Edward Kell

Edward Kell (c.1831 – 1908) was a British trade unionist and politician.

For similarly named people, see Edward Kelly.

Kell worked in Leicester as a shoe rivetter, and was an early member of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Rivetters and Finishers. In 1878, he was elected as the union's first president, working on a part-time basis.[1]

Kell was also interested in politics, seeing himself as part of the Radical tradition in the Liberal Party. He was elected to the Leicester School Board, working with George Sedgwick to campaign against children being forced to work at home. He was later also elected to Leicester Town Council.[1][2][3]

By the late 1880s, Kell was unhappy with the rise of socialism in the union. He gave a speech early in 1890, denouncing militancy among its members. Later in the year, the union refused to increase his salary, so he resigned and began running a business.[1][4]

References
  1. Fox, Alan (1958). A History of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives: 1874-1957. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. pp. 87, 188.
  2. Lancaster, Bill (1987). Radicalism, cooperation and socialism: Leicester working-class politics 1860-1906. Leicester: Leicester University Press. p. 82. ISBN 0718512863.
  3. Newitt, Ned. "Edward Kell". Who's Who of Radical Leicester. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  4. Moore, James (2017). The Transformation of Urban Liberalism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1351126038.
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