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John Inglis

1833 – 1911

Scottish trade union leader

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About John Inglis

Lived 1833 – 1911 (aged 77–78). John Inglis was a trade unionist.

John Inglis (1833 or 1834 – 8 January 1911) was a Scottish trade union leader.

Born in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Inglis worked as a blacksmith at an ironworks in Glasgow. He came to prominence in 1857, as a founder of the Scottish United Operative Blacksmiths' Protection and Friendly Society. The following year, he was elected as the union's auditor, then in 1859 as its president, and in 1863 as its general secretary.

Inglis represented his union at the Trades Union Congress (TUC), serving on the Parliamentary Committee of the TUC for fifteen years, and as its chairman in 1882/3. While on the committee, he played a leading role in campaigning for the Trade Union Act 1871, which formally legalised trade unions in the UK, the Trade Union Act 1876, and the Fatal Accident Inquiry Act. Although it remained small, under his leadership it began organising workers across the UK, and was renamed as the Associated Blacksmiths' Society.

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Important facts

Born
1833, Douglas
Birth century
Occupation

People in John Inglis's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

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Frequently asked questions

Who was John Inglis?

Scottish trade union leader

When was John Inglis born?

John Inglis was born in 1833 in Douglas.

When did John Inglis die?

John Inglis died on 8 January 1911.

What was John Inglis's occupation?

John Inglis was a trade unionist.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Inglis

· Wikidata: Q27831242

· DBpedia: John Inglis (trade unionist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Inglis. https://biography.guide/john-inglis-trade-unionist/

MLA: "John Inglis." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-inglis-trade-unionist/.

Chicago: "John Inglis." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-inglis-trade-unionist/.

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