Constituency : Liverpool 1882-5, Flintshire 1886-1906
Samuel chalked up a rare gain for the Liberals in this Parliament when he won in Liverpool after Viscount Sandon was raised to the peerage.
Samuel was born in Galloway and educated at Kirkcudbright Academy and Edinburgh University. He became apprentice to a Liverpool cotton-broker in 1853 and was head of the Liverpool branch of a large cotton business by 1864. He was a sometime President of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
Samuel's maiden speech was in support of emigration from the West of Ireland to Canada. He also opposed the opium trade in China and was a champion of temperance and bimetallism. He was a strong opponent of female suffrage. In 1901 he suggested some softening of the language in the Sovereign's Declaration on Transubstantiation. He also supported some compulsory service in the Volunteers. His last speech in 1905 advocated the provision of school meals for malnourished children.
Samuel stood in Liverpool Abercromby in 1885 but lost by 807 votes. In 1886 he returned in a by-election in 1886 at Flintshire.
In 1885 Samuel was one of the co-founders of Edge Hill College, the first non-denominational teacher training college for women.
Samuel retired at the 1906 general election and died later that year aged 70.
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