James Finlen facts for kids
James Finlen (born around 1829) was a British activist who spoke up for working people. He was known for his powerful speeches. However, he also became well-known for supporting Irish independence and faced criticism for personal struggles.
Finlen was likely born in London. His parents were Irish and Roman Catholic. He learned the skill of a french polisher, which was a respected craft.
Early Life and Activism
Finlen became active in the Chartist movement by 1851. The Chartists were a group of people who wanted more rights for ordinary working people in Britain. They wanted things like the right for all men to vote. Finlen represented Finsbury, a part of London, at a big Chartist meeting.
In 1852, he was chosen to be on the main committee of the National Charter Association (NCA). This was a very important group for the Chartists. He also attended a special meeting called the Manchester Labour Parliament in 1854.
Finlen started working closely with another important Chartist leader, Ernest Jones. Together, they started a newspaper called the People's Paper. With Jones's help, Finlen became a joint leader of the NCA in 1856. However, they had a disagreement in 1857. Finlen then moved to Glasgow and tried to start his own newspaper to compete with the People's Paper. Later, he lived in Manchester and returned to London in 1860, by which time he was married.
Speaking for Change
In 1866, Finlen began working for the Reform League. This group wanted to change voting laws so more people could vote. He traveled around giving speeches. He was known for being a very dramatic and effective speaker at outdoor meetings.
Finlen also strongly supported Irish independence. He spoke out against the death sentences given to some Irish activists, known as the Fenian Martyrs. These activists were part of a group called the Fenians, who wanted Ireland to be free from British rule.
On one occasion, Finlen led a group to the Home Office, which is a government building. When they couldn't meet with the government minister, they held a protest right inside the building!
Facing Challenges
In December 1867, there was a bomb attack in London, known as the Clerkenwell explosion. After this event, many newspapers criticized people who supported the Fenians, including Finlen. Newspapers also wrote about Finlen's personal difficulties, saying his wife had to go to a special hospital and his children were taken into a place called a workhouse, which was for poor people. Cartoons were drawn to make fun of Finlen and to try and make the Reform League look bad. They even tried to link him to the leader of the Liberal Party, William Ewart Gladstone.
With fewer friends and little money, James Finlen stopped being active in politics. Some people tried to raise money to help him move to the United States. But in 1888, a former colleague from the Reform League, George Howell, found Finlen living near Warrington under a different name. We don't know when or where James Finlen died.
