Émile Basly

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Émile Basly (born March 29, 1854 in Valenciennes, France; died February 11, 1928 in Lens, France) is one of the great figures of trade unionism in mining in the mineral field of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, along with Arthur Lamendin. He is primarily known for his participation in the strike of 1884, when he became known as "the untameable miner" and "the tsar of Lens". Basly was the inspiration for the character Etienne Lantier in Emile Zola's novel Germinal.^{[citation needed]}

Basly entered mining as a galibot (minor) at the age of twelve. After the creation of the Trade Union of the minors of Anzin in 1882, Basly became its secretary, and subsequently its president in 1891. . He became mayor of Lens in 1900, and devoted the last ten years of his life to rebuilding the city, which had been completely destroyed during First World War. He continued to serve as mayor until his death in 1928.