Spargo, John, 1876-1966

British socialist, author.

John Spargo was an author and social activist, perhaps best known for his exposé, The Bitter Cry of Children. Born in Cornwall, he apprenticed with a stonecutter and became a lay Methodist minister; he was also an active Socialist in England before emigrating to the United States in 1901, where he became a lecturer for the American Socialist Party. Spargo left the Party in 1917, and helped Samuel Gompers found the American Alliance for Labor and Democracy and the Nationalist Party. He wrote a biography of Karl Marx, and a number of works on Socialism and social causes, earning a comfortable living as a writer. He became director and curator of the Bennington Historical Museum and Art Gallery in Bennington, Vermont, and wrote several books on ceramics.

Author; Curator of the Bennington Museum of History and Art Galley, Socialist; books include "The bitter cry of children," "Not guilty," "Karl Marx," "Americanism and Social Democracy," etc.

John Spargo was born on January 31, 1876, in Cornwall, United Kingdom. He trained as a stone cutter and later became a lay Methodist minister. Largely self-educated, he was active in the early formation of the Social Democratic Federation, starting local chapters and serving on its National Executive Committee. In 1900 he came to America with his family for a lecture tour and stayed, becoming prominent in Socialist circles and the founding of the Socialist Party of America. He was active as a journalist, author, lecturer, and politician. He broke with the Socialist Party during World War I over the socialist response to the war.

Originally moving to Bennington, Vt., for reasons of health, John Spargo became interested in folk arts and crafts, authoring several books on ceramics. He later became Curator of the Bennington Museum of History and Art Galley. John Spargo died in Bennington, Vt., on August 17, 1966.