Thomas Ashton

Thomas Ashton (15 August 1841 – 15 September 1919) was a British trade union leader.

Life Ashton was born in Oldham, to William Ashton and his wife Sally Mellor, who were cotton workers. His mother became ill after his birth, and he was mainly brought up by an aunt. He did not attend school, and began working in a cotton mill at the age of eight. He undertook various jobs in the mill before replacing his father as a spinner. During this time, he attended evening classes in a wide variety of subjects, with a particular focus on statistics, and when he was 27, he left the cotton industry to set up a school.

In 1868, Ashton was invited to stand for the general secretaryship of the Oldham Operative Cotton Spinners' Association, beating five other candidates in an election. and before the January 1910 UK general election due to concerns about his health.

Ashton resigned from his trade union posts in 1913, due to poor health. His wife died unexpectedly on 14 September 1919, and Ashton died the following day.