John McCallum (British politician) facts for kids
Sir John Mills McCallum (born August 12, 1847 – died January 10, 1920) was a Scottish businessman who made soap. He was also a Liberal politician. This means he was part of a political group that believed in certain ideas about how the country should be run.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Mills McCallum was born in a town called Paisley in Scotland. His father, also named John McCallum, was from Kintyre and worked in a company that dyed fabrics.
Young John went to Allan Glen's School in Glasgow. There, he studied chemistry, which is the science of how different substances are made and how they react. In 1875, he married Miss Oates. Her father was a Justice of the Peace in Grimsby, which is a kind of local judge. John McCallum lived in Paisley his whole life.
His Business Life
John McCallum followed in his father's footsteps and joined the business world. He became a partner in a company called Isdale and McCallum. This company was well-known for making soap.
His Political Journey
John McCallum was very involved in politics, both in his local town and in the national government.
Local Politics in Paisley
In 1899, McCallum became a member of the Paisley Town Council. This meant he helped make decisions for his local town. He also served as a magistrate in Paisley. A magistrate is like a local judge who handles smaller legal cases. He was also a Justice of the Peace for the area of Renfrew.
He was once the president of the Scottish Liberal Association. This group supported the Liberal Party in Scotland. He also helped start the Paisley Liberal Club.
His Political Beliefs
McCallum was a strong supporter of William Ewart Gladstone, who was a very important Liberal prime minister. McCallum especially agreed with Gladstone on the idea of Irish Home Rule. This was about allowing Ireland to have more control over its own government.
He also wanted Scotland to have more power to make its own decisions. He went to meetings of the Scottish Home Rule Association. Even though he owned a factory, he believed in helping people and making society better. He supported the Paisley Tenants’ Protection Association (PTPA), which started in 1902. This group fought against unfair housing rules and rent increases. The PTPA grew and worked for many social changes. McCallum became a strong supporter of new laws to help workers and improve society. This was part of the "New Liberal" ideas that became popular after 1908.
Serving in Parliament
McCallum first ran for a seat in the British Parliament in 1906. He wanted to represent his hometown of Paisley. He took over from Sir William Dunn, who had been the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Paisley since 1891.
In the 1906 election, he faced opponents from the Liberal Unionist Party and a group representing workers. But McCallum won with a large number of votes. He kept his seat in Parliament in the elections of January 1910 and December 1910. Both times, he won against Conservative opponents.
The election in 1918 was more difficult for McCallum. He faced a tough fight. He managed to keep his seat by only 106 votes. He won against a candidate from the National Democratic and Labour Party and a Labour candidate.
Public Service
Besides his political work, John McCallum was very active in the public life of Paisley. For many years, he was the president of the Paisley Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). He was also a member of the Philosophical Society of Paisley, which was a group for discussing ideas. He helped manage the Paisley Museum and Art Gallery and was a director of the Poor Association, which helped people in need. In 1912, he was made a knight, which means he was given the title "Sir" by the King.
His Passing
Sir John Mills McCallum passed away at his home in Paisley on January 10, 1920. He was 72 years old. His death led to a special election in Paisley. This election gave H. H. Asquith, a former leader of the Liberal Party, a chance to return to the House of Commons.
Sir John is buried in Woodside Cemetery in Paisley. His grave is near a beautiful sculpture called "Mother and Son."
