Samuel Cook - Mine Disaster Poster

Next

Previous 

Samuel Cook - Mine Disaster Poster

Details

mallosa
Samuel Cook - Mine Disaster Poster
Courtesy of Dudley Archives

He became politically active around 1815, having moved into Dudley from
Trowbridge where his father had settled. It is unknown when he actually
arrived into Dudley. His campaigning activities included trade union
demonstrations and negotiations, voting rights against Church rates (he was a
non-conformist so objected to paying church rates), equality of women, reform
in industry (abolition of the Truck and Tommy systems and installation of
safety systems in mines), housing and politics.
He was a man of very firm opinions on many subjects and he attacked social
injustices of his day in public speech and by circulating a great number of
handbills and posters stating his views in forceful and blunt terms. He was
never a trade unionist or paid agent of the workers whose battles he fought.
He was prosecuted several times for his activities, the first time in 1826 for
displaying "seditious" material (a political poster questioning the work of
ministers) in his shop window.
He was a devout Christian throughout his life (although an opponent of the
established church), and his posters and handbills frequently included Biblical
texts.
He helped form the Dudley Political Union, and he contested the
Wolverhampton seat for parliament in 1847. He also gave several speeches
on the equality of women in the 1855 general election. He continued his
political work until his death.
Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:56 pm
490

Rating

not rated

Commentby Carol on Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:45 pm