Duncan Vernon Pirie
Encyclopedia
Duncan Vernon Pirie OBE FRSGS JP
DL
(22 March 1858 – 11 January 1931) was a Scottish
Liberal
politician.
The eldest son of Gordon Pirie, of Château de Varennes, France
, and Valentine, daughter of Comte J. Rousseau de Labrosse, he was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond and at Clifton College
. He entered the Army
in 1897, was extra Aide de Camp to Sir Gerald Graham
in Egypt in 1882, was mentioned in despatches in 1882 and 1885, was ADC to the Governor of Ceylon
in 1890-1893, and served in South Africa
during the Second Boer War
in 1899-1900.
In 1894 he married Hon. Evelyn Forbes, daughter of William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill
. The couple had three sons and three daughters.
He was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for West Renfrewshire at the 1895 general election
and was elected as Member of Parliament
for Aberdeen North
at an 1896 by-election, holding the seat until the 1918 general election
when he lost to the Labour
candidate.
He served in World War I
, during which he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, awarded the OBE
, and again mentioned in despatches. He was appointed an Officer of the Greek Order of the Redeemer
and the Serbian Order of the White Eagle.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(22 March 1858 – 11 January 1931) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
The eldest son of Gordon Pirie, of Château de Varennes, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Valentine, daughter of Comte J. Rousseau de Labrosse, he was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond and at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
. He entered the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1897, was extra Aide de Camp to Sir Gerald Graham
Gerald Graham
Lieutenant General Sir Gerald Graham, VC GCB GCMG was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:He was born in Acton, Middlesex, and after studying at...
in Egypt in 1882, was mentioned in despatches in 1882 and 1885, was ADC to the Governor of Ceylon
Governor of Ceylon
The British Governor of Ceylon was an official who ruled Ceylon during the British colonial period between 1798 and 1948....
in 1890-1893, and served in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in 1899-1900.
In 1894 he married Hon. Evelyn Forbes, daughter of William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill
William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill
William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill , born William Forbes, was a Scottish peer, the 17th Lord Sempill and 8th Baronet of Craigievar....
. The couple had three sons and three daughters.
He was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for West Renfrewshire at the 1895 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
and was elected as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Aberdeen North
Aberdeen North (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen North is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
at an 1896 by-election, holding the seat until the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
when he lost to the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate.
He served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, during which he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, awarded the OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, and again mentioned in despatches. He was appointed an Officer of the Greek Order of the Redeemer
Order of the Redeemer
The Order of the Redeemer , also known as the Order of the Savior, is an order of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state.- History :...
and the Serbian Order of the White Eagle.