a British politician in the Labour Party, who started the National Health Service when he was Minister of Health from 1945 to 1951. Members of the Labour Party with left-wing opinions used to be called Bevanites (1897-1960). born Nov. 15, 1897, Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Eng. died July 6, 1960, Chesham, Buckinghamshire British politician. As a young man, he entered Labour Party politics and was elected to the House of Commons in 1929. He overcame a speech impediment to become a brilliant orator. As minister of health in Clement Attlee's government (1945-51), "Nye" Bevan established the National Health Service. He was minister of labour (1951) but resigned in protest against rearmament expenditures that reduced spending on social programs. A controversial figure in the Labour Party, he headed its left-wing (Bevanite) group and was the party's leader until 1955