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The Reform Act of 1832 made unions legal, and that year six men from Tolpuddle in Dorset founded the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers to protest against the gradual lowering of wages in the 1830s. They refused to work for less than 10 shillings a week, although by this time wages were as low as 6 shillings a week. The society, led by George Loveless , a Methodist local preacher, met in the house of Thomas Standfield.

In 1834 a local landowner wrote to the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, to complain about the union, invoking an obscure law from 1797 prohibiting people from swearing oaths to each other, which the Friendly Society had done. James Brine, James Hammett, George Loveless, George's brother James, George's brother in-law Thomas Standfield, and Thomas' son John Standfield were arrested, found guilty, and transported to Australia.

They became popular heroes and were released in 1836, with the support of Lord John Russell who had recently become Home SecretaryThe Secretary of State for the Home Department (the Home Secretary is the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order in the United Kingdom; his or her remit includes policing, the criminal justice system, the prison service, in. George Loveless was later involved in the Chartist MovementA movement for social and political reform in the United Kingdom during the mid- 19th century, Chartism gains its name from the People's Charter of 1838, which set out the main aims of the movement. Chartism is thought to originate from the passing of the, while the others moved to London, OntarioLondon is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of about 381,267; its metropolitan area has a population of about 447,286 ( 2002). It was settled in 1826 and established as a city in 1855. London and the surrounding area (roughly, the t, CanadaCanada historically the Dominion of Canada is the second-largest, and northernmost, country in the world. It is a decentralized federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories, governed as a constitutional monarchy, and formed in 1867 through an act of Confe, where there is now a monument in their honour. There was also a monument erected in their honour in Tolpuddle in 1934Events January-April January 1 Alcatraz becomes a federal prison. January 7 First Flash Gordon comic strip is published. January 10 Execution of Marinus van der Lubbe January 24 Einstein visits White House January 26 The Apollo Theater opens in Harlem, Ne, and a sculpture of the martyrs made in 20012001 is a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall ap stands in the village in front of the Martyrs Museum there.

An annual festival is held in Tolpuddle, organised by the Trades Union CongressThe Trades Union Congress (TUC is a British organisation that represents the nation's trade unions. These consist of 71 affiliated unions with a total of about seven million members. The TUC's decision making body is the annual Congress which takes place (TUC) featuring a parade of banners from many trade unions, a memorial service, speeches and music. Recent festivals have featured speakers such as Tony Benn and musicians such as Billy Bragg, as well as others from all around the world. The festival is usually held in the third week of July.