an area of Birmingham, England. It is also a Birmingham City Council ward within the formal district of Northfield.-History:...
, the Chamberlains had two children: Dorothy Ethel (1911–1994; m. Lloyd) and Francis Neville (1914–1965; m. Parrott). She outlived Francis by two years and her husband by 27 years.
She is buried in St. Peter's Church, Harborne
St. Peter's Church, Harborne
-Background:There has been a church on the site since Saxon times and St Chad is even thought to have preached there. The base of an early preaching cross was found in the mid-1980s during work at the back of the church...
.