Robert Knight (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Knight was a British
trade unionist.
Born in Lifton, Devon, Knight followed his father in his trade as a blacksmith
. From 1857, he worked at the Devonport Dockyard
in Plymouth
and became active in the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders, being elected as its general secretary in 1871. Based in Liverpool
, he quickly became known as an efficient administrator, and in 1875 was elected Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress
.
Through the recession-hit 1880s, Knight became increasingly cautious. However, he became active in the Liberal Party
, and led the formation of the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades in 1890, and in 1899 he helped set up the General Federation of Trade Unions
, before retiring later in the year.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
trade unionist.
Born in Lifton, Devon, Knight followed his father in his trade as a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
. From 1857, he worked at the Devonport Dockyard
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and became active in the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders, being elected as its general secretary in 1871. Based in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, he quickly became known as an efficient administrator, and in 1875 was elected Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of 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...
.
Through the recession-hit 1880s, Knight became increasingly cautious. However, he became active in 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...
, and led the formation of the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades in 1890, and in 1899 he helped set up the General Federation of Trade Unions
General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)
The General Federation of Trade Unions is a national trade union centre in the United Kingdom. It has 35 affiliates with a membership of just over 214,000 and describes itself as the "federation for specialist unions".-History:...
, before retiring later in the year.