Biography.guide
Home › People › Trade unionist › John Weir
Portrait of John Weir

John Weir

1851 – 1908

Scottish trade unionist

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About John Weir

Lived 1851 – 1908 (aged 56–57). John Weir was a trade unionist.

John Weir (1851–1908) was a Scottish trade unionist.

Born in Parkneuk, Weir began working at a local colliery from the age of eleven. He became an active trade unionist, joining the Fife and Kinross Miners' Association (FKMA), and working for it full-time as its acting president from 1878. He became full-time president in 1880, then in 1881, he was elected as the FKMA's general secretary and agent, serving until his death in 1908. He was centrally involved in the creation of the Scottish Miners' Federation, serving as its first treasurer, again holding the post until his death. He was also involved with the Trades Union Congress, and was elected as its delegate to the American Federation of Labour in 1900.

Weir was a Liberal-Labour politician, and served on Dunfermline Burgh Council. He was considered as a potential candidate for the UK Parliament seat of West Fife on several occasions: at the 1889 West Fife by-election, when the local Liberal Association instead selected Augustine Birrell; at the 1900 general election, when he decided against putting his name forward as the union was divided on its merits; and finally in 1907, when the Scottish Miners' agreed they would sponsor his candidature at the next general election through the Scottish Workers' Representation Committee, but this did not occur as he died before it took place.

Weir's brother, James Galloway Weir, was well known as a campaigner for Scottish Home Rule and for crofters' rights, who became a Liberal Member of Parliament.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1851
Birth century
Died
1908
Occupation

People in John Weir's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Weir's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Weir?

Scottish trade unionist

When was John Weir born?

John Weir was born in 1851.

When did John Weir die?

John Weir died in 1908.

What was John Weir's occupation?

John Weir was a trade unionist.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Weir

· Wikidata: Q23621336

· DBpedia: John Weir (trade unionist)

Cite this page

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

MLA: "John Weir." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-weir-trade-unionist/.

Chicago: "John Weir." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-weir-trade-unionist/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:04 UTC