Alexander Charles Farquharson

Alexander Charles Farquharson (15 March 1864 – 27 May 1951) was a Scottish doctor, barrister, soldier and Liberal Party politician.

Family and education Alexander Charles Farquharson was the son of James and Jane Farquharson of Aberdeen.

He attended Peterhead Academy

In 1903, he married Elizabeth Dodington Blockley, the daughter of Edward Blockley of the Isle of Wight. They had no children. After his political career, Farquharson went back into practice for some years and over the course of his career he undertook work on behalf of the British Medical Association. He represented his Division in the Representative Body in 1906; and afterwards from 1911 to 1921 except for one or two short intervals he was a member of the Central Council and did a full share of committee work. When the First World War broke out, he was gazetted as Captain and in 1915 was appointed to the HQ Staff of the Territorial Force 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division. A year later he transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps and took up post as Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services on the staff of the Surgeon-General. He served until the end of the war and was twice mentioned for valuable services.

At the 1918 general election, Farquharson stood as the Coalition Liberal candidate. He was not opposed by the Unionists and seems to have received the Coalition coupon. Fighting a Labour candidate and a representative of the National Party, Farquharson received 74.7% of the poll and a majority of 10,440 votes. However he chose not to contest the 1922 general election and did not stand for Parliament again.

Appointments

In 1920, Farquharson was appointed to sit on an Inter-Departmental Committee to inquire into the sale of bread by weight set up by the Food Controller (the official in charge of the regulation of the supply and consumption of food and the encouragement of food production during and immediately after the First World War).

Also in that year, Farquharson became a member of a Parliamentary committee to look into MPs salaries and expenses.

Death He died in London 27 May 1951 at the age of 87.

Publications Ptomaines and other Animal Alkaloids; Auto Toxæmia; J Wright & Co, Bristol, 1892 Organic Sulphur Compounds in Nervous Diseases; (date n/k) Medico-Legal Importance of Ptomaines; (date n/k) The Law in relation to Pollution of Rivers (date n/k)