Alfred Whitehead (co-operator)

Alfred Whitehead (14 January 1862 – 21 February 1945) was a British co-operative activist.

Born in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, Whitehead left school at the age of ten to work in a textile factory. He became interested in the co-operative movement, and in 1886 became a clerk for the Co-operative Union. He was promoted to become its north-western secretary, then in 1895 became the organisation's assistant secretary. He succeeded as secretary of the union in 1912, serving until 1929.[1]

Whitehead also served on the executive of the International Co-operative Alliance from 1910, and as its vice-president from 1921. He was the president of the Co-operative Congress in 1928.[1]

In his spare time, Whitehead taught in a Sunday school, was active in the temperance movement, and joined the Union of Democratic Control.[1]