december english political activist strike leader cotton briefly attained national fame 1850s preston strike large man face marked smallpox renowned earned nickname son radical public speaker early campaigns centred improvement working conditions mill workers village enforcement factory acts outspoken critic advocate movement particular anti whig alliance strikes mill workers began break early 1850s leaders strike preston fruitless demands cent wage increase found role workers unions fellow conspirators charged prevent people working mills charges later dropped following defeat preston emigrated united_states supporter confederacy attempted intervene strike branded notorious parts preston strike following year joined small group lancashire men unsuccessfully attempted rally support northern england period freelance industrial selling services mill owners working unions aligned returned job power death tuberculosis activities basis author characters early life career born lancashire children brought working class family father thomas reputation radical public speaker early 19th century initially worked cotton time activist came prominence village near improvement enforcement factory acts improve working conditions employed cotton mills year editor anti whig criticised suppression local political activists supported alliance movement mill workers england increasingly improper practices factory owners long working hours unsatisfactory conditions early 1850s workers country began campaign higher wages strikes held towns cities manchester struck january mill yorkshire went strike months later involved strike workers demanding percent wage increase march preston strike cotton preston struck september year demanding wage increase percent fellow activist prominent leaders mass meetings workers wear white hat meetings style politicians according local journalist strong advocate liberation oppressed factory slaves noted judgement arguments enthusiasm emotions seven months involved preston strike travelled lancashire yorkshire speaking public meetings meeting october shared platform leader involved following year delegates preston partly response lock mill workers employers preston aim organise levy wages support went strike locked paying levy elect committee buy look land factories parliament meet yearly basis plan gain support plans preston strike ended defeat result suitable jobs unions characteristics lent role august pair indicted men prevent certain persons working mills preston charges dropped prosecution judge presiding implied felt compelled pass severe sentence expressed hope engage conspiracy years later raised funds enable subsequently spent time living northern united_states return england involved dispute mill owners workers lancashire lack success preston group branded gang notorious strike leader treated hostility gathered crowds later career time america developed pro confederacy tendencies general support confederacy people affected shortage cotton america caused american_civil_war traders mill owners personal level opposed growth capitalism united_states described notions american freedom liberty small group working class lancashire men involved strikes 1850s assembled liverpool based tin plate merchant group held meetings intention rallying support northern england particularly lancashire vote support british america taken meeting workers voted favour local consequently declared favour abraham_lincoln union ultimately group efforts handicapped inability maintain activity duration civil war original company remained end career freelance political industrial anti union selling services mill owners employers letter president anti corn law league 1840s described sic lancashire chairman money employment public record returned work power death lung disease tuberculosis december legacy characters article strike novel based
Mortimer Grimshaw