Eccles by-election, 1890
Encyclopedia
The Eccles by-election, 1890 was a parliamentary by-election
held for the British House of Commons
constituency of Eccles
in Lancashire
on 22 October 1890.
MP
the Hon. Alfred John Francis Egerton on 25 September 1890. Egerton had held the seat at the 1886 general election
with a majority of 292 votes.
The constituency was described as containing an "electorate of varied pursuits and interests", with different areas favourable to each candidate. The Liberals were thought to be strong among the factory workers in Patricroft
, Pendlebury
and Swinton
. Roby's family firm maintained two mills in the area, and he was known to be a popular employer. There was also a large number of Irish
voters among the employees of the London and North Western Railway
locomotive works in Patricroft likely to be in favour of Home Rule. In contrast, the mainly residential town of Eccles
was thought to be favourable to the Conservative candidate. The political allegiance of the coalminers of the constituency was uncertain. The Egerton family had been involved in the development and ownership of the colleries, and the Conservatives were confident that this would be sufficient to secure their support. On the other hand the Liberals, who supported an eight hour working day, believed they would get the majority of miners' votes.
and employed a large number of scrutineer
s at the eleven polling stations. Polling was relatively slow until lunch time, when large numbers of navvies and mill-operators voted. There was a heavy poll from 5 p.m. until the close of polls at 8.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held for the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituency of Eccles
Eccles (UK Parliament constituency)
Eccles was a parliamentary constituency of the United Kingdom, centred on the town of Eccles in Greater Manchester, England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.- History :The constituency...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
on 22 October 1890.
Vacancy
The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
the Hon. Alfred John Francis Egerton on 25 September 1890. Egerton had held the seat at the 1886 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
with a majority of 292 votes.
The candidates and constituency
The campaign began immediately following the late MP's funeral on 30 September. There were two candidates:- Algernon Fulke EgertonAlgernon EgertonThe Honourable Algernon Fulke Egerton , known as Algernon Leveson-Gower until 1833, was a British Conservative politician.-Background:...
, a former ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP and uncle of the deceased member, who was also supported by the local Liberal UnionistLiberal Unionist PartyThe Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
organisation. - Henry John RobyHenry John RobyHenry John Roby , was an English classical scholar and writer on Roman law, and a Liberal Member of Parliament.-Early life and Cambridge:...
, a partner in the firm of Ermen & Roby cotton thread manufacturers, candidate of the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
.
The constituency was described as containing an "electorate of varied pursuits and interests", with different areas favourable to each candidate. The Liberals were thought to be strong among the factory workers in Patricroft
Patricroft
Patricroft is a district of Eccles, England, within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire.-History:Patricroft may derive its name from 'Pear-tree croft', or more likely, 'Patrick's Croft'. In 1836, James Nasmyth, in partnership with Holbrook Gaskell, built the Bridgewater Foundry in...
, Pendlebury
Pendlebury
Pendlebury is a suburban town in the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies to the northwest of Manchester city centre, northwest of Salford, and southeast of Bolton....
and Swinton
Swinton, Greater Manchester
Swinton is a town within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located on the A6 road it stands on gently sloping ground on the southwest side of the River Irwell, and within the bounds of the orbital M60 motorway. It is west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester...
. Roby's family firm maintained two mills in the area, and he was known to be a popular employer. There was also a large number of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
voters among the employees of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
locomotive works in Patricroft likely to be in favour of Home Rule. In contrast, the mainly residential town of Eccles
Eccles, Greater Manchester
Eccles is a town in the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England, west of Salford and west of Manchester city centre...
was thought to be favourable to the Conservative candidate. The political allegiance of the coalminers of the constituency was uncertain. The Egerton family had been involved in the development and ownership of the colleries, and the Conservatives were confident that this would be sufficient to secure their support. On the other hand the Liberals, who supported an eight hour working day, believed they would get the majority of miners' votes.
The campaign
Roby's campaign was bolstered by the support of the Irish National League, with a number of Irish MPs visiting the constituency to support him. The miners' associations applied pressure on Egerton to support an eight hours bill. However he came out in opposition to such a move. The Ashton & Haydock and Manchester Miners' Associations subsequently gave their full support to the Liberals. Following the miners' decision it was clear that the momentum was with the Liberals, and the Conservatives "were beginning to recognise [that Egerton's] name and influence will avail them little".Polling day
Polling opened at 8 a.m., with both parties organising transport for their supporters. Rosettes in party colours were widely worn: blue for the Conservatives and red for the Liberals. The Liberals were fearful of personationPersonation
Personation is a term used in law for the specific kind of voter fraud where an individual votes in an election, whilst pretending to be a different elector....
and employed a large number of scrutineer
Scrutineer
In general, a scrutineer is a person who observes any process which requires rigorous oversight, either to prevent the occurrence of corruption or genuine mistakes. It is most commonly known as part of voting in an election, where the scrutineer observes the counting of ballot papers, in order to...
s at the eleven polling stations. Polling was relatively slow until lunch time, when large numbers of navvies and mill-operators voted. There was a heavy poll from 5 p.m. until the close of polls at 8.