Charles Murray (died 1889) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

trade unionist and socialist activist. Murray worked as a boot closer. He became a socialist, and knew both

Feargus O'Connor Feargus Edward O'Connor (18 July 1796 – 30 August 1855) was an Irish Chartist leader and advocate of the Land Plan, which sought to provide smallholdings for the labouring classes. A highly charismatic figure, O'Connor was admired for his ...

and

Robert Owen Robert Owen (; 14 May 1771 – 17 November 1858) was a Welsh textile manufacturer, philanthropist and social reformer, and a founder of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement. He strove to improve factory working conditions, promoted e ...

. He joined the National Charter Association in 1852, within which he was known as a supporter of Bronterre O'Brien. He was also a leading figure in the Association for Promoting the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge. In the 1860s, Murray was prominent in West End Boot Closers' Union, and in 1862 and 1863, he represented it on the executive of the

London Trades Council The London Trades Council was an early labour organisation, uniting London's trade unionists. Its modern successor organisation is the Greater London Association of Trades (Union) Councils History Leading figures in the London trade union mov ...

. In the 1870s, Murray was a member of the

Manhood Suffrage League The Manhood Suffrage League was a nineteenth-century ultra-radical and, later, socialist club. The organisation was founded in 1874 as the Democratic and Trades Alliance Association. Most of its initial members were tailors or shoemakers base ...

, E. P. Thompson, ''William Morris'', pp.281-282 and he subsequently became an early member of the

Social Democratic Federation The Social Democratic Federation (SDF) was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on 7 June 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury, James Con ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Charles Year of birth unknown 1889 deaths Chartists English socialists English trade unionists People from London Social Democratic Federation members