William MacQueen
Billy MacQueen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | William MacQueen 14 January 1875 Fitzrovia, London, England |
| Died | 9 November 1908 (aged 33) |
| Movement | Anarchism |
| Spouse |
Nellie Barton (m. 1895) |
William MacQueen (14 January 1875 – 9 November 1908) was a British anarchist, trade unionist, newspaper editor and public speaker.
Biography[edit]
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.[1]
In 1895 MacQueen married Nellie Barton in 1895, the sister of his friend and fellow anarchist Alf Barton.[2][3][4]
From 1898 to 1899 he edited the Leeds-based monthly anarchist paper The Free Commune. MacQueen was a fluent German speaker and in 1901 translated the book Communist Anarchism by Johann Most.
MacQueen emigrated to New York City, began working as a proofreader, and from 1902 to 1903 edited the anarchist paper Liberty.[5][6] He was an agitator and public speaker during the 1902 Paterson silk strike, where he was arrested alongside Rudolf Grossmann and Luigi Galleani for inciting a riot.[7] MacQueen fled on bail to the United Kingdom, but later returned to face trial, was sentenced to five years and fined $1500.[8] While in prison he was interviewed by H. G. Wells.[6][5] MacQueen was released after three years on the condition that he leave the United States and didn't return.[9]
MacQueen contracted tuberculosis in prison and died in Leeds on the 9 November 1908 aged 33.[1][6] He was survived by his wife and children.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Heath, Nick; Quail, John (2019). "Billy MacQueen". Slow Burning Fuse: The Lost History of the British Anarchists. Internet Archive. London: PM Press and Freedom Press. pp. 378–379. ISBN 978-1-62963-633-7.
- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ Pateman, Barry (10 April 2012). "Free Commune and Billy MacQueen". Kate Sharpley Library. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ a b Wells, H. G. (1906). The Future in America: A Search After Realities. Internet Archive. New York and London: Harper & Brothers. pp. 169–184.
- ^ a b c Emma Goldman: A Documentary History of the American Years. Internet Archive. Berkeley: University of California Press. 2003. p. 533. ISBN 978-0-520-08670-8.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Goyens, Tom (2007). Beer and Revolution: the German Anarchist Movement in New York City, 1880-1914. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-252-03175-5. OCLC 77011509.
- ^ Senta, Antonio (2019). Luigi Galleani: The Most Dangerous Anarchist in America. Internet Archive. AK Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-84935-349-6.
- ^ Avrich, Paul (2005). Anarchist Voices: An Oral History of Anarchism in America. Internet Archive. AK Press. pp. 283, 328, 514. ISBN 978-1-904859-27-7.
- ^ "William MacQeeen" (PDF). Freedom. December 1908. p. 85. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.