Ben Cooper (politician)

Benjamin Cooper (1854 – January 1920) was a British politician and trade unionist.

Cooper was born and grew up in Norwich, where he completed an apprenticeship in cigar-making. He subsequently moved to London, where he became active in the Cigar Makers' Mutual Association.[1]

Cooper was soon elected as general secretary of his union. A supporter of the New Unionism, around the start of the 1890s, he helped found unions for workers in bass-dressing, match-making, dock work, confectionery and stick manufacture, as well as a separate union for female cigar makers.[2] At the London County Council election, 1892, he was elected as a Labour and Progressive Party candidate in Bow and Bromley.[3]

Cooper's newfound prominence led to his election to the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, and he held his seat on the council for many years.[1] He also served on the council of the General Federation of Trade Unions.[4]

Cooper stood as a Liberal-Labour candidate in the Stepney by-election, 1907, but he was easily defeated by Frederick Leverton Harris.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Death of Mr Ben Cooper", The Times, 17 January 1920
  2. ↑ "The London County Council election", The Times, 26 February 1892
  3. ↑ Tobacco Workers' Union, The Tobacco Workers' Union, 1834-1984, p.6
  4. ↑ Tobacco Workers' Union, The Tobacco Workers' Union, 1834-1984, p.10
  5. ↑ "Election Intelligence". The Times (38330). London, England: The Times Digital Archive. 11 May 1907. p. 16. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.