Joseph Havelock Wilson
Encyclopedia
Joseph Havelock Wilson (16 August 1859 – 16 April 1929) was a trade union leader, Liberal Party
politician, and campaigner for the rights of merchant seamen.
He was born in Sunderland & went to sea as a boy, serving somewhere between 10 and 14 years at sea. In 1879 whilst still a seaman he married Jane Ann Watham at Sunderland. In 1882 he opened a "Temperance Hotel" in Sunderland settling down to life ashore at the age of 24. He became involved in a local seamen's union established in Sunderland in 1879 & had become its president by 1885. Wilson pursued a policy of attempting to build branches in nearby ports, which met with some success but led to disagreements within the leadership. In 1887, Wilson broke with the Sunderland union to establish his own National Sailors' & Firemen's Union
, which was committed to a policy of expansion. Wilson remained president of the union until his death.
, including the 1889 London Dock Strike. Wilson's union suffered in the early 1890s and almost collapsed in 1894. Its revival came in 1911, with the outbreak of a wave of seamen's and dockers' strikes in British ports. Despite his militant tactics, Wilson was a relative moderate whose goal was to establish friendly relations with shipowners and formal conciliation procedures in the shipping industry to enable disputes to resolved without recourse to strikes or lockouts. This goal was steadily achieved after shipowners recognised the union in 1911 and began working closely with officials during the First World War. After 1917, wage rates and conditions were set by the National Maritime Board
, which represented the Shipping Federation
and Wilson's union. In the 1920s, Wilson's reputation as a 'bosses' man' made him increasingly unpopular in the wider labour movement.
in 1890, at which he did poorly. He won his second contest, at Middlesbrough
in 1892, in which he stood as an independent labour candidate in opposition to a Gladstonian Liberal
, and a Liberal Unionist . Having secured election, however, Wilson moved quickly to align himself with the Liberal Party
and existing Lib–Lab
Members of Parliament (MPs) such as Thomas Burt
and John Wilson
. Wilson continued to align himself with the Liberal Party in politics despite the establishment and growth of the Labour Party
. Indeed, he was fiercely critical of the Labour Party and of key figures within it such as Keir Hardie
and Ramsay MacDonald
. He retained his Middlesbrough seat in the 1895 general election
but narrowly lost to Samuel Alexander Sadler
, a Conservative, in the 1900 election
— an election characterised by a considerable swing towards the Conservatives. He won Middlesbrough for a third and final time at the 1906 election
. He did not stand in 1910.
He was a founder of the National Democratic Party but stood as a Liberal at the October 1918 by-election
in South Shields
, when he was elected unopposed. He held the seat as a Coalition Liberal at the 1918 general election
. His last electoral contest came at the 1922 general election
, when he stood as a National Liberal
candidate, but lost his seat — coming third with only 20.5% of the vote.
Wilson was noted as one of the most vociferous supporters of Britain's involvement in the First World War.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician, and campaigner for the rights of merchant seamen.
He was born in Sunderland & went to sea as a boy, serving somewhere between 10 and 14 years at sea. In 1879 whilst still a seaman he married Jane Ann Watham at Sunderland. In 1882 he opened a "Temperance Hotel" in Sunderland settling down to life ashore at the age of 24. He became involved in a local seamen's union established in Sunderland in 1879 & had become its president by 1885. Wilson pursued a policy of attempting to build branches in nearby ports, which met with some success but led to disagreements within the leadership. In 1887, Wilson broke with the Sunderland union to establish his own National Sailors' & Firemen's Union
National Union of Seamen
The National Union of Seamen was the principal trade union of merchant seafarers in the United Kingdom from the late 1880s to 1990. In 1990, the union amalgamated with the National Union of Railwaymen to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers .- The National Amalgamated...
, which was committed to a policy of expansion. Wilson remained president of the union until his death.
Trade union activities
Wilson rose to prominence in the late 1880s, on the back of the success of his union and his involvement in various strikesStrike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
, including the 1889 London Dock Strike. Wilson's union suffered in the early 1890s and almost collapsed in 1894. Its revival came in 1911, with the outbreak of a wave of seamen's and dockers' strikes in British ports. Despite his militant tactics, Wilson was a relative moderate whose goal was to establish friendly relations with shipowners and formal conciliation procedures in the shipping industry to enable disputes to resolved without recourse to strikes or lockouts. This goal was steadily achieved after shipowners recognised the union in 1911 and began working closely with officials during the First World War. After 1917, wage rates and conditions were set by the National Maritime Board
National Maritime Board
The National Maritime Board was a bilateral board governing wages and working practices in the British shipping industry.It was founded in November 1917 against a backdrop of strike action amongst seafarers and was originally intended as a purely wartime measure to facilitate wage negotiations in a...
, which represented the Shipping Federation
Shipping Federation
For the Shipping Federation of British Columbia, see British Columbia Maritime Employers' Association.The Shipping Federation was an association of employers in the shipping industry. It was formed in 1890 in response to the London Dock Strike of 1889 and the successes of the National Union of...
and Wilson's union. In the 1920s, Wilson's reputation as a 'bosses' man' made him increasingly unpopular in the wider labour movement.
Political career
Wilson's first electoral contest was at a by-election in Bristol EastBristol East (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol East is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in 1890, at which he did poorly. He won his second contest, at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough (UK Parliament constituency)
Middlesbrough is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in 1892, in which he stood as an independent labour candidate in opposition to a Gladstonian Liberal
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
, and a Liberal Unionist . Having secured election, however, Wilson moved quickly to align himself with the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
and existing Lib–Lab
Liberal-Labour (UK)
The Liberal–Labour movement refers to the practice of local Liberal associations accepting and supporting candidates who were financially maintained by trade unions...
Members of Parliament (MPs) such as Thomas Burt
Thomas Burt
Thomas Burt PC was a British trade unionist and one of the first working-class Members of Parliament.-Career:...
and John Wilson
John Wilson (1837-1915)
John Wilson was an English coal miner, trade unionist, and a Member of Parliament for more than 25 years.- Early life :...
. Wilson continued to align himself with the Liberal Party in politics despite the establishment and growth of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. Indeed, he was fiercely critical of the Labour Party and of key figures within it such as 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...
and 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....
. He retained his Middlesbrough seat in the 1895 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
but narrowly lost to Samuel Alexander Sadler
Samuel Alexander Sadler
Sir Samuel Alexander Sadler Knight M.P. J.P. V.D. was an eminent industrialist, public servant and the first Conservative Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, the town with which his name is associated....
, a Conservative, in the 1900 election
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
— an election characterised by a considerable swing towards the Conservatives. He won Middlesbrough for a third and final time at the 1906 election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
. He did not stand in 1910.
He was a founder of the National Democratic Party but stood as a Liberal at the October 1918 by-election
South Shields by-election, 1918
The South Shields by-election, 1918 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of South Shields on 28 October 1918. -Vacancy:The by-election was caused by the resignation of the sitting Liberal MP Cecil Cochrane...
in South Shields
South Shields (UK Parliament constituency)
South Shields is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, when he was elected unopposed. He held the seat as a Coalition Liberal at the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
. His last electoral contest came at the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
, when he stood as a National Liberal
National Liberal Party (UK, 1922)
The National Liberal Party was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1922 to 1923. It was led by David Lloyd George and was, at the time, separate to the original Liberal Party.-History:...
candidate, but lost his seat — coming third with only 20.5% of the vote.
Wilson was noted as one of the most vociferous supporters of Britain's involvement in the First World War.