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William Edward Baxter

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

William Edward Baxter

1825 (1825)
Dundee, Angus

10 August 1890 (1890-08-11) (aged 64–65)

Scottish

Liberal later Liberal Unionists

Background and education[edit]

Born in Dundee, Angus, Baxter was educated at the High School of Dundee and the University of Edinburgh. He was the son of Edward Baxter, a benefactor and reformer who had opposed the corn laws.[1] He became a partner in his father's firm of Edward Baxter & Co. (afterwards W. E. Baxter & Co.).[2]

Political career[edit]

Baxter was Liberal Member of Parliament for Montrose Burghs from 1855 to 1885, and served under William Ewart Gladstone as Secretary to the Admiralty from 1868 to 1871 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 1871 to 1873. He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1873.[3] He was also President of the first day of the 1883 Co-operative Congress.[4]


He retired from Parliament in 1885. When the Liberal Party split over the issue of Irish Home Rule in 1886, Baxter supported the Unionist faction until his death.[5]

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.

Baxter published various works on foreign travel.

Personal life[edit]

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]

Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 3)