James Sexton

Sir James Sexton CBE (13 April 1856 – 27 December 1938) was a British trade unionist and politician.

For the American soldier, businessman, and politician, see James A. Sexton.

James Sexton
Portrait from 1920
Member of Parliament
for St Helens
In office
14 December 1918 – 7 October 1931
Preceded byRigby Swift
Succeeded byRichard Austin Spencer
Personal details
Born(1856-04-13)13 April 1856
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Died27 December 1938(1938-12-27) (aged 82)
Liverpool, Merseyside
Political partyLabour

Sexton was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 13 April 1856 to an Irish-born family of market traders,[1] who soon moved to St Helens, Lancashire. After leaving school he worked in a variety of jobs, including as a seaman and in a chemical factory, before becoming a docker on Liverpool Docks. In 1884 he set up his own business as a coal merchant. In 1889 he joined the new National Union of Dock Labourers (later National Union of Dock, Riverside and General Workers) and was elected General Secretary in 1893, defeating James Larkin. He held this post until the union joined the Transport and General Workers' Union in 1922, whereupon he became National Supervisor of the Docks Trade Group of the new union. He retired from the TGWU in 1928.

A founder member of the Independent Labour Party, he later joined the Labour Party. He stood unsuccessfully for Liverpool West Toxteth in 1906 and then served as Labour Member of Parliament for St Helens from 1918 to 1931. He also sat on Liverpool City Council from 1905 until his death. Up to 1930 Sexton was elected for the St Anne's ward then was replaced by Bessie Braddock before becoming an alderman.

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1917 and knighted in 1931. In 1934 he was granted the freedom of the City of Liverpool. His autobiography, Sir James Sexton, Agitator: The Life of the Dockers' M.P., was published by Faber and Faber in 1936, with a preface by David Lloyd George.[2]

James Sexton died on 27 December 1938 at Liverpool, aged 82 years.[3]

References
  1. Phillips, G. A. (2004). "Sexton, Sir James (1856–1938), trade unionist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/36030. Retrieved 21 August 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. Sexton, James (1936). Sir James Sexton, Agitator: The Life of the Dockers' M.P. London: Faber and Faber.
  3. "Obituary SIR JAMES SEXTON - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 28 Dec 1938", Trove, 28 December 1938, retrieved 21 August 2020


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