Gerhard, Hendrik

Tailor, took part in the fifth congress of the IWA, 1872, as a delegate of the Federal Council of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

https://socialhistory.org/bwsa/biografie/gerhard-h

GERHARD (Hendrik), one of the leaders of the social-democratic labour party here in the country, born on 11 June 1829 in Delft, died on 5 July 1886 in Amsterdam. Raised in the orphanage of his birthplace, he trained as a tailor here and elsewhere. Besides Amsterdam, he also worked in cities abroad: in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulon, Marseille and Lausanne. In the latter city, he married Suzanna Stehli. Returning to the Netherlands in 1861, he settled in Amsterdam, where he worked for the Bodenheim firm in the Kalverstraat for some time. Later, he left tailoring to become director of a cooperative bakery in Amsterdam. In general, he faced a lot of difficulties and adversity. In 1869, he joined the International Workers' Union, of which he became one of the most zealous members in our country and even its leader for some time. In 1871, he chaired the third Dutch Workers' Congress and introduced the question: 'Is liberalisation of labour possible while maintaining the existing laws on property'. From 1878-83, Gerhard was chairman of the Social Democratic Workers' Association in our country.

Of his writings, best known are: What Do Socialists Want? Capital and Labour; The International and its Judges (1872). Collected together, they were published in 1888 under the title: Collected and bequeathed essays of H. Gerhard. A life sketch of him was written in this volume by F. Domela Nieuwenhuis.

A son of H. Gerhard was Adrien Henri Gerhard, born in Lausanne on 7 April 1858. He was also a zealous supporter of social-democratic principles and since 1882 headmaster of a public school in Amsterdam.

In addition to the aforementioned collection of essays, see: Vliegen, The Dawn of Popular Liberation. Sketches and scenes from the socialist movement in the Netherlands (with portr.). 2 dln. (1902). Also: Vooruit, Weekbl. v. Onderw. 1889.

(Zuidema)
 

From Nieuw Nederlands Biografisch Woordenboek (NNBW), Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)