Thomas Frederick Richards (25 March 1863 – 4 October 1942) was a British

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

Trade union

A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...

 and Labour Party

Labour Party (UK)

The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...

 politician.

Born in Wednesbury

Wednesbury

Wednesbury is a market town in England's Black Country, part of the Sandwell metropolitan borough in West Midlands, near the source of the River Tame. Similarly to the word Wednesday, it is pronounced .-Pre-Medieval and Medieval times:...

, in the English Black Country

Black Country

The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...

, he was the son of a commercial traveller. Following an elementary education, he started work at the age of eleven. He moved to Leicester

Leicester

Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...

, a centre for the manufacture of footwear. In 1893 he began his career as full-time union official, taking up a post with the Leicester Branch of the Boot and Shoe Operatives. From 1894–1903 he was a member of Leicester Borough Council.

Richards was chosen by the Labour Representation Committee

Labour Representation Committee

Labour Representation Committee may refer to:* Labour Representation Committee, the original name of the British Labour Party* Labour Representation Committee , a 21st century pressure group within the British Labour Party...

 to contest the Wolverhampton West

Wolverhampton West (UK Parliament constituency)

Wolverhampton West was a borough constituency in the town of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands of England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...

 constituency at the 1906 general election

United Kingdom general election, 1906

-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...

. Against expectations he defeated the sitting Conservative

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...

 member of parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

, Sir Alfred Hickman

Sir Alfred Hickman, 1st Baronet

Sir Alfred Hickman was an industrialist and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1906....

. The Conservatives put their defeat down to apathy by their supporters, and when the next general election was held in January 1910 made a determined effort to regain the seat. Their candidate, Alfred Bird

Sir Alfred Bird, 1st Baronet

Sir Alfred Frederick Bird, 1st Baronet was a British chemist, food manufacturer and Conservative Party politician...

, was able to unseat Richards. Richards attempted to return to the Commons in December 1910 when he unsuccessfully contested East Northamptonshire

East Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)

East Northamptonshire was a county constituency in Northamptonshire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....

.

Richards returned to trade union work and local politics. He was general president of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives

National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades

The National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1971, with the merger of the Amalgamated Society of Leather Workers, the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives, the National Union of Glovers and Leather Workers and the...

 from 1910–1929 and a member of the Management Committee of the General Federation of Trades Unions from 1905–1924. He was a member of Leicester City Council 1929–1939.

He died at his home at Birstall

Birstall, Leicestershire

Birstall is a large village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is three miles north of the Leicester city centre and is part of the wider Leicester Urban Area....

, Leicester, aged 79 in October 1942.

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