Sir Albert McQuarrie (1 January 1918 – 13 January 2016) was a British Conservative politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1979 to 1987.

Sir
Albert McQuarrie
Member of Parliament
for Banff and Buchan
In office
9 June 1983 – 18 May 1987
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byAlex Salmond
Member of Parliament
for East Aberdeenshire
In office
3 May 1979 – 13 May 1983
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byDouglas Henderson
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born(1918-01-01)1 January 1918
Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland
Died13 January 2016(2016-01-13) (aged 98)
Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Political partyConservative
Alma materRoyal College of Science and Technology

Early life

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Albert McQuarrie was born on 1 January 1918 in Greenock, Inverclyde.[1] McQuarrie was the son of Algernon McQuarrie, a Greenock shipping businessman.[1]

He was educated at Greenock High School and the Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow. He became a design consultant and served as a councillor on Greenock Town Council from 1949 to 1955.

Military service

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McQuarrie joined the British Army in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, serving in the Royal Engineers.[2]

Parliamentary career

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McQuarrie unsuccessfully contested Kilmarnock in 1966, and Caithness and Sutherland in October 1974. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for East Aberdeenshire from 1979 to 1983, gaining the seat from the Scottish National Party's Douglas Henderson with a majority of only 558.[3] He was then MP for Banff and Buchan from 1983 to 1987, when he lost his seat to future SNP leader Alex Salmond. In the House of Commons he was Chairman of the British Gibraltar All Party Group. He campaigned for the retention of British sovereignty over Gibraltar.[4] McQuarrie was knighted in 1987. McQuarrie died in January 2016 at his home in Mintlaw, aged 98.[5] He was nicknamed the "Buchan Bulldog" during his time in Parliament.[6]

Personal life

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McQuarrie married his first wife, Roseleen McCaffery, in 1945.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Dalyell, Tam (17 January 2016). "Albert McQuarrie: Thatcherite known as 'the Buchan Bulldog' for his staunch defence of Scottish fishing industry". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Obituary: Sir Albert McQuarrie, former politician". The Scotsman. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  3. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election Results 1979". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  4. ^ "Albert McQuarrie, MP - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Former Scottish Conservative MP Sir Albert McQuarrie dies". BBC News. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Sir Albert McQuarrie". The Times. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for East Aberdeenshire
19791983
Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Banff and Buchan
19831987
Succeeded by