Isaac Dearborn Chamberlain (October 20, 1840 – July 1918) was an American labor unionist.

Born in Fredericktown, Ohio, Chamberlain's father, Uriah, was an anti-slavery activist and a founder of Oberlin College. Isaac served with the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War, while also working as a correspondent for newspapers including the Erie Gazette and The Cleveland Leader. After the war, he became a schoolteacher, then moved to Colorado, to become an editor and publisher.[1]

Chamberlain joined the Knights of Labor, and in 1897, he was elected as General Worthy Foreman of the union, the second-most senior position.[2] In 1898, he opposed the American occupation of Cuba, and also the idea of a large standing army, which he feared would be used against striking workers.[3]

In 1900, there was a dispute between the leader of the union, General Master Workman John N. Parsons, and its secretary-treasurer, John Hayes, with courts ruling in Hayes' favor. Chamberlain took no part in the dispute, but on May 26, 1900, he invited both parties to a meeting of the union's executive. Parsons did not attend, and the executive voted to expel him from the union, with Chamberlain becoming General Master Workman.[4] He served until the union's annual general assembly, in November. In 1902, he was instead elected as secretary-treasurer, also serving as editor of the union's newspaper.[5] He held this post until the union was dissolved, in 1917,[6] dying the following year.[7]

Chamberlain was also a freemason, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a Christian Scientist.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Who's Who in America. A. N. Marquis. 1899.
  2. ^ The World Almanac and Encyclopedia. New York: The Press Publishing Company. 1898.
  3. ^ Davis, Horace B. (1967). Nationalism and Socialism. New York: NYU Press. ISBN 9780853452935.
  4. ^ Reports of the Industrial Commission on Labor Organizations, Labor Disputes, and Arbitration, and on Railway Labor. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1901.
  5. ^ MacFarland, Henry B. F. (1909). District of Columbia: concise biographies of its prominent and representative contemporary citizens. Washington DC: The Potomac Press.
  6. ^ The World Almanac and Encyclopedia. New York: The Press Publishing Company. 1917.
  7. ^ a b "Rites for I. D. Chamberlain". Washington Post. July 19, 1918.
Trade union offices
Preceded by
Thomas McGuire
General Worthy Foreman of the Knights of Labor
1897–1900
Succeeded by
Arthur McConnell
Preceded by General Master Workman of the Knights of Labor
1900
Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary-Treasurer of the Knights of Labor
1902–1917
Succeeded by
Union dissolved