William Edward Baxter
| The Right Honourable William Edward Baxter |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 17 March 1871 – 11 August 1873 |
|
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | James Stansfeld |
| Succeeded by | John George Dodson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1825 Dundee, Angus |
| Died | 10 August 1890 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
William Edward Baxter (1825 – 10 August 1890)[1] was a Scottish businessman, Liberal politician and travel writer.
Contents |
[edit] Background and education
Born in Dundee, Angus, Baxter was educated at the High School of Dundee and Edinburgh University. He was the son of Edward Baxter, a benefactor and reformer who had opposed the corn laws.[2] He became a partner in his father's firm of Edward Baxter & Co. (afterwards W. E. Baxter & Co.).
[edit] Political career
Baxter was Liberal Member of Parliament for Montrose Burghs from 1855 to 1885,[1] and served under William Ewart Gladstone as Secretary to the Admiralty from 1868 to 1871 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 1871 to 1873. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1873.[3] He was also President of the first day of the 1883 Co-operative Congress.[4]
He retired from Parliament in 1885. When the Liberal Party split over the issue of Irish Home Rule in 1886, Baxter supported the Unionist faction until his death.[5]
[edit] Family
William Edward Baxter was the grandson of William Baxter, the founder of the Baxter Brothers textile business. His uncle, Sir David Baxter, was a noted businessman and philanthropist and his aunt, Mary Ann Baxter was the co-founder of University College, Dundee.[2]
W. E. Baxter's son was Sir George Washington Baxter (1853–1926), a leading figure in the Unionist Party in Scotland in the early twentieth century.[6] In 1908 he sought election in Dundee as a Liberal Unionist candidate, but was defeated by the Liberal Winston Churchill.[7] Sir George served as President of the Scottish Unionist Association in 1920.[8]
[edit] Writings
Baxter published various works on foreign travel.
[edit] Personal life
After a long period of ill health, W. E. Baxter died at his home, Kincaldrum House, near Forfar in August 1890. He was survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 3)
- ^ a b Kenneth Baxter (2011). "Mary Ann Baxter:Philanthropist and Founder of University College Dundee". Ten Taysiders. Forgotten Figures from Dundee Angus and Perthshire. Dundee: Abertay Historical Society. p. 31. ISBN 9780900019487.
- ^ London Gazette: no. 23961. p. 1645. 25 March 1873.
- ^ "Congress Presidents 1869-2002". February 2002. http://archive.co-op.ac.uk/downloadFiles/congressPresidentstable.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-10
- ^ a b "Death of the Right Hon. W. E. Baxter Ex-MP". The Scotsman. 11 Aug 1890.
- ^ Kenneth Baxter (2011). "Mary Ann Baxter:Philanthropist and Founder of University College Dundee". Ten Taysiders. Forgotten Figures from Dundee Angus and Perthshire. Dundee: Abertay Historical Society. p. 32. ISBN 9780900019487.
- ^ Hazel, John W. (1977). John W Hazel's Book of Records. Dundee: D. Winter & Son Ltd. p. 48.
- ^ Warner, Gerald (1988). The Scottish Tory Party. A History. London: George Weidenfield & Nicolson Limited. pp. 228. ISBN 029779101X.
[edit] External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Edward Baxter
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph Hume |
Member of Parliament for Montrose Burghs 1855 – 1885 |
Succeeded by John Shiress Will |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Lord Henry Lennox |
First Secretary to the Admiralty 1868–1871 |
Succeeded by George Shaw-Lefevre (Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty) |
| Preceded by James Stansfeld |
Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1873–1873 |
Succeeded by John George Dodson |
- 1825 births
- 1890 deaths
- People educated at the High School of Dundee
- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Scottish Liberal Party MPs
- UK MPs 1852–1857
- UK MPs 1857–1859
- UK MPs 1859–1865
- UK MPs 1865–1868
- UK MPs 1868–1874
- UK MPs 1874–1880
- UK MPs 1880–1885
- Presidents of Co-operative Congress
- People from Dundee
- Scottish businesspeople
- 19th-century Scottish people
- 19th-century writers
- Scottish travel writers
