the unionist association of south edinburgh held an executive meeting on 7 june to consider their choice of candidate. they provisionally decided to recommend the adoption of major general andrew wauchope but they agreed not to take any formal steps in the selection until after the funeral of mr cox. at the time of the by-election wauchope was aged 52 and had been an officer in the black watch since 1865, having been promoted to major general in november 1898 . politically a staunch tory, he had previously contested the midlothian or edinburghshire constituency at the 1892 general election coming within 690 votes of unseating mr gladstone.