Samuel Galbraith

Samuel Galbraith JP OBE (4 July 1853 – 10 April 1936) was a Liberal Party politician and Trade Unionist in the United Kingdom.

For the Scottish Labour Party politician, see Sam Galbraith.

Galbraith in the 1900s

Background

Galbraith was born in Ballydrain, Comber, Ulster, a son of Samuel Galbraith. He was self educated.[1] In 1886, he married Helen King Petty. In 1917 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire.[2]

Career

Galbraith started work as a checkweighman at Browney colliery.[3] He worked as a Miners’ Agent from 1900–15. He became a Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association.[4]

Politics

Galbraith was an elected member of Durham County Council from 1888-1900 and an appointed Alderman from 1900–1936. He was elected unopposed as Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Durham at a by-election in 1915, sponsored by the Durham Miners' Association. When that constituency was abolished for the 1918 general election, he was selected for the new Spennymoor seat and again sponsored by the Durham Miners. The Coalition Liberal Chief Whip, Freddie Guest regarded him as a supporter of the Coalition government. However, the Coalition government did not endorse him or his Labour opponent, but he was still easily re-elected;

General election 1918[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Samuel Galbraith 9,443 53.5 n/a
Labour Joseph Batey 8,196 46.5 n/a
Majority 7.0 n/a
Turnout 17,639 n/a
Liberal hold Swing n/a

After the election he sat on the Liberal benches in opposition to the Coalition government. He did not contest any further elections, and retired from Parliament at the 1922 general election, aged 69.[6]

He served as a Justice of the Peace for the County of Durham.[7]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
John Wilson		 Member of Parliament for Mid Durham
1915–1918		 Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Spennymoor
1918–1922		 Succeeded by
Joseph Batey
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References
  1. Dod's Parliamentary Companion, 1918
  2. Debrett's House of Commons 1922
  3. The Great Labour Unrest, Lewis H. Mates
  4. Pitmen Preachers and Politics by Robert Samuel Moore, Robert Moore
  5. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949
  6. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949
  7. (2007, December 01). Galbraith, Samuel, (4 July 1853–10 April 1936), MP (L) Mid-Durham, 1915–18; Spennymoor Division, 1918–22. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Ed. Retrieved 27 Mar. 2019, from http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-209806.
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