Tolpuddle Martyrs

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were a group of six agricultural labourers in the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset, England, who were convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers in 1834. The Tolpuddle Martyrs were arrested on a legal technicality during a labour dispute against decreasing wages before being convicted in R v Lovelass and Others and sentenced to penal transportation to Australia. The Tolpuddle Martyrs were pardoned in 1836 after mass protests by sympathisers and support from Lord John Russell, returning to England between 1837 to 1839.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs became a popular event of the early trade union and workers rights movements.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolpuddle_Martyrs

Martyrs

• James Brine
• James Hammett
• George Loveless
• James Loveless
• John Standfield
• Thomas Standfield

Outcome

• Transportation to Australia (1834)
• Pardoned (1836)
• Returned to England (1837-1839).