John
Maclean, the second youngest of seven children, was born in Pollockshaws,
Glasgow in 1879. John did well at school
and although his widowed mother was extremely poor, she was determined
that he would have a good education. In 1896 he became a pupil-teacher
and later entered the Free Church Teacher Training College.
After graduating in 1900, Maclean became a teacher in Glasgow.
He also studied part time for an MA at Glasgow University where he
met James Maxton. The two men were both
committed socialists and over the next few years worked together on
numerous campaigns. Maclean joined the Social
Democratic Federation and the Glasgow Teacher's Socialist Society
and was active in the trade union and co-operative movements.
Maclean was also a pacifist and during the First
World War Maclean played a prominent role in the peace campaign.
Maclean and James Maxton were both arrested
and charged with sedition. Found guilty, the men served over a year
in prison. Maclean was arrested again soon after his release and was
sentenced to five years for sedition. He was sent to Peterhead Prison
but following a mass protest he was released after only serving six
months.
After the war Maclean formed the Tramp Trust Unlimited, an organisation
that campaigned for a minimum wage, a six-hour day and full wages
for the unemployed. He also established the Scottish Workers' Republican
Party (SWRP) but in the municipal elections held in November 1923,
none of the twelve SWRP candidates came anywhere near victory. Even
Maclean only polled 623 votes out of a total of 8,190. Weakened by
poor health and his spells in prison, John Maclean died in 1923.
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