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George Standring (1855–1924) was a 
Born in 1855, Standring was brought up as a
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
radical politician.
Born in 1855, Standring was brought up as a Wesleyan Methodist The Wesleyan Church is a Methodist Christian denomination aligned with the holiness movement.
Wesleyan Church may also refer to:
* Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia, the Australian branch of the Wesleyan Church
Denominations
* Allegheny We ...
, but became an atheist when he was seventeen, and joined the National Secular Society
The National Secular Society (NSS) is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of it. The Soc ...
(NSS), becoming its secretary in 1875. That year, he also launched the ''Republican Chronicle'' newspaper, and served as its editor as it became the ''Republican'' and the ''Radical'', finally leaving the paper in 1889. He used the paper's printing press to publish work for numerous other radical groups, including the Fabian Society
The Fabian Society () is a History of the socialist movement in the United Kingdom, British socialist organisation whose purpose is to advance the principles of social democracy and democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist effort in ...
from its formation.
Standring was personally opposed to socialism for many years, but in 1894 changed his mind, leaving the NSS, and joining the Fabian Society. He was almost immediately elected to its executive, serving until 1908, and again from 1909 to 1910. He founded and served as secretary of the Freethought Federation, as a rival to the NSS.
In 1903, Standring was elected to Finsbury Borough Council. He was also secretary of the Socialist Supper Club.
References