Albert Inkpin
Encyclopedia
Albert Inkpin was a British
communist and the first General Secretary
of the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB). He served several terms in prison for political offenses. In 1929 he was replaced as head of the CPGB and made head of the party's Friends of Soviet Russia
organisation, a position he retained until the time of his death.
. Inkpin was employed as a clerk and was a member of the National Union of Clerks from 1907.
Inkpin became convinced of Marxism
and joined the Social Democratic Federation
(SDF) in 1906 and was chosen as an Assistant Secretary the following year. He followed the SDF into the new British Socialist Party
(BSP) in 1911, continuing in an Assistant Secretary capacity in that new organization.
In 1913, Inkpin was elected the General Secretary of the BSP. Inkpin was a committed internationalist and anti-militarist
, an opponent of World War I
, and a delegate to the Zimmerwald Conference
. This placed him at odds with former SDF leader H. M. Hyndman's support of the British participation in the conflict. This tension between the Left and Right the BSP ended in 1916 with Hyndman and his co-thinkers departing the group. Inkpin assumed the editorship of the BSP's weekly newspaper, The Call at this time.
Inkpin and the more radical elements were thus in a position of firm control of the BSP organisation after 1916 and were well able to join the unity discussions which lead to a Communist party in Great Britain in 1920.
address to the gathering and was elected to the governing Central Committee of the new political organisation.
In 1920, Inkpin was convicted of circulating pro-Soviet propaganda, and he was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
Inkpin was named a member of the honorary presidium of the 3rd World Congress of the Communist International, held in Moscow during the summer of 1921.
Inkpin returned from Soviet Russia
to face more legal difficulties with British authorities. He was charged and convicted for printing and circulating Communist literature, serving a six month term from January through June 1922. While he was in prison, Inkpin stood as a candidate for London County Council
.
Inkpin emerged from jail to become the CPGB's National Organiser, but he was returned as his previous post the following year. As was the case with top leaders of the early American Communist movement, such as C.E. Ruthenberg and Charles Dirba, Inkpin's background in clerical work no doubt served him well in many of the administrative tasks necessary to run a political organization on a day to day basis.
In 1925 Inkpin was again imprisoned, this time as one of 12 prominent Communists charged under the Incitement to Mutiny Act 1797
. He was sentenced to six months in prison and remained inside until just prior to the eruption of the British General Strike of May 1926.
Inkpin stood down as General Secretary in 1929 to be replaced by Harry Pollitt
, moving over to head the CPGB offshoot, the Friends of the Soviet Union
. He remained at the helm of it and its successor organization, the Russia Today Society, until his death in 1944.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
communist and the first General Secretary
General Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
of the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
(CPGB). He served several terms in prison for political offenses. In 1929 he was replaced as head of the CPGB and made head of the party's Friends of Soviet Russia
Friends of Soviet Russia
The Friends of Soviet Russia was formally established in the United States on August 9, 1921 as an offshoot of the American Labor Alliance for Trade Relations with Soviet Russia...
organisation, a position he retained until the time of his death.
Early years
Albert Inkpin was born on 16 June 1884 in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Inkpin was employed as a clerk and was a member of the National Union of Clerks from 1907.
Inkpin became convinced of Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and joined the Social Democratic Federation
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term...
(SDF) in 1906 and was chosen as an Assistant Secretary the following year. He followed the SDF into the new British Socialist Party
British Socialist Party
The British Socialist Party was a Marxist political organisation established in Great Britain in 1911. Following a protracted period of factional struggle, in 1916 the party's anti-war forces gained decisive control of the party and saw the defection of its pro-war Right Wing...
(BSP) in 1911, continuing in an Assistant Secretary capacity in that new organization.
In 1913, Inkpin was elected the General Secretary of the BSP. Inkpin was a committed internationalist and anti-militarist
Militarism
Militarism is defined as: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests....
, an opponent of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and a delegate to the Zimmerwald Conference
Zimmerwald Conference
The Zimmerwald Conference was held in Zimmerwald, Switzerland, from September 5 through September 8, 1915. It was an international socialist conference, which saw the beginning of the end of the coalition between revolutionary socialists and reformist socialists in the Second International.-...
. This placed him at odds with former SDF leader H. M. Hyndman's support of the British participation in the conflict. This tension between the Left and Right the BSP ended in 1916 with Hyndman and his co-thinkers departing the group. Inkpin assumed the editorship of the BSP's weekly newspaper, The Call at this time.
Inkpin and the more radical elements were thus in a position of firm control of the BSP organisation after 1916 and were well able to join the unity discussions which lead to a Communist party in Great Britain in 1920.
Communist leader
Albert Inkpin was the Secretary of the Joint Provisional Committee of the Communist Party, the group of representatives of member organisations which set the agenda for the upcoming founding congress. This convention was held in London over the weekend of 31 July to 1 August 1920 and was attended by 160 delegates, presenting 211 mandates. Inkpin delivered the keynoteKeynote
A keynote in literature, music, or public speaking establishes the principal underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address...
address to the gathering and was elected to the governing Central Committee of the new political organisation.
In 1920, Inkpin was convicted of circulating pro-Soviet propaganda, and he was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
Inkpin was named a member of the honorary presidium of the 3rd World Congress of the Communist International, held in Moscow during the summer of 1921.
Inkpin returned from Soviet Russia
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
to face more legal difficulties with British authorities. He was charged and convicted for printing and circulating Communist literature, serving a six month term from January through June 1922. While he was in prison, Inkpin stood as a candidate for London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
.
Inkpin emerged from jail to become the CPGB's National Organiser, but he was returned as his previous post the following year. As was the case with top leaders of the early American Communist movement, such as C.E. Ruthenberg and Charles Dirba, Inkpin's background in clerical work no doubt served him well in many of the administrative tasks necessary to run a political organization on a day to day basis.
In 1925 Inkpin was again imprisoned, this time as one of 12 prominent Communists charged under the Incitement to Mutiny Act 1797
Incitement to Mutiny Act 1797
The Incitement to Mutiny Act 1797 was an Act passed by the Parliament of Great Britain. The Act was passed in the aftermath of the Spithead and Nore mutinies and aimed to prevent the seduction of sailors and soldiers to commit mutiny....
. He was sentenced to six months in prison and remained inside until just prior to the eruption of the British General Strike of May 1926.
Inkpin stood down as General Secretary in 1929 to be replaced by Harry Pollitt
Harry Pollitt
Harry Pollitt was the head of the trade union department of the Communist Party of Great Britain and the General Secretary of the party for more than 20 years.- Early life :...
, moving over to head the CPGB offshoot, the Friends of the Soviet Union
Friends of the Soviet Union
Friends of the Soviet Union was an organization formed on the initiative of the Communist International in 1927, with the purpose of coordinating solidarity efforts with the Soviet Union around the world...
. He remained at the helm of it and its successor organization, the Russia Today Society, until his death in 1944.
Publications by Albert Inkpin
- "Re-Establishing" the Second International: The Communist Party of Great Britain Replies to a Letter of Appeal Signed by Arthur Henderson (for the British Labour Party), J.H. Thomas and Harry Gosling (for the Trades Union Congress), and J. Ramsay MacDonald (for the Second International). London: Communist Party of Great Britain, n.d. [c. 1921].
- The Glory of Stalingrad. London: Russia Today Society, 1942.
- Friends of the USSR: The Story of the Russia Today Society. London: Russia Today Society, n.d. [1942].
External links
- Inkpin Archive, Marxists Internet Archive, www.marxists.org.
- Graham Stevenson, "Albert Inkpin", Compendium of Communist Biography.
- Steve Reynolds, "The Early Years of the Communist Party of Great Britain - 1922-1925", In Defense of Marxism website, www.marxist.com