William Abraham (trade unionist)
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The Right Honourable William Abraham |
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| Member of Parliament for Rhondda |
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In office 1885–1918 |
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| Preceded by | new constituency |
| Succeeded by | abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Rhondda West |
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In office 1918–1920 |
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| Preceded by | (new constituency) |
| Succeeded by | William John |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 June 1842 Cwmafan, Glamorgan, Wales |
| Died | 14 May 1922 (aged 79) Pentre, Rhondda, Wales |
| Political party |
Liberal–Labour 1885–1910 Labour Party 1910–1918 |
William Abraham (14 June 1842 – 14 May 1922), universally known by his bardic name, Mabon, was a Welsh trade unionist and Liberal/Labour politician, and a member of parliament (MP) from 1885 to 1920. Although an MP for 35 years, it was as a trade unionist that Abraham is most well known. Initially a pioneer of trade unionism, who fought to enshrine the principle of workers' representation against the opposition of the coal-owners, he was regarded in later life as a moderate voice believing that disputes should be solved through conciliation rather than industrial action. This drew him into conflict with younger and more militant leaders from the 1890s onwards. However, although the defeat of the miners in the South Wales strike of 1898 was a clear defeat for Mabon's strategy, his prestige was sufficient to ensure that he became the first president of the South Wales Miners' Federation which was established in the wake of the dispute. Abraham was noted for his powerful speaking voice, and was a renowned orator in English and Welsh.
Abraham was born in Cwmafan, Glamorgan, the fourth son of Thomas and Mary Abraham. He was educated at Cwmafan National School but left at a young age, becoming a tinplater before finding work at the local as a 'door boy' at the age of ten. In 1864 Abraham, with another eleven Welsh miners, agreed to work in a copper mine in Chile for three years. Sailing to Valparaiso via the Horn, the ship had to avoid both storms and the Spanish Navy who were attempting to block trade with their rebel colonies in South America. When they arrived at the mine there was no work and so Abraham returned to the coast and managed to gain working passage on a ship back to Britain. After being away for thirteen months he was fortunate to regain his old job. After a slump in 1869 he was placed on short time, he switched to a tinplate works in Swansea.
It was around the 1870s that he became known as a singer and poet, adopting the eisteddfod name Gwilym Mabon, soon Mabon was the title by which he would be best known. Abraham continued working in the mining industry and by 1871 was working at the Caergynydd Pit in Waunarlwydd, near Swansea.
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