Walter John French (1868 – 1937) was a British

trade unionist A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and Employee ben ...

and politician. Born in

Tamworth, Staffordshire Tamworth (, ) is a market town and borough in Staffordshire, England, north-east of Birmingham. The town borders North Warwickshire to the east and north, Lichfield to the north, south-west and west. The town takes its name from the River T ...

, French did not receive a formal education. He became a coal miner, and joined the North Warwickshire Miners' Association. From 1916 to 1919, he was president of the North Warwickshire Miners. In 1921, the union merged into the

Warwickshire Miners' Association The Warwickshire Miners' Association was a trade union representing coal miners in the Warwickshire area of England. In 1885, the Newdegate family leased their Warwickshire coal mine to a Sheffield-based company, who attempted to cut costs by re ...

, and French was elected to serve on its executive. French was active in the Labour Party, serving on the Tamworth Board of Guardians, including a spell as vice-chairman in 1920. At the

1922 United Kingdom general election The 1922 United Kingdom general election was held on Wednesday 15 November 1922. It was won by the Conservative Party, led by Bonar Law, which gained an overall majority over the Labour Party, led by J. R. Clynes, and a divided Liberal Party. ...

, he stood for the party in

Lichfield Lichfield () is a cathedral city and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated roughly south-east of the county town of Stafford, south-east of Rugeley, north-east of Walsall, north-west of Tamworth and south-west of B ...

, taking 46.8% of the vote and a close second place. He also served as president of the Tamworth Co-operative Society. French was later elected to Tamworth Borough Council, subsequently becoming an

alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many Jurisdiction, jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council membe ...

. He also served as a

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

in the town.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:French, Walter John 1868 births 1937 deaths Councillors in Staffordshire Labour Party (UK) councillors Labour Party (UK) parliamentary candidates People from Tamworth, Staffordshire Trade unionists from Staffordshire