Background
Nathan was born in London in 1889, son of Michael Henry Nathan, a fine art publisher and Justice of the peace.
Nathan was born in London in 1889, son of Michael Henry Nathan, a fine art publisher and Justice of the peace.
Saint Paul"s School.
He became honorary secretary of the Brady Working Lads" Club, the oldest and largest of the London Jewish Lads" Clubs. Nathan served in World War I, leaving with the rank of Major. He acted as honorary solicitor to the Land and Nation League.
He stood as a Liberal without success in the 1924 general election for Whitechapel and Saint George"son
In 1934, he defected to the Labour Party. He lost by just 541 votes.
In 1937, Nathan was able to return to Parliament in a by-election in Wandsworth Central as the Labour candidate. He in turn stepped down in 1940 to make way for Ernest Bevin, and was created a hereditary peer as Baron Nathan of Churt in the County of Surrey on 28 June 1940.
He continued in active politics from the House of Lords, serving as Under-Secretary of State for War (1945-1946 and Minister for Civil Aviation (4 October 1946 - 31 May 1948).
He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1946.
35th United Kingdom Parliament. 36th United Kingdom Parliament. 37th United Kingdom Parliament]
Educated at Street Paul"s School, he became a solicitor and member of the firm of Herbert Oppenheimer Nathan and Vandyk.
He was first elected in 1929 as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament)for Bethnal Green North East and was re-elected in 1931.