Background
Dalglish was born in Glasgow, the son of Robert Dalglish (1770–1844) the Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1830 to 1832 and brother of Andrew Stevenson Dalglish (1793–1858). He was educated at Glasgow University and became the head of the family calico printing firm of Dalglish, Falconer & Son founded in Lennoxtown by his father.
Career
Foreign Glasgow from 1857 to 1874 speaking in favour of extending of the franchise, voting by ballot and a more equal distribution of electoral districts. He was a popular and respected Member of Parliament. He has in truth all the qualities which command consideration among a body of ordinary sensible mentor He possesses the charity that is not puffed up, he is an easy-going, good-natured man, he is fond of the fair sex, he gives good dinners, and yet at the same time he has a sound judgment and discretion, often appealed to by men whose names are far more frequently before the public.
He is one of those valuable and too rare Members who are useful in Committee, and seldom speak at all, and never without saying something to the point at issue and worthy of being ranged among the arguments concerning lieutenant"
He was a great admirer of the Duke of Wellington and was heavily involved in the erection of Marochetti"s statue of the "Iron Duke" in front of the Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow.
Dalglish himself is commemorated by a bas-relief on Queen Victoria"s statue in George Square. He owned and resided at Kilmardinny House in Bearsden from 1853, making substantial improvements to the property to the designs of architect James Smith.
Membership
17th United Kingdom Parliament. 18th United Kingdom Parliament. 19th United Kingdom Parliament.
20th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was the Member of Parliament Member of Parliament for Glasgow from 1857 to 1874.
"Vanity Fair" in 1873 said "Popularity is commonly but a poor test of merit, yet in Parliament it has a distinct value and meaning, so that Mr. Dalglish may well be proud of being known for the most popular Member of the House of Commons.
Personality
He was Independent Radical Member of Parliament