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George Alexander Davidson (1859–1912)

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George Alexander Davidson (1859-1912) tailor and trade union leader 

Birth: 30 September 1859, Birsay, Orkney, Scotland, son of David Davidson, farmer, and Mary Anne, née Smith. Marriage: 1902, in Melbourne, Victoria, to Amy Jane Wilson (1870-1957). They had four sons. Death: 24 January 1912 at his residence, 23 Hancock Street, South Melbourne. Religion: Methodist. 

  • Arrived in Sydney as assisted immigrant aboard Ellora on 11 June 1883.
  • Committee member Amalgamated Society of Tailors (Victoria) and secretary of Tailoresses' Union (Melbourne), c.1900. Organiser AST from 1904. Unlike earlier craft leaders, favoured full organisation of female workers. Instrumental in amalgamation of AST and Tailoresses' 1906.
  • With Herbert Carter strong advocate of union amalgamation and federation.

Sources
Bradon Ellem, In women’s hands? A history of clothing trades unionism in Australia (UNSW Press, Sydney 1989). NSW State Archives: Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896, for Ellora, June 1883

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Citation details

'Davidson, George Alexander (1859–1912)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/davidson-george-alexander-32193/text39803, accessed 26 April 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

30 September, 1859
Birsay, Orkney, Scotland

Death

24 January, 1912 (aged 52)
South Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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.

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