George Brown (communist)
Encyclopedia
George Brown was an Irish born communist activist and trade unionist who was based in Manchester
, England for most of his life. He was a brigadista in the International Brigades
fighting on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War
and was killed in the Battle of Brunete in 1937.
George Brown was born on 5 November 1906 at Ballyneale on the outskirts of the village of Inistioge
, County Kilkenny
, Ireland
. His parents were Francis Brown and Mary (née Lackey) who came home to Inistioge specifically for George to be born there. They later returned to their adopted home of Manchester where George grew up. He began working at the age of 14 or younger as a weaver and later worked as a labourer in a number of employments. He was heavily influenced by the harsh conditions for workers in Britain at the time and soon joined the trade union movement. The 1926 British General Strike was a turning point in his life and his expericence there led to him joining the Communist Party. He would later represent that party in the 1934 local elections in the Openshaw ward. His directof of elections Evelyn Mary Taylor would later become his wife.
Brown became more and more active in the Communist Party and was elected to its national executive committee in 1935.
In 1936 with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War Brown was one of hundreds of communists in Britain and around the world to volunteer to fight fascism and joined the International Brigades to join the fight for the Spanish republic.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England for most of his life. He was a brigadista in the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
fighting on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and was killed in the Battle of Brunete in 1937.
George Brown was born on 5 November 1906 at Ballyneale on the outskirts of the village of Inistioge
Inistioge
Inistioge is a small scenic village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is situated on the River Nore, southeast of Kilkenny. Historically, the name has been spelt as Ennistioge, Ennisteage, and in other ways....
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His parents were Francis Brown and Mary (née Lackey) who came home to Inistioge specifically for George to be born there. They later returned to their adopted home of Manchester where George grew up. He began working at the age of 14 or younger as a weaver and later worked as a labourer in a number of employments. He was heavily influenced by the harsh conditions for workers in Britain at the time and soon joined the trade union movement. The 1926 British General Strike was a turning point in his life and his expericence there led to him joining the Communist Party. He would later represent that party in the 1934 local elections in the Openshaw ward. His directof of elections Evelyn Mary Taylor would later become his wife.
Brown became more and more active in the Communist Party and was elected to its national executive committee in 1935.
In 1936 with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War Brown was one of hundreds of communists in Britain and around the world to volunteer to fight fascism and joined the International Brigades to join the fight for the Spanish republic.