William Henry Carr

For the English footballer, see William Carr (footballer).

William Henry Carr (1855 – 27 October 1953) was a British trade unionist and political activist.

Born in the East End of London, Carr grew up in Bacup where he began working in a mill at the age of eleven. He then moved to work as a grinder at a mill in Stalybridge, and became involved in trade unionism.[1]

In 1888, Carr was elected as the secretary of the South East Lancashire Card and Blowing-room Association.[1] He was also appointed as a magistrate for Ashton-under-Lyne, and was active in the Labour Party. His union, the Cardroom Amalgamation of which it formed a part, and the United Textile Factory Workers' Association (UTFWA), which brought together most unions in the industry, all supported his candidacy in Stalybridge for the January 1910 general election, but this was ultimately abandoned due to a lack of local support.[2] Instead, he was adopted as a candidate in Preston at the December 1910 general election.[3] He took 7,855 votes and last place, although this was 23% of the votes cast in a close four-way contest.[4]

Carr was re-adopted as Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Preston following the election, but the UTFWA withdrew its support in 1913, leading the Cardroom Amalgamation to leave in protest. Carr felt that his position was untenable and resigned his candidature.[4] Carr was instead considered for selection in Accrington at the election expected in 1914 or 1915,[5] but with the outbreak of World War I, the election was postponed and he ultimately did not stand for Parliament again.

Carr retired as union secretary in 1932, and his wife died the following year. He lived a further twenty years, dying aged 98.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Obituary: Mr William Henry Carr", Manchester Guardian, 27 October 1953, p.14
  2. ↑ "Mr W. H. Carr's candidature abandoned", Manchester Guardian, 7 December 1909, p.9
  3. ↑ "Mr W. H. Carr proposed as candidate", Manchester Guardian, 8 April 1910, p.8
  4. 1 2 "Preston Labour candidate resigns", Manchester Guardian, 23 August 1913, p.9
  5. ↑ "Accrington and a Labour candidature", Manchester Guardian, 17 July 1914, p.4
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