William Edward Baxter

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Victoria
Prime MinisterWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Preceded byJames Stansfeld
Succeeded byJohn George Dodson
Personal details
Born1825 (1825)
Dundee, Angus
Died10 August 1890 (1890-08-11) (aged 64–65)
NationalityScottish
Political partyLiberal later Liberal Unionists
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh

William Edward Baxter (24 June 1825 – 10 August 1890) was a Scottish businessman, Liberal politician and travel writer.

Background and education

Born in

corn laws.[1] He became a partner in his father's firm of Edward Baxter & Co. (afterwards W. E. Baxter & Co.).[2]

Political career

Baxter was

Secretary to the Admiralty from 1868 to 1871 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury
from 1871 to 1873. He was appointed a
President of the first day of the 1883 Co-operative Congress.[4]

He retired from Parliament in 1885. When 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.[1]

Baxter caricatured by Spy in Vanity Fair, 1885

W. E. Baxter's eldest son was Edward Armitstead Baxter who married Isobel Scott-Elliot. His second son, Sir George Washington Baxter (1853–1926), followed his father into politics, being a leading figure in the

Liberal Winston Churchill.[8] Sir George, was active in the running of the Liberal Unionist and Unionist Parties in Dundee, served as President of the Scottish Unionist Association in 1920.[9][10] Sir George also continued the family involvement with University College, serving as its president.[6]

Writings

Baxter published various works on foreign travel.

  • Impressions of Central and Southern Europe, London, 1850, 8vo.
  • The Tagus and the Tiber, or Notes of Travel in Portugal, Spain, and Italy, London, 1852, 2 vols. 8vo.
  • America and the Americans, London, 1855, 8vo.
  • Hints to Thinkers, or Lectures for the Times, London, 1860, 8vo.

Personal life

After a long period of ill health, W. E. Baxter died at his home, Kincaldrum House, near Forfar in August 1890.[5]

In November 1847, he married Janet, eldest daughter of J. Home Scott, a solicitor of Dundee. By her he had two sons and five daughters.[2]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-900019-48-7
    .
  2. ^ a b Carlyle, Edward Irving (1901). "Baxter, William Edward". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography (1st supplement). Vol. 1. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 146.
  3. ^ "No. 23961". The London Gazette. 25 March 1873. p. 1645.
  4. ^ "Congress Presidents 1869–2002" (PDF). February 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Death of the Right Hon. W. E. Baxter Ex-MP". The Scotsman. 11 August 1890.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-900019-48-7
    .
  7. ^ "MS 369 Baxter Family Wills, Legal Papers and Related Material". Archive Services Online catalogue. University of Dundee. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  8. ^ Hazel, John W. (1977). John W Hazel's Book of Records. Dundee: D. Winter & Son Ltd. p. 48.
  9. ^ "MS 270 The Dundee Conservative and Unionist Association". Archive Services Online Catalogue. University of Dundee. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  10. ISBN 0-297-79101-X
    .

External links
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Montrose Burghs
1855 – 1885 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
First Secretary to the Admiralty

1868–1871 		Succeeded by
George Shaw-Lefevre

(Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty)
Preceded by Financial Secretary to the Treasury
1873–1873 		Succeeded by
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