Jump to content

S. M. Holden: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
death, with citation
m add {{Use dmy dates}}
 
(22 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|British journalist and political activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Servetus Mortimer Holden
|name = S. M. Holden
|image = Servetus Mortimer Holden.png
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1862|08|29}}
|image_size =
⚫
| birth_place = [[Oswaldtwistle]]
|caption = Holden, around 1900
⚫
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1943|12|01|1862|08|29}}
|birth_name = Servetus Mortimer Holden
⚫
| death_place = [[Huncoat]]
⚫
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1862|8|29|df=y}}
⚫
| nationality = British
⚫
|birth_place = [[Oswaldtwistle]], England
| other_names =
⚫
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1943|12|1|1862|8|29|df=y}}
⚫
| occupation = Journalist and political activist
⚫
|death_place = [[Huncoat]], England
⚫
|nationality = British
⚫
|occupation = Journalist and political activist
|organization = [[National Prohibition Party (UK)|National Prohibition Party]]
}}
}}


'''Servetus Mortimer Holden''' (29 August 1862 – 1 December 1943) was a [[British people|British]] journalist and political activist. The only Parliamentary candidate ever put forward by the National Prohibition Party, he was associated with the labour movement and campaigned on [[old age pension]]s throughout his career.
'''Servetus Mortimer Holden''' (29 August 1862 – 1 December 1943) was a [[British people|British]] journalist and political activist. The only [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary]] candidate ever put forward by the [[National Prohibition Party (UK)|National Prohibition Party]], he was associated with the labour movement and campaigned on [[old age pension]]s throughout his career.


==Early life and journalism==
==Early life and journalism==
Born in [[Oswaldtwistle]] in [[Lancashire]] to family involved in trade unionism in the cotton industry, Holden left school at the age of seven to deliver newspapers. Over time, he worked as a newsagent, journalist and owner of the ''Accrington Advertiser''. He claimed to be a founder member of the [[Independent Labour Party]] (ILP), and certainly organised a large meeting in [[Accrington]] which led to the creation of a local branch,<ref name="annual">{{cite book|last=Edwards|first=Joseph|title=The Labour Annual|year=1900|page=152}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., at Accrington|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=18 January 1893|page=7}}</ref> although shortly before Holden's death, [[Francis Johnson (politician)|Francis Johnson]] denied that Holden was in fact a founder member of the party.<ref>[[London School of Economics]], "[http://archives.lse.ac.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=ILP%2F4%2F1943 Francis Johnson correspondence]"</ref> In 1899, Holden launched a national weekly newspaper, the ''British Socialist News'', although this was not a success.<ref name="annual" /> He lost a court case in 1910 against the ''Accrington Observer and Times'', which accused him of copying its stories.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rival newspapers|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]'|date=27 July 1910|page=10}}</ref>
Born in [[Oswaldtwistle]] in [[Lancashire]] to family involved in trade unionism in the cotton industry, Holden left school at the age of seven to deliver newspapers. Over time, he worked as a newsagent, journalist and owner of the ''Accrington Advertiser''. He claimed to be a founder member of the [[Independent Labour Party]] (ILP), and certainly organised a large meeting in [[Accrington]] which led to the creation of a local branch,<ref name="annual">{{cite book|last=Edwards|first=Joseph|title=The Labour Annual|year=1900|page=152}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., at Accrington|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=18 January 1893|page=7}}</ref> although shortly before Holden's death, [[Francis Johnson (ILP politician)|Francis Johnson]] denied that Holden was in fact a founder member of the party.<ref>[[London School of Economics]], "[http://archives.lse.ac.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=ILP%2F4%2F1943 Francis Johnson correspondence]"</ref> In 1899, Holden launched a national weekly newspaper, the ''British Socialist News'', although this was not a success.<ref name="annual" />

During 1906, Holden briefly worked for two national newspapers, being appointed as Parliamentary Labour correspondent for the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', and contributing a "Labour Notes" column for ''[[Reynolds' News]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Holden|first=Servetus Mortimer|title=The Glittering Prizes of Public Speaking: Fifty Years' Memories of Glorious Oratory|page=7}}</ref> He lost a court case in 1910 against the ''Accrington Observer and Times'', which accused him of copying its stories.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rival newspapers|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=27 July 1910|page=10}}</ref>


==Cricket==
==Cricket==
Line 19: Line 27:


==Political activism==
==Political activism==
At the [[1906 UK general election]], Holden stood in [[Accrington (UK Parliament constituency)|Accrington]]. He described himself variously as the official Parliamentary [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] candidate,<ref>{{cite news|title=Old Age Pensions|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=12 December 1907|page=4}}</ref> and as an ILP candidate,<ref>{{cite news|title=Accrington: socialists to contest the seat|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=4 January 1906|page=8}}</ref> but he did not actually receive the backing of either the party and so funded his own campaign as an [[independent (politician)|independent]]. His campaign focused on introducing old age pensions and a [[minimum wage]] of 30 shillings per week.<ref name="addresses">{{cite news|title=Accrington: the three candidates' addresses|newspaper=''[[Manchester Guardian]]''|date=15 January 1906|page=14}}</ref>
At the [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906 general election]], Holden stood in [[Accrington (UK Parliament constituency)|Accrington]]. He described himself variously as the official Parliamentary [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] candidate,<ref>{{cite news|title=Old Age Pensions|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=12 December 1907|page=4}}</ref> and as an ILP candidate,<ref>{{cite news|title=Accrington: socialists to contest the seat|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=4 January 1906|page=8}}</ref> but he did not actually receive the backing of either the party and so funded his own campaign as an [[independent (politician)|independent]]. His campaign focused on introducing old age pensions and a [[minimum wage]] of 30 shillings per week.<ref name="addresses">{{cite news|title=Accrington: the three candidates' addresses|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=15 January 1906|page=14}}</ref> He took third place in the election, with 619 votes.<ref>{{cite book|authorlink=F. W. S. Craig|last=Craig|first=F. W. S.|title=British Parliamentary Election Results}}</ref>

⚫
Holden did not oppose British involvement in [[World War I]], but was strongly against conscription.<ref>{{cite news|title=The conscription question|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]] |date=14 September 1915}}</ref> He also supported [[women's suffrage]], and so joined [[Sylvia Pankhurst]]'s [[Workers' Suffrage Federation]]. The group planned to stand him as their candidate in Accrington at the [[1918 United Kingdom general election|1918 general election]], but he did not ultimately appear on the ballot paper.<ref>{{cite book|author=Anonymous|title=Industrial Peace|volume=3|page=61}}</ref>


⚫
Pankhurst's group became part of the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] early in the 1920s, but this did not appeal to Holden, who instead joined the [[National Prohibition Party (UK)|National Prohibition Party]]. This party had been in existence since 1887, but maintained only a low level of activity, and had not previously stood in any Parliamentary election. Holden became its first and only candidate when he stood in the [[1923 Whitechapel and St George's by-election]]. He took only 130 votes and lost his [[deposit (politics)|deposit]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Craig|first1=F. W. S.|title=Minor Parties in British By-elections, 1885–1974|date=1975|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|page=70}}</ref>
⚫
Holden did not oppose British involvement in [[World War I]], but was strongly against conscription.<ref>{{cite news|title=The conscription question|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=14 September 1915}}</ref> He also supported [[women's suffrage]], and so joined [[Sylvia Pankhurst]]'s [[Workers' Suffrage Federation]]. The group planned to stand him as their candidate in Accrington at the [[1918 UK general election]], but he did not ultimately appear on the ballot paper.<ref>{{cite book|author=Anonymous|title=Industrial Peace|volume=3|page=61}}</ref>


⚫
Holden stood again for election at the [[1929 United Kingdom general election|1929 general election]] in [[Preston (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston]], receiving 2,111 votes and describing himself as the candidate of the "Preston Progressive Labour Party". He stood again in the [[1929 Preston by-election|Preston by-election, later that year]], but took only 410 votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nomination day at Preston|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=22 July 1929|page=3}}</ref> Following his defeats, he called a meeting in Preston, which he described as founding the "Progressive Labour Party" as a national organisation. He was the party's president, and announced that it would stand in eleven constituencies in Lancashire at the next general election.<ref>{{cite news|title=[untitled article]|newspaper=Newspaper World and Advertising Review|date=1930|page=109}}</ref> He planned to stand for the party at the [[1930 Sheffield Brightside by-election]], but did not ultimately do so,<ref>{{cite news|title=Brightside by-election|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=13 January 1930|page=5}}</ref> nor did the party stand in any seats at the [[1931 United Kingdom general election|1931 general election]]. He again mooted a candidacy as an independent "Pensions and Co-operative" candidate in Preston at the [[1935 United Kingdom general election|1935 general election]], but did not stand.<ref>{{cite news|title=Four to fight Preston?|newspaper=[[The Observer]]|date=8 November 1936|page=21}}</ref>
⚫
Pankhurst's group became part of the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] early in the 1920s, but this did not appeal to Holden, who instead joined the [[National Prohibition Party]]. This party had been in existence since 1887, but maintained only a low level of activity, and had not previously stood in any Parliamentary election. Holden became its first and only candidate when he stood in the [[Whitechapel and St George's by-election, 1923]]. He took only 130 votes and lost his [[deposit (politics)|deposit]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Craig|first1=F. W. S.|title=Minor Parties in British By-elections, 1885-1974|date=1975|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|page=70}}</ref>


⚫
Holden died on 1 December 1943, aged 81.<ref>{{cite news|title=S. M. Holden's death|newspaper=Newspaper World and Advertising Review|date=December 1943|page=215}}</ref>
⚫
Holden stood again for election at the [[1929 UK general election]] in [[Preston (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston]], receiving 2,111 votes and describing himself as the candidate of the "Preston Progressive Labour Party". He stood again in the [[Preston by-election, 1929|Preston by-election, later that year]], but took only 410 votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nomination day at Preston|newspaper=''[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=22 July 1929|page=3}}</ref> Following his defeats, he called a meeting in Preston, which he described as founding the "Progressive Labour Party" as a national organisation. He was the party's president, and announced that it would stand in eleven constituencies in Lancashire at the next general election.<ref>{{cite news|title=[untitled article]|newspaper=Newspaper World and Advertising Review|date=1930|page=109}}</ref> He planned to stand for the party at the [[Sheffield Brightside by-election, 1930]], but did not ultimately do so,<ref>{{cite news|title=Brightside by-election|newspaper=[[Manchester Guardian]]|date=13 January 1930|page=5}}</ref> nor did the party stand in any seats at the [[1931 UK general election]]. He again mooted a candidacy as an independent "Pensions and Co-operative" candidate in Preston at the [[1935 UK general election]], but did not stand.<ref>{{cite news|title=Four to fight Preston?|newspaper=[[The Observer]]|date=8 November 1936|page=21}}</ref>


==Bibliography==
⚫
Holden died on 1 December 1943, aged 81.<ref>{{cite news|title=S. M. Holden's death|newspaper=Newspaper World and Advertising Review|date-December 1943|page=215}}</ref>
*''The Ups and Downs of William Gregson, for Fifty Years a Temporance Advocate'' (1887)
*''The Glittering Prizes of Public Speaking: Fifty Years' Memories of Glorious Oratory'' (1925)


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
<references />


{{DEFAULTSORT:Holden, S. M.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holden, S. M.}}
Line 39: Line 51:
[[Category:English temperance activists]]
[[Category:English temperance activists]]
[[Category:Independent politicians in England]]
[[Category:Independent politicians in England]]
[[Category:Members of the Workers' Socialist Federation]]
[[Category:People from Oswaldtwistle]]
[[Category:People from Oswaldtwistle]]

Latest revision as of 02:13, 10 April 2022

S. M. Holden
Holden, around 1900
Born
Servetus Mortimer Holden

(1862-08-29)29 August 1862
Oswaldtwistle, England
Died1 December 1943(1943-12-01) (aged 81)
Huncoat, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Journalist and political activist
OrganizationNational Prohibition Party

Servetus Mortimer Holden (29 August 1862 – 1 December 1943) was a British journalist and political activist. The only Parliamentary candidate ever put forward by the National Prohibition Party, he was associated with the labour movement and campaigned on old age pensions throughout his career.

Early life and journalism

[edit]

Born in Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire to family involved in trade unionism in the cotton industry, Holden left school at the age of seven to deliver newspapers. Over time, he worked as a newsagent, journalist and owner of the Accrington Advertiser. He claimed to be a founder member of the Independent Labour Party (ILP), and certainly organised a large meeting in Accrington which led to the creation of a local branch,[1][2] although shortly before Holden's death, Francis Johnson denied that Holden was in fact a founder member of the party.[3] In 1899, Holden launched a national weekly newspaper, the British Socialist News, although this was not a success.[1]

During 1906, Holden briefly worked for two national newspapers, being appointed as Parliamentary Labour correspondent for the Daily Mail, and contributing a "Labour Notes" column for Reynolds' News.[4] He lost a court case in 1910 against the Accrington Observer and Times, which accused him of copying its stories.[5]

Cricket

[edit]

In his twenties and thirties, Holden was a keen cricketer, playing for Accrington Cricket Club and occasionally for other teams in the Lancashire League.[6]

Political activism

[edit]

At the 1906 general election, Holden stood in Accrington. He described himself variously as the official Parliamentary Labour Party candidate,[7] and as an ILP candidate,[8] but he did not actually receive the backing of either the party and so funded his own campaign as an independent. His campaign focused on introducing old age pensions and a minimum wage of 30 shillings per week.[9] He took third place in the election, with 619 votes.[10]

Holden did not oppose British involvement in World War I, but was strongly against conscription.[11] He also supported women's suffrage, and so joined Sylvia Pankhurst's Workers' Suffrage Federation. The group planned to stand him as their candidate in Accrington at the 1918 general election, but he did not ultimately appear on the ballot paper.[12]

Pankhurst's group became part of the Communist Party of Great Britain early in the 1920s, but this did not appeal to Holden, who instead joined the National Prohibition Party. This party had been in existence since 1887, but maintained only a low level of activity, and had not previously stood in any Parliamentary election. Holden became its first and only candidate when he stood in the 1923 Whitechapel and St George's by-election. He took only 130 votes and lost his deposit.[13]

Holden stood again for election at the 1929 general election in Preston, receiving 2,111 votes and describing himself as the candidate of the "Preston Progressive Labour Party". He stood again in the Preston by-election, later that year, but took only 410 votes.[14] Following his defeats, he called a meeting in Preston, which he described as founding the "Progressive Labour Party" as a national organisation. He was the party's president, and announced that it would stand in eleven constituencies in Lancashire at the next general election.[15] He planned to stand for the party at the 1930 Sheffield Brightside by-election, but did not ultimately do so,[16] nor did the party stand in any seats at the 1931 general election. He again mooted a candidacy as an independent "Pensions and Co-operative" candidate in Preston at the 1935 general election, but did not stand.[17]

Holden died on 1 December 1943, aged 81.[18]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • The Ups and Downs of William Gregson, for Fifty Years a Temporance Advocate (1887)
  • The Glittering Prizes of Public Speaking: Fifty Years' Memories of Glorious Oratory (1925)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Edwards, Joseph (1900). The Labour Annual. p. 152.
  2. ^ "Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., at Accrington". Manchester Guardian. 18 January 1893. p. 7.
  3. ^ London School of Economics, "Francis Johnson correspondence"
  4. ^ Holden, Servetus Mortimer. The Glittering Prizes of Public Speaking: Fifty Years' Memories of Glorious Oratory. p. 7.
  5. ^ "Rival newspapers". Manchester Guardian. 27 July 1910. p. 10.
  6. ^ "S. M. Holden: Lancashire League Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Old Age Pensions". Manchester Guardian. 12 December 1907. p. 4.
  8. ^ "Accrington: socialists to contest the seat". Manchester Guardian. 4 January 1906. p. 8.
  9. ^ "Accrington: the three candidates' addresses". Manchester Guardian. 15 January 1906. p. 14.
  10. ^ Craig, F. W. S. British Parliamentary Election Results.
  11. ^ "The conscription question". Manchester Guardian. 14 September 1915.
  12. ^ Anonymous. Industrial Peace. Vol. 3. p. 61.
  13. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1975). Minor Parties in British By-elections, 1885–1974. London: Macmillan Press. p. 70.
  14. ^ "Nomination day at Preston". Manchester Guardian. 22 July 1929. p. 3.
  15. ^ "[untitled article]". Newspaper World and Advertising Review. 1930. p. 109.
  16. ^ "Brightside by-election". Manchester Guardian. 13 January 1930. p. 5.
  17. ^ "Four to fight Preston?". The Observer. 8 November 1936. p. 21.
  18. ^ "S. M. Holden's death". Newspaper World and Advertising Review. December 1943. p. 215.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=S._M._Holden&oldid=1081851955"