Born at Coatbridge in Scotland, to Irish parents, Dolan began working at a local colliery at the age of eight.
He emigrated to the United States in 1888, settling in McDonald, Pennsylvania, and continuing to work as a miner.
There, he joined the United Mine Workers of America, and in 1896, he was elected as the full-time president of the union's District Number 5.
[3] Dolan announced that he would not campaign for re-election as district president, and that he would continue in the post whatever the election result was.
He awoke as it was leaving the station, and attempted to board the moving train, but instead fell under its wheels and died.