748 James Barclay

Constituency : Forfarshire  1872-92 ( from  1886  Liberal  Unionist )

James  took  over  at  Forfarshire   after  Charles  Carnegie  resigned  to  become  an  inspector  of  police.

James  was  educated  at  Aberdeen  Grammar  School  then  Aberdeen  University. He  became  a  manure  merchant    then  a  large  cattle  farmer.  In  1864   he  became  a  councillor  leading  the  "Progressive"  faction  allied  to  but  separate  from  the   Liberals. In  1872  he  was  the  official  choice  as  Liberal  candidate  for  the  by-election  but  the  moderate  faction  put  up  John  Leith  who  was  elected.

James  was  described  by  the  Marquess  of  Huntly  as  " a  thick-set  man  of  medium  height, dark-haired  and  swarthy. He  had  the  misfortune  to  speak  through  his  nose with  a  twang, and was  not  a  success  in  the  House  of  Commons  as  a  speaker."  In  1882  he  presented  a  petition  from  the  Convention  of  Royal  and  Parliamentary  Burghs  calling  for  women who  had  the  municipal  franchise  to  be  given  the  vote.

James  joined  the  Liberal  Unionists  in  1886  and  retained  his  seat  at  the  election. He  was  defeated  by  John  Rigby  in  1892.

James  didn't  stand  again  confining  himself  to  agricultural  activities. In  1901  he  purchased  the  Glenbuchat  Estate   as  a  testing  ground  for  new  scientific  methods.

He  died  in  Nigeria  in  1907  aged  74.