Henry Cowan

Sir
Henry Cowan
Member of Parliament
for Islington North
In office
6 December 1923 – 10 May 1929
Preceded byNewton Moore
Succeeded byRobert Young
Member of Parliament
for Aberdeen and Kincardine East
East Aberdeenshire (1910–1918)
In office
15 January 1910 – 26 October 1922
Preceded byJames Murray
Succeeded byFrederick Martin
Member of Parliament
for Guildford
In office
12 January 1906 – 15 January 1910
Preceded bySt John Broderick
Succeeded byEdgar Horne
Personal details
BornWilliam Henry Cowan
(1862-05-22)22 May 1862
Died11 January 1932(1932-01-11) (aged 69)
PartyConservative (1923–)
Other political
affiliations
Liberal (Before 1916)
Coalition Liberal (1916–1922)
National Liberal (1922–1923)
Parents
  • William Cowan (father)
  • Elizabeth Giles (mother)
EducationMerchiston Castle School
Edinburgh Collegiate School
University of Edinburgh

Sir William Henry Cowan (22 May 1862 – 11 January 1932) was a politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life and career

The son of William Cowan and Elizabeth Giles, he was educated at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh Collegiate School and the University of Edinburgh.

Political career

He was elected as Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Guildford from 1906 to 1910 and for Aberdeenshire Eastern from 1910 to 1922, then as a Unionist for Islington North from 1923 to 1929.

As a parliamentarian, Cowan became interested in matters concerning immigration including promoting immigration of British families to dominions such as Australia.

Elections contested

UK Parliament elections

Date of election Constituency Party Votes % Result
1906 Guildford Liberal 6,430 53.3 Elected
1910 (Jan) East Aberdeenshire Liberal 6,600 62.5 Elected
1910 (Dec) East Aberdeenshire Liberal 6,152 62.0 Elected
1918 Aberdeen and Kincardine East Coalition Liberal 4,430 50.5 Elected[1]
1922 Aberdeen and Kincardine East National Liberal 5,227 39.5 Not elected (2nd)[1]
1923 Islington North Conservative 10,802 36.5 Elected[1]
1924 Islington North Conservative 15,562 44.4 Elected[1]

Personal life

As of 1928, he was chairman of Parkinson and W. and B. Cowan, Limited, a manufacturer of gas meters and gas cookers.[2][3]

He was knighted in the 1917 Birthday Honours.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Craig, Fred W. S (1969). British parliamentary election results, 1918-1949. Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178019. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Mr William Cowan". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Families of Migrants". The Chronicle. Adelaide. 7 January 1928. p. 70. Retrieved 13 February 2013 – via Trove.