Scottish Socialist John Maclean died - On this day in history

Scottish socialist John Maclean, one of the leaders of the 'Red Clydeside' era died on 30 November 1923. Maclean became well-known for his Marxist views and was imprisoned for his vigorous opposition to World War One.

Following the war, he was appointed Bolshevik consul for Scotland and established his own consulate, which the British government refused to recognise.

He was arrested for sedition on 15 April 1918 and made a speech in his defence, which lasted for more than an hour, and included the famous quote: 'For the full period of my active life I have been a teacher of economics to the working classes, and my contention has always been that capitalism is rotten to its foundations, and must give place to a new society.'

Maclean was sentenced to five years penal servitude but was released in December 1918 after a public campaign for his release. Following his release, he founded the Scottish Workers Republican Party.

Maclean died in Glasgow at the age of 44 and his funeral was attended by thousands of his fellow Glaswegians and at the time, was the biggest funeral ever seen in the city.