William Henry Drew
Encyclopedia
William Henry Drew was a British textile worker, early trade unionist and one of the founders of the Independent Labour Party
.
in 1854 and by the mid 1860s was working in agriculture. He began to be increasingly interested in politics at around the time that John Duke Coleridge QC
was contesting Exeter for the Liberal Party
.
Around 1862 Drew migrated to Jarrow
then on to Shipley
where he began work as a wool comber at Pricking Mill. Next he started work as a workhouse man at Airedale Mills and then as a worsted
weaver. By 1887 he was an active organiser for the West Riding
Power Looms Weavers’ Association and was on the executive committee for the next twenty years.
. Along with Allen Gee and Ben Turner he was recruited by the Yorkshire Factory Times
in 1889 as a correspondent. In December 1890, the workers at the Manningham Mills Factory went on strike. Drew, Gee and Turner provided leadership for the strikers and the strike gave a new impetus to Trade Unionism and a reinvigorated hope for independent political action. The strike may have failed in its primary objectives but after it had finished, the Bradford Labour Union was established. This in turn led to the founding of the Independent Labour Party
in 1893, with Drew having an essential part in the formation of both.
Throughout this time Drew was suffering from bronchitis
and constant ill health. In 1891 he became president of the Bradford Labour Union and stood successfully for the Bradford School Board and in 1892 he gave evidence to the Royal Commission
on Labour. By 1893, Drew’s importance to the labour movement was very much recognised. At the inaugural conference of the Independent Labour Party in Bradford, Drew was selected to take the chair at the conference although, when it was taken to a vote, Keir Hardie
was elected chairman. Drew was however, unanimously elected as vice chairman.
By the mid 1890s Drew had helped found the Bradford Central Labour Club of which he became the President only to resign in 1895 due to a change of rules which allowed non-union members to hold office. In 1893 the Bradford Unemployed Emergency Committee was established, Drew being a leading member. This organisation united the Independent Labour Party, the Bradford Trades Council and the Social Reform Union. He encouraged this organisation to conduct its own survey of unemployment which firmly discredited the statements put out by the Bradford Board of Guardians.
Having been on the trades council since 1887, he became secretary in 1898, following the departure of James Bartley. Ben Turner stated on his work, "He put the Trades Council on to its wider basis… he paved the way."
On the education act of 1902 he showed fierce opposition and in 1907 left for Canada, returning to Bradford and dying on 29 January 1933.
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...
.
Early years
W. H. Drew was born in ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in 1854 and by the mid 1860s was working in agriculture. He began to be increasingly interested in politics at around the time that John Duke Coleridge QC
John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge
John Duke Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge PC was a British lawyer, judge and Liberal politician. He held the posts, in turn, of Solicitor General for England and Wales, Attorney General for England and Wales, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Chief Justice of England.-Background and...
was contesting Exeter for 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...
.
Around 1862 Drew migrated to Jarrow
Jarrow
Jarrow is a town in Tyne and Wear, England, located on the River Tyne, with a population of 27,526. From the middle of the 19th century until 1935, Jarrow was a centre for shipbuilding, and was the starting point of the Jarrow March against unemployment in 1936.-Foundation:The Angles re-occupied...
then on to Shipley
Shipley
Shipley may refer to:Places in England*Shipley, Derbyshire*Shipley, West Sussex*Shipley, West Yorkshire**Shipley People*Ann Shipley, Canadian politician*Burton Shipley, first Maryland Tarrapins men's basketball coach...
where he began work as a wool comber at Pricking Mill. Next he started work as a workhouse man at Airedale Mills and then as a worsted
Worsted
Worsted , is the name of a yarn, the cloth made from this yarn, and a yarn weight category. The name derives from the village of Worstead in the English county of Norfolk...
weaver. By 1887 he was an active organiser for the West Riding
West Riding
West Riding could refer to:Areas:*West Riding of Yorkshire, England*West Riding of Lindsey in Lincolnshire, England*West Riding of County Cork, Ireland*West Riding of County Galway, IrelandTransport companies:*West Riding Automobile Company...
Power Looms Weavers’ Association and was on the executive committee for the next twenty years.
Trade unionist
Around this time Drew became a pioneer of independent labour politics and pioneered the Textile Trade UnionTrade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
. Along with Allen Gee and Ben Turner he was recruited by the Yorkshire Factory Times
Yorkshire Factory Times
The Yorkshire Factory Times was a British newspaper, founded in 1889. It was published weekly between 3 January 1890 and 29 December 1899. The newspaper was initially edited by Joseph Burgess and published from Huddersfield...
in 1889 as a correspondent. In December 1890, the workers at the Manningham Mills Factory went on strike. Drew, Gee and Turner provided leadership for the strikers and the strike gave a new impetus to Trade Unionism and a reinvigorated hope for independent political action. The strike may have failed in its primary objectives but after it had finished, the Bradford Labour Union was established. This in turn led to the founding of 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...
in 1893, with Drew having an essential part in the formation of both.
Throughout this time Drew was suffering from bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
and constant ill health. In 1891 he became president of the Bradford Labour Union and stood successfully for the Bradford School Board and in 1892 he gave evidence to the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on Labour. By 1893, Drew’s importance to the labour movement was very much recognised. At the inaugural conference of the Independent Labour Party in Bradford, Drew was selected to take the chair at the conference although, when it was taken to a vote, 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...
was elected chairman. Drew was however, unanimously elected as vice chairman.
By the mid 1890s Drew had helped found the Bradford Central Labour Club of which he became the President only to resign in 1895 due to a change of rules which allowed non-union members to hold office. In 1893 the Bradford Unemployed Emergency Committee was established, Drew being a leading member. This organisation united the Independent Labour Party, the Bradford Trades Council and the Social Reform Union. He encouraged this organisation to conduct its own survey of unemployment which firmly discredited the statements put out by the Bradford Board of Guardians.
Having been on the trades council since 1887, he became secretary in 1898, following the departure of James Bartley. Ben Turner stated on his work, "He put the Trades Council on to its wider basis… he paved the way."
On the education act of 1902 he showed fierce opposition and in 1907 left for Canada, returning to Bradford and dying on 29 January 1933.