Johann Georg Eccarius (also known as John George Eccarius; 23 August 1818 – 5 March 1889) was aThuringian tailor and labour activist. Eccarius was a member of theLeague of the Just and later of theCommunist League before becoming General Secretary of theInternational Workingmen's Association (IWA), commonly known as the First International, in 1867.
Johann Georg Eccarius, also known by the Anglicized name John George Eccarius, was born on 23 August 1818 inFriedrichroda,Thuringia (today part ofGermany).
Eccarius was a member of theLeague of the Just and later of theCommunist League.[1]
On 28 September 1864, Eccarius was a participant at the first meeting of theInternational Workingmen's Association (IWA) atSt. Martin's Hall inLondon.[2] Eccarius would there be chosen as a member of the governingGeneral Council, a position he would retain until the transfer of the headquarters of the International to America in 1872.[2] Eccarius would be a fixture of the IWA, attending every international conference and congress of that organization for its entire 8-year duration in Europe.[2]
On 9 July 1867, General Secretary of the IWARobert Shaw resigned his position owing to an inability to find work in London, which made his position as head of the General Council there untenable.[3] Upon the nomination of journalist Peter Fox, Eccarius was unanimously elected the new head of that organization.[3] He would serve as the formal head of the IWA until 1871.[2]
From 1870 until 1872, Eccarius was the Corresponding Secretary of the IWA for America, serving as the point of contact with the organization's adherents on the other side of the Atlantic.[2]
He served as treasurer for the short livedLand and Labour League from 1869 to 1873.[4]
In the late 1870s, he was active in theManhood Suffrage League.[5]
Eccarius died on 4 March 1889.
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| Preceded by | General Secretary of theInternational Workingmen's Association 1867–1871 | Succeeded by |
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