[1] The by-election in Edinburgh South was caused by the appointment of the sitting Liberal MP, Hugh Childers as Home Secretary.
[2] Childers had been the MP for Edinburgh South for just a few days when he had to resign to seek re-election.
At the by-election, Childers beat his Conservative challenger, Walter George Hepburne-Scott, 9th Lord Polwarth, taking 70% of the poll.
[3] Before being selected for Edinburgh South, Childers had been MP for Pontefract in the West Riding of Yorkshire since 1860 [4] but had lost the seat narrowly at the 1885 general election.
[5] Childers also had a distinguished government career behind him by 1886 having been, amongst other posts he held, First Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of State for War and Chancellor of the Exchequer in previous Liberal administrations.