Series 4 > Papers on Scottish electoral politics, 1832-1854

1834-1840
259
Members and Interest
Remarks
Wigton
Mr [James] Blair
Conservative
Mr Blair
Conservative
1/11/1838. No information.
1/11/1839. [No entry]
9/12/1840. But it is said that the present Earl of
Stair1 will oppose him by his influence and that
the seat is by no means secure. I have no detailed
information.
2nd Burghs
Aberdeen City
Mr [Alexander]
Bannerman
Ministerial
Mr Bannerman
Ministerial
Mr Bannerman
Ministerial
1/11/1838. Will be opposed by Captain
[Horatio] Ross supported by the church party
and under a Conservative government I am assured
with fair prospects of success.
[Note] very doubtful.
1/11/1839.N0 detailed information; Sir George
Murray proposed; Captain Ross writes that the
Conservative party is very powerful.
5/11/1839.1 can add nothing. If wished I shall
make further Enquiry but I should be sorry to
see Sir George Murray after all the buffets he
has got run the risk of defeat there also.2
9/12/1840. Canvassed by Mr Lindsay,8 but the
Conservatives split on the non intrusion
question and from all I have been able to learn
I cannot anticipate his success.4
1 Sir John Hamilton-Dalrymple, 1771-1853, WhigMP Midlothian 1832-34 succeeded
as 8th Earl of Stair in March 1840; soon after he began making extensive land purchases,
which would tend to increase his influence in the county. At the registrations in 1840
the Whigs made an overall gain of 116, Scotsman, 12 Sept. 1840. Even so it was by a
narrow margin that the Earl’s nephew, John Dalrymple, 1819-1903, 10th Earl of
Stair 1864, defeated Blair: 403 votes to 397.
2 General Sir George Murray, 1772-1846, mp Perthshire 1824-32, May-Dec. 1834; he
had experienced several defeats: Perthshire 1832 and 1835, Westminster 1837, and
Manchester 1839, where he was again beaten in 1841.
8 Not identified.
4 The Conservative candidate in 1841 was William Innes of Raemoir, 1781-1863;
Bannerman won by 780 votes to 5x3.