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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