William David Murray, Viscount Stormont (1835-1893), patron of The Conservative Club
In 1880, a number of Conservative working men determined to have a popular association of their own. The chief leaders in this movement were: Mr. James Stewart, Mr. Charles Wood, Mr. Robert Welsh, Mr. James Menzies, Mr. John Wighton, Mr. David Blair, Mr. D.C. Young, Mr. E.L. Paton, and Mr. John Gibbons. The Working Men's Conservative Association was the outcome of their labours, and on its establishment, it was thought appropriate that it should have headquarters. Premises were secured on the first floor of 50 George Street, with an entrance in Albert Close. The late Lord Stormont was the Hon. President - then and always a most kind and liberal friend to the party. (Source: 1906, Dr. Urquhart)
The years 1880 to 1886 were filled with great political strife, and the Working Men's Conservative Association, with Mr. James Stewart as President, Mr. Wighton as Hon. Secretary, and Mr. Robert Welsh and the late Mr. James Menzies as Hon. Treasurers, undertook much active political work, including a series of lectures. (Source: 1906, Dr. Urquhart)
Here's some background to the above information. George Street was in Perth's downtown core, a couple of blocks north of Princess Street where we presume John had been working for the Prison Service since 1882. The Lord Stormont that is mentioned was William David Murray, Viscount Stormont who was born in 1835 and died in 1893 (see picture above). Lord Stormont was the son of William David Murray, the 4th Earl of Mansfield. Lord Stormont would have advanced to become the 5th Earl of Mansfield had he not predeceased his father. Both the Earl and the Viscount resided at Scone Palace, just outside of Perth. It was JMW's involvement in the Conservative Club that introduced him to "high society" in Perth. What we don't know is whether John obtained his position in this club through his own efforts, or whether the Murray family had a hand in introducing him into the executive of this organization. When this club was just getting started, John was a lowly clerk in the civil service, while all the "movers and shakers" in the club were "gentlemen" or had a title in front of their name. I'm guessing that Lord Stormont had a hand in John's appointment as Secretary. Incidentally, when the author made reference to Lord Stormont being a liberal friend, he was not speaking politically; he meant he was benevolent.
Background on the reference to "political strife." In the 15 years from 1880 to 1895, the UK government switched between the Liberals and the Conservatives 5 times. Gladstone held power for the Liberals from 1880 to 1885, but the Conservatives took over in 1885 but held power only briefly. Gladstone's liberals became one of the most short-lived governments in British history in 1886, Gladstone introduced a Home Bill for Ireland, but many in his own party voted against it and brought down the government. The Liberal dissidents then sided with the Conservatives who ruled from 1886-1892. Lord Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill's father, was the Chancellor of the Exchequer at this time. Liberals formed a minority government from 1892 to 1895. A coalition of liberals and conservatives, the Unionist Party, ruled the UK from 1895 to 1905.
The Perth Parliamentary Debating Association was formed in 1886, and for some years, it created much interest. The Unionist party in this Association soon found they were stronger than they had thought possible. This led to further activity, and greatly encouraged the keener members. (Source: 1906, Dr. Urquhart)
Above, a photograph of the members of the Perth Parliament, as documented by the faded inscription below the feet of the sitting men. JMW is in the front row, 3rd from the left. Margaret Serzan's copy of this picture shows a date of 1887, which would have made John 30 years old.
I have a somewhat tattered publication consisting of 4-half pages that probably publicized this Debating Association. The first two pages have no meaning to us; however a third page (above) shows sketches of four members of the opposition to what I believe was referred to as the Perth Parliament. (The fourth page had sketches of the 4 Government members.) An image of a relatively young John Murray Wighton can be seen on the second row, far left. He was identified as the Conservative Whip. This sketch corresponds well with John's image in the group picture, and the picture of a young John Wighton in the main biography. They all suggest a man in his early 30s.
In 1887, the Association decided to acquire better accommodation as a home for the party. A meeting in the George Hotel was held with Lord Stormont presiding and with support from a large assembly of Perth and Perthshire gentlemen. Referenced in Urquhart's publication were the Earl of Kinnoull and a number of high ranking army officers. Other members were in attendance from Dupplin Castle, Pitfour Castle, and Methven Castle. I mention this to indicate that while the organization may have been the Working Men's Conservative Association, you should not assume that this meant that the group was made up of miners and labourers. The leaders of the organization were definitely either part of the aristocracy, or in other ways Gentlemen.
The new home for the association was opened in 1888 by Lord Cross, Secretary of State for India, and with Lord Stormont in the Chair. Lord Cross commented that He had often been told that if he was to ask how many Conservatives there were in the City of Perth, he might count them on his fingers. That, he was happy to say, was now a matter of ancient history. And he was thankful to see that the working men of Perth had themselves come forward for the purpose of furthering the Conservative cause. (Source: 1906, Dr. Urquhart)
Lord Stormont then went on to thank Lord Cross, as follows. Lord Cross has done his part; now, it remains for us to do ours. We must, one and all, use the most strenuous endeavours to push this Club to the front. We must not only try to make it a rallying point for all the conservatives of the City and County, but we must try to gain converts who will leave the other side and join the true faith. The opening ceremony was then followed by a public luncheon which was attended by over 600 gentlemen, the galleries being occupied by ladies. (Source: 1906, Dr. Urquhart)
Within a year of the decision to start a Conservative Club, membership had exceeded 1,000 members. The Club/Association sponsored a variety of activities, including lectures, concerts, and social entertainments, including dances. Prominent politicians were also invited to address the assemblage. These proved to be successful and continued over many years. Lord Randolph Churchill was one such guest in 1889. And, of course, as Secretary, JMW would have been heavily involved in Committee and Executive meetings, many of which would have involved Lord Stormont. The oral history of the Wightons tells us that John Murray Wighton was a frequent visitor to Scone Palace.
Urquhart's history of the Conservative Club ends in 1905, however, further research suggests that the Club continued in some form or another for some time. I received the following information from Dr. Jan Merchant, Assistant Archivist of the Perth & Kinross Council Archive in response to my email query in 2005. Judging by the names of the office holders that you provided, the Working Men's Conservative Association became the Perth Conservative Association; then by 1911, the Perth Unionist Club, and then later the Perth Unionist Association. The permutations continue, and I suspect that the Perth Division Unionist Association/Perth & East Perthshire Conservative & Unionist Association (1918-1974) is a descendent.
An invitation to attend a formal ceremony honouring John Murray Wighton
In August, 1894, the Conservative Club formally honoured JMW's service as Late Hon. Secretary of the Conservative Club. (Note: the use of the word Late did not refer to JMW being deceased, only that he was a former secretary to the Association. The image of the invitation will be difficult to read, so here are the contents.
THE Committee who were appointed to carry out the arrangements in connection with the above, have pleasure in intimating that THE PRESENTATION, consisting of a Walnut Bookcase, Writing Table, and Secretaire, and a Purse of Sovereigns, Along with a Silver Tea Service to Mrs. Wighton, will be made in The Lecture Room of the Conservative Club, on Monday, the 13th August, at 8:15 p.m., by Wm. Whitelaw, Esq., M.P. The Committee invite all the Subscribers and Members of the Conservative Party, Ladies as well as Gentlemen, also the Members of the Primrose League, to be present on that occasion, and to bring with them any of their Friends. David C. Young, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.
We have the plaque that would have been attached to the writing table (?). It reads: Presented along with a purse of sovereigns and a silver tea set to Mr. John Wighton, late Hon. Sec't of the Conservative Club and Working Men's Association in appreciation of services rendered by him to the party, Perth, 13th August, 1894. Incidentally, the Silver Tea Service was passed down through the family and is held by Amy Louisa (Hutcehon) Wighton's descendents in the US. The picture below may have been taken in 1894 (John was 37) as part of the presentation ceremony.
We don't know why John left the Association in 1894. At first, I had thought that John was leaving Perth to take up his next posting in Aberdeen. However, when I began researching for the biography of Harry Wighton, John's son, I found that Harry would have been in Perth right through to 1900 while he was attending the Perth Academy. The evidence for that is pretty compelling. It's possible, I suppose, that John went to Aberdeen without his family; but, it's more possible that there was some other reason for John leaving the Association - one which we will never know.
