Henry Cunison Rankin

Henry Cunison Deans Rankin (14 October 1932 – 4 January 2010), known professionally as Harry Rankin and to family as Cunnie, was a Scottish chartered accountant and political figure who served as treasurer of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and as National Chairman of the Saltire Society.

Early life and education Rankin was born at Hamilton, Scotland, on 14 October 1932. He was educated at the former Hamilton Academy and the University of Glasgow, graduating MA and LLB in 1958. Rankin also wrote Corporation Tax for Students, a textbook used by accountancy students across the United Kingdom.

He stood three times as an SNP parliamentary candidate. At the 1966 general election and the 1970 general election he contested the Lanark constituency, taking 10% and then 12% of the vote respectively. At the February 1974 general election he stood for North Angus and Mearns, improving his share to 23% but again failing to win the seat.

Rankin remained active in the SNP and was included in a list of potential candidates for the 1999 Scottish Parliament election, although he did not ultimately stand. In July 2009, First Minister Alex Salmond appointed Rankin as one of three trustees of a trust fund—financed by Salmond's MSP salary—established to assist community and youth organisations in North-East Scotland. He was an advocate of devolving broadcasting policy from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament.

Personal life Rankin married Edith in 1961 at the British Consulate in Paris; they had four daughters. He died at Dunfermline on 4 January 2010 and was survived by his wife and daughters.