Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham (1852-1936), Traveller, politician and writer

Later Victorian Portraits Catalogue

Sitter in 8 portraits
At seventeen Graham set out for South America, and became known as a great adventurer. He travelled in Morocco disguised as a Turkish sheik, prospected for gold in Spain, befriended Buffalo Bill in Texas, and taught fencing in Mexico City. He returned to the UK in 1883, became interested in socialist politics and was elected a Liberal MP in 1886. A supporter of Scottish independence, that year he helped establish the Scottish Home Rule Association. In 1888 he founded the Scottish Labour Party with Keir Hardie. He left the Liberal Party to contest the 1892 General Election as a Labour candidate but was defeated, ending his parliamentary career.