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Rectorial Election Poster

Glasgow University Archive Services, GUM

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Rectorial Election Poster

Rectorial election advertisement for John M MacCormick, the lawyer and Scottish nationalist leader, in Glasgow University Magazine, October 1950.

John MacCormick was often known as King John. This dates back to the inaugural meeting of the Scottish Nationalist Association in 1928. MacCormick was one of the speakers and, at question time, someone asked if an independent Scotland would be a republic. A voice from the balcony shouted in reply: "No, it'll be a Kingdom and they'll have King John in charge of it", after which the nickname stuck.

MacCormick won the 1950 rectorial election with 661 votes. His installation was a boisterous affair, with a firecracker exploding under his seat, a live goose set free on the platform, flour thrown at him, and a bedlam of rattles, whistles, trumpets and more firecrackers. He later commented that it was the noisiest occasion of its kind that he had ever experienced.

Reference: Glasgow University Archive Services, DC198/49

Glasgow University Archive Services

Keywords:
advertisements, election posters, elections, Glasgow University Magazine, Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association, GUM, lawyers, National Party of Scotland, Parliament, politicians, rectorial elections, rectors, Scottish Convention, Scottish Covenant, Scottish nationalism, University of Glasgow



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