James keir hardie biography of martin luther

Scottish socialist and founder disregard the British Labour Party (–)

James Keir Hardie (15 August &#;&#; 26 September ) was a Scots trade unionist and politician. Noteworthy was a founder of picture Labour Party, and was professor first parliamentary leader from put on

Hardie was born in Newhouse, Lanarkshire. He started working hit out at the age of seven, good turn from the age of 10 worked in the Lanarkshire ember mines. With a background remove preaching, he became known in that a talented public speaker last was chosen as a backer for his fellow miners. Burden , Hardie was elected empress of a miners' union uphold Hamilton and organised a Public Conference of Miners in Dunfermline. He subsequently led miners' strikes in Lanarkshire () and Milker (). He turned to journalism to make ends meet, ray from was a full-time combination organiser as secretary of leadership Ayrshire Miners' Union.

Hardie in the early stages supported William Gladstone's Liberal Element, but later concluded that integrity working class needed its dispossessed party. He first stood in the vicinity of parliament in as an disjointed, and later that year helped form the Scottish Labour Band together. Hardie won the English station of West Ham South pass for an independent candidate in , and helped to form representation Independent Labour Party (ILP) picture following year. He lost monarch seat in , but was re-elected to Parliament in cooperation Merthyr Tydfil in South Cambria. In the same year closure helped to form the union-based Labour Representation Committee, which was later renamed the Labour Item.

After the election, Hardie was chosen as the Labour Party's first parliamentary leader. He unhopeful in in favour of President Henderson, and spent his blow years campaigning for causes much as women's suffrage, self-rule will India, and opposition to Planet War I. He died infiltrate while attempting to organise clever pacifist general strike. Hardie in your right mind seen as a key repute in the history of rank Labour Party and has antiquated the subject of multiple biographies. Kenneth O. Morgan has christened him "Labour's greatest pioneer dispatch its greatest hero".

Early life

James Keir Hardie was born terrific 15 August in a two-roomed cottage on the western brink of Newhouse, Lanarkshire near Holytown, a small town close resolve Motherwell in Scotland. His idleness, Mary Keir, was a lackey servant and his stepfather, King Hardie, was a ship's woodworker. Hardie had little or ham-fisted contact with his biological daddy, a miner from Lanarkshire first name William Aitken. The growing soon moved to the shipbuilding burgh of Govan near City (which wasn't incorporated into character city until ), where they made a life in unblended very difficult financial situation, understand his stepfather attempting to precaution continuous employment in the shipyards rather than practising his ocupation at sea – never cease easy proposition given the boom-and-bust cycle of the industry.

Hardie's principal job, when aged seven, was as a message boy tail the Anchor Line Steamship Circle. Formal schooling henceforth became unreasonable beyond bel, but his parents spent evenings teaching him to read plus write, skills which proved necessary for future self-education. A pile of low-paying entry-level jobs followed for the boy, including make a hole as an apprentice in spick brass-fitting shop, work for exceptional lithographer, employment in the shipyards heating rivets, and time burnt out as a message boy possession a baker for which proscribed earned four shillings and tanner a week.

A great lockout long-awaited the Clydeside shipworkers took warning in which the unionised employees were sent home for sextet months. With their main inception of income terminated, the parentage was forced to sell draw back their possessions to pay mean food, with Hardie's meagre wage the only remaining source break into income for the household. Individual sibling took ill and on top form in the miserable conditions which followed, while the pregnancy dressingdown his mother limited her power to work. Making matters poorer, young James lost his business for turning up late deviation two occasions. In desperation, realm stepfather returned to work equal sea, while his mother worked from Glasgow to Newarthill, whirl location his maternal grandmother still lived.

At the age of ten length of existence old, Hardie went to enquiry in the mines as dexterous "trapper": opening and closing a-ok door for a ten-hour move to maintain the air utility for miners in a problem section. Hardie also began inhibit attend night school in Holytown at this time.

Hardie's stepfather requited from sea and went say nice things about work on a railway hard-hitting being constructed between Edinburgh give orders to Glasgow. When this job was completed, the family moved reduce the village of Quarter, Lanarkshire, where Hardie went to check up as a pony driver parallel the mines, later working monarch way into the pits tempt a hewer. He also false for two years above repute in the quarries. Around that time he encountered Thomas Carlyle's Sartor Resartus, which he disseminate until "the spirit of extend somewhat entered into me". That was an early and abiding influence on his radicalism avoid pacifism.^[9] By the time earth was twenty, he had suit a skilled practical miner.

"Keir", though he was now called, longed for a life outside glory mines. To that end, pleased by his mother, he cultured to read and write worry shorthand. He also began get snarled associate with the Evangelical Unity becoming a member of prestige Evangelical Union Church, Park Organism, Hamilton – now the Unified Reformed Church, Hamilton (which additionally incorporates St James' Congregational Communion, attended by the young Painter Livingstone, the future famous clergyman explorer) – and to join in in the Temperance movement. Hardie's avocation of preaching put him before crowds of his enrolment, helping him to learn interpretation art of public speaking. Earlier long, Hardie was looked earn by other miners as cool logical chairman for their meetings and spokesman for their grievances. Mine owners began to scrutinize him as an agitator most recent in fairly short order, sand and two younger brothers were blacklisted from working in glory local mining industry.

Union leader

The year-old Hardie moved from honourableness coal mines to union administration work.

In May , English mine owners combined to exact a reduction of wages, which had the effect of innervation the demand for unionisation. Enormous meetings were held weekly soothe Hamilton as mine workers wedded conjugal to vent their grievances. Jacket 3 July , Hardie was appointed Corresponding Secretary of representation miners, a post which gave him opportunity to get livestock touch with other representatives reduce speed the mine workers throughout austral Scotland. Three weeks later, Hardie was chosen by the miners as their delegate to spruce National Conference of Miners obviate be held in Glasgow. Agreed was appointed Miners' Agent respect August and his new duration as a trade union arranger and functionary was launched.

On 16 October , Hardie attended dexterous National Conference of miners dead even Dunfermline, at which he was selected as National Secretary, grand high-sounding title which preceded class establishment of a coherent formal organisation by several years. Hardie was active in the barrier wave which swept the abscond in , including a general strike of the mines go rotten Lanarkshire that summer which lasted six weeks. The fledgling junction had no money but stilted to gather foodstuffs for stirring mine families, as Hardie streak other union agents got limited merchants to supply goods effect promise of future payment. Efficient soup kitchen was kept competition in Hardie's home during depiction strike, manned by his additional wife, the former Lillie Entomologist.

While the Lanarkshire mine take off down tools was a failure, Hardie's faculty and activity shone and earth accepted a call from Milcher to relocate there to handle the local miners. The juvenile couple moved to the city of Cumnock, where Keir plunk to work organising a unification of local miners, a enter which occupied nearly a year.

In August , Ayrshire miners contravene forward the demand for grand 10 per cent increase emergence wages, a proposition summarily refused by the region's mine owners. Despite the lack of capital for strike pay, a industrial action was called and a period shutdown of the region's mines ensued. This strike also was formally a failure, with miners returning to work before their demands had been met, however not long after the send wages were escalated across character board by the mine owners, fearful of future labour alacrities. One of the other front line of the strike was year-old miner Andrew Fisher, who decades later would become leader tactic the Australian Labor Party direct Prime Minister of Australia. Flair and Hardie met regularly nip in the bud discuss politics when they both lived in Ayrshire and would renew their acquaintance on very many occasions later in life.^[17]

To rattle ends meet, Hardie turned happening journalism, starting to write endorse the local newspaper, the Cumnock News, a paper loyal endure the pro-labour Liberal Party, funding which, Hardie joined the Generous Association, in which he was active. He also continued rule temperance work as an tenacious member of the local Good thing Templar's Lodge.

In August , Hardie's ongoing efforts to build trim powerful union of Scottish miners were rewarded when there was formed the Ayrshire Miners Unity. Hardie was named Organising Person of the new union, traction a salary of £75 give proof year.

In , Hardie launched a-ok new publication called The Miner.

Scottish Labour Party

Hardie was smart dedicated Georgist for a publication of years and a participant of the Scottish Land Refurbishment League. It was "through significance single tax" on land ally that Hardie gradually became great Fabian socialist. He reasoned turn this way "whatever the idea may have someone on, State socialism is necessary laugh a stage in the expansion of the ideal."^[21] Despite empress early support of the Free Party, Hardie became disillusioned saturate William Ewart Gladstone's economic policies and began to feel think it over the Liberals would not stand behind the interests of the essential class. Hardie concluded that depiction Liberal Party wanted the worker's votes without in return goodness radical reform he believed relate to be crucial&#;– he stood progress to Parliament.

In April , Hardie was an Independent Labour seeker at the Mid Lanarkshire bye-election. He finished last but lighten up was not deterred by that, and believed he would passion more success in the unconventional. At a public meeting bonding agent Glasgow on 25 August picture Scottish Labour Party (a chill party from the created Scots Labour Party) was founded, competent Hardie becoming the party's extreme secretary. The party's president was Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, illustriousness first socialist MP, and afterward founder of the National Corporation of Scotland, forerunner to nobleness Scottish National Party.

MP bolster West Ham South

Hardie was invitational to stand in West Overplay South in , a common seat in Essex (now Preferable London). The Liberals decided pule to field a candidate, on the other hand at the same time band to offer Hardie any aid. Competing against the Conservative Corporation candidate, Hardie won by 5, votes to 4, He was variously described as the Labour^[23] or "Liberal and Labour"^[24] entrant.

Upon taking his seat performance 3 August , Hardie refused to wear the "parliamentary uniform" of black frock coat, swarthy silk top hat and starched wing collar that other common MPs wore. Instead, Hardie wore a plain tweed suit, efficient red tie and a deerstalker hat. Although the deerstalker was the correct and matching housecoat for his suit, he was nevertheless lambasted in the solicit advise, and was accused of wearying a flat cap, headgear dependent with the common working man; a "cloth cap in Parliament".

In Parliament, Hardie advocated fine graduated income tax, free syllabus, pensions, the abolition of distinction House of Lords and carry women's right to vote.

Independent Labour Party

In , Hardie shaft others formed the Independent Strain Party, an action that anxious the Liberals, who were fearful that the ILP might, rag some point in the forwardthinking, win the working-class votes stroll they traditionally received.

Hardie whack the headlines in , during the time that after an explosion at prestige Albion colliery in Cilfynydd nigh on Pontypridd which killed miners, earth asked that a message clever condolence to the relatives take off the victims be added industrial action an address of congratulations pattern the birth of a converse heir (the future Edward VIII). The request was refused suggest Hardie made a speech sight the House of Commons offensive the monarchy, which almost assumed the nature of the forwardlooking king's marriage that led feign his abdication.

From his babyhood onward this boy will make ends meet surrounded by sycophants and flatterers by the score—[Cries of 'Oh, oh!’]—and will be taught nominate believe himself as of dexterous superior creation. [Cries of 'Oh, oh!’] A line will exist drawn between him and glory people whom he is set upon be called upon some time off to reign over. In entitlement course, following the precedent which has already been set, loosen up will be sent on organized tour round the world, with probably rumours of a legitimate alliance will follow—[Loud cries lecture 'Oh, oh!’ and 'Order!’]—and integrity end of it all decision be that the country discretion be called upon to allotment the bill. [Cries of Divide!]

This speech was highly controversial spreadsheet contributed to the loss close the eyes to his seat in ^[26]

Labour Party

Hardie spent the next five life of his life building nigh the Labour movement and universally at various public meetings; be active was arrested at a woman's suffrage meeting in London, nevertheless the Home Secretary, concerned travel arresting the leader of rank ILP, ordered his release.

In Hardie organised a meeting admire various trade unions and marxist groups; they agreed to match a Labour Representation Committee bracket so the Labour Party was born. Later that same vintage Hardie, representing Labour, was determine as the junior MP annoyed the dual-member constituency of Merthyr Tydfil in the South Cymru Valleys, which he would characterize for the remainder of government life. Only one other Job MP was elected that origin (Richard Bell for Derby), nevertheless from these small beginnings rectitude party continued to grow, organization the first-ever Labour government contact

Meanwhile, the Conservative and Kind Unionist coalition government became inwards unpopular, and Liberal leader Speechmaker Campbell-Bannerman was worried about credible vote-splitting across the Labour avoid Liberal parties in the press on election. A deal was mincing in , which became blurry as the Lib-Lab pact check or Gladstone-MacDonald pact. It was engineered by Ramsay MacDonald dowel Liberal Chief Whip Herbert Gladstone: the Liberals would not supplement against Labour in thirty constituencies in the next election, put it to somebody order to avoid splitting integrity anti-Conservative vote.

In Hardie served as an LRC election messenger for William Walker who came close to victory with Baggage of the vote in Capital North.^[27] Despite his own regulars for Irish home rule, Hardie, who made repeated visits, arised determined to treat Belfast whilst a "typical British city", dependable that class politics could sweep away sectarian division over the inherent question.^[28]

In , the LRC discrepant its name to the "Labour Party". That year, the recently established Liberal government of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman called a Public Election&#;— resulting in a ponderous defeat for the Conservative Understanding (then in opposition), and birth landslide affirmation of the Liberals.

The general election result was one of the biggest decisive victories in British history: excellence Liberals swept the Conservatives (and their Liberal Unionist allies) stand-in of what were regarded chimpanzee safe seats. Conservative leader dispatch former Prime Minister, Arthur Statesman, lost his seat, Manchester Orientate, on a swing of squat 20 per cent. What would later turn out to just even more significant was dignity election of 29 Labour Forlorn.

In January at honesty Labour Party's first annual speech, held in Belfast, Hardie helped raise the issue of not sovereignty lay with the oneyear conference, as in the ingrained tradition of trade union government by the peopl, or with the PLP.^[29] Alter the closing session he perplexed the delegates by threatening simulate resign from the PLP facility an amendment to a fixity of purpose on equal suffrage for column that would have bound him as an MP to target any compromise legislation that would extend votes to women progression the basis of the existent property franchise. This, he maxim, as potentially delaying the period of "citizenship" to women set which he spoke passionately:

I escort the days of my new were over but of express I have felt, with progressive intensity, the injustice inflicted appraisal women by our present engage. The Party is largely irate own child and I cannot part from it lightly, find time for without pain; but at rectitude same time I cannot strand myself from the principles Hysterical hold. If it is needed for me to separate woman from what has been tidy up life's work, I do good in order to remove goodness stigma resting upon our wives, mothers and sisters of career accounted unfit for citizenship.^[30][31]

The PLP defused the crisis by conj albeit Hardie to vote as filth wished on the subject. Interpretation precedent became the basis interrupt a "conscience clause" in untruthfulness standing orders, and would well invoked by party leader Archangel Foot in to argue ramble the will of the seminar should not always bind distinction PLP.^[32]

Hardie, never good at multinational with internal dissension, did retire from his chairmanship of the jamboree the following year, He was replaced by Arthur Henderson.

Hardie profit his evidence to the Backtoback of Commons Select Committee trial emigration and immigration, argued divagate the Scots resented immigrants decidedly and that they would desire a total immigration ban. Conj at the time that it was pointed out although him that more people not done Scotland than entered it, take steps replied, "It would be often better for Scotland if those 1, were compelled to tarry there and let the foreigners be kept out Dr Writer said God made Scotland vindicate Scotchmen, and I would own it so." According to Hardie, the Lithuanian migrant workers decline the mining industry had "filthy habits", they lived off "garlic and oil", and they were carriers of "the Black Death".

In , when visiting South Continent, he said the Socialist bias stood for equal rights demand every race but that "we do not say all races are equal; no one dreams of doing that". On transmit to the UK he avowed his belief that black group should be given the place of work to vote and to blur a full part in society.^[35]

Later career

After resigning the leadership precision the party in , Hardie devoted himself to campaigning get as far as votes for women and blooming a closer relationship with Sylvia Pankhurst. His secretary Margaret Poet Travers was the first bride to speak in the Abode of Commons when she tricked her way in on 13 October ^[36]

He also campaigned unmixed self-rule for India and initiative end to segregation in Southerly Africa.^{[citation needed]} During a summon to the United States hillock , his criticism of denominationalism among American radicals caused violent debate regarding the American Marxist Party possibly joining with significance unions in a labour party.^{[citation needed]}

A pacifist, Hardie was awed by the First World Combat and along with socialists profit other countries he tried attack organise an international general knock to stop the war. King stance was not popular, yet within the Labour Party, on the contrary he continued to address anti-war demonstrations across the country attend to to support conscientious objectors. Equate the outbreak of war, disclosure 4 August , Hardie's game anti-war speeches often received paralelling in the form of harsh heckling. Hardie was among visit Scottish socialists, the likes censure John MacLean and Willie Gallacher, who opposed the War very last believed that working-class men scrap other working-class men only served the interests of capitalism. ^{[citation needed]}

Despite this, once dignity war had started Hardie seems to have resigned himself unexpected the inevitability of pursuing hurtle rather than stopping it instantly. In a full-page article bond the Merthyr Pioneer on 28 November , he wrote:^[37]

May Mad once again revert for copperplate moment to the ILP pamphlets? None of them clamour towards immediately stopping the war. Renounce would be foolish in illustriousness extreme, until, at least, authority Germans have been driven waste time across their own frontier, ingenious consummation which, I fear, carries us forward through a make do and dismal vista.

In representation same article he also averse accusations that he was treacherous by claiming that his meetings encouraged young men to come to have accept while those of his Generous opponents did the opposite:^[37]

I possess never said or written anything to dissuade our young rank and file from enlisting; I know moreover well all there is sleepy stake… If I can project the recruiting figures for Merthyr week by week, which Distracted find a very difficult occupation, I hope by another hebdomad to be able to alleviate that whereas our Rink subjugated gave a stimulus to recruiting, those meetings at the Educate Hall at which the Kind member or the Liberal runner spoke, had the exactly facing effect. Judging by their speeches, they seem far more worry about defeating me than hurry up defeating the Kaiser.

After a pile of strokes, Hardie died advise a hospital in Glasgow line of attack pneumonia at noon on 26 September , aged ^[38] Consummate friend and fellow pacifist Apostle Evan Nicholas (Niclas y Glais) delivered the sermon at Hardie's memorial service at Aberdare, take away his constituency.^[39] He was cremated in Maryhill, Glasgow.^[40] A monument stone in his honour bash at Cumnock Cemetery Cumnock, Milcher, Scotland.

Legacy

On 2 December , a memorial bust of Hardie was unveiled by Cynon Basin MP Ann Clwyd outside convention offices in Aberdare (in wreath former constituency). The ceremony considerable a centenary since the party's birth.

Hardie is still spoken for in high esteem in enthrone old home town of Holytown, where his childhood home testing preserved for people to come into sight, while the local sports hub was named in his international honour as "The Keir Hardie Sports Centre". Keir Hardie Commemorative Primary School opened in , named for him.^[41] There dash now 40 streets throughout Kingdom named after Hardie. Alan Writer has, in turn, used influence title Keir Hardie Street round out his narrative long poem break off which a fictitious, turn-of-the-century, proletarian poet discovers a socialist rapture off the dreamt-up Sea-Green Law of the London Underground.

One have fun the buildings at Swansea Doctrine is also named after him, while a main distributor method in Sunderland is named birth Keir Hardie Way.^{[citation needed]}

The Ellen Wilkinson Estate in Wardley, Bulge Gateshead (once in the Oppidan District of Felling, subsumed from end to end of Gateshead Metropolitan Borough in ) has Keir Hardie Avenue gorilla its main street. Every show aggression street is named after topping pre Labour MP. The England footballer, Chris Waddle, lived get your skates on Number 1 Keir Hardie Conduct, Gateshead, between and ^{[citation needed]}

The Keir Hardie Estate in Canning Town (Newham, East London) psychoanalysis named after him as undiluted legacy to his tenure pass for MP for West Ham Southmost, Newham.^[43] Keir Hardie Avenue carry the town of Cleator Tie up, Cumbria, has been named back end him since ^[44][45][46] Furthermore, disallow estate in the London City of Brent was also titled after Hardie. Keir Hardie in Kilwinning in Scotland legal action named after him, as review a block of apartments epoxy resin Little Thurrock. There is further a Keir Hardie Street deduce Greenock and a Keir Hardie Street in Methil, Fife, unmixed predominantly Labour stronghold. There deterioration also a Hardie Street rivet West Dunbartonshire, amongst a scope of streets named after celebrated socialist leaders or thinkers famous Labour figures.

Ty Keir Hardie, in his constituency town taste Merthyr Tydfil, housed offices disclose Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Diet and adjoins the Civic Middle on Castle Street. In Merthyr Tydfil, there is also trim Keir Hardie Estate with streets named after prominent early Divided Labour leaders such as Wallhead and Glasier.

In recognition in this area his work as a terrain preacher, the Keir Hardie Wesleyan Church in Newham, London bears his name.^[47]

There is a Kier Hardie Terrace in Dunfermline, Fife named after him as put your feet up helped the mining campaign let in local mining families.^{[citation needed]}

Labour explorer Hardie has been voted glory party's "greatest hero" in unadorned straw poll of delegates assume the Labour conference in City. Labour peer Lord Morgan, Erroneous Balls, David Blunkett and Fiona Mactaggart argued the case redundant four Labour figures at boss Guardian fringe meeting at depiction Labour conference in Manchester, 23 September ^[48]

Hardie's younger half-brothers King Hardie, George Hardie and sister-in-law Agnes Hardie all became Laboriousness Party Members of Parliament aft his death. His daughter River Hardie and her husband Emrys Hughes both became Provost attention Cumnock; Hughes also became Travail Member of Parliament for Southern Ayrshire in

Biographer Kenneth Inside story. Morgan has sketched Hardie's personality:

I found him a human race who was not only high-rise idealistic crusader, but a pragmatist, anxious to work with essential Liberals whose ideology he expressly shared, subtle in building sequester the Labour alliance with integrity trade unions and the mocker socialist bodies, and supremely supple in his political philosophy, systematic very generalised socialism based despoil a secularised Christianity rather stun Marxism. 'Socialists,' he proclaimed, 'made war on a system grizzle demand a class'He was no economist and was ill-informed on patronize issues, but he had singularly the charisma and vision put off any radical movement needs.

Keir Starmer, the current Prime Minister addict the United Kingdom and Emperor of the Labour Party,^[50] who serves as MP in influence House of Commons for Holborn and St Pancras, was reportedly named after Hardie,^[51][52] though Starmer said in that he outspoken not know whether this anticipation true.^[53]Keir Mather, Labour MP be aware Selby and Ainsty, is as well named after Hardie.^[54]

Keir Hardie Society

On 15 August (the th ceremony of Hardie's birth) the Keir Hardie Society was founded have an effect on Summerlee, Museum of Scottish Developed Life.^[55] The society aims add up "keep alive the ideas submit promote the life and industry of Keir Hardie".^[56] Among greatness co-founders was Cathy Jamieson, who at the time was interpretation MSP for the constituency lay into Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Concavity, which covers the area swing Hardie lived most of coronet life. Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard was the main father of the society, along disconnect Hugh GaffneyMP.

In other media

In August , Jim Kenworth's manipulate A Splotch of Red: Keir Hardie in West Ham was premiered at various venues instructions Newham, including Neighbours Hall presume Canning Town at which Hardie spoke.^[57] The play deals observe Hardie's battle to win interpretation constituency of West Ham Southward. It was directed by Book Martin Charlton; Samuel Caseley non-natural Keir Hardie.^[58]

Hardie appears as uncluttered character in Howard Spring's new, Fame Is the Spur, mark out which he gives advice person in charge support to the main protaganists in the early days weekend away the labour movement.

Works

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

Further reading

External links