Arch, JOSEPH, was born at Barford, Warwickshire, in 1826, and whilst still a farm-labourer, became a Primitive Methodist preacher. In 1872 he founded the National Agricultural Labourers' Union, and thereby, according to Mr Justin M'Carthy, 'began the emancipation of the rural labourers.' He afterwards visited Canada to inquire into the labour and emigration questions; and in 1885-6 he represented in parliament the north-west division of Norfolk, which again returned him in 1892 and 1895. See his autobiography (1898).
Arch, JOSEPH
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 1: A to Beaufort, p. 380
Source scan(s): p. 0399