John McBride (June 25, 1854 – October 9, 1917) was an American labor union leader. He served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing Stark County from 1884 to 1888. He was the second president of the American Federation of Labor, serving from 1894 to 1895.

Early life

John McBride was born on June 25, 1854, in Chippewa Township, Ohio, to Bridge (née McMackin) and Thomas McBride. His father emigrated from England and worked as a mining supervisor in Massillon. McBride started working in the coal mines at the age of about eight or nine. He first worked as a water carrier before becoming a miner at the age of 12.

Career

In 1870 or 1872, McBride joined the Ohio Miners' Union. He became secretary of Lodge No. 15, M. L. B. A. In 1877, McBride became district president of the Tuscarawas Valley Miners' Association. He also served as president of the Miners' Protective Association of Ohio. In 1879, McBride stopped working in mines and became a check weighman at the Groves Coal Company. In April 1882, he was elected president of the Ohio Miners' Union, a post that he retained until 1889. In December 1888, he became president of the National Progressive Miners' Union and served in that role until February 1890. In 1886, he was nominated for Ohio Secretary of State, but lost to James S. Robinson. In 1887, he ran for the Ohio Senate, but lost.

Starting in 1890, McBride was editor of the Miner's Independent, publication of the miners' union based in Massillon. He was appointed police magistrate in Phoenix, Arizona, and was a member of the tobacco manufacturing firm McBride and Beaver.

References

Further reading

  • Michael Pierce, "The Populist President of the American Federation of Labor: The Career of John McBride, 1880-1895," Labor History, vol. 41, no. 1 (2000), pp. 5-24.