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Harry Rankin (politician)

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Henry Cunison Deans Rankin (14 October 1932 – 4 January 2010) was a Scottish chartered accountant who served as treasurer to the Scottish National Party and as National Chairman of the Saltire Society.

Rankin was born at Hamilton, Scotland, on 14 October 1932 and was educated at the former Hamilton Academy and the University of Glasgow, graduating MA and LLB in 1958.[1]

Joining the tax department of the Glasgow firm of Arthur Young McLelland Moores and Company in 1967, Rankin subsequently moved in 1970 to the Edinburgh firm of chartered accountants, Graham Smart and Annan, becoming tax manager. In 1973 Rankin was appointed a lecturer on taxation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and in 1982 appointed the Institute's director of student education. Rankin also wrote a classic textbook Corporation Tax for Students used by accountancy students across the U.K.[1][2]

Rankin stood unsuccessfully on the Scottish National Party (SNP) ticket as a parliamentary candidate for the Lanark constituency in 1966 and 1970, taking 10% and then 12% of the vote,[3][4] then for the North Angus and Mearns constituency in February 1974, where he managed 23%, but was still not elected.[5] He served as SNP national treasurer from 1965–66, and as a member of its National Executive Committee from 1966–68.[6]

He remained a member of the SNP, and was included in a list of potential candidates for the 1999 Scottish Parliament election, although he did not ultimately stand.[7]

In June 2007, Rankin was appointed National Chairman of the Saltire Society.[8] For eleven years from its inception, Rankin also served as treasurer and secretary of the Cantilena Music Festival, held twice a year on the Isle of Islay, Scotland.[9]

Rankin died at Dunfermline on 4 January 2010.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Obituary: Harry Rankin". The Scotsman. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  2. ^ Shaw, Alison (17 January 2010). "Cunison Rankin; Chartered accountant and former SNP treasurer". The Herald. Archived from the original on 16 July 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  3. ^ "UK General Election results March 1966 Archived 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources
  4. ^ "UK General Election results 1970 Archived 29 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine", Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources
  5. ^ "UK General Election results February 1974 Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine", Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources
  6. ^ "Your place to remember Henry Cunison Deans Rankin—SNP.org". Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2010. Scottish National Party, tributes page, retrieved 2010-10-17
  7. ^ Dinwoodie, Robbie (17 June 1998). "SNP declares open season". The Herald. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Former Chairman Saltire Society: Cunison Rankin, Former Chairman of Council". Saltire Society. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  9. ^ [1] Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Saltire Society, obituary, retrieved 2010-10-17
Party political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of the Scottish National Party
1965–1966
Succeeded by
James Cook
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