Neville Chamberlain government fell within months, necessitating another general election. By a margin of only 77 votes, Chamberlain narrowly defeated Labour candidate Oswald Mosley (who later led the British Union of Fascists). Believing he would lose if he stood again in Ladywood, Chamberlain arranged to be adopted for Birmingham Edgbaston, the district of the city where he was born and which was a much safer seat which he would hold for the rest of his life. The Unionists won the election, but Chamberlain declined to serve again as Chancellor, preferring his former position as Minister of Health. Within two weeks of his
Neville Bowles Chamberlain Madras Legislative Council and, for several months, acting military member of the council of the Governor-General of India. He left India in February 1881 and retired to Lordswood near Southampton in February 1886. In retirement Chamberlain was an active member of the Southampton Unitarian Church. He was promoted to field marshal on 25 April 1900, died at Lordswood on the 18 February 1902 and was buried at Rownhams near Southampton. In 1873 Chamberlain married Charlotte Cuyler Reid, daughter of Major-General Sir William Reid, who died in 1896; there were no children. Neville Bowles Chamberlain Field Marshal Sir Neville Bowles Chamberlain