In 1955 Williams founded the People’s National Movement (PNM), which won a landslide victory in the national elections of 1961. In 1962 he led his country to independence, becoming the first Prime Minister (1961–81) of the colony and then of the republic of Trinidad and Tobago. An “empirical” socialist, Williams attracted foreign capital through tax incentives and, by skilful use of foreign aid, made Trinidad and Tobago the wealthiest Commonwealth nation in the Caribbean. He faced increasing militant opposition to his government before his death in 1981.