William Broadhead instigator of The Sheffield Outrages

William Broadhead (September 1815 – 15 March 1879) was a British trade unionist and saw grinder, and instrumental in the Sheffield Outrages. Born in

Whirlow Whirlow is a suburb of the City of Sheffield in England, it lies south-west of the city centre. The suburb falls within the Dore and Totley ward of the City. It is one of the most affluent areas of Sheffield, with much high class housing and ...

, Sheffield, Broadhead worked as a saw grinder from childhood, later becoming the landlord of a public house in Owlerton. He used his income from this business to support saw grinders who found themselves in difficulties, and as a result, was elected General Secretary of the

Saw Grinders Union A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, wire, or chain with a hard toothed edge. It is used to cut through material, very often wood, though sometimes metal or stone. The cut is made by placing the toothed edge against the material and mo ...

in 1848. Under his leadership, the union grew in power, raising money for its members, and disrupting the work of non-union members. This disruption took several forms, including damaging equipment, sending

threatening letter A threat is a communication of intent to inflict harm or loss on another person. Intimidation is a tactic used between conflicting parties to make the other timid or psychologically insecure for coercion or control. The act of intimidation for co ...

s, and even

bombing A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechanica ...

s and shootings. Broadhead avoided personal involvement in this intimidation, and was able to occupy a prominent position in trade union politics, being elected to an office in the first

Sheffield Association of Organised Trades The Sheffield Trades and Labour Council, usually known as the Sheffield Trades Council, is a labour organisation uniting trade unionists in Sheffield. Precursors The earliest recorded attempt to found an alliance of trade unions in the city is th ...

in 1858, and then made Treasurer of the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades in 1866. The union's actions against unorganised labour came to national attention, and became known as the Sheffield Outrages. Broadhead denied all knowledge, and offered a reward for information. In November 1866, the Sheffield Association and the London Trades Council asked Parliament to investigate. Most union members, including Broadhead, were given certificates of immunity, so although Broadhead ultimately confessed to ordering a murder and various other crimes to be committed, he was not convicted of any. He remained with the union, but was refused his publican's licence. To avoid public attention, he emigrated to the United States in 1869, but returned the following year to start a new career as a grocer.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Broadhead, William 1815 births 1879 deaths British trade union leaders People from Dore Trade unionists from Sheffield