Samuel Fielden

Biography

Samuel Fielden, born in England in 1847 and later immersing himself in American life, became a Methodist preacher and a passionate advocate for workers’ rights. His speeches in Chicago and beyond drew attention to the desperate conditions faced by laborers, and he became one of the eight men arrested after the 1886 Haymarket affair.

After Governor John Peter Altgeld pardoned him in 1893, Fielden sought a quieter existence, eventually settling near La Veta, Colorado, where he tended his household, stayed in communion with old friends, and reflected on the struggles that shaped his beliefs. He passed away in 1922, respected by many for his integrity and ongoing concern for justice.