Michael Austin (1855 – 18 February 1916) was an Irish politician and trade unionist.

Born in Cork, Austin was educated at a Christian Brothers school before completing an apprenticeship as a compositor.[1] He was a leading member of the Cork Trades Council, and in 1890 was the founding secretary of the Irish Democratic Trade and Labour Federation, a body which aimed to bring about the political representation of workers in rural areas of Ireland.[2]

The Federation's other leading member was Michael Davitt, and he persuaded the anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation to stand Austin and Eugene Crean as two trade union candidates in the 1892 general election.[2][3] Austin was elected for West Limerick, and held his seat at the 1895 general election, standing down in 1900. While in Parliament, he served on the Royal Commission on Labour.[1] The Federation could not retain his energies after election to parliament, resulting in its discipitation. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees, Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, vol.2, p.13
  2. 1 2 3 Boyle, John W. (2003) [1983]. "A Marginal Figure: The Irish Rural Laborer, p.326". In Clark, Samuel; Donnelly, James S. (eds.). Irish Peasants: Violence and Political Unrest, 1780–1914. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 311–338. ISBN 9780299093747.
  3. ↑ Laurence Marley, Michael Davitt: Freelance radical and frondeur, p.125
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