Duncan Vernon Pirie OBE FRSGS JP DL (22 March 1858 – 11 January 1931)[1] was a Scottish Liberal Party politician who served as MP for Aberdeen North for 22 years.

His younger brother, Arthur Murray Pirie, DSO served with the 21st (Empress of India's) Lancers and was killed in World War I.

He was stationed in Egypt during the Anglo-Egyptian war of July–September 1882, serving as an extra Aide de Camp to Sir Gerald Graham.

He was consequently commended in despatches,[5] and awarded the Egypt Medal, presented to him in 1883 at a royal levee at St James Palace, overseen by the Prince of Wales.

In April 1890, Pirie was appointed as ADC to the Governor of Ceylon, Arthur Havelock, a position he held until he resigned from the role in 1893, when he returned to the 3rd Hussars in Ireland.

[8][9] During his time in Parliament, Pirie came into prominence following his successful introduction of the Education (Scotland) bill in 1901, which raised the country's school leaving age from 12 to 14.

[11] Pirie retired from politics following the end of World War I, and spent much of the remainder of his life in both Aberdeen and at the chateau in France, where he died following a weeks illness in January 1931, aged 72.