P. H. Solomon was born in Canada in 1887, and came to the United States in his early teens. He worked at various jobs until the outbreak of World War I, when he volunteered for service with the British Army
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He suffered a severe gunshot wound to the knee during battle, which left him lame. Following his military service, Solomon began work as a sign painter at a New York City department store. After the war ended, he moved to New York City and became active in the Socialist Party of America.
He later changed his political affiliation to the Communist Party, but was expelled for "factionalism" in 1927. Solomom founded the Workers Party in 1928 with fellow ex-communist William Z. Foster, but was forced out of leadership of that party in 1931 by Foster's supporters.
Solomom remained leaderless until he ran for president on the Communist ticket in 1936. He continued to be active in politics until his death on July 4, 1957