Thomas Pringle McDonald

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Thomas Pringle McDonald QC (18 August 1901 – 23 July 1969), was a Scottish lawyer and Liberal Party politician. He was Sheriff of Aberdeen, Kincardine and Banff.

Liberal Party (UK) political party of the United Kingdom, 1859–1988

The Liberal Party was one of the two major parties in the United Kingdom with the opposing Conservative Party in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The party arose from an alliance of Whigs and free trade Peelites and Radicals favourable to the ideals of the American and French Revolutions in the 1850s. By the end of the 19th century, it had formed four governments under William Gladstone. Despite being divided over the issue of Irish Home Rule, the party returned to government in 1905 and then won a landslide victory in the following year's general election.

The Sheriff of Aberdeen was a royal official who was responsible for enforcing justice in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date, following the Jacobite uprising of 1745, they were replaced by salaried sheriff-deputes, qualified advocates who were members of the Scottish Bar.

Contents

Background

McDonald was born the son of James McDonald. He was educated at George Watson's College and Edinburgh University. [1] In 1930 he married Harriet Selby McDowall. They had one son and two daughters. [2]

George Watsons College school in Edinburgh, Scotland

George Watson's College is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871, and was merged with its sister school George Watson's Ladies College in 1974. It is a Merchant Company of Edinburgh school and a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

Professional career

McDonald was a member of the Scottish bar [3] and became a Scottish King's council in 1948. He was Sheriff of Aberdeen, Kincardine and Banff from 1954-1969. [4]

Political career

McDonald was first active in politics at Edinburgh University where he was President of the Student's Representative Council and President of the University's Liberal Association. [5] He was Liberal candidate for the Edinburgh East division at the 1929 General Election. Edinburgh East had been a Liberal seat until it was lost to Labour in 1924. In that bad election for the party, his predecessor finished third. McDonald was able to overtake the Unionist candidate but unable to defeat the sitting Labour MP. He did not stand for Parliament again. [6]

Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency) Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Edinburgh East is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Electoral record

General Election 1929: Edinburgh East
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Drummond Shiels 13,933 47.2 +5.3
Liberal Thomas Pringle McDonald 8,687 29.4 +1.5
Unionist Richard Cobden Thyne 6,889 23.3 -4.6
Majority 5,246 17.8 +6.1
Turnout 29,509
Labour hold Swing +1.9

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References

  1. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1929
  2. ↑ ‘McDONALD, Thomas Pringle’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 14 March 2016
  3. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1929
  4. ↑ ‘McDONALD, Thomas Pringle’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 14 March 2016
  5. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1929
  6. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1973, FWS Craig
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