ARCH, JOSEPH (1826-1919), English politician, founder of the National Agricultural Labourers' Union, was born at Bar ford, a village in Warwickshire, Nov. Io 1826, and died there Feb. 12 1919. He founded, in 1872, the National Agricultural Labourers' Union, of which he was president. Temporary rises in wages were secured, but the farmers were able within 18 months to break up the union. Arch was returned to Parliament for north-west Norfolk in 1885, and although defeated next year owing to his advocacy of Irish home rule, he regained his seat in 1892, and held it in 1895, retiring in 1900. He was deservedly respected in the House of Commons.
A biography written by himself, or under his direction, and edited by Lady Warwick (1898) , tells the story of his career.