BAMFORD, SAMUEL 88-187 2) , English labour politi cian, was born at Miston, near Middleton, Lancashire, on Feb. 28, 1788. He was a working weaver and reformer who earned great respect in northern circles; but he was timid in policy and jealous of rivals. Through attending and speaking at the meet ing (1819) at Peterloo, Manchester (q.v.), which was intended to be a peaceful gathering to petition for parliamentary reform and a repeal of the Corn laws, but ended in a massacre, he was arrested for a breach of the law and sentenced to 12 months' im prisonment. He was the author of several widely popular poems (principally in the Lancashire dialect) showing sympathy with the conditions of his class, and his Passages in the Life of a Radical (184o-44) is a very valuable indication of the condition of the working classes, marred sometimes by personal prejudices. He died at Harpurhey on April 13, 1872, and was accorded a public funeral, attended by thousands.