Samuel Henry Whitehouse (14 February 1849 – 20 December 1919) was a Britishtrade unionist.
Early life
Born in Swan Village in Staffordshire, Whitehouse began working underground at a coal mine when he was eight years old. He took part in his first strike when only ten, and within the next couple of years had experienced two accidents at the pit.[1]
Career
Whitehouse became an active trade unionist, and by 1867 was secretary of the lodge. He supported a Liberal Party candidate in a local Parliamentary election in 1867, and as a result, was sacked. Out of work for some months, he spent the time learning to read and was soon back at a different mine, where he was elected checkweighman. He was also elected as the agent for the West Bromwich Miners' Association, was a founder of the Amalgamated Association of Miners, and was elected to the West Bromwich School Board. He also worked part-time for the Labour Tribune newspaper.[1]
When the Midland Miners' Federation was established in 1886, Whitehouse was elected as its first secretary. He served for two years until he took up a full-time post as an agent for the Somerset Miners' Association. Almost immediately after starting, he was taken to court by a local mine owner; he lost the case, but refused to pay the fine, and bailiffs took many of his possessions. However, he remained in the post and managed to greatly increase members.[1]
Whitehouse was Somerset's delegate to the founding conference of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, and served on its executive on several occasions. He was also elected to Radstock Urban District Council as a Liberal-Labour member, serving from 1893 to 1898. He retired from his union post in 1917 due to poor health, and died two years later aged 70.[1]
References
^ abcdMargaret 'Espinasse, Dictionary of Labour Biography, vol.IV, pp.196-197
samuel, henry, whitehouse, february, 1849, december, 1919, british, trade, unionist, early, life, editborn, swan, village, staffordshire, whitehouse, began, working, underground, coal, mine, when, eight, years, took, part, first, strike, when, only, within, ne. Samuel Henry Whitehouse 14 February 1849 20 December 1919 was a British trade unionist Early life EditBorn in Swan Village in Staffordshire Whitehouse began working underground at a coal mine when he was eight years old He took part in his first strike when only ten and within the next couple of years had experienced two accidents at the pit 1 Career EditWhitehouse became an active trade unionist and by 1867 was secretary of the lodge He supported a Liberal Party candidate in a local Parliamentary election in 1867 and as a result was sacked Out of work for some months he spent the time learning to read and was soon back at a different mine where he was elected checkweighman He was also elected as the agent for the West Bromwich Miners Association was a founder of the Amalgamated Association of Miners and was elected to the West Bromwich School Board He also worked part time for the Labour Tribune newspaper 1 When the Midland Miners Federation was established in 1886 Whitehouse was elected as its first secretary He served for two years until he took up a full time post as an agent for the Somerset Miners Association Almost immediately after starting he was taken to court by a local mine owner he lost the case but refused to pay the fine and bailiffs took many of his possessions However he remained in the post and managed to greatly increase members 1 Whitehouse was Somerset s delegate to the founding conference of the Miners Federation of Great Britain and served on its executive on several occasions He was also elected to Radstock Urban District Council as a Liberal Labour member serving from 1893 to 1898 He retired from his union post in 1917 due to poor health and died two years later aged 70 1 References Edit a b c d Margaret Espinasse Dictionary of Labour Biography vol IV pp 196 197 Trade union officesPreceded byHenry Barnes Secretary of the West Bromwich Miners Associationc 1884 1888 Succeeded byHarry RustPreceded byNew position Secretary of the Midland Miners Federation1886 1888 Succeeded byBenjamin DeanPreceded byB Fish Agent and Secretary of the Somerset Miners Association1888 1917 Succeeded byFred SwiftPreceded byAlfred Smalley and David Watts Morgan Auditor of the Trades Union Congress1907 1908 With Walter Gee 1907 Alfred Smalley 1908 Succeeded byW E Harvey and Alfred Smalley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samuel Henry Whitehouse amp oldid 1093775746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
