William James Thorne CBE was a British trade unionist, activist and one of the first Labour Members of Parliament.
Will Thorne as he appeared around the turn of the twentieth century.
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation (SDF) was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on 7 June 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury, James Connolly and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term collaborator, refused to support Hyndman's venture. Many of its early leading members had previously been active in the Manhood Suffrage League.
Social Democratic Federation
SDF founder Henry Hyndman
SDF election leaflet, 1896