SON of Findlay Caldwell, a working man, the Liberal member for Mid-Lanarkshire owes his honourable position entirely to his own energy and ability. He was born at Kilmarnock, 15th October, 1839, but removed to Pollokshaws nine years later, and he received his early education successively at Osborne's Academy, Kilmarnock, at Eastwood Parish School, and at the Southern Collegiate School, Glasgow. Entering a writer's office, he attended law classes at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, paying his way out of his own earnings, and attaining no little distinction in his studies. After serving several of the best legal firms in Glasgow, he practised for some time as a lawyer on his own account, but presently gave up the profession to become a partner with his father in the business of Caldwell & Ritchie, calico printers, at Campsie. By seventeen years of steady work there, twelve hours a day, he amassed a competency, and retired with the object of devoting himself to political life. He had long been president of Campsie Liberal Association. Following Mr. Gladstone's introduction of his Home Rule Bill, Mr. Caldwell contested St. Rollox Division of Glasgow, in 1886, as a Unionist; but on the declaration of the veteran leader that he intended to introduce a Bill which would retain the Irish members in the Imperial Parliament, he threw in his lot, in 1892, with the Gladstonian party. At the General election in that year he was defeated in Tradeston but was elected as a Liberal by the constituency of Mid-Lanark in 1894, as successor to Mr. J.W. Philipps, and has since remained in possession of the seat.
    In the House of Commons Mr. Caldwell is noted as the most regular of all attenders in his place, and as a past master of the procedure of that assembly. The interests of working men are made by him a matter of special care.

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