James Keir Hardie

by

Joyce Hemsley

Series of famous British names:

JAMES KEIR HARDIE
British Socialist
Born in Lanarkshire
eighteen fifty-six.
Died in Britain
nineteen fifteen.

James Keir Hardy - how could anyone
deny his great ideals and achievements
at a time when Socialism was taking a
hold in Europe? His story is a sad sad
story, beginning with the most humble
childhood. He was born an illegitimate
child, who from the age of eight, worked
as a delivery boy. Lacking in education
he served as a young coal miner, unable
to read or write until in his teens.

However, much later, through the
Mineworkers' Union, Keir Hardy led the
Lanarkshire Miners' strike, and in 1893
he was the chief founder of the Independent
British Labour Party, becoming Leader of
a "small" party in the House of Commons;
he gave his time promoting social rights
helping to allay unemployment...everything
the Labour Party valued.

During a short life - died age fifty-nine,
he was a great pacifist, opposed to the
Boer War and the First World War, and
Women's Suffrage. Always much loved for
his kindness, understanding and
considerstion towards the humble.
Reading about Keir Hardy, as I did some
time ago, gave me greater insight into
Socialism and what the word is all about.

Keir Hardie died on 25th September 1915
and Britons from all political parties
will always honour his name.

NEXT?
Why don't you look at On The Olympic Games
by: Francis Duggan
from: Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia

To visit all of Joyce Hemsley's poems, click HERE

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