Alexander Charles Farquharson
Encyclopedia
Alexander Charles Farquharson (15 March 1864 – 27 May 1951) was a Scottish
doctor
, barrister
, soldier
and Liberal Party
politician.
.
He attended Peterhead
Academy and then went on to a successful career as a student of medicine
at Glasgow University where he was one of the founders of the Students’ University Union
and the Students’ Representative Council
. He passed his Bachelor of Medicine, Master of Surgery
(MB,CM), with commendation, in 1889 proceeding taking his MD
in 1891. He was also awarded a B.Sc
in 1894 and the Diploma in Public Health (Cambridge) in 1890.
In 1903, he married Elizabeth Dodington Blockley, the daughter of Edward Blockley of the Isle of Wight
. They had no children.
in County Durham
. He had a wide range of medical interests including Public health
and mental health
issues. He was sometime Senior Assistant Medical Officer of Burntwood
Asylum
in Staffordshire
. After his political career, Farquharson went back into practice for some years and over the course of his career he undertook work on behalf of the British Medical Association
. He represented his Division in the Representative Body in 1906; and afterwards from 1911 to 1921 except for one or two short intervals he was a member of the Central Council and did a full share of committee work. He was sometime President of th North of England Branch. He also served as a Governor of the Royal Scottish Corporation, a charity providing for Scottish people suffering hardship or seeking to improve their lives.
. It is clear that this experience helped him in his political and public work. He was remembered as a good speaker with experience of many kinds, possessing a fund of common sense, always heard with attention and well liked by his colleagues.
. When the First World War broke out, he was gazetted as Captain and in 1915 was appointed to the HQ Staff of the Territorial Force 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. A year later he transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps
and took up post as Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services on the staff of the Surgeon-General
. He served until the end of the war and was twice mentioned for valuable services.
, Sir Rowland Barran
indicated that he wished to stand down at the next election, probably to concentrate more on his business interests as in 1918 he became chairman of the family firm of clothing manufacturers, taking over that position from his brother. Farquharson was selected to replace him.
At the 1918 general election
, Farquharson stood as the Coalition Liberal
candidate. He was not opposed by the Unionists
and seems to have received the Coalition coupon
. Fighting a Labour
candidate and a representative of the National Party
, Farquharson received 74.7% of the poll and a majority of 10,440 votes.
However he chose not to contest the 1922 general election
and did not stand for Parliament again.
Also in that year, Farquharson became a member of a Parliamentary committee to look into MPs salaries and expenses.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
Family and education
Alexander Charles Farquharson was the son of James and Jane Farquharson of AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
.
He attended Peterhead
Peterhead
Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's biggest settlement , with a population of 17,947 at the 2001 Census and estimated to have fallen to 17,330 by 2006....
Academy and then went on to a successful career as a student of medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at Glasgow University where he was one of the founders of the Students’ University Union
Glasgow University Union
Glasgow University Union is one of the largest and oldest students' unions in the UK, serving students and alumni of the University of Glasgow since 1885....
and the Students’ Representative Council
Glasgow University Students' Representative Council
Glasgow University Students' Representative Council was founded on 9th March 1886 and recognised as the legal representative body for students of the University of Glasgow by the Universities Act 1889. The SRC is responsible for representing students' interests to the management of the University...
. He passed his Bachelor of Medicine, Master of Surgery
Master of Surgery
The Master of Surgery is an advanced qualification in surgery. It is most commonly abbreviated Ch.M. or M.S., as well as M.Ch. and M.Chir. from its Latin name, Magister Chirurgiae or the English form of Master of Surgery....
(MB,CM), with commendation, in 1889 proceeding taking his MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1891. He was also awarded a B.Sc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1894 and the Diploma in Public Health (Cambridge) in 1890.
In 1903, he married Elizabeth Dodington Blockley, the daughter of Edward Blockley of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. They had no children.
Medicine
Farquharson went into medical practice at SpennymoorSpennymoor
Spennymoor is a town in County Durham, England. It stands above the Wear Valley approximately seven miles south of Durham. The town was founded over 160 years ago...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. He had a wide range of medical interests including Public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
issues. He was sometime Senior Assistant Medical Officer of Burntwood
Burntwood
Burntwood is a town in Staffordshire, England, lying in the Cannock Chase area approximately west of Lichfield. The town had a population of 25,674 at the time of the 2001 census and forms part of Lichfield district. The town forms one of the largest urbanised parishes in England. Samuel Johnson...
Asylum
History of psychiatric institutions
The story of the rise of the lunatic asylum and its gradual transformation into, and eventual replacement by, the modern psychiatric hospital, is also the story of the rise of organized, institutional psychiatry...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. After his political career, Farquharson went back into practice for some years and over the course of his career he undertook work on behalf of the British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
. He represented his Division in the Representative Body in 1906; and afterwards from 1911 to 1921 except for one or two short intervals he was a member of the Central Council and did a full share of committee work. He was sometime President of th North of England Branch. He also served as a Governor of the Royal Scottish Corporation, a charity providing for Scottish people suffering hardship or seeking to improve their lives.
The law
It is not clear that he ever practised law, or intended to, but Farquharson studied it and became a member of the Middle TempleMiddle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
. It is clear that this experience helped him in his political and public work. He was remembered as a good speaker with experience of many kinds, possessing a fund of common sense, always heard with attention and well liked by his colleagues.
Military service
Farquharson was a keen member of the Territorial ForceTerritorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
. When the First World War broke out, he was gazetted as Captain and in 1915 was appointed to the HQ Staff of the Territorial Force 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. A year later he transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
and took up post as Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services on the staff of the Surgeon-General
Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)
The Surgeon-General is the senior medical officer of the British Armed Forces; the post is held by the senior of the three individual service medical directors....
. He served until the end of the war and was twice mentioned for valuable services.
Politics
While a doctor in Spennymoor, Farquharson had for a time been a member of Durham County Council. During the course of the war the Liberal MP for Leeds NorthLeeds North (UK Parliament constituency)
Leeds North was a borough constituency in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.-History:...
, Sir Rowland Barran
Rowland Barran
Sir Rowland Hirst Barran was an English Liberal Party politician, Member of Parliament for Leeds North from 30 July 1902 to the General Election of 14 December 1918.Barran was the son of John Barran, a pioneer in clothing manufacture...
indicated that he wished to stand down at the next election, probably to concentrate more on his business interests as in 1918 he became chairman of the family firm of clothing manufacturers, taking over that position from his brother. Farquharson was selected to replace him.
At the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
, Farquharson stood as the Coalition Liberal
Coalition Government 1916-1922
The Coalition Government of David Lloyd George came to power in the United Kingdom in December 1916, replacing the earlier wartime coalition under H.H. Asquith, which had been held responsible for reverses during the Great War. Those Liberals who continued to support Asquith served as the Opposition...
candidate. He was not opposed by the Unionists
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and seems to have received the Coalition coupon
Coalition Coupon
The ‘Coalition Coupon’, often referred to as ‘the coupon’, refers to the letter sent to parliamentary candidates at the United Kingdom general election, 1918 endorsing them as official representatives of the Coalition Government. The 1918 election took place in the heady atmosphere of victory in...
. Fighting a Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate and a representative of the National Party
National Party (UK, 1917)
The National Party was a short-lived British political party created in August 1917 as a right-wing split from the Conservative Party.-Formation:...
, Farquharson received 74.7% of the poll and a majority of 10,440 votes.
However he chose not to contest the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
and did not stand for Parliament again.
Appointments
In 1920, Farquharson was appointed to sit on an Inter-Departmental Committee to inquire into the sale of bread by weight set up by the Food Controller (the official in charge of the regulation of the supply and consumption of food and the encouragement of food production during and immediately after the First World War).Also in that year, Farquharson became a member of a Parliamentary committee to look into MPs salaries and expenses.
Publications
- Ptomaines and other Animal Alkaloids; Auto Toxæmia; J Wright & Co, Bristol, 1892
- Organic Sulphur Compounds in Nervous Diseases; (date n/k)
- Medico-Legal Importance of Ptomaines; (date n/k)
- The Law in relation to Pollution of Rivers (date n/k)