Benjamin Pickard
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Pickard was a British coal miner, trade unionist and Lib–Lab
politician.
near Wakefield
in Yorkshire the son of a collier. He commenced work as a pit-boy at the age of twelve years. He earned a reputation as a studious boy and attended Kippax Grammar School. He also received religious training as a Wesleyan
, becoming a local preacher and was connected throughout his life with the Lord's Rest Day Association. He was associated from an early age with the trade union movement becoming lodge secretary at the age of sixteen. In 1864 he married Hannah Elizabeth Freeman of Kippax and they had four sons and four daughters. His wife died in 1901.
In 1893 Pickard led the miners in the biggest industrial dispute the country had hitherto seen. The most important result of a combined strike and lockout was the establishment of a Board of Conciliation to address problems arising in the industry and most disputes over the coming years were settled using this machinery. He played an active part in the obtaining of legislation in the mining industry including the Eight Hours Bill, restricting the length of time miners could be made to work underground, although it did not become law until after his death.
led to his inclusion in a peace deputation to the president of the United States, Grover Cleveland
.
of the West Riding County Council
on which he was a co-opted member. He was re-elected alderman again in 1895 and 1901.
In 1885 the Yorkshire Miners Association came to an agreement with the Liberal Party
allowing them to nominate the candidate for elections to Parliament
for the Normanton division of Yorkshire
, a constituency where over 60% of the electorate were coal miners. Pickard was selected and won the seat at each election under this arrangement from 1885
until his death in 1904. In return he generally supported the Liberals in Parliament.
Liberal-Labour (UK)
The Liberal–Labour movement refers to the practice of local Liberal associations accepting and supporting candidates who were financially maintained by trade unions...
politician.
Early life and family
Pickard was born in KippaxKippax, West Yorkshire
Kippax is a village and civil parish in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the east of the city, near to Garforth and Great Preston....
near Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
in Yorkshire the son of a collier. He commenced work as a pit-boy at the age of twelve years. He earned a reputation as a studious boy and attended Kippax Grammar School. He also received religious training as a Wesleyan
Wesleyanism
Wesleyanism or Wesleyan theology refers, respectively, to either the eponymous movement of Protestant Christians who have historically sought to follow the methods or theology of the eighteenth-century evangelical reformers, John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley, or to the likewise eponymous...
, becoming a local preacher and was connected throughout his life with the Lord's Rest Day Association. He was associated from an early age with the trade union movement becoming lodge secretary at the age of sixteen. In 1864 he married Hannah Elizabeth Freeman of Kippax and they had four sons and four daughters. His wife died in 1901.
Trade Union official
In 1873 he was appointed assistant secretary of the West Yorkshire Miners’ Association and in 1876 he became Secretary. He was responsible for uniting the West and South Yorkshire Miners’ Associations into one body in 1881 and he became the first Secretary of the newly formed Yorkshire Miners’ Association. In 1877 he had become assistant secretary of the Miners’ National Union and was a leading player in the foundation of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, of which he was elected the first president.In 1893 Pickard led the miners in the biggest industrial dispute the country had hitherto seen. The most important result of a combined strike and lockout was the establishment of a Board of Conciliation to address problems arising in the industry and most disputes over the coming years were settled using this machinery. He played an active part in the obtaining of legislation in the mining industry including the Eight Hours Bill, restricting the length of time miners could be made to work underground, although it did not become law until after his death.
International work
Pickard was active in the establishment of the International Federation of Mineworkers in 1890. He organised six international congresses of miners from Britain, Germany, Austria, France and Belgium which were held in Paris, Jolimont (Switzerland), Brussels, Berlin, Aix-la-Chapelle and London. He also attended about eighteen Congresses of Trade Unions. In 1897 his interest in arbitration and the work of the Peace SocietyPeace Society
The Peace Society, International Peace Society or London Peace Society originally known as the Society for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace, was a society founded on 14 June 1816 for the promotion of permanent and universal peace; it advocated a gradual, proportionate, and...
led to his inclusion in a peace deputation to the president of the United States, Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
.
Politics
In addition to his commitment to the interests of organised labour, Pickard was known as an ‘ardent liberal’. He served as a member of the Wakefield school board from 1881 until 1885 and in 1889 he was appointed an aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the West Riding County Council
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
on which he was a co-opted member. He was re-elected alderman again in 1895 and 1901.
In 1885 the Yorkshire Miners Association came to an agreement with the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
allowing them to nominate the candidate for elections to Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
for the Normanton division of Yorkshire
Normanton (UK Parliament constituency)
Normanton was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, a constituency where over 60% of the electorate were coal miners. Pickard was selected and won the seat at each election under this arrangement from 1885
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
until his death in 1904. In return he generally supported the Liberals in Parliament.