Born in the south of France to British parents, Shallard became interested in radicalism at a young age.
He decided to become a minister at a later date, and in the meantime found work for the War Office at the Woolwich Arsenal, but lost his faith and left the church.
[1] By 1889, Shallard saw himself as a socialist, and joined the Social Democratic Federation, and in 1891 he stood for the party in the London School Board election.
He also joined the Fabian Society, and the Independent Labour Party (ILP), serving on its National Administrative Council.
[1] The ILP selected him to stand in Birmingham Bordesley at the 1906 UK general election, but he withdrew in 1904, due to poor health.