William Abraham (14 June 1842 – 14 May 1922), universally known by his bardic name, Mabon, was a Welsh trade unionist and Liberal/Labour politician, and a member of parliament (MP) from 1885 to 1920. Although an MP for 35 years, it was as a trade unionist that Abraham is most well known. Initially a pioneer of trade unionism, who fought to enshrine the principle of workers' representation against the opposition of the coal-owners, he was regarded in later life as a moderate voice believing that disputes should be solved through conciliation rather than industrial action. This drew him into conflict with younger and more militant leaders from the 1890s onwards. Although the defeat of the miners in the Welsh coal strike of 1898 was a clear defeat for Mabon's strategy, his prestige was sufficient to ensure that he became the first president of the South Wales Miners' Federation which was established in the wake of the dispute. Abraham was noted for his powerful speaking voice, and was a renowned orator in English and Welsh.
Abraham was born in Cwmafan, Glamorgan, the fourth son of Thomas and Mary Abraham.[1] He was educated at Cwmafan National School but left at a young age, becoming a tinplater before finding work at the local colliery as a 'door boy' [a]at the age of ten.[2] In 1864 Abraham, with another eleven Welsh miners, agreed to work in a copper mine in Chile for three years. Sailing to Valparaiso via Cape Horn, the ship had to avoid both storms and the Spanish Navy who were attempting to block trade with their rebel colonies in South America.[2] When they arrived at the mine there was no work and so Abraham returned to the coast and managed to gain working passage on a ship back to Britain. After being away for thirteen months he was fortunate to regain his old job. After a slump in 1869 he was placed on short time, he switched to a tinplate works in Swansea.[2]
It was around the 1870s that he became known as a singer and poet, adopting the eisteddfod name Gwilym Mabon, soon Mabon was the title by which he would be best known.[3] Abraham continued working in the mining industry and by 1871 was working at the Caergynydd Pit in Waunarlwydd, near Swansea.
Early trade union historyEdit
In 1871 Abraham became a representative for the cause of his fellow miners, when he negotiated for the workers of the Caergynnydd Pit in a dispute with the managers.[4] During the dispute, Lewis Morgan of the Abergorchy Colliery, who was the Rhondda advocate of the Amalgamated Association of Miners, travelled to Waunarlwydd to speak to the miners. Lewis persuaded Abraham to form a Union at the colliery, and Abraham was eventually appointed as the miners' agent for the Loughor District of the A.A.M. in 1872, and represented the district at national conferences in Manchester and Wallsend.[4] Despite helping to enroll 8,000 miners into the A.A.M. for his district, funds for the union were severely stretched after a series on strikes during the early to mid-1870s. In 1875, during another strike, the (mine) Owners' Association, discovering the A.A.M. was low on funds, ruthlessly switched a 10 percent wage cut to a 15 percent cut. Only the anthracite district remained loyal to Mabon.
The miners were forced back to work and the A.A.M. became bankrupt and was dissolved.[5] This left Abraham as the only miners' agent in the entire South Wales area, as the other agents were forced to find other forms of employment.[4] Abraham left Waunarlwydd and travelled to the Rhondda, a rapidly growing mining area, and in 1877 joined the Cambrian Miners' Association, one of the few union wings of the A.A.M. to survive the parent union's collapse. Despite now being a prominent unionist, the spirit of the miners' within the Rhondda Valley was so low, that when he first addressed a meeing in Pentre in 1877 only 30 people attended.[4] Abraham continued speaking to the miners, and by April 1877, at a meeting in Llwynypia it was agreed that the union should be rebuilt and contributions should be made to a District Fund. The Cambrian Miners' Association was reorganised and with Abraham as leader the membership grew from nothing in 1877 to 14,000 members in 1885, making it the largest of the seven district in the South Wales coalfield.[6]
In 1874 Abraham was briefly mentioned as a possible candidate in the Carmarthen Boroughs constituency in opposition to Arthur Stepney and Charles Nevill, although there was no real prospect of him standing.[7] During a fiercely contrasted election, it was alleged, however, that Abraham was 'specially retained to influence and prejudice the colliers and other men against Mr Nevill.'[8] These efforts were in vain, however, as Nevill won the election.
Abraham was elected at the 1885 general election as the Liberal–Labour (Lib–Lab) MP for the new Rhondda constituency in Wales, one of twelve Lib–Lab MPs elected that year. However, following his election, Abraham did not seek to develop a power-base beyond the Liberal association which was dominated by those who had opposed him in 1885. Although he championed the cause of labour he believed that it could be accommodated within the Liberal programme.[9]
In 1898 he was one of the chief negotiators on behalf of the colliers in the Welsh coal strike of 1898, and although the miners were unsuccessful in their action it saw the creation of the South Wales Miners' Federation of which Abraham became president.
He held the Rhondda seat until its abolition at the 1918 general election, when he was elected for the new Rhondda West constituency. He resigned his seat in 1920, and died two years later aged 79.
NotesEdit
^A door boy opened and closed the doors regulating the passage of air for ventilation underground.
Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-06-X.
Lewis, E.D. (1959). The Rhondda Valleys. London: Phoenix House.
Morgan, Kenneth O (1991). Wales in British Politics 1868–1922 (3rd ed.). Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN0708311245.
Pretty, David A. (June 2001). "David Morgan ('Dai o'r Nant'), miners' agent. A Portrait of Leadership in the South Wales Coalfield". Welsh History Review. 20 (3): 495–531. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
Williams, Chris (1996). Democratic Rhondda: Politics and Society 1885-1951. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
william, abraham, trade, unionist, william, abraham, june, 1842, 1922, universally, known, bardic, name, mabon, welsh, trade, unionist, liberal, labour, politician, member, parliament, from, 1885, 1920, although, years, trade, unionist, that, abraham, most, we. William Abraham 14 June 1842 14 May 1922 universally known by his bardic name Mabon was a Welsh trade unionist and Liberal Labour politician and a member of parliament MP from 1885 to 1920 Although an MP for 35 years it was as a trade unionist that Abraham is most well known Initially a pioneer of trade unionism who fought to enshrine the principle of workers representation against the opposition of the coal owners he was regarded in later life as a moderate voice believing that disputes should be solved through conciliation rather than industrial action This drew him into conflict with younger and more militant leaders from the 1890s onwards Although the defeat of the miners in the Welsh coal strike of 1898 was a clear defeat for Mabon s strategy his prestige was sufficient to ensure that he became the first president of the South Wales Miners Federation which was established in the wake of the dispute Abraham was noted for his powerful speaking voice and was a renowned orator in English and Welsh The Right HonourableWilliam AbrahamMember of Parliamentfor Rhondda WestRhondda 1885 1918 In office 1885 1920Preceded byConstituency establishedSucceeded byWilliam JohnPersonal detailsBorn14 June 1842Cwmafan Glamorgan WalesDied14 May 1922 1922 05 14 aged 79 Pentre Glamorgan WalesPolitical partyLabour Party 1910 1922 Liberal Labour 1885 1910 Contents 1 Early life 2 Early trade union history 3 Parliamentary career 4 Notes 5 References 6 Sources 6 1 Books and Journals 6 2 Online 7 External linksEarly life EditAbraham was born in Cwmafan Glamorgan the fourth son of Thomas and Mary Abraham 1 He was educated at Cwmafan National School but left at a young age becoming a tinplater before finding work at the local colliery as a door boy a at the age of ten 2 In 1864 Abraham with another eleven Welsh miners agreed to work in a copper mine in Chile for three years Sailing to Valparaiso via Cape Horn the ship had to avoid both storms and the Spanish Navy who were attempting to block trade with their rebel colonies in South America 2 When they arrived at the mine there was no work and so Abraham returned to the coast and managed to gain working passage on a ship back to Britain After being away for thirteen months he was fortunate to regain his old job After a slump in 1869 he was placed on short time he switched to a tinplate works in Swansea 2 It was around the 1870s that he became known as a singer and poet adopting the eisteddfod name Gwilym Mabon soon Mabon was the title by which he would be best known 3 Abraham continued working in the mining industry and by 1871 was working at the Caergynydd Pit in Waunarlwydd near Swansea Early trade union history EditIn 1871 Abraham became a representative for the cause of his fellow miners when he negotiated for the workers of the Caergynnydd Pit in a dispute with the managers 4 During the dispute Lewis Morgan of the Abergorchy Colliery who was the Rhondda advocate of the Amalgamated Association of Miners travelled to Waunarlwydd to speak to the miners Lewis persuaded Abraham to form a Union at the colliery and Abraham was eventually appointed as the miners agent for the Loughor District of the A A M in 1872 and represented the district at national conferences in Manchester and Wallsend 4 Despite helping to enroll 8 000 miners into the A A M for his district funds for the union were severely stretched after a series on strikes during the early to mid 1870s In 1875 during another strike the mine Owners Association discovering the A A M was low on funds ruthlessly switched a 10 percent wage cut to a 15 percent cut Only the anthracite district remained loyal to Mabon The miners were forced back to work and the A A M became bankrupt and was dissolved 5 This left Abraham as the only miners agent in the entire South Wales area as the other agents were forced to find other forms of employment 4 Abraham left Waunarlwydd and travelled to the Rhondda a rapidly growing mining area and in 1877 joined the Cambrian Miners Association one of the few union wings of the A A M to survive the parent union s collapse Despite now being a prominent unionist the spirit of the miners within the Rhondda Valley was so low that when he first addressed a meeing in Pentre in 1877 only 30 people attended 4 Abraham continued speaking to the miners and by April 1877 at a meeting in Llwynypia it was agreed that the union should be rebuilt and contributions should be made to a District Fund The Cambrian Miners Association was reorganised and with Abraham as leader the membership grew from nothing in 1877 to 14 000 members in 1885 making it the largest of the seven district in the South Wales coalfield 6 Parliamentary career Edit nbsp William Abraham c1895 nbsp Western Mail cartoon by JM Staniforth of Abraham during 1898 coal strikeIn 1874 Abraham was briefly mentioned as a possible candidate in the Carmarthen Boroughs constituency in opposition to Arthur Stepney and Charles Nevill although there was no real prospect of him standing 7 During a fiercely contrasted election it was alleged however that Abraham was specially retained to influence and prejudice the colliers and other men against Mr Nevill 8 These efforts were in vain however as Nevill won the election Abraham was elected at the 1885 general election as the Liberal Labour Lib Lab MP for the new Rhondda constituency in Wales one of twelve Lib Lab MPs elected that year However following his election Abraham did not seek to develop a power base beyond the Liberal association which was dominated by those who had opposed him in 1885 Although he championed the cause of labour he believed that it could be accommodated within the Liberal programme 9 In 1898 he was one of the chief negotiators on behalf of the colliers in the Welsh coal strike of 1898 and although the miners were unsuccessful in their action it saw the creation of the South Wales Miners Federation of which Abraham became president Before his re election at the January 1910 general election he and most other Lib Lab MPs from the Miners Federation of Great Britain joined the Labour Party He held the Rhondda seat until its abolition at the 1918 general election when he was elected for the new Rhondda West constituency He resigned his seat in 1920 and died two years later aged 79 Notes Edit A door boy opened and closed the doors regulating the passage of air for ventilation underground References Edit Lloyd 1958 pg 1 a b c McCririck 1963 p 102 McCririck 1963 p 103 a b c d Lewis 1959 pg 166 Lewis 1959 pg 165 Lewis 1959 pg 167 Editorial Welshman 30 January 1874 Editorial Welshman 13 February 1874 Williams Democratic Rhondda pp 57 8 Sources EditBooks and Journals Edit Craig F W S 1983 1969 British parliamentary election results 1918 1949 3rd ed Chichester Parliamentary Research Services ISBN 0 900178 06 X Lewis E D 1959 The Rhondda Valleys London Phoenix House Lloyd John Edward Jenkins R T 1958 The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940 Cardiff William Lewis McCririck Mary 1963 Stories of Wales Book 3 Denbigh Gee amp Sons Ltd Morgan Kenneth O 1981 Rebirth of a Nation Wales 1889 1980 Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 821760 9 Morgan Kenneth O 1991 Wales in British Politics 1868 1922 3rd ed Cardiff University of Wales Press ISBN 0708311245 Pretty David A June 2001 David Morgan Dai o r Nant miners agent A Portrait of Leadership in the South Wales Coalfield Welsh History Review 20 3 495 531 Retrieved 10 March 2014 Williams Chris 1996 Democratic Rhondda Politics and Society 1885 1951 Cardiff University of Wales Press Online Edit Lloyd John Edward Jenkins R T 1958 The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940 Cardiff William Lewis External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by William AbrahamParliament of the United KingdomNew constituency Member of Parliament for Rhondda1885 1918 Constituency abolishedNew constituency Member of Parliament for Rhondda West1918 1920 Succeeded byWilliam JohnTrade union officesPreceded byNew position Agent for the Anthracite District of the South Wales Miners Federation1898 1900 Succeeded byDaronwy IsaacPreceded byNew position Agent for the Rhondda District of the South Wales Miners Federation1898 1901 Succeeded byDavid Watts MorganPreceded bynew position President of the South Wales Miners Federation1898 1912 Succeeded byWilliam BracePreceded byWilliam Mullin and James O Grady Trades Union Congress representative to the American Federation of Labour1904 With James Wignall Succeeded byDavid Gilmour and William MossesPreceded byEnoch Edwards Treasurer of the Miners Federation of Great Britain1904 1918 Succeeded byJames Robson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Abraham trade unionist amp oldid 1177656226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
