William Boyle Barbour
Encyclopedia
William Boyle Barbour was Scottish merchant
and Liberal
politician.
, the son of William Barbour a former Baillie
of Paisley. He was educated privately and then entered the family business assisting his father before going to Liverpool
to work for the merchants, Bell and Co. He later became head of the firm Barbour, Barclay & Co. Of Liverpool and Manchester
, South American merchants and lived for a time in Brazil
as well as other parts of South America
. He retired from business in 1874 to concentrate on politics.
. And also in 1873 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Arts
.
became vacant when the sitting Liberal MP, William Holms
, resigned. Barbour put his hat into the ring but stood aside in favour of a stronger candidate, Stewart Clark. Clark, a local thread manufacturer, won the by-election
held in February 1884 but in Sept 1885 announced he would not be standing for Parliament again citing pressure of business commitments. Barbour again put his name forward for the Liberal nomination and, although opposed by Clark’s cousin James, the local Provost
, he won the selection poll on 14 Nov 1885 by 2,215 votes to Clark’s 1,463. He went on to beat his Conservative
opponent Major R M McKerrell at the 1885 general election
by a majority of 867 votes.
Barbour was re-elected at the 1886 general election
, and held the seat until his death in 1891, aged 62.
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
and 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.
Career
Born in PaisleyPaisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, the son of William Barbour a former Baillie
Baillie
A baillie or bailie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where baillies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate...
of Paisley. He was educated privately and then entered the family business assisting his father before going to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to work for the merchants, Bell and Co. He later became head of the firm Barbour, Barclay & Co. Of Liverpool and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, South American merchants and lived for a time in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
as well as other parts of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. He retired from business in 1874 to concentrate on politics.
Travel
Presumably in connection with what he had experienced in his travels Barbour took part in the activities of the Royal Geographical SocietyRoyal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
. And also in 1873 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
.
Politics
In 1884 the seat of PaisleyPaisley (UK Parliament constituency)
Paisley was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1983, when it was divided into Paisley North and Paisley South...
became vacant when the sitting Liberal MP, William Holms
William Holms
William Holms was a Scottish businessman and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1884.Holms was the son of James Holms of Sancel Bank, Paisley and his wife Janet Love, daughter of James Love of Paisley...
, resigned. Barbour put his hat into the ring but stood aside in favour of a stronger candidate, Stewart Clark. Clark, a local thread manufacturer, won the by-election
Paisley by-election, 1884
The Paisley by-election, 1884 was a parliamentary by-election held on 15 February 1884 for the British House of Commons constituency of Paisley in Scotland...
held in February 1884 but in Sept 1885 announced he would not be standing for Parliament again citing pressure of business commitments. Barbour again put his name forward for the Liberal nomination and, although opposed by Clark’s cousin James, the local Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
, he won the selection poll on 14 Nov 1885 by 2,215 votes to Clark’s 1,463. He went on to beat his Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
opponent Major R M McKerrell at the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
by a majority of 867 votes.
Barbour was re-elected at the 1886 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, and held the seat until his death in 1891, aged 62.