James Mawdsley (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
James Mawdsley was an English trade unionist. Alongside Winston Churchill
, he stood as a Conservative Party
candidate in the double Oldham by-election of 1899
.
as a "half-timer" (he spent half the working day in the mill and half at school). By 16, he was working full-time. In 1871, Mawdsley married Ann Wright and they had seven children together. In 1878, he became the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners
. At the time, cotton spinners were considered an elite group among other union factions. In 1886 the Association merged with the Amalgamated Association of Card and Blowing Room Operatives and the Northern Counties Weavers Amalgamation, to form the United Textile Factory Workers Association; the merger was brought about because the unions desired to promote legislation. Mawdsley became General Secretary. Under his leadership, the UTFWA was regarded as a sober and moderate union, which was opposed to socialism
.
Through much of the 1880s and 1890s, Mawdsley sat on the Trades Union Congress
(TUC)'s parliamentary committee and was chairman of the TUC in 1885. Mawdsley was politically active; in line with most cotton workers, but against the majority of trade unionists, Mawdsley was a supporter of the Conservative Party
. In 1895 there was a nascent plan for Mawdsley to stand for Parliament as a Conservative in conjunction with David Holmes of the Weavers' union as a Liberal, both being regarded as Labour representatives. In 1899, a double by-election was held
in Oldham
. Mawdsley was chosen as a candidate for the alongside future British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill
. Mawdsley was unusual as a Conservative Party candidate who was also heavily involved in trade unions. He was also one of the first trade unionists that Churchill was associated with.
James Mawdsley died in 1902 at Taunton, Ashton-under-Lyne
, from complications following an accident. His injuries were sustained by sitting in a china bath and breaking it He was buried at Christ Church in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, he stood as a Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate in the double Oldham by-election of 1899
Oldham by-election, 1899
The Oldham by-election of 1899 occurred in the summer of that year, and involved a by-election to fill both seats in the two-member Oldham Parliamentary borough. The block voting method allowed each elector to vote for two candidates...
.
Biography
James Mawdsley was born in Preston, Lancashire, to cotton spinner James Mawdsley and his wife Jane. From the age of nine, young James worked in a cotton millCotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
as a "half-timer" (he spent half the working day in the mill and half at school). By 16, he was working full-time. In 1871, Mawdsley married Ann Wright and they had seven children together. In 1878, he became the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners
Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners
The Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners was formed in 1870. It was a union for male mule spinners in Lancashire, England. There had been previous attempts at forming a union for spinners. There had been the Manchester Spinners Union and the Grand General Union of Operative...
. At the time, cotton spinners were considered an elite group among other union factions. In 1886 the Association merged with the Amalgamated Association of Card and Blowing Room Operatives and the Northern Counties Weavers Amalgamation, to form the United Textile Factory Workers Association; the merger was brought about because the unions desired to promote legislation. Mawdsley became General Secretary. Under his leadership, the UTFWA was regarded as a sober and moderate union, which was opposed to socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
.
Through much of the 1880s and 1890s, Mawdsley sat on the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
(TUC)'s parliamentary committee and was chairman of the TUC in 1885. Mawdsley was politically active; in line with most cotton workers, but against the majority of trade unionists, Mawdsley was a supporter of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. In 1895 there was a nascent plan for Mawdsley to stand for Parliament as a Conservative in conjunction with David Holmes of the Weavers' union as a Liberal, both being regarded as Labour representatives. In 1899, a double by-election was held
Oldham by-election, 1899
The Oldham by-election of 1899 occurred in the summer of that year, and involved a by-election to fill both seats in the two-member Oldham Parliamentary borough. The block voting method allowed each elector to vote for two candidates...
in Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
. Mawdsley was chosen as a candidate for the alongside future British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. Mawdsley was unusual as a Conservative Party candidate who was also heavily involved in trade unions. He was also one of the first trade unionists that Churchill was associated with.
James Mawdsley died in 1902 at Taunton, Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines...
, from complications following an accident. His injuries were sustained by sitting in a china bath and breaking it He was buried at Christ Church in Ashton-under-Lyne.