CHAPPLE, WILLIAM ALLAN (1864-1936) was born at Alexandra, Otago, the son of John Cole Chapple (1828-99, a farmer who was four times mayor of Alexandra). Educated at Alexandra school and Otago University, he graduated M.B., Ch.B. (1890) and M.D. (1899). From 1892 he practised in Wellington. He married Sarah Douglas, daughter of Thomas Turnbull, architect.

Chapple was a member of the council of Victoria College (1898-1906). After contesting the Newtown parliamentary seat in 1902 and 1905, he won Tuapeka at a by-election in 1908, but was defeated by Macpherson at the general election that year. Proceeding to England, he was elected in 1910 to represent Stirlingshire in the House of Commons, holding the seat till 1918, and representing Dumfriesshire (1922-24). Chapple published The Fertility of the Unfit, 1903, First Principles in the Art of Physical Development, How to Impress the Evils of Alcohol, Cases and Comments from a Doctor's Practice, and other pamphlets on social and educational subjects. He died on 19 Oct 1936.

Parlty Record; Chapple, op. cit.; Who's Who N.Z., 1932; Otago Witness, 8 1931; The Dominion, 20 Oct 1936. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 93

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