Thomas Cann

Thomas Henry Cann (14 June 1858–6 May 1924), often known as T. H. Cann, was a British trade unionist.

Cann in the 1900s

Cann was born in Cornwall, where he became a tin miner. In search of work, he moved to Brotton in Yorkshire, where he mined ironstone, then to Michigan. However, he was concerned at the dangerous conditions there, and returned to Brotton, where he worked until the mine closed. He then moved to the Handen Hold Colliery.[1]

During his time at Handen Hold, Cann became an active trade unionist, and became well-known after opposing attempted intimidation at the Castle Eden Colliery. This led to his election to the executive of the Durham Miners' Association,[1] and in 1896, he became its treasurer.[2] He was also elected as an agent, and in 1915, he became the union's general secretary.[3] He died in 1924 aged 65, still in office.[4]

References
  1. Norman Emery, Banners of the Durham coalfield, pp.71-72
  2. William A. Moyes, Mostly Mining, p.108
  3. Hugh Beynon, Masters and Servants, p.x
  4. The Colliery Guardian and Journal of the Coal and Iron Trades, Vol.141, p.1353
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