Sir David James Shackleton KCB (21 November 1863 – 1 August 1938) was a cotton worker and trade unionist who became the third Labour Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, following the formation of the Labour Representation Committee. He later became a senior civil servant.

David Shackleton in the mid-1900s
Shackleton (on right) in 1906, with other leading figures in the party

Shackleton was born in Cloughfold near Rawtenstall, Lancashire. He became a cotton worker at the age of nine. He rose through the ranks of the cotton weavers' union and became general secretary of the Textile Factory Workers Association. He was a member of the Darwen Town Council, and member of the Blackburn Chamber of Commerce.

Although the textile workers had not yet joined the LRC, Shackleton was appointed its candidate for the Clitheroe by-election in 1902. Philip Snowden, who had been considered by the Independent Labour Party, withdrew from the race. The Liberals and Conservatives also withdrew, sensing Shackleton's strong lead. He was thus elected unopposed on 1 August 1902.[1][2] The textile workers' unions affiliated to the LRC shortly afterwards. Shackleton served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party for a period.

Shackleton became chairman of the Trades Union Congress in 1906, maintaining his powerful position in the trade union movement. In 1910, Winston Churchill invited him to join the civil service and Shackleton left Parliament. He quickly rose to the rank of permanent secretary in the new Ministry of Labour and is considered the first man from a working-class background to rise to such a senior position.

References

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  1. ^ "Election intelligence". The Times. No. 36836. London. 2 August 1902. p. 10.
  2. ^ "No. 27461". The London Gazette. 5 August 1902. p. 5037.

Source

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  • The Lancashire Giant: David Shackleton, Labour Leader and Civil Servant (2000), Ross M Martin, ISBN 0-85323-934-7
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for
Clitheroe

1902Dec 1910
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Labour Party
1904–1905
Succeeded by
Trade union offices
Preceded by General Secretary of the
Darwen Weavers' Association

1894 – 1907
Succeeded by
John Parkington
Preceded by Trades Union Congress representative to the
American Federation of Labour

1907
With: John Hodge
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the
Northern Counties Amalgamated Association of Weavers

1906 – 1910
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the
Trades Union Congress

1908 and 1909
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by
none
Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Labour

1916–1921
With: Sir James Masterton-Smith
(1920–1921)
Succeeded by