a tougher fight. At first he kept his options open on support for the Coalition government. He announced to a meeting of the Paisley Liberal Association that he would vote in Parliament as a Liberal for the Coalition government. While soon being approached by a number of local Liberals and urged to fight as an official Coalitionist, he wavered and the Coalition Coupon was bestowed on his Unionist opponent, John Taylor. Taylor, a furniture maker from Glasgow, actually fought as a member of the National Democratic Party. In addition McCallum faced a Labour opponent, John M Biggar, standing as a Co-operative candidate. In a tight three-way contest McCallum held his seat by a majority of just 106 votes, polling 7,542 votes to Biggar's 7,436 and Taylor's 7,201. Public life Apart from his political work McCallum took an active part in the public life of his home town. He was for many years president of the Paisley Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), a member of the Philosophical Society, a director of Paisley Museum and Art Gallery and a director of the Poor Association. He was knighted in 1912 Death McCallum died at Southdene, Paisley on 10 January 1920 aged 72 years. His death caused a by-election in Paisley and presented the opportunity for former Liberal Party leader H. H. Asquith to return to the House of Commons. He is buried in Woodside Cemetery in Paisley, on the main east-west path leading from the crematorium on the crest of the hill. The grave is immediately west of Joseph Whitehead's stunning Pieta, "Mother and Son". References External links 1847 births 1920 deaths Scottish Liberal Party MPs Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Paisley constituencies Politicians from Paisley, Renfrewshire UK MPs 1906–1910 UK MPs 1910 UK MPs 1910–1918 UK MPs 1918–1922 Businesspeople in manufacturing People educated at Allan Glen's School Scottish businesspeople YMCA leaders