Clement Attlee was born in London on January 3, 1883. He went to a boys preparatory school and then Oxford College. After that, he received a law degree at Oxford University. After passing the bar, he became active in the Labor Party and was elected an MP in 1922. He served in the World War II coalition government and in 1945, with Labor's victory at the polls, Attlee became Prime Minister. Attlee instituted extensive social reforms in Great Britain. He was also instrumental in the British decision to grant independence to India, Pakistan, Ceylon, and Burma. Atlee lost the election of 1955 and retired.