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Description area
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History
George Howell was born in Somerset and educated at Bristol before working as a bricklayer and shoemaker. He also became a Methodist lay preacher and was active in the temperance movement. After moving to London in 1854 Howell joined the Operative Bricklayers' Society and became involved in strike action for improved working conditions. He became Secretary of the London Trades Council in 1861 and Secretary of the Trades Union Congress in 1871. Howell tried several times to enter parliament before eventually serving as MP for Bethnal Green North East (1885-1895). After losing his seat he retired from public life and suffered from poor health in his last years. Howell's library of works on social and economic issues was purchased by public subscription in 1906 and given to the Bishopsgate Institute, London.