James keir hardie biography of mahatma gandhi

James Keir Hardie  ©Keir Hardie rose from very humble beginnings to become one of Britain's most notable politicians and the first Labour leader.

James Keir Hardie was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland on 15 August , the illegitimate son of a servant, Mary Keir.

His mother later married David Hardie, a carpenter. Keir Hardie was sent to work as a baker's delivery boy aged eight without any schooling, and was the sole wage-earner of the family.

James keir hardie biography of mahatma gandhi Motherwell Times. Despite the lack of funds for strike pay, a stoppage was called and a week shutdown of the region's mines ensued. Article by Kenneth O. He carried to his end an old silver watch he had worn in the mine, which bore the marks of the teeth of a favourite pit pony, made by the futile attempt on its part to eat it.

By the age of 11, he was a coal miner. By 17 he had taught himself to read and write.

His career in politics began with the establishment of a worker's union at his colliery, and in he led the first ever strike of Lanarkshire miners. In , Keir Hardie was invited to stand as the Independent Labour Party candidate for West Ham in east London.

He won and took his seat in parliament.

See full list on tuc150.tuc.org.uk Biographer Kenneth O. Read Edit View history. Retrieved 10 April In January at the Labour Party's first annual conference, held in Belfast, Hardie helped raise the issue of whether sovereignty lay with the annual conference, as in the inherited tradition of trade union democracy, or with the PLP.

He marked himself out as a radical both by his dress - he wore a tweed suit when most members of parliament wore more formal dress - and the subjects he advocated, including women's rights, free schooling and pensions and Indian self-rule. He was heavily criticised for appearing to attack the monarchy, which may have contributed to his defeat in the election.

Despite this, he continued to rise through the ranks of Scottish union officials and in he was among the group who formed the Independent Labour Party. At the opening conference, he was elected chairman and leader.

See full list on tuc150.tuc.org.uk Hardie believed this extra revenue should be used to provide old age pensions and free schooling for the working class. Scientists are constantly revealing the hidden powers of nature. He saw that a mass party needed a mass working-class base, the unions from which he himself had sprung. Meanwhile, the union continued to operate with small funds but he remained at the forefront, helping wherever he could, including setting up a soup kitchen in his home with his wife, Lillie Wilson.

In , the Labour Representation Committee was formed, which eventually developed into the Labour Party.

After a long battle to win another seat, he was finally elected MP to Merthyr Tydfil in and was one of only two Labour MPs in parliament. But by this number had increased to Keir Hardie was elected leader of the party in the House of Commons, but was not very good at dealing with internal rivalries and he resigned from the post in From then on he devoted his energy to promoting the Labour Party and championing equality, particularly in the cause of women's suffrage.

In , 40 Labour MPs were elected to parliament and Keir Hardie gave up the party leadership to George Barnes.

During the first year of World War One, Keir Hardie was an outspoken pacifist. He died on 26 September in Glasgow.