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Bill McLean

1919 – 1977

Scottish trade unionist

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About Bill McLean

Lived 1919 – 1977 (aged 57–58). Bill McLean was a trade unionist.

William McLean (1919 – 28 September 1977) was a Scottish trade unionist.

Born in Larkhall, McLean left school at the age of fourteen to work at a local colliery. He followed his father in joining the Scottish Area of the National Union of Mineworkers, and regularly attended miners' conferences. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), and became a full-time agent of the union in 1956. He served as the Mineworkers' representative on the Scottish Trades Union Congress' (STUC) General Council, and served as President of the STUC in 1967/68.

In 1968, McLean became a vice-president of the Scottish Area, then the following year was elected as its general secretary. He led the union through the UK miners' strikes of 1972 and 1974. Becoming ill in 1977, he planned to fly to East Germany for treatment, but died in hospital in Edinburgh before he could leave the country.

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Important facts

Born
1919
Birth century
Occupation
Also known as
William McLean

People in Bill McLean's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Bill McLean's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Bill McLean?

Scottish trade unionist

When was Bill McLean born?

Bill McLean was born in 1919.

When did Bill McLean die?

Bill McLean died on 28 September 1977.

What was Bill McLean's occupation?

Bill McLean was a trade unionist.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Bill McLean

· Wikidata: Q23616919

· DBpedia: Bill McLean (trade unionist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill McLean. https://biography.guide/bill-mclean-trade-unionist/

MLA: "Bill McLean." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-mclean-trade-unionist/.

Chicago: "Bill McLean." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-mclean-trade-unionist/.

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