Charles Duncan (politician)

For other people named Charles Duncan, see Charles Duncan (disambiguation).

Charles Duncan (8 June 1865 – 6 July 1933)^[1] was a British Labour Party politician.^[2]

Born in Middlesbrough, Duncan was the son of a ship's pilot. He was apprenticed to the engineering industry, and Elswick Ordnance Factory, Newcastle upon Tyne. He joined Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and was active in the trade union movement for the rest of his life.^[2]

When the Workers Union was founded in 1898 by Tom Mann, Duncan was its first president. In 1900 he was elected secretary of the union, an office he held until 1929. In that year the Workers Uinion was merged into the Transport and General Workers' Union.^[2]

He was elected at the 1906 general election as Member of Parliament (MP) for Barrow-in-Furness,^[3] and held the seat until his narrow defeat at the 1918 general election by the Coalition Conservative candidate.^{[2] [4]}

Duncan attempted unsuccesfully to re-enter the Commons when two by-elections were held in The Wrekin, Shropshire, in quick succession in February and November 1920.^[2] At the 1922 election, he stood in the Derbyshire mining constituency of Clay Cross, winning the seat by a large majority from a divided Liberal Party.^[4] He was re-elected at the next four general elections, holding the seat until his death.^[2] He died at the Manor House Hospital, Hampstead, London in July 1933 aged 68.^[2]

References

1. ^ "House of Commons constituencies beginning with "C" (part 4)". Leigh Rayment's House of Commons pages. http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Ccommons4.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-20. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Obituary: Mr. Charles Duncan, M.P. A Founder Of The Workers' Union". The Times: p. 19. 7 July 1933. 
3. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 65. ISBN 0-900178-27-2. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 73, 320. ISBN 0-900178-06-X. 

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Charles Duncan

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Charles Cayzer, Bt.	Member of Parliament for Barrow-in-Furness 1906 – 1918	Succeeded by Robert Chadwick
Preceded by Thomas Broad	Member of Parliament for Clay Cross 1922 – 1933	Succeeded by Arthur Henderson
Political offices
Preceded by Tom Chambers	General Secretary of the Workers' Union 1900–1929	Succeeded by Office abolished

Persondata
Name	Duncan, Charles
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	8 June 1865
Place of birth	Middlesbrough
Date of death	6 July 1933
Place of death	Hampstead