Will Thorne - Trades, industries and institutions

Will Thorne (1857-1946)

Known for

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Interesting facts

Life story

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One of the first trade union activists

Known for

Will Thorne. © NMM

Will Thorne remains a key figure in the history of British trade unionism. He was one of the first union activists. He led the negotiations for an eight-hour day in the gas industry, helping to boost the power and the prominence of the Gasworkers Union and the safety of the workers.

His success encouraged railwaymen, textile workers, building workers, shipbuilding and metal workers, miners and boot and shoe operatives. They rallied to their own unions and demanded improvements in their working conditions and pay.

Port connection

The success of Thorne’s Gasworkers Union led to increasing demands from other workers, including the London dockers, who stopped work in August 1889. The strikers won after receiving considerable help from home and abroad.

Interesting facts

Will Thorne could not sign his wedding certificate because he was illiterate. He moved to London and met Eleanor Marx, the youngest daughter of Karl Marx, who taught him to read and write.

He named one of his sons after Karl Marx.

Will Thorne was one of the MPs chosen to visit Russia during the revolution of 1917. When he returned he had meetings with the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, and George V.