Established in 1836 by William Lovett and Henry Hetherington. Initiated the Charter from which Chartism eventually took its name. Hetherington was a close friend of Hugh Williams of Carmarthen (the solicitor who defended participants in the Rebecca Riots, and a Chartist) and in 1837 Williams became Secretary of the W.M.A. branch in Carmarthen. In 1838/9 about 50 branches of the W.M.A. were started in the south Wales coalfield. The movement fought to secure rights for the industrial working class.