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词条 William D. Robinson
释义

  1. Early years

  2. Union leader

  3. Later career

  4. References

  5. Sources

{{Infobox person
| name = William D. Robinson
| image = William D. Robinson.jpg
| alt =
| caption = William D. Robinson
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1826|05|22|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1890|11|07|1826|05|22|df=y}}
| death_place = Washington, Indiana, United States
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation = Locomotive engineer
| known_for = Founder of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
}}

William D. Robinson (22 May 1826 – 7 November 1890) was a locomotive engineer who founded the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) on 8 May 1863 during the American Civil War, America's first union for railway workers. Robinson traveled widely and oversaw rapid growth in the union's first sixteen months. After a disastrous strike he was forced to resign in August 1864, and did not hold office again, although he remained active in union affairs until his death.

Early years

William D. Robinson was born on 22 May 1826.{{sfn|William D. Robinson: Railroad Trainman 1891|p=7}}

He started work as a fireman in 1846, and was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1848.{{sfn|A Great Order's Founder 1890|p=567}}

He was employed by the New Albany & Salem Railroad.{{sfn|History of the Brotherhood... 2007}}

On 6–9 November 1855 a convention of locomotive engineers was held in Baltimore at which it was agreed to form a "National Protective Association of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers of the United States." Benjamin Hoxie was elected President, and William D. Robinson secretary. The organization held a number of meetings up to the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, but did not make much progress.

The New Albany & Salem Railroad ran into financial difficulties and was having trouble meeting payroll.

In the fall of 1862 Robinson's friend J.C. Thompson arranged for him to be hired by the Michigan Central Railroad, and he moved to Detroit.{{sfn|History of the Brotherhood... 2007}}

Union leader

In April 1863 nineteen locomotive engineers met at Robinson's house and decided to form an organization to represent their interests.

Robinson was discharged from Michigan Central as an agitator.

As Grand Chief he traveled widely between October 1863 and August 1864, and organized fifty-four local divisions.{{sfn|A Great Order's Founder 1890|p=568}}

On 1 July 1864 the employees of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad went on strike for more pay.{{sfn|Blackman|1987|p=50}}

On 11 July 1864 the army seized the railroad and took over operations.{{sfn|Blackman|1987|p=53}}

On 16 July the strike was called off. Half the strikers, or about 75 men, got their jobs back at existing pay. The others were dismissed.{{sfn|Blackman|1987|p=54}}

It is not clear that the union had sanctioned the strike, since all employees were involved, not just locomotive engineers, and the strike was for more pay rather than for preserving existing rights.{{sfn|Blackman|1987|p=51}}

However, when the Brotherhood of the Footboard held their convention in Indianapolis on 17 August 1864 they changed their name to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and replaced Robinson as Grand Chief Engineer by Charles Wilson. The first, radical, phase of the union was over.{{sfn|Commons|Sumner|Saposs|Andrews|1918|p=63}}

Later career

Robinson was reinstated in his old local in May 1873.

Later that year the Pennsylvania Railroad ordered a reduction of pay, and the engineers went on strike. Charles Wilson publicly criticized their action. The Brotherhood called a special meeting in Cleveland on 25 February 1874. Robinson made a spirited speech vindicating the strikers, and was applauded by the delegates.

Charles Wilson was forced to resign and was replaced as Grand Chief Engineer by Peter M. Arthur.{{sfn|Commons|Sumner|Saposs|Andrews|1918|p=67}}

For reasons of health, Robinson retired from railroad work in 1883, but continued to be active with the Brotherhood.{{sfn|A Great Order's Founder 1890|p=567}}

He spoke in 1890 at a meeting of the five Brotherhoods of Railroad Fraternities, where he was reported to be old and feeble,

but gave a speech full of "sound advice and encouragement".{{sfn|A Great Order's Founder 1890|p=572}}

Robinson died after a prolonged illness from cancer of the stomach on 7 November 1890 in Washington, Daviess County, Indiana, at the age of 64.

During his life he had seen the Brotherhood grow to 28,000 members in 452 lodges across North America.{{sfn|William D. Robinson: Railroad Trainman 1891|p=7-8}}

A marker was erected in 1974 at his house in Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan, where the Railroad Union was born.{{sfn|Brennan|2013}}

References

{{notes}}

Sources

{{refbegin}}
  • {{citation|title=St. James Encyclopedia of Labor History Worldwide: Major Events in Labor History and Their Impact |year=2004 |publisher=The Gale Group

|last=Atkins |first=William Arthur|chapter=National Union of Iron Molders
|chapterurl=http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/national-union-iron-molders|accessdate=2017-01-19}}
  • {{cite book|ref={{harvid|A Great Order's Founder 1890}}

|title=The Conductor and Brakeman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zSsqAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA567|accessdate=2013-07-31
|chapter=A Great Order's Founder|year=1890|page=567}}
  • {{cite journal |ref=harv |url=https://ojs.libraries.psu.edu/index.php/pmhb/article/download/44188/43909

|last=Blackman|first=John L. Jr. |date=1 January 1987|title=The Seizure of the Reading Railroad in 1864|accessdate=2013-07-31
|journal=Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography |volume=111 |issue=1}}
  • {{cite web |ref=harv |url=http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=L0282.htm

|last=Brennan|first=James |year=2013|work=Michigan Historical Markers|title=Railroad Union Birthplace|accessdate=2013-07-31}}
  • {{cite book|ref=harv

|last1=Commons|first1=John Rogers|last2=Sumner|first2=Helen Laura|last3=Saposs|first3=David Joseph
|last4=Andrews|first4=John Bertram|author5=Perlman, Selig |author6=Hoagland, Henry Elmer
|title=History of Labour in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fnJmUx5an1QC&pg=PA67|accessdate=2013-07-31
|date=1918-12-01|publisher=Beard Books|isbn=978-1-893122-75-8}}
  • Debs, Eugene V. [https://archive.org/details/901200DebsWilliamdrobinson "William D. Robinson,"] Locomotive Firemen's Magazine, vol. 14, no. 12 (Dec. 1890), pp. 1105-1108.
  • {{citation

|last=Foner|first=Philip Sheldon|title=History of the Labor Movement in the United States
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q38FAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA71|year=1947|publisher=International Publishers|isbn=978-0-7178-0376-7}}
  • {{cite web |ref={{harvid|History: BLET}} |url=http://www.ble-t.org/blet150/history.aspx

|title=History|publisher=Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen|accessdate=2013-07-31}}
  • {{cite journal |ref={{harvid|History of the Brotherhood... 2007}} |url=http://www.ble-t.org/pr/newsletter/0607newsletter/story9.html

|title=History of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen|accessdate=2013-07-31
|journal=Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen News |date=June–July 2007|publisher=Teamsters}}
  • {{cite web |ref=harv |url=http://teamster.org/content/teamsters-honor-150-year-anniversary-brotherhood-locomotive-engineers-and-trainmen

|last1=Hoffa|first1=James P.|last2=Hall|first2=Ken |title=Teamsters Honor 150 Year Anniversary Of The Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers And Trainmen
|date=8 May 2013|accessdate=2013-07-31|publisher=International Brotherhood of Teamsters}}
  • {{cite book|ref={{harvid|William D. Robinson: Railroad Trainman 1891}}

|title=The Railroad Trainman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9zNAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA7|accessdate=2013-07-31
|year=1891|publisher=Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen|page=7|chapter=William D. Robinson}}{{refend}}{{Leaders of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, William D.}}

5 : 1826 births|1890 deaths|Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen people|People from Washington, Indiana|Railroad engineers

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