Jennie Lee
(1904-1988), Labour politician; MP for Cannock and North Lanarkshire and Minister for the Arts; wife of Aneurin BevanJanet ('Jennie') Lee, Baroness Lee of Asheridge
Sitter in 33 portraits
Born in Fife, Lee graduated from Edinburgh University in 1926. She was elected Labour MP for North Lanark in 1929, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Parliament. Lee married Aneurin Bevan in 1934. She worked in the Ministry of Aircraft Production during World War II and later became one of the most successful ministers in Harold Wilson's administration (1964-70). Her vision for accessibility in the arts was outlined in the paper A Policy for the Arts, the First Steps (February 1965), and in March 1965 she joined the Department of Education and Science. Later the country's first Minister for the Arts (1967-70), Lee played a central role in the foundation of the Open University. She was created a Baroness in 1970.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.