John Campsie Adamson¹

1949 on his appointment as Lord Provost of Dundee

Photograph by user1

Parents:

• Birth*: John Campsie Adamson was born on 11 January 1892 at 31 Union Place, Lochee Road, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1892 births in the district of St Mary in the burgh of Dundee, ref 62; John Adamson 1892 January Eleventh 11h 0m pm 31 Union Street Place Lochee Road Dundee, male, parents Alexander Adamson brewers cellarman & Helen Adamson ms Campsie married 1890 May 9 Lochee, signed Alexander Adamson father present, 1892 January 29th at Dundee Jas Anderson registrar.^1,3
• He was the son of Alexander Millar Adamson and Helen Anderson Campsie.¹
• Marriage*: John Campsie Adamson married Christine Kilgour Lascelles on Friday, 25 June 1937 at 58 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland, ; 1937 marriages in the district of St Giles in the city of Edinburgh, ref 650; 1937 on the Twenty-fifth day of June at 58 George IV Bridge Edinburgh by declaration in presence of Charlotte Wyles Harbour Home 429 High Street Kirkaldy and Pearl Grieve Harbour Home 429 High Street Kirkaldy, signed John Campsie Adamson commercial clerk bachelor, aged 45, residing 41 Lawside Road Dundee, parents Alexander Miller Adamson mechanical engineer (dec) & Helen Adamson ms Campsie (dec); signed Christina Kilgour Lascelles housekeeper formerly married to Charles Burghes Grieve commercial clerk against whom she obtained Decree of Divorce, aged 42, residing 41 Lawside Road Dundee, parents Andrew Lascelles cork cutter & Charlotte Lascelles ms Shaw (dec); warrant of Sheriff Substitute of the Lothians and Peebles dated 25 June 1937, registered 1937 June 25th at Edinburgh L S Purves registrar.^1,4
• Death*: John Campsie Adamson died on 22 April 1961 at 12 Wellburn Street, Lochee, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, , at age 69; 1961 deaths in the district of Lochee in the burgh of Dundee, ref 84; John Campsie Adamson clerk Corporation Water Department (retired) Lord Provost of Dundee (Ex Officio) widower of Christine Kilgour Lascelles or Grieve; 1961 April Twenty Second 6h 55m pm 12 Wellburn Street Lochee, male aged 69 years, parents Alexander Adamson brewers cellarman (dec) & Helen Adamson ms Campsie (dec); cause hyperplasia of the prostate, myocardial degeneration with arterosclerosis coronary thrombosis as cert by J B Proudfoot MBChB; signed J Adamson Nephew 34 Balunie Terrace Dundee present; registered 1961 April 24th at Lochee A C Marshall registrar.¹

• (Informant) Death: He registered the death of Helen Anderson Campsie on 19 May 1913 at Royal Infirmary, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1913 deaths in the district of St Mary in the burgh of Dundee, ref 335; Helen Anderson Adamson ms Campsie jute weaver married to Alexander Miller Adamson stone quarrier, 1913 May Nineteenth 4h 10m pm Royal Infirmary Dundee UR 40 Peel Street Lochee, female aged 47 years, parents Charles Campsie famer & Ann Campsie ms Smeaton (dec), cause peritonitis after panhysterectomy for carcinoma of cortex uteri as cert by Muriel Frances Forester Brown MBBS, signed John Adamson son 40 Peel Street Lochee, registered 1913 May 20th at Dundee signed Thos Meek registrar.⁵
• Event-Misc*: On 4 February 1949 John Campsie Adamson was voted Lord Provost of Dundee; Dundee Elects Labour Lord Provost
  Contrary to general expectations, the new Lord Provost of Dundee is a member of the Labour Party. Bailie John C. Adamson who was elected last night by his own casting vote. Bailie Adamson, who, as senior magistrate, has acted as Lord Provost since the death of Mr Archibald Powrie will hold office in his own right until the municipal election in May.
  He owed his appointment to dissension in the Moderate Party. Thanks to the absence of two Labour members, the Moderates were in a majority of 18 to 15 at the Town Council meeting, but three of them—D. M. Christie, Colin Baird, and John Thomson—declined to vote.
  The Lord Dean of Guild, Mr J. S. Nicoll, who is independent of party ties, also refrained from voting. The result was that the Moderate nominee, Mr Richard Fenton, and Bailie Adamson, who was solidly supported by Labour, received 15 votes each. As Bailie Adamson was in the chair, it was necessary for him to register a casting vote, which he did in his own favour and was immediately sworn in as Lord Provost.
  The first to congratulate him was Mr Fenton, who told him:- “Apart from myself, there is nobody in this chamber I would desire more to see getting this honour. I wish you every success in it, despite what has happened here to-night. It has shown me one thing—where my friends are and who are not my friends.”
  Mr William O'Neill (Labour) at once exclaimed:—“This is a demonstration of common decency and honesty against intrigues that have been going on for many weeks.
  The new Lord Provost, who was applauded from both sides of the house, said he would endeavour to carry out his duties with dignity and satisfaction, and he hoped to give every member of the Council “a fair crack of the whip.”
  During the debate which preceded the appointment Labour members had accused Moderates of “unseemly and indecent haste” in the private negotiations which led to the nomination of Mr Fenton.
  Mr A. J. Bayne, chairman of the Labour group, alleged that the Moderates Issued a notice for a group meeting on the subject two days before the Lord Provost's funeral and actually held four group meetings before the Town Council as a whole were able to pay tribute to the late Lord Provost at a full Corporation meeting.
  The only member to explain his abstention from voting was Mr Christie, who said he had been approached by many citizens, most of them of his own political persuasion, who had intimated that it would be a nice gesture to the memory of the late Lord Provost to leave the Chair as it was.
  Lord Provost Adamson, who represents his birthplace, Lochee, in the Town Council, is a disabled ex-Service man, having lost a leg as the result of having been wounded in action with the Seaforth Highlanders in the First World War. He was previously a noted footballer, having played for Dundee and Everton. He was first elected to the Town Council in 1932. He lives at 41 Lawside Road. Dundee.
  The by-election in the First Ward to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Powie's death will take place on March 1.⁶
• Event-Misc: John Campsie Adamson was Scottish Home Department, St. Andrew's House, Edinburgh 1. 28th February, 1949.
  The KING has been pleased, by Warrant under His Majesty's Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the 21st February, to direct a Commission to be passed under the Seal appointed to be kept and made use of in place of the Great Seal of Scotland, nominating and appointing John Campsie Adamson, Esquire, Lord Provost of the City of Dundee, to be His Majesty's Lieutenant of the County of the said City. on 28 February 1949.⁷
• (Spouse) Death: His spouse Christine Kilgour Lascelles died before 22 April 1961.¹

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household

31 March 1901

They was listed as a member of the household of Helen Anderson Campsie in the 1901 census at 25 Coupar Street, Lochee, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Adamson, son, 9, scholar, Lochee; Nelly Adamson, head, factory worker, b Kingoodie Dundee.8

Military Service

• Military Service*: John Campsie Adamson served with the Seaforth Highlanders between 1914 and 1918 Seaforth Highlanders, lost leg.⁶
• Military Service: John Campsie Adamson served with the Seaforth Highlanders on 1 April 1915 Sea Highers Depot; regimental no S/7902, rank private, enlitment 1.4.15.⁹
• Military Service: John Campsie Adamson served with the Seaforth Highlanders on 30 June 1917 date of discharge 30.6.17, cause of discharge Para 392 K R Wounds; awarded British Star 5.8.15.⁹