John Bruce Glasier
Encyclopedia
John Bruce Glasier was a Scottish
socialist politician
.
Glasier was born in Glasgow
as John Bruce, but grew up near Newton Ayr. Following the death of his father in 1870, he returned to Glasgow and followed his mother in adding the additional name of "Glasier", thereafter using Bruce as his middle name. He became involved with the Irish Land League's activities in Scotland, and in 1884 was a founder member of the Scottish Land Restoration League
, while also joining the Social Democratic Federation
(SDF). He joined the Socialist League
split from the SDF, becoming the secretary of its Glasgow branch until 1889. In 1893, he joined the Independent Labour Party
(ILP), and married Katherine St John Conway.
Glasier soon became one of the four main ILP leaders, and the editor of ILP News. In 1900, he succeeded Keir Hardie
as chairman of the party, a post he held for three years. In 1903, he was elected to Chapel-en-le-Frith
parish council. In 1905, he became the editor of Labour Leader
.
In 1909, Glasier left the editorship position and resigned from the ILP's national council, along with Hardie, Ramsay MacDonald
and Philip Snowden. The four were re-elected in 1910, and Glasier remained on the council until 1919. He opposed World War I
, but in 1915 was struck by cancer. He continued to write until his death in 1920.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
socialist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Glasier was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
as John Bruce, but grew up near Newton Ayr. Following the death of his father in 1870, he returned to Glasgow and followed his mother in adding the additional name of "Glasier", thereafter using Bruce as his middle name. He became involved with the Irish Land League's activities in Scotland, and in 1884 was a founder member of the Scottish Land Restoration League
Scottish Land Restoration League
The Scottish Land Restoration League was a Georgist political party in Scotland.In the 1880s, enclosure was still in process in the Scottish Highlands, and resistance to it often received support from radicals around Britain and Ireland...
, while also joining the Social Democratic Federation
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term...
(SDF). He joined the Socialist League
Socialist League (UK, 1885)
The Socialist League was an early revolutionary socialist organisation in the United Kingdom. The organisation began as a dissident offshoot of the Social Democratic Federation of Henry Hyndman at the end of 1884. Never an ideologically harmonious group, by the 1890s the group had turned from...
split from the SDF, becoming the secretary of its Glasgow branch until 1889. In 1893, he joined the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
(ILP), and married Katherine St John Conway.
Glasier soon became one of the four main ILP leaders, and the editor of ILP News. In 1900, he succeeded Keir Hardie
Keir Hardie
James Keir Hardie, Sr. , was a Scottish socialist and labour leader, and was the first Independent Labour Member of Parliament elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
as chairman of the party, a post he held for three years. In 1903, he was elected to Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith is a small town in Derbyshire, England, on the edge of the Peak District near the border with Cheshire, from Manchester. Dubbed "The Capital of the Peak District", the settlement was established by the Normans in the 12th century, originally as a hunting lodge within the Forest...
parish council. In 1905, he became the editor of Labour Leader
Labour Leader
The Labour Leader was a British socialist newspaper published for almost one hundred years. It was later re-named New Leader and Socialist Leader, before finally taking the name Labour Leader again....
.
In 1909, Glasier left the editorship position and resigned from the ILP's national council, along with Hardie, Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
and Philip Snowden. The four were re-elected in 1910, and Glasier remained on the council until 1919. He opposed World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but in 1915 was struck by cancer. He continued to write until his death in 1920.