1896 Glasgow Corporation election
# 1896 Glasgow Corporation election

Elections to the Corporation of the City of Glasgow were held on Tuesday 3 November 1896, alongside municipal elections across Scotland, and the wider British local elections.

The usual process was for one third of the councillors to be re-elected annually, however Glasgow had seen boundary extensions and had transformed from a Town Council to a City Corporation, and as such the election saw all 75 councillors from all 25 wards (3 councillors per ward) seeking re-election simultaneously. This was the first time since 3 November 1846 that all of Glasgow's councillors had been up for re-election simultaneously. The 1846 re-election had occurred as a result of the towns of Calton, Anderston, and the Gorbals being subsumed into Glasgow.

The election saw a group of social and civic reformers known as the Progressive Union emerge as the largest group on the council. The Progressive's had been inspired by the London-based Progressive Party, although Glasgow's Progressive platform had a more evangelical religious focus, combined with a belief in temperance, observance of the sabbath, and good municipal governance.

Contests took place in 23 of the cities 25 wards, with only the wards of Kingston and Sandyford going uncontested. Overall 114 candidates contested the 75 seats. The election saw an unusually heavy turnout, with female voters in particular voting in unprecedented numbers. This was credited to the efforts and influence of the new Progressive Union grouping.

The election was also the first to be contested by the Workers Municipal Elections Committee, which had been set up in June 1896 and comprised the Irish National League, the Independent Labour Party, and the Co-operative movement. This grouping was brought together under the leadership of John Ferguson (elected for Calton ward), a prominent Irish Home Rule activist with close contacts to both the Labour movement and radical politics.

## Aggregate results

Glasgow Corporation election, 1896 (Contested seats) :

| Party | Seats |
| - | - |
| Progressive Union | |
| Unionist | |
| Ind. Labour Party | 3 |

## Wards

### Anderston

Anderston 3 seat Electorate: 5242 Spoiled votes: 42 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Joint-ticket | William Bilsland (incumbent) | 2191 |
| | Joint-ticket | Hugh Wallace (incumbent) | 1708 |
| | 'People's candidate | Cpt. John Walker | 1463 |
| | 'Popular' candidate | Robert Somerville Brown | 1380 |
| | 'Workers' candidate | Francis J. Doran | 1059 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Blackfriars

Blackfriars 3 seat Electorate: 4441 Spoiled votes: 34 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Re-elect Joint-ticket | Alexander Osborne (incumbent) | 1793 |
| | Re-elect Joint-ticket | Adam M. Dunlop | 1752 |
| | Re-elect Joint-ticket | William Fife (incumbent) | 1563 |
| | Ratepayers | James Quigley | 974 |
| | 'One of yourselves' | Marr Grieve | 908 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Calton

Calton (2nd Ward, previously 4th) 3 seat Electorate: 6400 Spoiled votes: 49 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent Nationalist | Councillor John Ferguson (incumbent) | 2,717 | 21.94 |
| | | ex-Baillie James McLennan | 2,216 | 17.90 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | Boyd S. Brown | 1,940 | 15.67 |
| | Socialist | W. G. Hunter | 1834 | 14.81 |
| | | Robert Harvie | 1283 | 10.36 |
| | | John S. Lawson | 1026 | 8.29 |
| | | Thomas McDougall | 809 | 6.53 |
| | | Robert Burns | 557 | 4.50 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | ~4127 | ~64.48 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |

### Cowcaddens

Cowcaddens 3 seat Electorate: 6446 Spoiled votes: 35 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | Simon Dallas | 2775 |
| | Re-elect Joint-Ticket | Treasurer James Gray (incumbent) | 2491 |
| | Progressive | Dr John Carswell | 2428 |
| | Re-elect Joint-Ticket | ex-Bailie Robert Graham (incumbent) | 1855 |
| | Irish Nationalist / Trade Unionist / Social Reformer | Joseph F. McGroary | 1383 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Darlmarnock

Ward I: Darlmarnock 3 seat Electorate: 8972 Spoiled votes: 50 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | James Willock (incumbent) | 3,284 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | John Cronin | 2,397 |
| | Independent | John Pollock McPhun (incumbent) | 2,131 |
| | Progressive | William George Hunter | 1834 |
| | Progressive | J.M. Macmannus | 1824 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |
| | Progressive gain from Independent | Progressive gain from Independent | |

### Dennistoun

Dennistoun 3 seat Electorate: 4843 Spoiled votes: :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Ind. Temperance | Thomas M. Cunningham | 1987 |
| | Temperance Joint-Ticket | Hugh Brechin (incumbent) | 1933 |
| | Temperance Joint-Ticket | James M. Jack (incumbent) | 1719 |
| | Temperance Joint-Ticket | James McLachlan | 1520 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Exchange

Exchange 3 seat Electorate: 2172 Spoiled votes: 12 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | | Robert Murdoch (incumbent) | 886 |
| | | Thomas Watson (incumbent) | 849 |
| | | James R. Paton (incumbent) | 812 |
| | | Hugh Caldwell | 503 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Gorbals

Gorbals 3 seat Electorate: 6723 Spoiled votes: 33 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | | W. Fleming Anderson (incumbent) | 2,950 |
| | | James R. Sandilands | 2,716 |
| | | William Stevenson (incumbent) | 2,275 |
| | | Henry Vallance | 1821 |
| | | Thomas Neilson | 1153 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Hutchesontown

Hutchesontown 3 seat Electorate: 6721 Spoiled votes: 86 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | | David Richmond (incumbent) | 2,658 |
| | | P. G. Stewart (incumbent) | 2,652 |
| | Progressive | John Battersby (incumbent) | 2,605 |
| | | D. J. M. Quin | 1389 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Kelvinside

Kelvinside 3 seat Electorate: 3151 Spoiled votes: 17 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Re-elect Joint-Ticket | Bailie James Dick (incumbent) | 1198 |
| | Re-elect Joint-Ticket | Bailie Robert M. Mitchell (incumbent) | 1113 |
| | Re-elect Joint-Ticket | Bailie James M. J. Thomson (incumbent) | 1085 |
| | Progressive | William Martin | 756 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Kingston

Kingston 3 seat Electorate: Spoiled votes: :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | | Shearer (ex-Baillie) | Uncontested |
| | | Primrose (ex-Baillie) | Uncontested |
| | | Paton (ex-Baillie) | Uncontested |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Langside

Langside 3 seat Electorate: 3879 Spoiled votes: 26 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Re-elect Joint-Ticket | Baillie William Maclay (incumbent) | 1649 |
| | Re-elect Joint-Ticket | Councillor Alexander Sinclair (incumbent) | 1605 |
| | Re-elect Joint-Ticket | Councillor John L. Oatts (incumbent) | 1296 |
| | Independent | James Hunter (Ex-Provost) | 1111 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Mile-end

Mile-end 3 seat Electorate: 5983 Spoiled votes: 54 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | | George Mitchell (incumbent) | 2,170 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | James Shaw Maxwell | 2,040 |
| | | James Hamilton (incumbent) | 1,760 |
| | | Daniel M. Scott | 1619 |
| | | Alexander R. McGregor | 1579 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Park

Park 3 seat Electorate: Spoiled votes: 33 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Joint-ticket | Joseph Currie Robertson | 1861 |
| | Joint-ticket | Alexander Brown | 1840 |
| | Joint-ticket | Robert Paterson | 1819 |
| | | Archibald C. Holms (incumbent) | 1457 |
| | | John Harrison | 1289 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Sandyford

Sandyford 3 seat Electorate: Spoiled votes: :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | | Baillie Alexander (incumbent) | Uncontested |
| | | McFarlane (ex-Baillie) | Uncontested |
| | | Preceptor James Hunter Dickson | Uncontested |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Springburn

Springburn 3 seat Electorate: 4810 Spoiled votes: 35 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Joint-ticket | Dr William Dougan | 2000 |
| | Joint-ticket | George B. Main (incumbent) | 1974 |
| | Joint-ticket | William Cochrane | 1613 |
| | Vetoist & Trade Unionist | Patrick O'Hare | 1457 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Townhead

Townhead 3 seat Electorate: 6749 Spoiled votes: 46 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Independent Progressive | Norman MacLeod Thomson | 2846 |
| | Progressive | William Finlay (incumbent) | 2011 |
| | Progressive | David Morris (incumbent) | 1965 |
| | Workers candidate | William Forsyth | 1793 |
| | Progressive | Michael Joseph Connell | 1313 |
| | Workers candidate | George Pringle | 1273 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Whitevale

Whitevale 3 seat Electorate: 6150 Spoiled votes: 36 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Unionist | James H. Martin (incumbent) | 2,460 |
| | Unionist | David Willox | 1,774 |
| | Progressive | John Dunn (incumbent) | 1,646 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | Hugh Murphy | 1515 |
| | Progressive | Hugh Blair | 1247 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |

### Woodside

Woodside (17th Ward) 3 seat Electorate: 7672 Spoiled votes: 63 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Re-elect Joint-ticket | Bailie Samuel Chisholm (incumbent) | 3137 |
| | Re-elect Joint-ticket | Bailie Winston Pettigrew (incumbent) | 3024 |
| | Re-elect Joint-ticket | Councillor D. M. Stevenson (incumbent) | 2893 |
| | Labour Co-op | Peter Glasse | 1478 |
| | 'Popular Candidates' | Dr. Archibald Gunn | 1318 |
| | 'Popular Candidates' | Alexander McLaughlan | 1120 |
| | 'Popular Candidates' | Charles Tosh Grant | 1075 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
