The East London Democratic Association (ELDA) was founded in January 1837 by

George Julian Harney George Julian Harney (17 February 1817 – 9 December 1897) was a British political activist, journalist, and Chartist leader. He was also associated with Marxism, socialism, and universal suffrage. Early life George Julian Harney, the son ...

in opposition to the LWMA, later supported by

James Bronterre O'Brien James Bronterre O'Brien (1805Many sources give the time of his birth as 'early February 1804'. – 23 December 1864) was an Irish Chartist leader, reformer and journalist. Early years James O'Brien was born near Granard, County Longford, I ...

and

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 ...

. In April 1838 ELDA was reconstituted as the London Democratic Association (LDA) with an eight-point resolution covering the Charter and more. Closely allied with the northern Chartists, by the end of 1838, the LDA had branches meeting in public houses within the City, Tower Hamlets and Southwark in addition to the regular meeting held at the Trades Hall, Bethnal Green. During its active period, the LDA attracted the largest membership of any early metropolitan Chartist organisation (a little over 3,000 members).{{cite book , last = Chase , first = Malcolm , title = Chartism: A New History , publisher = Manchester University Press , year = 2007 , pages = 10 , isbn = 0-7190-6087-7 Prominent members of the LDA included Harney, Charles Neesom and William Cardo.

References

External links

Objects of the London Democratic AssociationFeargus O'Connor & The Chartists - UK Parliament Living Heritage
Chartism History of social movements Political movements 1837 establishments in England 19th century in London