Early Years
Cook was born as Joseph Cooke in Silverdale, a small mining town near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. He had no formal education and worked in the coal mines from the age of nine. During his teens he embraced Primitive Methodism, and marked his conversion by dropping the 'e' from his surname. He married Mary Turner in 1885 and shortly after emigrated to New South Wales.
Cook settled in Lithgow and worked in the coal mines, becoming General-Secretary of the Western Miners Association in 1887. In 1888, he participated in demonstrations against Chinese immigration. He was also active in the Single Tax League and was a founding member of the Australian Labor Party in 1891.
Read more about this topic: Joseph Cook
Famous quotes containing the words early years, early and/or years:
“Even today . . . experts, usually male, tell women how to be mothers and warn them that they should not have children if they have any intention of leaving their side in their early years. . . . Children don’t need parents’ full-time attendance or attention at any stage of their development. Many people will help take care of their needs, depending on who their parents are and how they chose to fulfill their roles.”
—Stella Chess (20th century)
“Men and women are not born inconstant: they are made so by their early amorous experiences.”
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967)
“It has been years since I have seen anyone who could even look as if he were in love. No one’s face lights up any more except for political conversation.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)