Terence V. Powderly (1849-1924) was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants. He worked at a young age of 13 on the railroad, and continued on to work for blacksmiths and join organizations and later lead them.

He is best known as the leader of the Knights of Labor union at its peak in 1886. The Knights of Labor was a trade union organization that helped workers get their needs. After he became leader he diminished the amount of secrecy the group held, advocated an 8 hour day, provided equal work for equal pay, and abolished child labor. Through Powderly's leadership, the Knights of Labor became one of the first truly national labor unions. He accepted Blacks, Hispanics, and women into his organization later on in the 1800s. The more strikes that were bestowed upon work the more power they received. He also worked with the noted American bishop, James Gibbons, to persuade the pope to remove sanctions against Roman Catholics who joined unions. Soon the amount of members in the Knights of Labor would rise to 70,000, and even 700,000. Powderly resigned because of fights within the organization.

After his resignation he continued on to be mayor of Scranton, PA for three terms. He also became a lawyer, which would branch onto serving the US as a commissioner general of immigration, and then the chief information officer for the US Bureau of Immigration .