Smillie, Robert

Smillie, Robert (smī'lē) [key], 1857–1940, British labor official, b. Belfast, Ireland, of Scottish parents. He was president of the Scottish Miners' Federation from 1894 to 1918 and from 1921 until his death, and as president (1912–21) of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain he led the coal miners' strike of 1912. For many years he advocated the nationalization of mines. He served as a Labour member of Parliament from 1923 to 1929.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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