Alexander Craig Sellar
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Alexander Craig Sellar (17 October 1835 – 16 January 1890) was a Scottish lawyer and
Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...
(later
Liberal Unionist The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington (later the Duke of Devonshire) and Joseph Chamberlain, the party established a political ...
) politician. Sellar was the son of Patrick Sellar of Westfield, Morayshire, a lawyer, factor and sheep farmer, and his wife Ann (née Craig). He was educated at
Rugby School Rugby School is a Public school (United Kingdom), private boarding school for pupils aged 13–18, located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire in England. Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independ ...
, and at
Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world. With a governing body of a master and aro ...
where he was a favoured student of
Benjamin Jowett Benjamin Jowett (, modern variant ; 15 April 1817 – 1 October 1893) was an English writer and classical scholar. Additionally, he was an administrative reformer in the University of Oxford, theologian, Anglican cleric, and translator of Plato ...
. He became a Scottish
Advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. List of country legal systems, Different countries and legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a ba ...
in 1862 and was legal secretary to the Lord Advocate for Scotland from 1870 to 1874.Debretts Guide to the House of Commons 1886
/ref> In 1873 he published ''Manual of the Education Act for Scotland''. He was a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for
Argyllshire Argyll (; archaically Argyle; , ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 and most of the area now forms part of ...
. In 1870 he married Gertrude Smith, daughter of Octavius Henry Smith. In 1880 he stoody unsuccessfully for
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
at
Plymouth Devonport Plymouth, Devonport was, from 1832 until 2010, a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It covered part of the city of Plymouth in South West En ...
. In 1882 he was elected Member of Parliament for Haddington Burghs until the constituency was merged in the
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (48 & 49 Vict. c. 23) was an Act of Parliament (United Kingdom), act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (sometimes called the "Reform Act of 1885"). It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that r ...
. In 1885 he was elected MP for
Partick Partick (, Scottish Gaelic: ''Partaig'') is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch, to the east Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Park (across the River Kelvin), and to the north Broo ...
which he held until his death at the age of 54 in 1890. When the Liberal split in 1886 over
Irish Home Rule The Home Rule movement was a movement that campaigned for self-government (or "home rule") for Ireland within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It was the dominant political movement of Irish nationalism from 1870 to the end of ...
, Sellar joined the breakaway
Liberal Unionist Party The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington (later the Duke of Devonshire) and Joseph Chamberlain, the party established a political ...
. Sellar is commemorated with his scholar brother
William Young Sellar William Young Sellar FRSE LLD (22 February 1825 – 12 October 1890) was a Scotland, Scottish classical scholar and Professor of Classics (Edinburgh), Professor of Humanity at the University of Edinburgh. Life Sellar was born at Morvich, High ...
on the south wall of Balliol College Chapel.Balliol College Archives & Manuscripts - Memorial Inscriptions
/ref>


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* 1835 births 1890 deaths People educated at Rugby School Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Scottish Liberal Party MPs UK MPs 1880–1885 UK MPs 1885–1886 UK MPs 1886–1892 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Glasgow constituencies Liberal Unionist Party MPs for Scottish constituencies 19th-century Scottish lawyers 19th-century Scottish politicians {{Scotland-Liberal-UK-MP-stub