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 (1825)
Dundee, Angus
Died 10 August 1890 (1890-08-11)
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

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.).

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]

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]

Writings

Baxter published various works on foreign travel.

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]

References

  1. ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 3)
  2. ^ 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. 
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 23961. p. 1645. 25 March 1873.
  4. ^ "Congress Presidents 1869-2002". February 2002. http://archive.co-op.ac.uk/downloadFiles/congressPresidentstable.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-10 
  5. ^ a b "Death of the Right Hon. W. E. Baxter Ex-MP". The Scotsman. 11 Aug 1890. 
  6. ^ 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. 
  7. ^ Hazel, John W. (1977). John W Hazel's Book of Records. Dundee: D. Winter & Son Ltd. p. 48. 
  8. ^ Warner, Gerald (1988). The Scottish Tory Party. A History. London: George Weidenfield & Nicolson Limited. pp. 228. ISBN 029779101X. 

External links

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