John Elliott Burns (1858-1943), Labour leader and politician

Sitter in 25 portraits
Labour leader and politician; left school at ten and became an active trades unionist as an apprentice engineer; joined Social Democratic Foundation in 1885. Elected MP in 1892 but refused to join the Independent Labour Party and moved towards the liberals; became member of cabinet as President of the Local Government Board 1905-14, and of the Board of Trade, 1914; resigned in opposition to the war and took no further part in public life.