Donald Nicol (MP)

Donald Ninian Nicol JP DL (3 October 1843 – 27 July 1903)[1] was a British barrister and politician, who served as the Unionist Party MP for Argyllshire 1895 to 1903.[2]

Donald Nicol
Nicol in 1897.
Member of Parliament
for Argyllshire
In office
13 July 1895 – 27 July 1903
Preceded byDonald Horne Macfarlane
Succeeded bySir John Ainsworth
Personal details
Born
Donald Ninian Nicol

(1843-10-03)3 October 1843
Liverpool, Lancashire
Died27 July 1903(1903-07-27) (aged 59)
Marylebone, London
Political partyUnionist

Early life and education

Nicol was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, in October 1843 to a Scottish father & English mother. He was educated in Scotland, first at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh and at the University of Glasgow. In 1863 he entered Queen's College, Oxford, achievieng a BA in 1867 and an MA in 1872. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1870, and worked on the Northern Circuit.[3]

Political career

Nicol stood for election as the Conservative candidate for Argyllshire in the 1895 general election, where he defeated the incumbent Liberal MP Donald Horne Macfarlane.[4] Nicol was re-elected at the 1900 general election with a 54% majority.

Personal life & death

Nicol was married to Anne Millicent Bates (1849-1946), daughter of Sir Edward Bates, in 1874.[5] They had 4 children.

Nicol suffered from heart disease in later life, and he died in July 1903 after suffering a severe illness.[2] He was succeeded as MP in a by-election by Liberal candidate Sir John Ainsworth who Nicol had previously defeated in 1900.

Electoral history

1895 general election
General election 1895: Argyllshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Nicol 3,970 50.9 +1.5
Liberal Donald Horne Macfarlane 3,835 49.1 −1.5
Majority 135 1.8 N/A
Turnout 7,805 74.5 +1.1
Registered electors 10,471
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +1.5

1900 general election
General election 1900: Argyllshire[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Nicol 3,834 54.2 +3.3
Liberal John Ainsworth 3,234 45.8 −3.3
Majority 600 8.4 +6.6
Turnout 7,068 67.9 −6.6
Registered electors 10,405
Conservative hold Swing +3.3

References
  1. "Gossip of the Day". Burnley Express. 29 July 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. "Mr Donald Nicol (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. "Death of an MP". Diss Express. 31 July 1903. p. 6. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  4. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885?1918. Craig, F. W. S. London. 18 June 1974. ISBN 978-1-349-02298-4. OCLC 1004382729.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. "Death of Mr. Nicol, MP". Bromyard News. 30 July 1903. p. 7. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  6. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  7. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.


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