On November Edmund Robertson (–) won a seat in the House of Commons as Liberal MP for Dundee. He DUNDEE’S GRAND OLD MAN represented Dundee for twenty-three years, standing for re-election eight times and sitting in Parliament under seven different Prime Ministers through a period when there was much division among the Liberals in Dundee. He held the post of Civil Lord of the Admiralty from to in the government of Gladstone and then Rosebery and was Secretary to the Admiralty from to , when Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman was Prime Minister. Regrettably ill health forced his early retirement from the House of Commons in and, following his elevation to the peerage as Lord Lochee of Gowrie, he served out the remaining three years of his life in the House of Lords. Anne Newman tells the story of his life.
16 Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 DUNDEE’S GRAND OLD MAN
obertson was by all compulsory it ought to provide in higher education was remark- accounts a man of the means for it.’ able, exemplifying his dedication great talent, integ- Edmund Daniel Robertson to attaining knowledge at the rity and humility, as was born on October highest level. The philosopher his obituary in the in the schoolhouse at Kinnaird, John Stuart Mill recognised Rob- RDundee Year Book exempli- Perthshire, where his father was ertson’s talent and gave his spe- fied: ‘this singularly gifted man the parish schoolmaster for over cial commendation in that received no help from patron- thirty years. Edmund was the eld- Robertson be awarded the Rec- age … he owed everything to his est of the five children of Edmund torial Prize for the best essay on a own perseverance and energy’. (senior) and Ann Robertson, philosophical subject. He was remembered as a man both of whom lived all their lives Robertson won a scholarship of a very kindly and affectionate in Perthshire, Edmund senior to enter Lincoln College, Oxford nature, with a penetrating intel- being from a humble family from where he completed a second lect. Unfortunately, however, he Middle Dalguise in the Tay Val- BA, gained First Class Honours never cultivated the art of say- ley. Edmund Robertson received in Classical Moderations () ing less or more than he thought all of his elementary education and in Literae Humaniore (), and his plain speech and hatred from his father and it is said that won the Oxford University Inter- of self-advertisement and cir- it was here that he gained a solid national Law Prize (), and cumlocution ‘retarded his pro- ‘grounding in the Liberal princi- was elected a Fellow of Corpus motion.’ This article attempts to ples to which he adhered tena- Christi College (). In reconstruct an image of Edmund ciously during his life’. Although he successfully competed for the Robertson, gleaned from news- Robertson was a self-made man Vinerian Law Scholarship, and paper reports of his speeches, and ‘he never forgot the debt which graduated with an MA in . to describe the man who earned he owed to his father’ and is the affectionate title of Dundee’s reputed, on the eve of entering ‘Grand Old Man’. Parliament, to have sent a letter to The barrister, the academic, a meeting of Liberals held in the the teacher Kinnaird school stating ‘I am glad Robertson went on to win a A village schoolboy with a you are going to meet in the old scholarship to Lincoln’s Inn, passion for education schoolroom, which to me is asso- delivering his obligatory Tancred When standing for election for ciated with so many profound student oration in Latin. He was the first time, Robertson’s passion emotions. My first instructor in called to the Bar as a barrister of for education and good humour Liberalism, and in everything else, Lincoln’s Inn in and, select- were evident when he addressed was my father.’ ing the Northern Circuit for his the voters of the ‘Intellectual Edmund practice, he quickly gained a repu- Robertson, Lord Ward’ as he termed them. He Lochee of Gowrie tation as an excellent counsel and expressed his belief in free educa- (1885–1908) – The scholar eloquent speaker. He was exam- tion, emphasing how ‘one result from the Dundee The young man with a great pas- iner in English Constitutional of the education imparted under Year Book of sion for knowledge proceeded to History at London University, the Act had been the decrease 1911, reproduced St Andrew’s University where he –, and Public Examiner in courtesy of of juvenile crime’ and that as Dundee City matriculated in the – ses- Jurisprudence, Oxford, –. ‘the State had made education Archives. sion. Robertson’s achievement He was appointed Reader on Law
Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 17 DUNDEE’S GRAND OLD MAN to the Council of Legal Educa- (formed in ) encountered ment for Counties’ with ‘enlarged tion, and became Joint Examiner many challenges. Dundee was powers’ to deal effectively with in Jurisprudence and Legal Con- in fact the largest constituency ‘the regulation of the liquor trade, stitutional History at the Univer- in Scotland at the time. On a the utilisation of vacant spaces, sity of London, and in Roman personal level, Robertson had to the reclamation of common lands, and International Law to the Inns overcome the considerable debate sanitary improvements and other of Court. He became a Profes- about the necessity or otherwise matters affecting the social well- sor of Roman Law at University of local candidates and he was being of the community.’ College, London for several years seen by some as ‘not truly local, a However, where the issue of the and of Common Law at the Inns carpetbagger’. However, the vot- disestablishment of the Church of of Court. In St Andrew’s ers of Dundee soon learned that Scotland was concerned he was University conferred an LL D he had grown up and received his more circumspect. The standard upon Robertson in recognition early education in the area and radical line at the time was to of his academic achievements. He Robertson rose to the challenge favour disestablishment, but Rob- was appointed Queen’s Counsel and ‘charmed an audience of ertson (a moderate churchman) in and made a Bencher of , at the Kinnaird Hall’ with seemed to avoid openly saying he Lincoln’s Inn in . His reputa- his outspoken profession of the was in favour. He assured the vot- tion as a barrister spread interna- Liberal faith and excellent ora- ers that ‘there was no man more tionally, and he became one of the tory skills. strongly opposed than he was to very few British barristers ever Support from John Leng (edi- the interference of the State in allowed to plead in an American tor of the Advertiser at the time any way with religious affairs’ and Court of Law. and later political colleague of that ‘disestablishment in Scotland Robertson’s academic achieve- Robertson’s) no doubt sealed was one which must be settled in ments were well known when he the Dundee approval. In fact the harmony with the wishes of the faced his Dundee constituents Advertiser reported that: ‘Mr Rob- Scottish people.’ (who were predominantly from ertson showed a disposition not Dundee in the late nineteenth working-class backgrounds) for only to march forward in the van century was a working man’s the first time. The Dundee Cou- of progress, but also such a grasp, a constituency, and foremost in rier and Argus assured its readers, knowledge, and capacity for deal- Edmund Robertson’s mind, as however, that their prospective ing with public questions that it he faced his first election, was his Member ‘though comparatively was delightful to listen to him. concern for the working class. He young’ had ‘business experience His speech, in fact, was a political was in favour of Board of Trade … sufficiently wide to correct education.’ The Advertiser also certificates of competency being that tendency to academic sub- assured the voters that Robert- granted to men in charge of steam tleties and that proneness to the son had a ‘thorough acquaintance engines and boilers and drivers of hair-splitting of the schools only with the theory and practice of locomotives and traction engines too often found characterising law’ and that he had recently rep- to protect the safety of the public. distinguished scholars and uni- resented local investment interests He was in favour of the establish- versity dons’. An active mem- in the American Courts when he ment of public Courts of Inquiry ber of the Reform Club (which acted as counsel for the Oregon- into the cause of sudden and acci- was founded by Liberals and ian Railway Company in dental deaths in Scotland and for remained the party’s headquarters when the company was brought relatives of deceased persons to until the late s) Robertson before the High Courts of the have the ‘liberty to cross-exam- contributed regularly to the Daily United States. ine witnesses on the subject’. He News and expanded his growing Robertson’s address for the believed that shipwrecked seamen journalistic expertise by con- election featured the reform should be paid their wages up tributing several articles on legal Robert- of the land laws, the adjustment until the time they were landed and constitutional subjects to the of taxation, the abolition of the back in the country; and he saw ninth edition of the Encyclopaedia son’s dis- game laws and temperance legis- the overwork of railway workers Britannica. He was also the author lation. Robertson (who belonged as ‘not only cruel but a source of of American Home Rule: A Sketch like of the to the radical section of the Lib- danger to the travelling public’. of the Political System in the United Tory party eral Party) saw himself as a serv- Robertson’s dislike of the Tory States published in . ant of his constituents and many party was greatly enjoyed by his was greatly of his addresses to the electors of prospective electors, especially as Dundee contain examples of his he entertained them with witti- The politician enjoyed firm undertaking to increase the cisms such as that: ‘He thought At the time that Edmund Robert- involvement of ordinary people the education of the Tory party son decided to enter the political by his pro- in decisions directly related to should be made free, and it cer- world, the population of Dun- spective their everyday lives. He believed tainly should be made com- dee was growing at an enormous in reform of local government to pulsory.’ However, this humour rate and the Liberal Association electors. ‘include representative govern- turned to anger when he spoke
18 Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 DUNDEE’S GRAND OLD MAN of Tory landlords replacing dis- entered politics at a turbulent time. ‘Beer and Apparently considered ‘in the best senting farmers at the end of their Within a little over six months and most honourable sense of the leases with ‘Established Church- from his introduction to the polit- the Bible word … a favourite of the King’ men’. ‘Landlord terrorism’, as he ical world, he had again to face (Edward VII), he became a mem- termed it, operated ‘just as much the electors as the parliament that have been ber of the Privy Council in . in political elections as it would assembled on January was The election of saw do in any election on church dissolved in June. wont in Edmund Robertson and John affairs’. His concern for the well- Irish Home Rule was the con- former Leng speaking passionately about being of the ordinary people was tentious issue for the election of the ‘maintenance of popular con- no better summarised than in , and both Robertson and times to trol over aristocratic influence his beliefs on higher education, Lacaita adhered to Gladstone’s and the destruction of class privi- where he dissented from the view conversion to a Home Rule play an leges’, and again the main issues that ‘it was a middle class affair policy, though there was a Liberal were Home Rule, complete reli- which might be left to the mid- split over the issue at this time. important gious equality and local control dle classes’. He believed that: ‘The Robertson wanted an Irish Par- part in Eng- of the liquor trade. One of the question of higher education was liament to settle the Irish land journalists of the time went as far a matter of great importance to question and to be in control of lish poli- as to say that: the working classes, whose sons the police. would be deprived of the chance Robertson went on to win tics, but Beer and the Bible have been of appointments in the Civil his Dundee seat in the elections wont in former times to play an Service if the means of obtain- of (twice – the second time not until important part in English poli- ing higher education were put unopposed when he contested this occa- tics, but not until this occasion beyond their reach.’ the seat on his appointment as a have they been seen in close alli- Although Robertson chose minister), , and . sion have ance in this part of the country, an academic route for his own When Lacaita resigned in , engaged side by side against the education he felt strongly about Sir John Leng combined with they been popular cause, and in support technological education, believ- Robertson to dominate Dundee of monopoly and privilege. The ing that: ‘It was essential that elections until when Leng seen in ministers wished to preserve working men should be fully retired. Robertson again won the close alli- their kirks and stipends; the pub- instructed in the principles of election in , but this time licans were concerned about the sciences applicable to their with the moderate Labour candi- ance in this buttressing their whisky casks particular industries. This was date Alexander Wilkie. and retaining their licenses. necessary, not as a gratuity to the part of the working classes, but as a means of It becomes apparent, when read- self-defence against growing for- The minister country, ing the speeches delivered by eign competition.’ During his time in parliament engaged Edmund Robertson to his Dun- With regard to land rights, Robertson gained a reputation dee electors, that he was a man of Robertson was very clear about for his effective rhetoric, espe- side by side considerable tolerance and sensi- ‘rights in land which the public cially on issues such as educa- tivity. In October both Rob- possessed having, during the last tion in Scotland and reforms that against the ertson and Sir John Leng spoke at twenty, thirty, or forty years, been would improve the conditions of considerable length to their con- taken away’ and was strongly of working men. During his period popular stituents in a meeting held in the the opinion that ‘restitution of as Civil Lord of the Admiralty cause, and Gilfillan Memorial Hall. Robert- those rights should be obtained’, (under First Lord of the Admiralty, son opened his remarks with the emphasising that when there was Earl Spencer) Robertson worked in support observations that: ‘no prescription in regard to Royal tirelessly to shorten the hours of rights, he thought there should be the workmen in the Royal Dock- of monop- I never before saw a meeting no prescription in regard to the yards. He is said to have been the of ours graced by the presence rights of the people’. only critic at the Admiralty whom oly and of so many ladies … I attribute The November election of Lord Fisher could not domi- privilege.’ their presence in these large saw , of the , nate. He was an ardent politician, numbers to the success of the registered voters for the con- keenly interested in every move newly founded Ladies’ Liberal stituency of Dundee record their of the political game. Direct and Association of Dundee. I am sure vote. At this time Dundee was a businesslike in all his ways, he was we all hope that that success may two-member constituency and very intolerant of circumlocution, be continued, and that under the the Liberals ran two candidates, and for this reason he is said not to energetic leadership of the ladies both of whom were elected. C. C. have been altogether persona grata who have taken command it Lacaita topped the poll with , to Mr Gladstone. On the other may go on and prosper, and be votes and Edmund Robertson hand, he is believed to have had a tower of strength to Liberalism ran a comfortable second with considerable influence with Sir in Dundee and district. , votes. But Robertson had Henry Campbell-Bannerman.
Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 19 DUNDEE’S GRAND OLD MAN However, it would appear that He admit- South Africa, and must not be the new Liberal government under his tolerance did not extend to establishment of a hateful ascend- fellow Scot, Sir Henry Campbell- women having the vote. When ted that he ency of one race over another.’ Bannerman. Robertson spoke of facing the voters again in , Reform of the army was one his passion to have his Homestead both Leng and Robertson were was deeply of Robertson’s great passions. The Bill passed through Parliament. asked by the Dundee and Dis- war gave him the opportunity to This bill ‘proposed to declare that trict Women’s Liberal Association troubled convey his ideas at length to his a certain necessary minimum of a whether they were in favour of by knowing constituents, pointing out that working man’s household furni- women’s suffrage and of women the army was not administered as ture and effects should be sacred being returned as members of that he was a ‘business institution’ as the navy from the process of law, and not local governing boards. Whilst was. He believed the military liable to seizure or sale for any Leng was in favour on both bound to needed to become more scien- cause’. counts, Robertson stated that he tific. What most concerned him Free Trade was the main issue could not undertake to vote in vote for the was ‘the barrier by which we shut of the election and Robertson favour of any of the female suf- supplies out competent men from the appealed to Dundee to vote for frage bills yet introduced but he army’ which he saw as ‘the most those candidates who were ‘will- was in favour of women being necessary ignoble and vulgar that can be ing to support the only Govern- returned to public boards. devised, because it is the barrier ment that could make Free Trade The election of was to bring of money’. The obstacle to army safe and kill Protection’. Much dominated by the South African reform, in Robertson’s opinion, was spoken about the national war, probably the most significant the war to lay in the belief of the Tory Gov- debt, which had increased mainly international incident during a speedy ernment which, ‘calmly admit- due to the war, and of the need Robertson’s time in Parliament. ted – in the House of Commons to reduce the burden of taxation. Both Leng and Robertson spoke conclusion. – that no young man could be When Robertson won his seat at length to their constituents an officer in a cavalry regiment for this last time he topped the about the war. Robertson unless he was in possession of a poll with the highest vote ever severely criticised the Tories for private income of at least £ a recorded in the city, , votes. hastening a war by ‘blundering year.’ The total number of voters who diplomacy’ and having soldiers The election of also saw went to the poll was , out suffer because of ‘mismanage- Robertson supporting old-age of a total electorate of ,. ment at home’ including refus- pensions and the abolition of the When Campbell-Bannerman ing, at an early stage of the war, sale of alcoholic drink to chil- formed his new ministry Rob- mounted men offered by the dren. On the former, Robertson ertson was appointed Secretary to colonies, believing that mounted emphasised to his constituents the Admiralty; Lord Tweedmouth men were not needed in South that the old-age pension scheme was First Lord of the Admiralty. Africa. Soon after, the British must be ‘an all-round one, with- Robertson’s main ministerial role government learned that all the out discrimination of sex. The was to deal with naval business Boers were mounted. Robert- women must have it as well as in the Commons, which placed son characterised this mistake as the men.’ He also spoke about him at the heart of political con- ‘unparalleled imbecility’. desired changes to the Teach- troversy at a time when the UK’s He admitted that he was ers’ Superannuation Act, being foreign and economic policy was deeply troubled by knowing that of the opinion that the pensions still underpinned by the strength he was bound to vote for the sup- provided to existing teachers of the Royal Navy. He answered plies necessary to bring the war were inadequate and that women questions in the Commons on a to a speedy conclusion. However should have the option of retiring regular basis and was responsible he: ‘regarded war as the most hor- at the age of fifty-five. The Lib- for carrying the Navy Estimate rible calamity that could befall a eral team was again returned to through Parliament, for which he nation … he had seen with hor- parliament with Robertson poll- required all his legal skills to mas- ror the reports of speeches and ing , votes and his friend and ter a complex and intricate brief. of sermons exalting and magni- colleague Sir John Leng receiv- At the beginning of the twen- fying war … telling the people ing , votes. The total regis- tieth century there was consid- it brought out the nobler quali- tered electorate was , and, erable pressure to expand and ties of human nature … But he of these, , exercised their modernise the British navy, a pro- considered that the invasion of franchise. gramme which was commenced British territory left him no alter- by Sir John Fisher (First Sea Lord) native but to defend the territory in . Pride of place in Fish- …’ and ‘there could be no result Return to power er’s plan went to the construction but the restoration of British par- In January Edmund Rob- of Dreadnought battleships, which amountcy … He wanted a set- ertson, Dundee’s Grand Old were far superior to the best ves- tlement that would reconcile the Man, again came before his con- sels of the UK’s acknowledged devotion and loyalty of all races in stituents seeking to be part of the competitors, France, Germany,
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Russia and the US. Ships of this belief in a strong navy to his con- and there were at this time sort were not cheap. The gov- stituents: , officers, men and boys ernment’s expenditure on the from ‘dockyard boys to Admi- navy increased from £. mil- If they [the Conservative Gov- rals’ undergoing education of lion in / to £ million in ernment] maintained a proper one form or another. Robertson /, and expenditure on the policy and civility as part of emphasised that the Admiralty army also increased over the same their national manners, he did had to deal with ‘a great many period. not see why the army should of what were called social prob- The Dreadnought programme be increased beyond its present lems’ associated with the , also inspired a European arms size. With a predominant navy dockyard workers (both skilled race, which suggested that fur- they need care very little what and unskilled). He explained how ther heavy expenditure would be the size of other armies was, and he and Lord Tweedmouth had required in future years to ensure with a predominant navy they ‘divided the dockyard between that the ‘two-power standard’ was could make all other armies them’ and they ‘allowed every maintained. Since the s, the helpless. trade and every section of a trade UK had explicitly aimed to main- to send representatives to them to tain a naval capacity superior to In moving the Navy Estimate in state their grievances.’ the combined strength of any two , however, he came across Robertson also addressed his other navies in the world – which as a thorough anti-imperial- constituents about the establish- in practice meant the navies of ist, trumpeting a reduction in ment of the two-power stand- France and Germany. Unless spending, although acknowl- ard. He stated his conviction that, international diplomacy could edging that increased spending although the necessary work somehow restrain the construc- would be required in future unless to maintain the navy must be tion programmes commenced in France and Germany decided to undertaken, he sought to ‘appeal those countries as a result of the accept the UK’s superiority and to other nations to agree to limit Fisher reforms, significant extra slow their own naval expansion armaments, which were a terrible military expenditure would be programmes. Changes to the burden to the industry and a terri- required. This would have to be deployment of the UK’s naval ble reproach to the civilisation of financed from increased taxa- forces, so that fewer ships were civilised countries’. He expressed tion, or a reallocation of existing at sea, were also controversial. his deep sadness that the Hague expenditure commitments. The The significance of the debate Conference, on which Camp- second of these options jarred was indicated by the intervention bell-Bannerman had pinned his with the Liberals’ commitment to of the Prime Minister, forced to hopes, had failed in this respect increased social expenditure; the explain whether he agreed with and he saw this as a ‘great blow to first was also politically difficult, the maintenance of the two- the progress of civilisation’. as David Lloyd George, in par- power standard, as commonly But dissension in the audience ticular, was to find out. understood, and the Leader of the from suffragette hecklers exem- On top of these difficulties, Opposition. Some Liberals backed plified the beginning of a new era naval policy sat on the fault line Robertson to the hilt; others, in politics, one in which Rob- in the Liberal Party between the such as Sir Charles Dilke, struck a In moving ertson was not to participate. He imperialists, who were generally noticeably more cautious note. was definite in his objection to in support of a large Navy and Robertson was not to come the Navy women being granted the right commitments abroad, and those back to speak to his loyal sup- to vote but his objection seemed who preferred to see military porters in Dundee for two years, Estimate to be a procedural one, in that expenditure reined in and foreign his work as Parliamentary Secre- in 1907, the issue of female suffrage could entanglements avoided. The tary to the Admiralty taking up not be considered until a political Anglo-French treaty suggested all his time. When he spoke on he came party had raised it. He advised the to some, including Campbell- November at the Gilfillan suffragettes in the meantime to Bannerman, that the two-power Hall, the reception was no more across as do the best they could to educate standard might no longer be nec- than cordial though there was public opinion. essary, and that naval expendi- some sympathy for the arduous a thorough Sadly, the evening came to ture could be reduced; but it was responsibility he had experienced anti-impe- a close with a vote of no confi- the perfect issue with which the through his work at the Admiralty dence in Mr Robertson being Conservative opposition could and the effect of the workload on rialist, moved by Miss Annot Wilkie, make mischief and divide the his health. However, his rheto- a suffragette, who was possibly Liberal Party. ric was still excellent as he spoke trumpeting related to the city’s other MP. Robertson was pitched into about the nature of his work. She declared that ‘the question this maelstrom of conflicting The Admiralty, he explained, a reduction of female suffrage was deep and diplomatic, strategic and politi- was responsible for about , in spend- serious, but Mr Robertson had cal pressures. In he had officers and men on active serv- treated it as if he had no heart and expressed a fairly conventional ice (not including the reservists), ing. no feeling’. The motion of no
Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 21 DUNDEE’S GRAND OLD MAN confidence was carried. Two days from the Liberals in Dundee Did he sac- taking the name Gowrie from the later, Edmund spoke probably for inviting him to be their candidate, beautiful Carse of Gowrie where the last time as the Member for as the sitting member was about rifice his he was born, and his dedication Dundee. This time Miss Wilkie to be elevated to the House of to the improvement of the work- used as part of her argument the Lords. After thinking about it for position in ing man’s life was represented by fact that women in Australia had a week or so Churchill decided to Lochee, an area of the city he had the right to vote (granted in accept the offer. the House served for twenty-three years. in South Australia). Was Robertson asked by the of Com- It was ironic that Robertson The Daily News summed up Whips to stand down in order should end his political career Edmund Robertson, the politi- to accommodate the return of mons for in the ‘House of Landlords’ as cian as: Churchill? Why was Robertson he often termed it. However, suddenly elevated to the Lords? Churchill, it was a sign of the humility he One of the chief successes of this The truth behind Robertson’s possessed that he never used his Liberal Ministry. No man on the departure from Dundee may the rising title, continuing to be referred to Treasury Bench, not even Mr never be known. His work in the star of the as Edmund Robertson. On his Asquith, answers questions in a Admiralty had taxed his health retirement he wrote a letter to more effective and business-like and his style in managing the Liberal the people of Dundee; while manner. When he speaks for his Navy had not been the subject justly claiming that he had ‘stood Department of the Admiralty of universal praise. The Morning Party? faithfully by the Liberal princi- (which includes the dockyards) Post’s opinion on Mr Robertson ples to which Dundee has ever in debate, he is always clear, sen- being made a peer was that his: been attached’ he acknowledged sible, and cogent … Mr Robert- the debt he owed them for giv- son troubles himself very little Elevation to the House of Lords ing him his career in the House about form. He is downright to has caused considerable surprise of Commons and humbly recog- the verge of bluntness, and plain- in the Navy but we may assume nised that ‘my success from first spoken to the verge of cynicism. that the title of Baron has been to last has been mainly due to the He has no Parliamentary tricks. conferred for services to his cheerful and determined energy He treats the House of Com- party since the late Parliamen- of the working men’. mons as he would treat any other tary Secretary to the Admiralty Robertson made only one audience of intelligent and edu- is not known to have advanced speech in the Lords, on cated men, the students of the our naval efficiency. November , defending the Inns of Court, or the electors of naval policy that he had admin- Dundee. The solemn plausibili- But did he sacrifice his posi- istered. After that, it seems, ill- ties of the world, as Burke calls tion in the House of Commons health took its hold. Dundee’s them, have little or no influence for the rising star of the Liberal Grand Old Man died at Canter- over Mr Robertson. There is no Party? The sentiments expressed bury on September and red tape about him, and no non- in the letter Robertson sent on is buried in Holywell Cemetery, sense of any kind. his resignation to the President of Oxford. the Dundee Liberal Association sum up the great sadness he must Thus ended a romance of real have experienced on what was to life, in which the studious reader Reward: a seat in the House be the end of his political career: discerns the irresistible power of Lords of merit and legitimate ambi- On April , the Dundee My long political connection tion. From humble life rich in Liberal Association met to dis- with Dundee comes to an end. high ideal Edmund Robertson cuss the political situation cre- How well I remember its begin- toiled successfully to reach lofty ated by the sudden resignation ning; how greatly I rejoiced in positions in the service of the of Edmund Robertson from the its continuance; how deeply I nation. Ministry on his elevation to the lament its termination no words peerage. The meeting was unani- of mine can adequately tell. mous in expressing gratitude Anne Newman is a descendent of for Robertson’s service. At the Although Churchill polled , Edmund Robertson’s family; her great same meeting when discussion fewer votes than Robertson had grandmother was his cousin. She was turned to selecting someone to in , he returned to Parlia- a member of the Australian Demo- succeed Robertson, a voice was ment, and to the continuance of crats for many years and was a sen- heard to call ‘Winston Church- his remarkable ministerial career. ior lecturer in Special Education and ill’. In April , Churchill had The title that Robertson took Literacy at the Australian Catholic stood for the seat of Manchester (Lord Lochee of Gowrie) was in University in Melbourne; she now Exchange and was unsuccessful. some ways indicative of the man. pursues her new career as an artist. Immediately after the result was His love of the beauty of the Anne would also like to thank Rob- declared he received a telegram countryside was symbolised in ert Ingham, Biographies Editor of the
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Journal, for suggesting the idea Dundee Courier and Argus, Sep- Dundee Evening Telegraph, Sep- Ibid., November . for the article and for his advice tember . tember . Daily News, January , quoted and patience. Dundee Advertiser, November Ibid. in The People’s Journal, Sep- . Dundee Advertiser, September tember . A splinter party, the Liberal . The People’s Journal, April Jackson, J.M. (ed.), Third Statis- Unionists (who wanted Ireland Ibid., October . . tical Account of Scotland: City of to remain a part of Britain), led Ibid., January . Patterson, Tony, A Seat for Life Dundee, . by Joe Chamberlain was formed. Dundee Advertiser, January (Dundee, Scotland: David Win- The Pelican Record, Oxford Uni- Dundee Advertiser, September . ter & Son, ). versity, , pp. –. . Ibid., January . Morning Post, April , Ibid. The Pelican Record, Oxford Uni- The Millstone: British naval policy Times April . The Dundee Advertiser, . versity, , pp. –. in the Mediterranean, – The People’s Journal, April Ibid., October Dundee Year Book, . by Geoffrey Miller is an excel- . Dundee Year Book, . Dundee Advertiser, July . lent reference on this topic. The Dundee Year Book, . Ibid. Ibid. entire text can be read at www. The People’s Journal, April Dundee Courier and Argus, Ibid., October . manorhouse.clara.net/book/ . November . The People’s Journal, Septem- index.htm Hansard, November , cc. Ibid., September . ber . Dundee Advertiser, October –. Dundee Advertiser, September Dundee Evening Telegraph, Sep- . Dundee Year Book, . . tember . Hansard, March , cc. – Ibid., September . Dundee Advertiser, October for the whole debate. Ibid., October . . Dundee Advertiser, November Ibid., for all quotes above. Ibid., September . .
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS If you can help any of the individuals listed below with sources, contacts, or any other information — or if you know anyone who can — please pass on details to them. Details of other research projects in progress should be sent to the Editor (see page 3) for inclusion here.
Aneurin Williams and Liberal internationalism and pacificism, Political life and times of Josiah Wedgwood MP. Study of the 1900–22. A study of this radical and pacificist MP (Plymouth 1910; political life of this radical MP, hoping to shed light on the question North West Durham/Consett 1914–22) who was actively involved in of why the Labour Party replaced the Liberals as the primary popular League of Nations Movement, Armenian nationalism, international representatives of radicalism in the 1920s. Paul Mulvey, 112 Richmond co-operation, pro-Boer etc. Any information relating to him and Avenue, London N1 0LS; [email protected]. location of any papers/correspondence welcome. Barry Dackombe. 32 Recruitment of Liberals into the Conservative Party, 1906–1935. Ashburnham Road, Ampthill, Beds, MK45 2RH; [email protected]. Aims to suggest reasons for defections of individuals and develop an Cornish Methodism and Cornish political identity, 1918–1960s. understanding of changes in electoral alignment. Sources include Researching the relationship through oral history. Kayleigh Milden, personal papers and newspapers; suggestions about how to get hold of Institute of Cornish Studies, Hayne Corfe Centre, Sunningdale, Truro TR1 the papers of more obscure Liberal defectors welcome. Cllr Nick Cott, 1a 3ND; [email protected]. Henry Street, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE3 1DQ; N.M.Cott@ncl. ac.uk. Letters of Richard Cobden (1804–65). Knowledge of the whereabouts of any letters written by Cobden in private hands, SDP in Central Essex. Contact with anyone who had dealings with autograph collections, and obscure locations in the UK and abroad for a the area, and in particular as many former SDP members of the complete edition of his letters. Dr A. Howe, Department of International area as possible, with a view to asking them to take part in a short History, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, London WC2A questionnaire. Official documents from merger onwards regarding the 2AE; [email protected]. (For further details of the Cobden Letters demise of the local SDP branches and integration with the Liberals Project, see www.lse.ac.uk/collections/cobdenLetters/). would also be appreciated. Elizabeth Wood, The Seasons, Park Wood, Doddinghurst, Brentwood, Essex CM15 0SN; [email protected]. Liberal foreign policy in the 1930s. Focussing particularly on Liberal anti-appeasers. Michael Kelly, 12 Collinbridge Road, Whitewell, Student radicalism at Warwick University. Particulary the files affair Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim BT36 7SN; [email protected]. in 1970. Interested in talking to anybody who has information about Liberal Students at Warwick in the period 1965-70 and their role in Liberal Party and the wartime coalition 1940–45. Sources, campus politics. Ian Bradshaw, History Department, University of particularly on Sinclair as Air Minister, and on Harcourt Johnstone, Warwick, CV4 7AL; [email protected] Dingle Foot, Lord Sherwood and Sir Geoffrey Maunder (Sinclair’s PPS) particularly welcome. Ian Hunter, 9 Defoe Avenue, Kew, Richmond TW9 Welsh Liberal Tradition – A History of the Liberal Party in Wales 4DL; [email protected]. 1868–2003. Research spans thirteen decades of Liberal history in Wales but concentrates on the post-1966 formation of the Welsh Liberal policy towards Austria-Hungary, 1905–16. Andrew Gardner, Federal Party. Any memories and information concerning the post- 17 Upper Ramsey Walk, Canonbury, London N1 2RP; agardner@ssees. 1966 era or even before welcomed. The research is to be published ac.uk. in book form by Welsh Academic Press. Dr Russell Deacon, Centre for Liberals and the local government of London 1919–39. Chris Humanities, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cyncoed Campus, Fox, 173 Worplesdon Road, Guildford GU2 6XD; christopher. Cardiff CF23 6XD; [email protected]. [email protected].
Journal of Liberal History 46 Spring 2005 23