William Johnson (Nuneaton MP)
Encyclopedia
William Johnson was an English coal miner, trade unionist and Liberal-Labour
(Lib-Lab) politician from Warwickshire
. He sat in the House of Commons from 1906 to 1918.
in Warwickshire, the youngest son of John Johnson, a collier. He was educated at Collycroft School, and began work young, in both factories and collieries.
, becoming an alderman
by 1916, by whch times he was lao chairman of Bedworth Parish Council, treasurer of he Midland Miners Federation, a Free and Accepted Mason of the Grand Lodge of England, a Justice of the Peace
(J.P.) for Warwickshire, and a governor of the Nicholas Chamberlain School Foundation.
He first stood for election to Parliament
at the 1892 general election
, when he unsuccessfully contested the Tamworth division
of Warwickshire as a Lib-Lab candidate, where he lost by a large margin of 31% of the votes to the Conservative Party
MP Philip Muntz
. He was unsuccessful again at the 1900 general election
, when he contested the Nuneaton division
, but by a narrower margin of 12.8%. He won the seat on his attempt, at the 1906 general election
, and remained the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Nuneaton
it until he retired from Parliament at the 1918 general election
.
Liberal-Labour (UK)
The Liberal–Labour movement refers to the practice of local Liberal associations accepting and supporting candidates who were financially maintained by trade unions...
(Lib-Lab) politician from Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. He sat in the House of Commons from 1906 to 1918.
Early life
Johnson was born in Chilvers Coton, which was then a small village near the town of NuneatonNuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
in Warwickshire, the youngest son of John Johnson, a collier. He was educated at Collycroft School, and began work young, in both factories and collieries.
Career
In 1885 Johnson became secretary to the Warwickshire Miners Association. After serving on several local bodies he was elected to Warwickshire County Council for BedworthBedworth
Bedworth is a market town in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. It lies northwest of London, east of Birmingham, and north northeast of the county town of Warwick. It is situated between Coventry, to the south, and Nuneaton, to the north.In the 2001 census the town...
, becoming an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
by 1916, by whch times he was lao chairman of Bedworth Parish Council, treasurer of he Midland Miners Federation, a Free and Accepted Mason of the Grand Lodge of England, a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(J.P.) for Warwickshire, and a governor of the Nicholas Chamberlain School Foundation.
He first stood for election to Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
at the 1892 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
, when he unsuccessfully contested the Tamworth division
Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Tamworth is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
of Warwickshire as a Lib-Lab candidate, where he lost by a large margin of 31% of the votes to the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP Philip Muntz
Sir Philip Muntz, 1st Baronet
Sir Philip Albert Muntz, 1st Baronet was an English businessman and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1884 to 1906. He changed his allegiance from the Liberal Party to the Conservatives....
. He was unsuccessful again at the 1900 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, when he contested the Nuneaton division
Nuneaton (UK Parliament constituency)
Nuneaton is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Pre-2010 :...
, but by a narrower margin of 12.8%. He won the seat on his attempt, at the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, and remained the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Nuneaton
Nuneaton (UK Parliament constituency)
Nuneaton is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Pre-2010 :...
it until he retired from Parliament at the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
.