James Smith Middleton (12 March 1878 – 18 November 1962) was a journalist and political organiser best known for serving as the General Secretary of the Labour Party.
[1] In 1900, while in Workington, Middleton met and married his first wife, the former Mary Muir, who was working locally as a domestic servant.
In this role, he opposed proposals to form a Popular Front and worked to sideline all critics of the official party line.
[5] News of Middleton's retirement brought tributes from various prominent figures in the Labour movement including George Bernard Shaw and Robert Blatchford.
[6] In retirement, Middleton focussed on writing biographical sketches and obituaries of early Labour Party figures.