Alexander Sprot


Sir Alexander Sprot, 1st Baronet, was a British soldier and Scottish Unionist Party politician. He served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the Second Boer War and World War I. During his political career, he represented the constituencies of East Fife and North Lanarkshire.

Early life

The only son of Alexander Sprot of Garnkirk, Lanarkshire, of a family formerly of Edinburgh that owned a brick-making works, and Rachael Jane, he was educated at Harrow School and at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Military career

Sprot was commissioned into the Royal Lanarkshire Militia, where he reached the rank of Lieutenant. In 1874 he was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the 6th Dragoon Guards. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1876, Captain in 1882, Major in 1889, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1900, and Colonel in 1904. He served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War 1879–1880. He later served in the Second Boer War. He left South Africa in April 1902 on board the SS Walmer Castle, arriving at Southampton early the following month. He retired in 1909, but later served in World War I as an Administrative Commandant from 1915. He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1917 New Year Honours.

Political career

He unsuccessfully contested Montrose Burghs in 1906. In the two elections in 1910 he stood in East Fife against the Prime Minister H. H. Asquith. In 1918, Asquith was not opposed by a Coalition candidate, but the local Conservative Association decided to field a candidate against him. Sprot, despite being refused the "Coupon" – the official endorsement given by David Lloyd George and Bonar Law to Coalition candidates – defeated Asquith. Sprot sat for that constituency until he was defeated in 1922, and again in 1923. He then sat for North Lanarkshire from 1924 until his death in 1929.

Personal life

In 1879 he married Ethel Florence Thorp, daughter of Deputy Surgeon-General Edward C. Thorp, MD. They had daughters, including:
Sir Alexander was also Master of the Fox Hounds with the Fife Hounds. He was created a baronet in 1918.