1917 Aberdeen South by-election

[1] Esslemont had been MP for Aberdeen South since retaining the seat for the Liberals in a by-election in February 1907 following the appointment of James Bryce to be British Ambassador to the United States.

[2] On 1 March 1917, it was reported that the Liberals intended to put forward the name of Sir James Murray, the former MP for East Aberdeenshire.

[5] As partners in the wartime coalition government, the Conservatives abided by the electoral truce between the main parties and did not put forward a candidate.

James Watson, Professor of Chemistry at Anderson's College, Glasgow declared he wished to stand as an independent citizen's candidate, a vigorous supporter of what he called patriotic democracy.

Standing as an Independent (Asquithian) Liberal he lost to Frederick Thomson, a Conservative barrister who seems to have been awarded the Coalition Coupon.