High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The early life, business career and political rise of Neville Chamberlain culminated on 28 May 1937, when he was summoned to Buckingham Palace to "kiss hands" and accept the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Chamberlain had long been regarded as Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin`s political heir, and when Baldwin announced his retirement, Chamberlain was seen as the only possible successor.