John Gollan
Encyclopedia
John Gollan was a leader of the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB).
Born in Edinburgh
, Gollan joined the CPGB and the Young Communist League
(YCL) aged sixteen. He became a signwriter
but was soon imprisoned for distributing an anti-militarist leaflet. In 1932 he was released and began working for the party.
Gollan became the Editor of the YCL's newspaper, then General Secretary
of the YCL. He then held various regional posts before becoming the party's National Organiser in 1945. In 1949, he became assistant editor of the Daily Worker
, and in 1954 he became the party's Assistant General Secretary. In 1956 he became the party's General Secretary and immediately had to deal with the drop in membership following the Soviet crushing of the Hungarian Revolution
. He held the post until 1976, when he resigned following ill health, and died the following year.
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
(CPGB).
Born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Gollan joined the CPGB and the Young Communist League
Young Communist League (Britain)
The Young Communist League is the name of both the youth wing of the former Communist Party of Great Britain and the current youth wing of the Communist Party of Britain ; an organisation that sees itself as the successor to the Communist Party of Great Britain.-Original Young Communist League...
(YCL) aged sixteen. He became a signwriter
Signwriter
Signwriters design, manufacture and install signs, including advertising signs for shops, businesses and public facilities as well as signs for transport systems....
but was soon imprisoned for distributing an anti-militarist leaflet. In 1932 he was released and began working for the party.
Gollan became the Editor of the YCL's newspaper, then General Secretary
General Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
of the YCL. He then held various regional posts before becoming the party's National Organiser in 1945. In 1949, he became assistant editor of the Daily Worker
Daily Worker
The Daily Worker was a newspaper published in New York City by the Communist Party USA, a formerly Comintern-affiliated organization. Publication began in 1924. While it generally reflected the prevailing views of the party, some attempts were made to make it appear that the paper reflected a...
, and in 1954 he became the party's Assistant General Secretary. In 1956 he became the party's General Secretary and immediately had to deal with the drop in membership following the Soviet crushing of the Hungarian Revolution
Hungarian Revolution
Hungarian Revolution may refer to:* The Hungarian Revolution of 1848.* The Hungarian Revolution of 1919, which led to the formation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic headed by Béla Kun.* The Hungarian Revolution of 1956....
. He held the post until 1976, when he resigned following ill health, and died the following year.
External links
- John Gollan Archive Marxists Internet Archive