About James Doonan
Lived 1868 – 1932 (aged 63–64). James Doonan was a trade unionist.
James Doonan (1868 – 19 April 1932) was a Scottish trade unionist.
Born in West Calder, in West Lothian, Doonan left school at the age of twelve and became a coal miner. He soon became involved in trade unionism, and was elected as checkweighman of his local pit. This led him to election as assistant agent for the Amalgamated Miners and Manual Workers Union (AMMW), which represented local miners, and as secretary of his local Bathgate Miners' Association. Around this time, demarcation disputes between the AMMW and the Lanarkshire Miners' County Union (LMCU) led the union to leave the Scottish Miners' Federation (SMF). The SMF sent Robert Small of the LMCU to attempt to found a rival union in West Lothian, and he attempted to persuade Doonan to lead it, but Doonan refused, and the AMMW later rejoined the SMF.
In 1912, Doonan was elected as secretary and agent of the AMMW, after the union's executive decided that he would be the only candidate put forward for a vote.
Doonan was also active in the Labour Party, serving on Bathgate Town Council from 1910, and serving as Provost from 1923 until 1926. and he also served on the executive of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain.
Doonan became ill in April 1932, and died a few days later.
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Important facts
People in James Doonan's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped James Doonan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was James Doonan?
Scottish trade unionist
When was James Doonan born?
James Doonan was born in 1868 in West Lothian.
When did James Doonan die?
James Doonan died on 19 April 1932.
What was James Doonan's occupation?
James Doonan was a trade unionist.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: James Doonan (trade unionist)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Doonan. https://biography.guide/james-doonan/
MLA: "James Doonan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-doonan/.
Chicago: "James Doonan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-doonan/.
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