Joseph Maddison (born 1838) 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. Maddison worked in an iron foundry in

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

, and joined the

Friendly Society of Iron Founders The Friendly Society of Iron Founders of England, Ireland and Wales (FSIF) was an early trade union representing foundry workers in the United Kingdom. History The union was founded in 1809 in Bolton as the Friendly Iron Moulders' Society. Unlike ...

. He spent eight years as a branch officer before, in 1886, he was elected as assistant general secretary of the union, then in 1894 he became general secretary.Friendly Society Of Iron Founders, ''Centenary Souvenir: 1809 - 1909'' Maddison supported the formation of the General Federation of Trade Unions and served as its first treasurer. He also supported the Labour Representation Committee, and backed his old friend

Arthur Henderson Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935) was a British iron moulder and Labour politician. He was the first Labour cabinet minister, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934 and, uniquely, served three separate terms as Leader of th ...

as the union's first sponsored Parliamentary candidate. In 1902, Maddison visited the United States to study foundry working methods there. The tour was sponsored by A. Mosely, who later proposed a Civic Federation Scheme of compulsory negotiations, which Maddison backed, but the union as a whole rejected. Maddison turned seventy in 1908, and decided to retire.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maddison, Joseph 1838 births Year of death missing General secretaries of British trade unions Trade unionists from Newcastle upon Tyne