Born in Scotland, he was the son of a builder, James Ross Weir. He was a pupil at
Dollar Academy before moving with his family to London as a young man. He worked as a travelling salesman for a haberdashery company before he went into business on his own account in 1863 importing
sewing machines. He unsuccessfully contested the
Falkirk Burghs constituency in 1885, when he got a derisory vote. He was elected for
Ross and Cromarty as one of five
Crofters' Party MPs in 1892, transferring his allegiance to the mainstream
Liberal Party in 1895. He held the seat until his death. He was also elected to the
London County Council in 1892 to represent
Islington East as a member of the majority Liberal-backed
Progressive Party. He died at his home in
Frognal,
Hampstead in 1911 aged 71, and was buried at Marylebone Cemetery. ==References==