Trade unionist, born at Knaresborough, on 20 June 1863. In his early days he was a member of Skircoat WM chapel and served as a local preacher. His work took him to Halifax where, in 1893, he began to organize the gas workers and soon established the largest branch of the Workers' Union. His success as an organizer was recognized in 1900, when he was elected the Union's President.