John William Crombie

John William Crombie (4 March 1858 – 22 March 1908) was a Scottish woollen manufacturer, folklorist and Liberal Party politician.

Crombie was born in Aberdeenshire, the eldest son of John Crombie of Balgownie Lodge, near Aberdeen. He attended the Gymnasium School, Old Aberdeen and went on to the University of Aberdeen where he obtained an MA degree. He also studied in France and Germany. In 1895 he married Minna, the daughter of Eugene Wason, MP. They had one son and a daughter.

His younger brother was the mill-owner, philanthropist and amateur seismologist, James Edward Crombie FRSE (1862-1932).

Crombie’s father was a member of the manufacturing family the Crombies of Cothal Mills and Grandholm and in 1880 Crombie followed him into the family business, becoming a Director of J. & J. Crombie, Ltd, woollen manufacturers, the company founded 1806 by his grandfather. In 1892 he resigned from the business to take up politics.

Crombie was elected Liberal MP for Kincardineshire at the 1892 general election. At this election Crombie faced a Liberal Unionist opponent, J Stephen. Crombie held the seat for the Liberals with a majority of 1,068 votes.

The Unionists had improved their organisation in the constituency by the time of the 1895 general election and Crombie faced a sterner test, this time opposed by the Honourable Charles S Forbes Trefusis. It was reported that Trefusis was popular in the county as a local landowner but Crombie held on with a majority of 583.

...
Wikipedia