Politician. He was best-known as a trade unionist and campaigner for the poor and working class of Poplar, East London. As a young boy, he was separated from his family, after his crippled father had been forced into the workhouse for the destitute. He began working at the age of 8, which gave some impetus to his views of the poor and homeless in the future. At age eleven he became an apprentice to a cooper, and this trade he followed for the rest of his working life. With little formal education, he read the works of Charles Dickens comparing his real situation to the poor in his novels. He met employers with an angry resistance, often rallying other workers with his speeches, gaining support for trade unions. In 1892 he was elected to represent Poplar on the London County Council and on the Poplar board of guardians, of which he was chairman from 1897 to 1906. In 1901 he became mayor of Poplar, which was the first labor mayor in London. In 1908 by a huge majority , he was elected as labour M.P. for Woolwich, becoming the fourth independent labour member in the House of Commons. He was re-elected in 1906, lost his seat at the general election in January of 1910, but regained it in that of December of 1910, and was returned unopposed in 1918, holding the seat till his retirement in February of 1921, shortly before his death. He became an active member of the Fabian Society, a British organization that support socialism by reform, yet has historically related to radicalism and left-wing politics. His 1915 recruitment speech at Market Hall is documented in the text, "Great Speeches of the War."
Politician. He was best-known as a trade unionist and campaigner for the poor and working class of Poplar, East London. As a young boy, he was separated from his family, after his crippled father had been forced into the workhouse for the destitute. He began working at the age of 8, which gave some impetus to his views of the poor and homeless in the future. At age eleven he became an apprentice to a cooper, and this trade he followed for the rest of his working life. With little formal education, he read the works of Charles Dickens comparing his real situation to the poor in his novels. He met employers with an angry resistance, often rallying other workers with his speeches, gaining support for trade unions. In 1892 he was elected to represent Poplar on the London County Council and on the Poplar board of guardians, of which he was chairman from 1897 to 1906. In 1901 he became mayor of Poplar, which was the first labor mayor in London. In 1908 by a huge majority , he was elected as labour M.P. for Woolwich, becoming the fourth independent labour member in the House of Commons. He was re-elected in 1906, lost his seat at the general election in January of 1910, but regained it in that of December of 1910, and was returned unopposed in 1918, holding the seat till his retirement in February of 1921, shortly before his death. He became an active member of the Fabian Society, a British organization that support socialism by reform, yet has historically related to radicalism and left-wing politics. His 1915 recruitment speech at Market Hall is documented in the text, "Great Speeches of the War."
Bio by: s.canning
Inscription
After a life of loving service to the nation
Passed on from un on June 25th, 1921
A COOPER BY TRADE, HE BECAME
A GUARDIAN OF THE POOR
A BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
A MAYOR OF POPULAR
A LONDON COUNTY COUNCILLAR
A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
A PRIVY COUNCILLAR
"He lived and died a servant of the people."
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