William MacQueen (14 January 1875 – 9 November 1908) was a British

anarchist Anarchism is a political philosophy and Political movement, movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or Social hierarchy, hierarchy, primarily targeting the state (polity), state and capitalism. A ...

, trade unionist, newspaper editor and public speaker.

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. In 1895 MacQueen married Nellie Barton in 1895, the sister of his friend and fellow anarchist Alf Barton. From 1898 to 1899 he edited the

Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...

-based monthly anarchist paper ''The Free Commune''. MacQueen was a fluent German speaker and in 1901 translated the book ''Communist Anarchism'' by

Johann Most Johann Joseph "Hans" Most (February 5, 1846 – March 17, 1906) was a German-American Social Democratic and then anarchist politician, newspaper editor, and orator. He is credited with popularizing the concept of "propaganda of the deed" in the Un ...

. MacQueen emigrated to New York City, began working as a

proofreader Proofreading is a phase in the process of publishing where galley proofs are compared against the original manuscripts or graphic artworks, to identify transcription errors in the typesetting process. In the past, proofreaders would place co ...

, and from 1902 to 1903 edited the anarchist paper ''

Liberty Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...

''. He was an agitator and public speaker during the

1902 Paterson silk strike A strike of silk dyers in Paterson, New Jersey, from April to June 1902, spilled over into the wider New Jersey textile industry. Background At the turn of the 20th century, Italians were the predominant immigrant nationality in Paterson's s ...

, where he was arrested alongside Rudolf Grossmann and

Luigi Galleani Luigi Galleani (; 12 August 1861 – 4 November 1931) was an Italian insurrectionary anarchism, insurrectionary anarchist and Communism, communist best known for his advocacy of "propaganda of the deed", a strategy of political assassinations ...

for inciting a riot. MacQueen fled on bail to the United Kingdom, but later returned to face trial, was sentenced to five years and fined $1500. While in prison he was interviewed by

H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, hist ...

. MacQueen was released after three years on the condition that he leave the United States and didn't return. MacQueen contracted

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

in prison and died in Leeds on the 9 November 1908 aged 33. He was survived by his wife and children.

References

British anarchists 1875 births 1908 deaths Tuberculosis deaths in the United Kingdom British newspaper editors British trade unionists British public speakers People from London {{UK-journalist-stub

Biography

See also

References