William MacQueen

William MacQueen (14 January 1875 – 9 November 1908) was a British anarchist, trade unionist, newspaper editor and public speaker.

Billy MacQueen
Born
William MacQueen

(1875-01-14)14 January 1875
Fitzrovia, London, England
Died9 November 1908(1908-11-09) (aged 33)
Hunstlet, Leeds, England
MovementAnarchism
Spouse
Nellie Barton
​
(m. 1895)​

Biography

MacQueen was born on 14 January 1875 in London, England. His father, Robert MacQueen, was a painter. William MacQueen began working as a painter, later working as a commercial traveller.[1]

In 1895 MacQueen married Nellie Barton in 1895, the sister of his friend and fellow anarchist Alf Barton.[2][3][4]

From 1898 to 1899 he edited the Leeds-based monthly anarchist paper The Free Commune. MacQueen was a fluent German speaker and in 1901 translated the book Communist Anarchism by Johann Most.

MacQueen emigrated to New York City, began working as a proofreader, and from 1902 to 1903 edited the anarchist paper Liberty.[5][6] He was an agitator and public speaker during the Paterson silk strike of 1902 where he was arrested alongside Rudolf Grossmann and Luigi Galleani for inciting a riot.[7] MacQueen fled on bail to the United Kingdom, but later returned to face trial, was sentenced to five years and fined $1500.[8] While in prison he was interviewed by H. G. Wells.[6][5] MacQueen was released after three years on the condition that he leave the United States and didn't return.[9]

MacQueen contracted tuberculosis in prison and died in Leeds on the 9 November 1908 aged 33.[1][6] He was survived by his wife and children.[10]

References
  1. Heath, Nick; Quail, John (2019). "Billy MacQueen". Slow Burning Fuse: The Lost History of the British Anarchists. Internet Archive. London: PM Press and Freedom Press. pp. 378–379. ISBN 978-1-62963-633-7.
  2. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  3. Pateman, Barry (10 April 2012). "Free Commune and Billy MacQueen". Kate Sharpley Library. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  4. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  5. Wells, H. G. (1906). The Future in America: A Search After Realities. Internet Archive. New York and London: Harper & Brothers. pp. 169–184.
  6. Emma Goldman: A Documentary History of the American Years. Internet Archive. Berkeley: University of California Press. 2003. p. 533. ISBN 978-0-520-08670-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. Goyens, Tom (2007). Beer and Revolution: the German Anarchist Movement in New York City, 1880-1914. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-252-03175-5. OCLC 77011509.
  8. Senta, Antonio (2019). Luigi Galleani: The Most Dangerous Anarchist in America. Internet Archive. AK Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-84935-349-6.
  9. Avrich, Paul (2005). Anarchist Voices: An Oral History of Anarchism in America. Internet Archive. AK Press. pp. 283, 328, 514. ISBN 978-1-904859-27-7.
  10. "William MacQeeen" (PDF). Freedom. December 1908. p. 85. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
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