Robert Morley

Robert Morley (20 June 1863 – 16 February 1931) was a British trade unionist and politician. Born in Knaresborough, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Morley moved with his family to Copley when he was ten. There, he began working half-time at Edward Akroyd's worsted mill, while continuing his education. However, he later completed an apprenticeship as an iron moulder in Halifax. He became prominent in the Friendly Society of Iron Founders (FSIF), and was also active in his local Liberal Party. Early in the 1890s, Morley became convinced of socialism. He was elected as the secretary of the Halifax Labour Union, then as the first secretary of the local branch of the Independent Labour Party. In this role, he worked closely with Mont Blatchford, but often came into conflict with John Lister, the party's national treasurer, who lived locally. He was also a regular speaker at the local Labour Church, and served on Halifax Trades Council. In the late 1890s, Morley worked closely with Tom Mann to recruit local gasworkers to the Workers' Union. Through this activity, they secured recognition by the council, and Morley won election to the council in 1899, taking a place on its gasworks committee to further the gasworkers' cause. By 1900, it had become the Workers' Union's largest single branch, and Morley was elected as national president of the union, also working for it as a full-time organiser.