George Engel
(1836-1887)
Oldest of the Haymarket Eight, George Engel came to America from Germany in 1866. He worked in Philadelphia as a painter and later worked in a sugar refinery. When he came to Chicago in 1874 he worked at a wagon factory and became active in the labor movement. He opened a toy store in 1876 and became more involved in the Eight Hour Day movement. He was active in the extreme left of the anarchist movement in Chicago. Engel was not present at the Haymarket meeting—his only connection to the event was his attendance at 2 labor meetings several days before. He was hanged on November 11, 1887.
Additional Resources
- Autobiography of George Engel entry at the Anarchy Archives
- The Accused the Accusers: The Famous Speeches of the Chicago Anarchists in Court: On October 7th, 8th, and 9th, 1886, Chicago, Illinois. Chicago: Socialistic Publishing Society, n.d. [1886].
- Meet the Haymarket Defendants