Constituency : Carlisle 1829-30 ( Tory ) , Roxburghshire 1859-70
William was the son of a Scottish baronet , educated at Sandhurst and became a lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards.
William decided to enter Parliament as a Canningite Tory and got in at Carlisle at the second attempt ( both by-elections ) in 1829 spending approximately £30,000. However once he had voted for Catholic Emancipation the local Lowthers disowned him. He tried to stand for Roxburghshire in 1830 but the Buccleughs wouldn't have him then he lost out at the rotten borough of Tregony which also hit his pocket.
Over the next couple of years William moved over to the Whigs and chaired the election committees for Roxburghshire from 1832, actually declining the nomination in 1837. In 1859 he was finally elected unopposed as a supporter of Gladstone. In 1868 he defeated Lord Schomberg to retain the seat. He resigned through ill health in 1870.
He died a year later aged 68.
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