James Harold Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson of Rievaulx (11 March 1916 - 24 May 1995) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1964 - 1970, preceded by Alec Douglas-Home and succeeded by Edward Heath, and then again from 1974 - 1976, preceded by Edward Heath and succeeded by Jim Callaghan. Wilson oversaw a period of low unemployment and economic prosperity and presided over significant social reform, including the legalization of homosexuality and the abolition of capital punishment. His reputation is poor among the British public; he is seen as too left-wing by many, too moderate by others. However, historians have a more positive view of him, evaluating him in terms of leading the Labour Party through difficult times with considerable skill.