Humphry had an unlikely background for a Liberal MP coming from a family which had previously owned slaves in the West Indies. He inherited Strathleven House from his uncle but never lived there because his uncle's widow had a right to reside there until death and she was younger than Humphry.
He did not speak in the House very often but once referred to Chinese coolie labour on his estates being more productive than slaves in Cuba.
He was susceptible to the blandishments of Disraeli and backed the Second Reform Act in return for promises on Scottish redistribution. In 1873 he became Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire.
Humphry retired at the 1874 election. In 1886 he became a Liberal Unionist.
He died in 1887 at the age of 85.
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