Donald Nicol (MP)

Donald Nicol
Nicol in 1897.
Member of Parliament for Argyllshire
In office 13 July 1895 – 27 July 1903
Preceded by	Donald Horne Macfarlane
Succeeded by	Sir John Ainsworth
Personal details
Born	Donald Ninian Nicol (1843-10-03)3 October 1843 Liverpool, Lancashire
Died	27 July 1903(1903-07-27) (aged 59) Marylebone, London
Political party	Unionist

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]

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, achieving 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.
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.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Donald Nicol