This white paper examines the life, moral transformation, and political legacy of Thomas “Mr. Tom” Manchester (1880 – 1942), whose leadership helped institutionalize the labour movement in St. Kitts and Nevis. Born into planter privilege yet driven by conscience, Manchester forged bridges between faith, engineering competence, and social justice. Through his role in founding the Workers’ League (1932) and guiding it through the Buckley’s Uprising (1935) toward the Trade Unions Act (1939) and electoral breakthroughs (1937 & 1940), he laid the groundwork for the political and moral architecture of modern St. Kitts and Nevis. This study draws on available historical records, colonial legislation, and local archives to assess both the evidence and the mythology surrounding his contribution.
