William House (trade unionist)

William House (18 January 1854 – 7 May 1917) was an English trade unionist.

House in the 1900s

House grew up in the West Auckland area of County Durham. He worked for many years as a coal miner,[1] and joined the Independent Labour Party.[2] He was elected to Durham County Council, then as a checkweighman for his pit. He was particularly prominent in the 1892 miners' strike, and became known for his public speaking.[1] In 1899, he was chosen as an agent for the Durham Miners' Association,[3] and he was elected as the union's President the following year, serving until his death.[4]

House stood for the Labour Party at Bishop Auckland for the January and December 1910 general elections, coming within 5% of victory on the second occasion.[5] He also stood unsuccessfully in the 1913 Houghton-le-Spring by-election.[6] The following year, he became Vice-President of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. He was the union's choice to replace John Wilson in the 1915 Mid Durham by-election, but they ultimately chose not to stand him, due to the electoral truce during the First World War.[7]

References

1. T. Readshaw, History of the Bishop Auckland Industrial Co-operative Flour and Provision Society Ltd, p.204
2. Duncan Tanner, Political Change and the Labour Party 1900-1918, pp.281-282
3. John Wilson, A History of the Durham miners, p.293
4. W. R. Garside, The Durham Miners: 1919-1960, pp.78-79
5. Duncan Tanner, Political Change and the Labour Party 1900-1918, p.219
6. Duncan Tanner, Political Change and the Labour Party 1900-1918, p.205
7. W. R. Garside, The Durham Miners: 1919-1960, pp.322-323

Trade union offices
Preceded by John Forman	President of the Durham Miners' Association 1900–1917	Succeeded by James Robson
Preceded by W. E. Harvey	Vice-President of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain 1914–1917	Succeeded by Herbert Smith