Quick Facts
Biography
James Galloway Weir (6 July 1839 – 18 May 1911) was a Scottish businessman and Liberal Party politician.
Biography
Born in Scotland, he was the son of a builder, James Ross Weir. He was a pupil at Dollar Academy before moving with his family to London as a young man. He worked as a travelling salesman for a haberdashery company before he went into business on his own account in 1863 importing sewing machines. He retired from business in about 1879/80 to pursue politics full-time. Weir's brother, John Weir became the secretary of the Fife and Kinross Miners' Association.
He unsuccessfully contested the Falkirk Burghs constituency in 1885, when he got a derisory vote. He was elected MP for Ross and Cromarty in 1892,
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | James Galloway Weir | 3,171 | |||
| Liberal Unionist | N. McLean | 2,413 | |||
holding the seat until his death.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | James Galloway Weir | 3,272 | |||
| Conservative | Randle Jackson | 2,413 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | James Galloway Weir | 3,554 | |||
| Liberal Unionist | I.D. Fletcher | 1,651 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | James Galloway Weir | 3,883 | |||
| Conservative | J.C. Watt KC | 1,773 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | James Galloway Weir | 4,430 | |||
| Liberal Unionist | Neil Maclean | 1,418 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | James Galloway Weir | unopposed | |||
He was also elected to the London County Council in 1892 to represent Islington East as a member of the majority Liberal-backed Progressive Party.
He died at his home in Frognal, Hampstead in 1911 aged 71, and was buried at Marylebone Cemetery.