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

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

Early life and career

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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

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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

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UK Parliament elections

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Date of electionConstituencyPartyVotes%Result
1906Guildford Liberal6,43053.3Elected
1910 (Jan)East Aberdeenshire Liberal6,60062.5Elected
1910 (Dec)East Aberdeenshire Liberal6,15262.0Elected
1918Aberdeen and Kincardine East Coalition Liberal4,43050.5Elected[1]
1922Aberdeen and Kincardine East National Liberal5,22739.5Not elected (2nd)[1]
1923Islington North Conservative10,80236.5Elected[1]
1924Islington North Conservative15,56244.4Elected[1]

Personal life

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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.[citation needed]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 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.
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