William Chapple

William Allan Chapple (14 July 1864 – 19 October 1936) was a member of both the New Zealand House of Representatives and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Early life Chapple was born in Alexandra in Central Otago, New Zealand. His parents were the farmer John Cole Chapple and Elizabeth McEwan Chapple (née Allan ). He received his early education at Alexandra Primary School. He was first registered as a medical professional on 10 May 1890 and went to Motueka, where he became Public Vaccinator and Native Medical Attendant for the Nelson district. He became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1897, became MRCP&S in Ireland in 1897 and obtained further qualifications in Dublin (Dip State Med, DPH). He moved to Wellington in 1892, where he continued to practice medicine. He was interested in issues of education and was a philanthropist. He was the president of the Wellington Swimming Club. He unsuccessfully stood as an Independent Liberal against William Henry Peter Barber in the Newtown electorate in the 1902 and 1905 general elections.

William Chapple represented the Tuapeka electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives from June to October 1908 after a by-election, but was defeated in the 1908 general election by Robert Scott.

Later, Chapple was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons at Westminster. He represented Stirlingshire from January 1910 until the constituency was abolished at the 1918 general election. On the reorganisation of constituencies in 1918, he was unsuccessful in Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire, but returned at the 1922 general election as MP for Dumfriesshire, holding that seat until his defeat at the 1924 general election. He was the author of Fertility of the Unfit, in which he advocated enforced sterilisation in certain cases. He also published How to Impress the Evils of Alcohol, First Principles in the Art of Physical Development and Cases and Comments from a Doctor's Practice.

In 1912, Chapple made large investments in property in the Canadian city of Vancouver.

Chapple died on 19 October 1936 in Paddington, London.