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John Benstead

1897 – 1979

British trade unionist

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About John Benstead

Lived 1897 – 1979 (aged 82). John Benstead was a trade unionist.

John Benstead (10 January 1897 – 24 January 1979) was a British trade unionist.

Benstead grew up in Peterborough, where he attended the King's School. During World War I, he served with the Royal Navy.

After the war, Benstead found work on the railways, and joined the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR).

In 1943, Benstead was elected as the NUR's general secretary, also serving on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress. In 1946, he was additionally elected as President of the International Transport Workers' Federation. However, in 1947, he resigned from his union posts to become deputy chairman of the British Transport Commission.

Benstead also served on a number of committees, including the Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Colonial and Economic Development Council, and the 1946 Royal Commission on the Press. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946, was knighted in 1953. He retired in 1961, and served as a deputy lieutenant of Cambridgeshire in 1967.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
The King's (The Cathedral) School

People in John Benstead's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Benstead's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Benstead?

British trade unionist (1897-1979)

When was John Benstead born?

John Benstead was born on 10 January 1897.

When did John Benstead die?

John Benstead died on 24 January 1979.

What was John Benstead's occupation?

John Benstead was a trade unionist.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Benstead

· Wikidata: Q27834752

· DBpedia: John Benstead (trade unionist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Benstead. https://biography.guide/john-benstead/

MLA: "John Benstead." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-benstead/.

Chicago: "John Benstead." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-benstead/.

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