William Edward Baxter
Encyclopedia
William Edward Baxter was a Scottish businessman, Liberal
politician and travel writer.
, 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
. He became a partner in his father's firm of Edward Baxter & Co. (afterwards W. E. Baxter & Co.).
Member of Parliament
for Montrose Burghs from 1855 to 1885, 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. He was also President of the first day of the 1883 Co-operative Congress
.
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.
.
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. In 1908 he sought election in Dundee
as a Liberal Unionist candidate, but was defeated by the Liberal Winston Churchill
. Sir George served as President of the Scottish Unionist Association in 1920.
in August 1890. He was survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters.
Scottish Liberal Party
The Scottish Liberal Party was the dominant political party of Victorian Scotland, and although its importance declined with the rise of the Labour and Unionist parties during the 20th century, it was still a significant force when it finally merged with the Social Democratic Party in Scotland, to...
politician and travel writer.
Background and education
Born in DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
, Baxter was educated at the High School of Dundee
High School of Dundee
The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in the city of Dundee, Scotland which provides both primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils...
and Edinburgh University
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. He was the son of Edward Baxter, a benefactor and reformer who had opposed the corn laws
Corn Laws
The Corn Laws were trade barriers designed to protect cereal producers in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland against competition from less expensive foreign imports between 1815 and 1846. The barriers were introduced by the Importation Act 1815 and repealed by the Importation Act 1846...
. He became a partner in his father's firm of Edward Baxter & Co. (afterwards W. E. Baxter & Co.).
Political career
Baxter was LiberalLiberal 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...
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 Montrose Burghs from 1855 to 1885, and served under William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
as Secretary to the Admiralty
First Secretary of the Admiralty
The office of Secretary to the Admiralty or First Secretary to the Admiralty was formerly an important position within the Admiralty of the United Kingdom, which was responsible for the government of the Royal Navy....
from 1868 to 1871 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury is a junior Ministerial post in the British Treasury. It is the 4th most significant Ministerial role within the Treasury after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Paymaster General...
from 1871 to 1873. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1873. He was also President of the first day of the 1883 Co-operative Congress
Co-operative Congress
The Co-operative Congress is the national conference of the UK Co-operative Movement. The first of the modern congresses took place in 1869 following a series of meetings called the "Owenite Congress" in the 1830s...
.
He retired from Parliament in 1885. When the Liberal Party
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...
split over the issue of Irish Home Rule in 1886, Baxter supported the Unionist faction until his death.
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, DundeeUniversity of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
.
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. In 1908 he sought election in Dundee
Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)
Dundee was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1950, when it was split into Dundee East and Dundee West....
as a Liberal Unionist candidate, but was defeated by the Liberal Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. Sir George served as President of the Scottish Unionist Association in 1920.
Personal life
After a long period of ill health, W. E. Baxter died at his home, Kincaldrum House, near ForfarForfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
in August 1890. He was survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters.