Foster, William Zebulon (1881-1961)

US Communist leader. Secretary of the American Communist Party, he was the party's presidential candidate three times. He was indicted with 11 others on charges of advocating the overthrow of the US government, but was excused trial because of illness.

He was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. An itinerant labourer in his youth, he joined the Socialist Party in 1901 and worked as a labour organizer for the next two decades, gaining fame for organizing the 1919 steel strike. He took over the chairmanship of the party and held the post until 1956. He died in Moscow shortly after going there for medical treatment. Although lacking formal education, he wrote many essays and books.