1894 Edinburgh Corporation election

An Election to the Edinburgh Corporation was held on 6 November 1894, alongside municipal elections across Scotland, and the wider British local elections. Elections took place in 5 of the cities 13 wards, with candidates in the remaining 8 being returned unopposed. A candidate, Thomas Blake, had intended to run against incumbent Lord Provost James Russell in St Cuthbert's Ward; however, due to a mistake at the nomination, Blake could not be accepted as a candidate.[1]

McDonald (pictured) replaced Russell as Lord Provost following the election.

Following the election the balance of power on the Corporation remained unchanged, divided between 21 Unionists and 20 Liberals.[1] The composition, combined with a number of Liberals pledging to oppose the re-election of the Liberal Lord Provost James Russell, saw Russell replaced as Lord Provost with the Unionist candidate; Sir Andrew McDonald.

Turnout in the contested wards was 12,145 out of a total electorate of 18,741 (64.80%).[1]

Aggregate results

Edinburgh Corporation election, 1894[1]
(Contested seats)

Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Liberal	3					52.93	6428
	Unionist	2					44.46	5400
	SSF	0					2.17	263
	Independent	0					0.44	54

Ward Results

Results by ward.

Calton
1 seat
Electorate: 4929
Spoiled votes: 11[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	R. A. Douglas	1822
	Unionist	Daniel Crerat	1436
Majority
Turnout
	Liberal hold		Swing

Broughton
1 seat
Electorate: 2367
Spoiled votes: 2[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Councillor Hunter	648	50.86
	Liberal	W. K. Rose	626	49.14
Majority			22	1.73
Turnout			1274	53.82
	Unionist hold		Swing

St. Georges
1 seat
Electorate: 4088
Spoiled votes: 9[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Councillor Scott	1515
	Unionist	J. W. Mackie	1164
Majority
Turnout
	Liberal hold		Swing

St. Giles
1 seat
Electorate: 2861
Spoiled votes: 7[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Councillor Mitchell	1055	56.45
	Unionist	Duncan McLaren	497	26.59
	SSF	James Connolly	263	14.07
	Independent	James Gardiner	54	2.89
Majority			558	29.86
Turnout			1869	65.33
	Liberal hold		Swing

George Square
1 seat
Electorate: 4496
Spoiled votes: 16[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Councillor Forbes MacKay	1655	54.00
	Liberal	Peter Whyte	1410	46.00
Majority			245	7.99
Turnout			3065	68.17
	Unionist hold		Swing

St Cuthbert's
1 seat[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Lord Provost James Russell	unopposed
Majority
Turnout
	Liberal hold		Swing

References

1. "The Municipal Elections: Edinburgh". The Glasgow Herald. 7 November 1894. p. 8.