James Larkin
 

Born: January 21, 1876, Liverpool
Died: January 30, 1947, Dublin

     James Larkin was a union organizer and was sent to Belfast in 1907 to recruit workers to join unions. He was extremely successful and employers became worried. Larkin was also the organizer of the National Union of Dock Labourers and, because of their concern, employers started to fire members of the NUDL. Larkin had grown powerful and influential enough by this time to start his own union, the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union. Larkin was involved with the Irish republican movement and soon joined forces with James Connolly. During the 1913 Labour Lockout, Larkin gained even more recognition, particularly after he was sentenced to prison. Larkin was released shortly thereafter and continued to champion socialist causes, this time in America. In 1920, Larkin was arrested as part of President Wilson's attempt to scare suspected communists. Larkin spent time at Sing Sing until he was pardoned by the governor of New York in 1923. Larkin was elected to the Irish Dáil and remained active in Irish politics until his death in 1947.

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