James Sexton

Sir James Sexton, known as the 'Docker's Knight' and 'Tatters, M.P.' was a dockers leader and M.P. for St Helens. He died aged 82. He was the son of Irish parents in Newcastle where he was born. He went to sea as a stowaway at 13 and stayed at sea for seven years. After leaving the sea he worked at the Liverpool docks as a stevedore and began to take an interest in the labour movement. In 1890 he was appointed general secretary of the Dock Labourers' National Union. In 1905 he was president of the Trades' Union Congress. In 1917 he was made a C. B. E and in 1931 he was knighted. In 1918 he became M.P. for St Helens.