Hugh Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Hugh Ferguson was a Unionist politician.
After a career as a soldier
, Ferguson became involved in the Orange Order, a Protestant Unionist organisation based in Ireland
. Believing that there was a base for his politics in the west of Scotland, he stood for the Motherwell constituency
in several Parliamentary elections.
In the 1918 general election
, Ferguson won only 10.7% of the vote. However, in the 1922 election
, there was no official Unionist candidate, and standing as an "Independent Unionist", Ferguson came a close second with 29.1%. By the 1923 election
, he was able to secure his adoption as the official Unionist candidate , and narrowly took the seat. However, he held it for only a year, losing by an equally slim margin.
Ferguson then faded from public view. In 1933, he was convicted of receiving stolen goods, namely iron plates and railway chairs. He died on 4 November 1937.
After a career as a soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, Ferguson became involved in the Orange Order, a Protestant Unionist organisation based in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Believing that there was a base for his politics in the west of Scotland, he stood for the Motherwell constituency
Motherwell (UK Parliament constituency)
Motherwell was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1974. It was formed by the division of Lanarkshire. The name was changed in 1974 to Motherwell and Wishaw...
in several Parliamentary elections.
In the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
, Ferguson won only 10.7% of the vote. However, in the 1922 election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
, there was no official Unionist candidate, and standing as an "Independent Unionist", Ferguson came a close second with 29.1%. By the 1923 election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
, he was able to secure his adoption as the official Unionist candidate , and narrowly took the seat. However, he held it for only a year, losing by an equally slim margin.
Ferguson then faded from public view. In 1933, he was convicted of receiving stolen goods, namely iron plates and railway chairs. He died on 4 November 1937.