Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Johnston, William H.
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1874-1937
History
William H. Johnston was the International President of the Industrial Alliance (I.A.) and a prominent labour leader of his day. He was born in Westville, Nova Scotia, on 30 December 1874. Raised by his father in a trade union atmosphere, he started an apprenticeship with the Rhode Island Locomotive Works in 1888. He later worked for the Builders' Iron Foundry and between 1895-1897 he aided the Jencks Manufacturing Company in refining their experiments on automatic knitting machines. During this time he became a charter member of a new lodge, No. 379 of the I.A. He was elected president of Local No. 147 while employed with Armington and Sons from 1897-1903, then became the Local No. 147 delegate for the Boston Convention, and by 1912 was the International President of the I.A. of M.