William Prowting Roberts
William Prowting Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1806 Chelmsford, Essex, England |
| Died | 7 September 1871 (aged 64) Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, England |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
W. P. Roberts (11 December 1806 – 7 September 1871) was a noted Chartist who became known as the "attorney-general" of the coal miners in the 1840s.
Family
William Prowting Roberts was born in
Chartism
Roberts established a legal practice in
Northumberland and Durham Miners' Union
Being one of the first solicitors to concentrate on Trade Unions, Roberts was appointed as the legal adviser for the Northumberland and Durham Miners' Union.[1] He became popularly known as the miners' "attorney-general". His philosophy was simple: "We resist every individual act of oppression, even in cases we were sure of losing."
Roberts challenged the Bond, the oppressive terms of employment under which the miners worked. He won many legal battles against the Bond and gained notoriety for securing the release of pitmen from
During his time as a legal adviser to the mining union he edited the Miners' Monthly Magazine between March–July 1844.[1] "In making this arrangement, Mr R's principle motive is to give an opportunity to the pitmen in that neighbourhood of consulting him without their having the trouble of coming to Newcastle." He also contributed to the union journal, the Miners' Journal which later was named the Miners' Advocate.
Manchester
The coal owners severely weakened the Union after a prolonged dispute. The Union could no longer afford the services of Roberts. Roberts moved to Manchester in the summer of 1845[1] and became legal adviser to the Lancashire Miners' Association. He became friends and neighbours with Richard Marsden Pankhurst and later Annie Besant. He also notably fought cases involving trade unionists including the case involving engineers from Newton-le-Willows indicted for picketing. He also helped Karl Marx in his legal affairs.[1] In 1854 he attacked the bill restricting trade on Sundays as a hypocritical encroachment on the liberties of the poor.
Last cases
Roberts was the legal adviser to the Miners' National Association from 1858 to 1863 where he was forced out by the president, Alexander MacDonald as his approach was too anachronistic[1] and out of touch. The unions did not require a lawyer that could humiliate the employers' but a someone who could use the law to settle disagreements. The also did not like Roberts interfering with internal affairs.
However, he did succeed in the case of Janet Jones of Blaenau. Janet Jones had been forced to work for two years in the colliery without payment to repay her debts incurred by their Tommy Shop when her father died. Roberts actions in court led to her getting her wages and started a large campaign against the Truck system.[1]
In October 1867 he acted for the
His last notable case was in 1869 involving the miners at Monkwearmouth Colliery where he finally managed to abolish the Bill. In 1871 he published a pamphlet highlighting the dangers of the government's Trade Union Bill.
Later life
Dedicating himself to the poor, Roberts realised that it was impossible for most of the poor to live out proper Christian lives. He visited the
Sources and further reading
- "W.P.Roberts" Looking At History: Chartist Lives
- North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers: The Miners' Monthly Magazine, April 1844: Tracts Vol.28
- Durham Mining Museum Morpeth Herald: 11 June 1859; page 5; column 2:
- The History of the Wiltshire Constabulary 1839–2003 by Paul Sample; page 6; Riots and Rebellion:
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "W.P.Roberts" Looking at History: Chartist Lives Published 1 September 2007 Retrieved 25 June 2014
- ^ John Simkin "Henry Vincent" Spartacus Educational: : First published September 1997 (updated 2014): Retrieved 25 June 2014
- ^ Charles William Sutton "Roberts, William Prowting" Dictionary of National Biography 1885–1900, Volume 48: Retrieved 25 June 2014
