1023 William Barbour

Constituency : Paisley  1885-91

William  took  over  from  Stewart  Clark  after  the  latter  found  it  too  difficult  to  combine  business  with  politics. William  had  wanted  to  stand  in  the  1884  by-election  but  deferred  to  Clark  on  that  occasion. Clark's  cousin  contested  the  selection  but  William  won  the  nomination.

William  was  a  merchant's  son  from  Paisley. He  was  educated  privately  then  went  into  the  family  business. He  later  headed  the  firm  of  Barbour, Barclay  & Co.  He  lived  in  Brazil  for  a  time. He  retired  from  business  in  1874.

William  was  active  in  the  Royal  Geographical  Society  and  the  Royal  Society  of  Arts.

He  died  in  1891  aged  62.