James Callaghan, an affable, self-educated sailor's son who rose from poverty to become prime minister in the dying years of consensus politics in postwar Britain, died Saturday on the eve of his 93rd birthday, his family said.
Callaghan died at his family home in East Sussex, south of London, 11 days after the death of Audrey, his wife of 67 years, a family spokeswoman said. Cause of death was not given.
Callaghan, who entered Parliament in the Labour party landslide of 1945, was the only British politician to hold, at different times, the four top posts of prime minister, Treasury chief, foreign secretary and home secretary.
