Simon, John Allsebrook

Born Feb. 28, 1873, in Manchester; died Jan. 11, 1954, in London. British political figure; viscount (1940).

In 1915 and 1916, Simon was home secretary in the Liberal cabinet of H. H. Asquith. From 1927 to 1930 he was chairman of a commission created to study the situation in India. The proposals he set forth represented insignificant concessions to the upper stratum of the Indian bourgeoisie. In 1931, Simon assumed the leadership of a party close to the Conservatives known as the Independent Liberals. He was foreign secretary from 1931 to 1935 and followed a policy of concessions in dealing with Nazi Germany. During the period 1935–37 he was home secretary, and in the years 1937–40 he was chancellor of the exchequer. From 1940 to 1945 he was lord chancellor. After World War II, Simon retired from politics.