William Adamson PC LLD (1863 - 1936)

Born 2 Apr 1863 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Christina Marshall — married 25 Feb 1887 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 23 Feb 1936 at age 72 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography

William Adamson PC LLD is Notable.

William Adamson was born on 2 April 1863 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, son of James Adamson and Flora Cunningham.^[1][2]

William was the youngest child in a mining family and was a coal miner himself.^[3][4]

William and Christina Marshall were married on 25 February 1887 in Dunfermline, Fife. ^[5]

Their children were:

1. Christina Kay Adamson (0 July 1888 – 24 December 1973)
2. Flora Adamson (1889 – unknown)
3. James Cunningham Adamson (2 April 1893 – 0 October 1916)
4. David Marshall Adamson (1 May 1900 – unknown)
5. Margaret Adamson (1902 – unknown)

William died on 23 February 1936 in Dunfermline, Fife, aged 72.^[6] He was buried in Dunfermline Cemetery, Dunfermline, Fife.^[7]

William was one of the 42 Labour MPs elected to Parliament in the December 1910 General Election. He remained the MP for West Fife until the General Election in 1931.

He was sworn as a Privy Councillor in 1918 and was appointed Secretary for Scotland under the Governments of 1924 and 1929.^[8]

William led the Labour Party between 1917 & 1921.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, citing Digital film/folder number: 008058207; FHL microfilm: 294814, FamilySearch Record: XYTR-CBK (accessed 10 February 2024), William Adamson born on 2 Apr 1863, son of James Adamson & Flora Cunningham, in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ Birth Registration: "Statutory Register of Births," database, National Records of Scotland, Ref: 424/2/99, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 10 February 2024), Surname: ADAMSON; Forename: WILLIAM; Mothers Maiden Name: CUNNINGHAM; Gender: M; Year: 1863; RD Name: Dunfermline Landward.
3. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 Scotland Census," database, Parish: Dunfermline Landward; ED: 6; Page: 22; Line: 6; Roll: CSSCT1871_72; Registration Number: 424/2; Household schedule number: 93; Roll: CSSCT1871_72, Ancestry uk Record 1104 #3911778 (accessed 10 February 2024), Wm Adamson (8) son, Scholar, in household of James Adamson (55) in Halbeath in Dunfermline Landward registration district. Born in Dunfe, Fife.

   James Adamson Head M 55 Pithead Labourer Beith, Fife

   Flora Adamson Wife F 49 Dunfe, Fife

   John Adamson Son M 22 Miner Auchterderran, Fife

   Peter Adamson Son M 20 Miner Dunfe, Fife

   James Adamson Son M 18 Miner Dunfe, Fife

   Grace Adamson Daughter F 16 Factory Worker Dunfe, Fife

   Janet Adamson Daughter F 14 Factory Worker Dunfe, Fife

   Joseph Adamson Son M 12 Scholar Dunfe, Fife

   Wm Adamson Son M 8 Scholar Dunfe, Fife

4. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 Scotland Census," database, Parish: Dunfermline; ED: 22; Page: 25; Line: 5; Roll: cssct1881_118; Registration Number: 424; Household schedule number: 111, Ancestry uk Record 1119 #77703 (accessed 10 February 2024), William Adamson (18) son, Coal Miner, in household of Flora Adamson (59) in Long Row in Dunfermline registration district. Born in Dunfermline, Fife.

   Flora Adamson Head F 59 Dunfermline, Fife

   William Adamson Son M 18 Coal Miner Dunfermline, Fife

   Janet Adamson Daughter F 23 Factory Worker Dunfermline, Fife

5. ↑ Marriage Registration: "Statutory Register of Marriages," database, National Records of Scotland, Ref: 424/49, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 10 February 2024), Surname: ADAMSON; Forename: WILLIAM; Spouse Surname: MARSHALL; Spouse Forename: CHRISTINA; Year: 1887; RD Name: Dunfermline.
6. ↑ Death Registration: "Statutory Register of Deaths," database, National Records of Scotland, Ref: 424/120, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 10 February 2024), Surname: ADAMSON; Forename: WILLIAM; Age at death: 72; Gender: M; Year: 1936; RD Name: Dunfermline.
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182430638/william-adamson: accessed), memorial page for William Adamson (–), Find a Grave Memorial ID 182430638, citing Dunfermline Cemetery, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland; Maintained by Find a Grave.
8. ↑ Fife Free Press & Kirkcaldy Guardian; 29 February 1936; page 5; col a; via (£) FindmyPast.co.uk; accessed 10 Feb 2024

See also:

• https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-william-adamson/index.html
• Wikipedia entry for William Adamson
• https://dunfermlinehistsoc.org.uk/the-rt-hon-william-adamson-p-c-m-p/
• Wikidata: Item Q337459
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; David Howell; Adamson, William [Willie]; accessed 12 Feb 2024