William Newton (trade unionist)
William Newton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1822 Congleton, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 9 March 1876 London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Trade Unionist, Journalist |
| Movement | Chartism |
| Spouse | Emma née Baxter M 1842 |
William Newton (1822 – 9 March 1876) was a British
trade unionist, journalist and Chartist
.
Biography
Newton was born in
Journeymen Steam Engine and Machine Makers' Society, and moved to London soon afterwards.[1]
Newton continued to work in engineering in London, becoming a foreman, but he was sacked in 1848 for his trade union activities. He became the manager of a pub in
Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE), and Newton then published and edited The Operative, a newspaper linked with the new union.[1]
Newton also served on the ASE's executive, and introduced a motion for members to stop working
producer co-operatives, although he continued to speak in support of the principle of trade unionism.[1] He was also influenced by William James Linton's republicanism.[2]
At the
universal male suffrage. Although there was some interest in his proposal, the national Chartist leadership rejected the idea.[1]
Newton then devoted much of his time to newspaper publication: firstly, The Englishman, then from 1858 to 1876, the East London Observer. He was also elected as president of the
Mile End Old Town representative on the Metropolitan Board of Works. He stood again for Parliament in Tower Hamlets at the 1868 United Kingdom general election, this time as a radical aligned with the Liberal Party, and finally at the 1876 Ipswich by-election, but came bottom of the poll on each occasion.[1]
He married Emma née Baxter, the daughter of a labourer, in 1842. The couple had a daughter. He became ill with Bright's disease and other problems, and died in London in 1876.[1]
References
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| National | |
