Joseph Patrick McDonnell (1846 – 1906). Irish-American labor leader and journalist. He edited the New York Labor Standard, and was one of the founders of the International Labor Union.
He was born in Dublin, Ireland, into a middle-class family, and after secondary school went to Trinity College Dublin. He moved to London in 1868, where he gave lectures calling for the release of Irish political prisoners and for Irish independence.
In 1871 McDonnell met Karl Marx, who proposed him as a member of the general council of the International Workingmen's Association (IWMA - often called the First International). In August 1871 he was made IWMA secretary for Ireland. In 1872 McDonnell sailed to New York City with his new bride, Mary McEvatt, to represent the IWA in America. From 1873 to 1878 McDonnell was very active in the socialist movement in New York, speaking at many venues.
In 1879 McDonnell was among the founders of the New Jersey Labor Congress, later renamed the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the State of New Jersey. From 1883 until 1897 McDonnell chaired the legislative committee of the New Jersey Federation of Organized Trades, which remained a relatively small body that was further weakened by the dispute between the Knights of Labor and the craft unions. Despite its weakness, the legislative committee drafted laws and lobbied for their passage by the New Jersey legislature, and often achieved at least partial success. The thrust of the laws was to eliminate abuses of labor, improve working conditions and help labor organize unions, cooperatives and building and loan associations. The Federation obtained ballot reforms, protection against eviction, public libraries and a compulsory education law. It was mainly due to McDonnell's efforts that Labor Day was declared a holiday by New Jersey, to first state to do so.
- "He described McDonnell as having "clean-cut small features, wonderful eyes and an abundance of red curly hair." https://nyirishhistory.us/article/courage-for-any-venture-j-d-mcdonnell-fenian-editor-and-labor-leader/
- "... he grew into a man of slight build with red curly hair and a somewhat oval face." https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcdonnell-joseph-patrick-a5647
