The British field marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, b. Aug. 6, 1891, d. Dec. 14, 1970, commanded (1942-45) the British Army's 1st Burma Corps during World War II. Although unable to prevent the Japanese from overrunning Burma in 1942, he thwarted (1944) their attempted invasion of India and mounted a successful guerrilla-style campaign that eventually forced them out of Burma (1945). Promoted to field marshal in 1948, Slim served as chief of the imperial general staff (1948-52) and governor-general of Australia (1953-60). He was created a viscount in 1960.
