William House (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
William House was a British
trade unionist.
House grew up in the West Auckland
area of County Durham
. He worked for many years as a coal miner, and joined the Independent Labour Party
. He was elected to Durham County Council, then as a checkweighman for his pit. He was particularly prominent in the 1892 miners' strike, and became known for his public speaking. In 1899, he was chosen as an agent for the Durham Miners' Association
, and he was elected as the union's President the following year, serving until his death.
House stood for the Labour Party
in Bishop Auckland
at the January and December 1910 UK general elections, coming within 5% of victory on the second occasion. He also stood unsuccessfully in the Houghton-le-Spring by-election, 1913. The following year, he became Vice-President of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. He was the union's choice to replace John Wilson in the Mid Durham by-election, 1915, but they ultimately chose not to stand him, due to the electoral truce during the First World War.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
trade unionist.
House grew up in the West Auckland
West Auckland
West Auckland is a village in County Durham, in North East England. It is situated to the west of Bishop Auckland, on the A688 road.It is not known exactly when West Auckland was first inhabited, but there is evidence of Auckland West in the history of St. Cuthbert in the 11th century...
area of County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. He worked for many years as a coal miner, and 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...
. He was elected to Durham County Council, then as a checkweighman for his pit. He was particularly prominent in the 1892 miners' strike, and became known for his public speaking. In 1899, he was chosen as an agent for the Durham Miners' Association
Durham Miners' Association
The Durham Miners' Association was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1869 and its membership quickly rose to 4,000, but within a year had fallen back to 2,000...
, and he was elected as the union's President the following year, serving until his death.
House stood for 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...
in Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland (UK Parliament constituency)
Bishop Auckland is a county 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. Since 1935 it has elected Labour MPs.-Boundaries:...
at the January and December 1910 UK general elections, coming within 5% of victory on the second occasion. He also stood unsuccessfully in the Houghton-le-Spring by-election, 1913. The following year, he became Vice-President of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. He was the union's choice to replace John Wilson in the Mid Durham by-election, 1915, but they ultimately chose not to stand him, due to the electoral truce during the First World War.