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William Graham (1874–1944)

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William Graham (1874-1944) miner and trade union leader 

Birth: 30 September 1874, Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland, son of Irish-born William Graham, freestone quarrier, and Agnes, née Cooper. Marriage: c.1900 in Scotland to Helen Fox ‘Nellie’ Amos. They had two sons and three daughters. Death: 13 August 1944 at his residence, St Marys, Tasmania. Religion: Methodist. 

  • A silk weaver in Scotland, then a railway signalman, arrived with wife and two children in Tasmania in 1906 and took up coal mining.
  • Founding secretary Tasmanian Coal Miners' Association 1912, retaining position until 1934. Had no previous union experience, but brought to task a capacity for secretarial work and flair for administration. A staunch though moderate unionist.
  • Secretary for 25 years of Abraham Ford Lodge, Grand United Order of Druids.
  • Honorary treasurer St Marys District Hospital.
  • Both sons served in Australian Imperial Force in World War II.

Sources
Edgar Ross, A history of the Miners' Federation of Australia ([Sydney] 1970).

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Citation details

'Graham, William (1874–1944)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/graham-william-32198/text39809, accessed 27 April 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

30 September, 1874
Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Death

13 August, 1944 (aged 69)
St Marys, Tasmania, 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.

Occupation or Descriptor
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