John Chapman (1839–1927)
This article was published:
- in the Biographical Register of the Australian Labour Movement, 1788-1975
- online in 2023
John Chapman (1839-1927) stonemason and trade union leader
Birth: 1839 at Slammanan, Airth, Stirlingshire, Scotland, son of Peter Chapman (1811-1866), colliery labourer, and Elizabeth, née Craig (1813-1899). Marriage: 30 October 1865 at Rundle Street, Adelaide, South Australia, with Presbyterian forms, to Margaret Robertson Gillies (1838-1918). They had five daughters and one son. Death: 25 November 1927 at Adelaide. Religion: Presbyterian.
- In 1851 census, aged 11, he was working as a servant in fireclay works at Slamannan. Trained as a stonemason at Glasgow. In 1861 census he was a mason, residing at Partick, Govan, Lanarkshire.
- Arrived in South Australia on 1 May 1865 in the Clara. Employed by English & Brown, contractors on Town Hall and St Peter’s Cathedral. Retired in 1915.
- Early trade unionist, SA. President of the United Tradesmen's Union.
- Last surviving member of the original Eight Hours Day Committee, 1873.
- Occupation on death certificate: retired farmer. Cause of death: embolism and carcinoma of tongue and jaw.
Sources
H. J. Gibbney & Ann G. Smith, A Biographical Register 1788-1939, vol 1 (Canberra, 1987), p 120.
Additional Resources
- interview; discusses the United Tradesmen's Union, Advertiser (Adelaide), 8 October 1914, p 9
Related Entries in NCB Sites
Citation details
'Chapman, John (1839–1927)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/chapman-john-33323/text41586, accessed 20 September 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
1839
Slamannan,
Stirlingshire,
Scotland
Death
25 November,
1927
(aged ~ 88)
Adelaide,
South Australia,
Australia
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.