Tom Maguire (socialist)

Tom Maguire (1865? – 8 March 1895) was a socialist and trade union organiser in Leeds. He played an important role in the 1890 Leeds Gas Workers strike. Maguire was born into an Irish immigrant family in Leeds' East Side with strong Catholic connections. Maguire found work as a photographer's assistant.

Introduction to socialism

In 1883 Maguire came across a copy of The Christian Socialist in the local secular hall and was converted, helping to establish a branch of the Social Democratic Federation in 1884. Later that winter, Maguire joined the breakway headed by William Morris and helped organise a Leeds branch of the Socialist League, here he met other leading Socialist figures in the area, including Isabella Ford, Edward Carpenter, Ben Turner and Alf Mattisson.

Activism

The League organised open-air meetings at Vicar's Croft which Maguire and others spoke at, and it was from these that they made contact with building workers whom Maguire helped organise a successful strike in 1889 for a wage increase.[1] This was the backdrop to the Leeds Gasworkers strike in June–July 1890 where Maguire helped organise the workers and other trade unionists to try to stop scabs (strikebreakers) entering the gasworks, which ultimately led to the strike's victory.[2]

Death

Maguire died on March 8 after collapsing of pneumonia earlier in the month.[3] He is commemorated by a red plaque in Leeds bus station, a site very close to his principal areas of activity.

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, E.P. 'Homage to Tom Maguire' in Briggs,A & Saville,J (eds) Essays in Labour History, Macmillan: London, pg.295
  2. ↑ Thompson, E.P. 'Homage to Tom Maguire' in Briggs,A & Saville,J (eds) Essays in Labour History, Macmillan: London, pg.300
  3. ↑ Thompson, E.P. 'Homage to Tom Maguire' in Briggs,A & Saville,J (eds) Essays in Labour History, Macmillan: London, pg.314

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