
Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)
    
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        Portsmouth was a borough constituency based upon the borough of Portsmouth
in Hampshire
. It returned two Members of Parliament
(MPs) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
, elected by the bloc vote
system.
, when the Representation of the People Act 1918
divided it into three new constituencies; Portsmouth North, Portsmouth South and Portsmouth Central
.
According to Namier and Brooke in The House of Commons 1754-1790, the right of election was in the freemen of the borough who numbered about 100. The town was known as an Admiralty borough and at least one MP was usually an Admiral.
The Earl of Sandwich
was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1771 to 1782. He imposed tighter Admiralty control over the borough. This change of policy led to an independent element of the local Council supporting challengers to the Admiralty candidates between 1774 and 1780.
When party politics re-emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Portsmouth was a predominantly Whig
constituency. It only once elected a Tory Member of Parliament between 1790 and 1832.
The Reform Act 1832
considerably expanded the electorate of the borough. The freemen retained their ancient right franchise, but were outnumbered by the new occupier voters amongst the 1,295 electors registered in 1832. As a result of the expanded electorate the borough became more competitive. Contested elections became the norm rather than the exception, as they had been before the Reform Act.
Candidates with naval connections continued to be frequent in Portsmouth, after the Reform Act. The borough developed into a marginal constituency, particularly in the last half century of its existence.
of Portsmouth
was (as the area remains in the 21st century) a major seaport and naval base on the south coast of England. It is situated in the county of Hampshire
.
From the 1885 general election
until the dissolution before the 1918 election
the constituency was surrounded (on the landward side) by the Fareham seat.
Notes
electoral system was used in two seat elections and first past the post for single member by-elections. Each voter had up to as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings (until the secret ballot was introduced in 1872).
Note on percentage change calculations: Where there was only one candidate of a party in successive elections, for the same number of seats, change is calculated on the party percentage vote. Where there was more than one candidate, in one or both successive elections for the same number of seats, then change is calculated on the individual percentage vote.
Note on sources: The information for the election results given below is taken from Sedgwick 1715-1754, Namier and Brooke 1754-1790, Stooks Smith 1790-1832 and from Craig thereafter. Where Stooks Smith gives additional information or differs from the other sources this is indicated in a note after the result.
Note (1832): Stooks Smith was the source for the number of electors voting and classified Carter and Baring as Whigs and Napier as a Radical candidate.
Note (1835): Stooks Smith was the source for the number of electors voting. He classified Carter and Baring as Whigs, Rowley as a Tory and Napier as a Radical candidate.
Note (1837): Stooks Smith gives a registered electorate figure of 1,517; but Craig's figure is used to calculate turnout. Stooks Smith was the source for the number of electors voting. He classified Carter and Baring as Whigs, with Cockburn and Fitzharris as Tories.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth  is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire  is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. It returned two Members of Parliament
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,...
(MPs) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland  is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, elected by the bloc vote
Plurality-at-large voting
Plurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
system.
History
The constituency first elected MPs in 1295. It was abolished at the 1918 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
, when the Representation of the People Act 1918
Representation of the People Act 1918
The Representation of the People Act 1918 was an Act of Parliament passed to reform the electoral system in the United Kingdom. It is sometimes known as the Fourth Reform Act...
divided it into three new constituencies; Portsmouth North, Portsmouth South and Portsmouth Central
Portsmouth Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Portsmouth Central was a borough constituency in Portsmouth.  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 :...
.
According to Namier and Brooke in The House of Commons 1754-1790, the right of election was in the freemen of the borough who numbered about 100. The town was known as an Admiralty borough and at least one MP was usually an Admiral.
The Earl of Sandwich
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, PC, FRS  was a British statesman who succeeded his grandfather, Edward Montagu, 3rd Earl of Sandwich, as the Earl of Sandwich in 1729, at the age of ten...
was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1771 to 1782. He imposed tighter Admiralty control over the borough. This change of policy led to an independent element of the local Council supporting challengers to the Admiralty candidates between 1774 and 1780.
When party politics re-emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Portsmouth was a predominantly Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
constituency. It only once elected a Tory Member of Parliament between 1790 and 1832.
The Reform Act 1832
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832  was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
considerably expanded the electorate of the borough. The freemen retained their ancient right franchise, but were outnumbered by the new occupier voters amongst the 1,295 electors registered in 1832. As a result of the expanded electorate the borough became more competitive. Contested elections became the norm rather than the exception, as they had been before the Reform Act.
Candidates with naval connections continued to be frequent in Portsmouth, after the Reform Act. The borough developed into a marginal constituency, particularly in the last half century of its existence.
Boundaries
The parliamentary boroughParliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
of Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth  is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
was (as the area remains in the 21st century) a major seaport and naval base on the south coast of England. It is situated in the county of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire  is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
From the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
until the dissolution before the 1918 election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
the constituency was surrounded (on the landward side) by the Fareham seat.
1295-1640
| Parliament | First member | Second member | 
|---|---|---|
| 1386 | William Bristowe | Richard Mautravers | 
| 1388 (Feb) | John atte Mede | ? | 
| 1388 (Sep) | Richard Gay | William Bristowe | 
| 1390 (Jan) | Richard Robust | William atte Pury | 
| 1390 (Nov) | ||
| 1391 | William atte Pury | Henry Seys | 
| 1393 | William atte Pury | Richard Whiliare | 
| 1394 | William Hicche I | Henry Seys | 
| 1395 | Richard Gay | Stephen Agulon | 
| 1397 (Jan) | William Hicche II | Henry Seys | 
| 1397 (Sep) | William Hicche II | Henry Seys | 
| 1399 | William atte Pury | William Balchief | 
| 1401 | ||
| 1402 | Richard Spicer alias Newport | William Hicche II | 
| 1404 (Jan) | ||
| 1404 (Oct) | ||
| 1406 | William atte Pury | Richard Gay | 
| 1407 | ||
| 1410 | Henry Abraham | |
| 1411 | William Balchief | William atte Pury | 
| 1413 (Feb) | ||
| 1413 (May) | William atte Pury | William Balchief | 
| 1414 (Apr) | ||
| 1414 (Nov) | William Balchief | William atte Pury | 
| 1415 | William atte Pury | Henry Abraham | 
| 1416 (Mar) | William atte Pury | Thomas Robust | 
| 1416 (Oct) | ||
| 1417 | William atte Pury | Richard Gay | 
| 1419 | William Balchief | John Serle II | 
| 1420 | William Balchief | John Versy | 
| 1421 (May) | Simon Stubbere | Henry Abraham | 
| 1421 (Dec) | William Balchief | Richard Hert | 
| 1510-1523 | No names known | |
| 1529 | Geoffrey Lee | Francis Dignely | 
| 1536 | ? | |
| 1539 | ?John Chaderton | ? | 
| 1542 | Christopher Staverton | ?John Chaderton | 
| 1545 | John Fryer | Michael Gore | 
| 1547 | Robert Blount | Henry Knollys | 
| 1553 (Mar) | Sir Richard Wingfield | John Chaderton | 
| 1553 (Oct) | John Chaderton | Henry Bickley | 
| 1554 (Apr) | Richard Sackville Richard Sackville (escheator) Sir Richard Sackville  of Ashburnham and Buckhurst in  Sussex and Westenhanger in Kent; was an English administrator and Member of Parliament.-Career:... | William Cooke | 
| 1554 (Nov) | Edmund Cockerell | John de Vic | 
| 1555 | Ralph Henslowe | Edmund Cockerell | 
| 1558 | Edward Cordell | Edmund Cockerell | 
| 1559 | William Wynter | George Brooke alias Cobham | 
| 1563 | William Wynter | Thomas Smythe | 
| 1571 | Lawrence Blundestone | Henry Slater | 
| 1572 | Sir Henry Radclyffe Henry Radclyffe, 4th Earl of Sussex Henry Radclyffe, 4th Earl of Sussex, KG  was an English peer.-Life:He was born in England to Henry Radclyffe, 2nd Earl of Sussex and Elizabeth Howard... | Robert Colshill | 
| 1584 | Thomas Bodley Thomas Bodley Sir Thomas Bodley  was an English diplomat and scholar, founder of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.-Biography:... | Thomas Radcliffe | 
| 1586 | Thomas Harris | Thomas Thorney | 
| 1588 | Thomas Harris | Thomas Thorney | 
| 1593 | Edward Radclyffe Edward Radclyffe, 6th Earl of Sussex Edward Radclyffe, 6th Earl of Sussex  was a British peer and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire 1588-1589, Petersfield and Portsmouth.... | Thomas Thorney | 
| 1597 | William Greene | Thomas Thorney | 
| 1601 | John Moore | Edward Jones Edward Jones (died 1609) Edward Jones  was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1593 and 1609.Jones was admitted to Gray's Inn on 12 January 1588. In 1593, he was elected Member of Parliament for Grampound. He was elected MP for Penryn in 1597. In 1601 he was elected MP for... | 
| 1604 | Sir Oliver St John Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison Sir Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison  was an English soldier who became Lord Deputy of Ireland.-Early years:He was the second son of Nicholas St John  of Lydiard Park in Wiltshire and Purley Park in Berkshire, by his wife Elizabeth , daughter of Sir Richard Blount of Mapledurham House in... | Sir Richard Jenvoy | 
| 1614 | John Griffith | George Thorpe | 
| 1621–1622 | Sir Daniel Norton | Sir Benjamin Rudyerd Benjamin Rudyerd Sir Benjamin Rudyerd or Rudyard , of West Woodhay in Berkshire, was an English politician and poet, Member of Parliament for various constituencies between 1620 and 1648, and a colonial investor who was one of the incorporators of the Providence Company in 1630.Benjamin was the son of James Rudyerd... | 
| 1624 | Sir William Uvedale William Uvedale William Uvedale  was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons  at various times between 1625 and 1645. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.... | Sir Benjamin Rudyerd Benjamin Rudyerd Sir Benjamin Rudyerd or Rudyard , of West Woodhay in Berkshire, was an English politician and poet, Member of Parliament for various constituencies between 1620 and 1648, and a colonial investor who was one of the incorporators of the Providence Company in 1630.Benjamin was the son of James Rudyerd... | 
| 1625 | Sir Benjamin Rudyerd Benjamin Rudyerd Sir Benjamin Rudyerd or Rudyard , of West Woodhay in Berkshire, was an English politician and poet, Member of Parliament for various constituencies between 1620 and 1648, and a colonial investor who was one of the incorporators of the Providence Company in 1630.Benjamin was the son of James Rudyerd... | Sir Daniel Norton | 
| 1626 | Sir James Fullerton | Thomas Whiteman | 
| 1628 | Owen Jennens | William Towerson | 
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | |
1640-1918
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1640 Short Parliament The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks.... | The Earl of Lanark William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton KG  was a Scottish nobleman who supported both Royalist and Presbyterian causes during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.... | Hon. Henry Percy | Royalist | |||
| November 1640 Long Parliament The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and... | Hon. George Goring George Goring, Lord Goring George Goring, Lord Goring  was an English Royalist soldier. He was known by the courtesy title Lord Goring as the eldest son of the 1st Earl of Norwich.- The Goring family :... | Royalist | ||||
| 1640 (?) | Edward Dowse Edward Dowse (MP) Edward Dowse  was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons  from 1640 to 1648.Dowse matriculated at Hart Hall, Oxford aged 15 on 14 October 1597,  and was awarded BA on 8 May 1601 and MA on 8 May 1604. He was  incorporated  at Cambridge University in 1616.In April 1640, Dowse was... | Parliamentarian | ||||
| August 1642 | Goring disabled from sitting - seat vacant | |||||
| 1646 | Edward Boote | |||||
| December 1648 | Boote not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge Pride's Purge Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents... | Dowce died late 1648 - seat left vacant | ||||
| 1653 | Portsmouth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament Barebones Parliament Barebone's Parliament, also known as the Little Parliament, the Nominated Assembly and the Parliament of Saints, came into being on 4 July 1653, and was the last attempt of the English Commonwealth to find a stable political form before the installation of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector... and the First First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with  William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.... and Second Second Protectorate Parliament The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons... Parliaments of the Protectorate | |||||
| 1654 First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with  William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.... | Nathaniel Whetham | Portsmouth had only one seat in the First First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with  William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.... and Second Second Protectorate Parliament The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons... Parliaments of the Protectorate | ||||
| 1656 Second Protectorate Parliament The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons... | Thomas Smith | |||||
| January 1659 Third Protectorate Parliament The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons... | Francis Willoughby | John Child | ||||
| May 1659 Rump Parliament The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason.... | Portsmouth was not represented in the restored Rump Rump Parliament The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason.... | |||||
| April 1660 | Richard Norton | Henry Whithed | ||||
| May 1660 | Andrew Henley | |||||
| 1661 | Richard Norton | Sir George Carteret, Bt | ||||
| February 1679 | George Legge George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth Admiral George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth PC  was an English naval commander who gave distinguished service to both Charles II and James II.-Biography:... | Sir John Kempthorne John Kempthorne (Royal Navy officer) Sir John Kempthorne  was an officer in the English Royal Navy during the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch Wars, who eventually rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral.-Childhood and early years:... | ||||
| August 1679 | Richard Norton | |||||
| 1685 | William Legge | Henry Slingsby | ||||
| 1689 | Richard Norton | |||||
| 1690 | Edward Russell Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford Admiral of the Fleet Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, PC  was the First Lord of the Admiralty under King William III.-Naval career:... | Nicholas Hedger | ||||
| 1695 | Matthew Aylmer Matthew Aylmer, 1st Baron Aylmer Matthew Aylmer, 1st Baron Aylmer  was an Irish Admiral of the Royal Navy.Lord Aylmer, Admiral and Commander-in-Chief, was the second son of Sir Christopher Aylmer of Balrath, County Meath, and entered the Royal Navy under the protection of the Duke of Buckingham, as a Lieutenant, in 1678... | |||||
| 1696 | John Gibson Sir John Gibson Sir John Gibson , was the founder of the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was also the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth, 1696–1698 and 1702.-Life:He was son of Sir John Gibson, of Alderstone, in Ratho parish, near Edinburgh... | |||||
| 1698 | Thomas Erle Thomas Erle Lieutenant-General Thomas Erle PC  was an English army general and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England and of Great Britain from 1678 to 1718. He was Governor of Portsmouth and a Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance.... | Sir George Rooke George Rooke Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke  was an English naval commander. He is known for his service in the wars against France and particularly remembered today for his victory at Vigo Bay and for capturing Gibraltar for the British in 1704.-Early life:Rooke was born at St Lawrence, near Canterbury... | ||||
| January 1702 | John Gibson Sir John Gibson Sir John Gibson , was the founder of the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was also the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth, 1696–1698 and 1702.-Life:He was son of Sir John Gibson, of Alderstone, in Ratho parish, near Edinburgh... | |||||
| July 1702 | Thomas Erle Thomas Erle Lieutenant-General Thomas Erle PC  was an English army general and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England and of Great Britain from 1678 to 1718. He was Governor of Portsmouth and a Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance.... | |||||
| December 1702 | William Gifford | |||||
| May 1708 | Thomas Erle Thomas Erle Lieutenant-General Thomas Erle PC  was an English army general and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England and of Great Britain from 1678 to 1718. He was Governor of Portsmouth and a Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance.... | George Churchill | Tory | |||
| December 1708 | Sir Thomas Littleton, Bt Sir Thomas Littleton, 3rd Baronet Sir Thomas Littleton, 3rd Baronet , often Thomas de Littleton, was a British statesman. He was the son of Sir Thomas Littleton, 2nd Baronet  and his wife and cousin Anne Littleton.... | |||||
| January 1710 | Sir Charles Wager Charles Wager Sir Charles Wager  was a British Admiral and First Lord of the Admiralty between 1733 and 1742.Despite heroic active service and steadfast administration and diplomatic service, Wager's reputation has suffered from a profoundly mistaken idea that the navy was then at a low ebb... | |||||
| October 1710 | Sir John Jennings | |||||
| 1711 | Admiral Sir James Wishart | Sir William Gifford | ||||
| 1713 | Sir Thomas Mackworth, Bt | |||||
| 1715 | Sir Charles Wager Charles Wager Sir Charles Wager  was a British Admiral and First Lord of the Admiralty between 1733 and 1742.Despite heroic active service and steadfast administration and diplomatic service, Wager's reputation has suffered from a profoundly mistaken idea that the navy was then at a low ebb... | Sir Edward Ernle, Bt | ||||
| 1722 | Sir John Norris | |||||
| 1734 | Thomas Lewis Thomas Lewis (died 1736) Thomas Lewis  was a British politician.He was the Member of Parliament  for Salisbury , Winchester , Buckingham , Southampton , Portsmouth , Whitchurch  and Hampshire Thomas Lewis (c.1679 – 22 November 1736) was a British politician.He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Salisbury (19 August 1727... | Philip Cavendish | ||||
| 1737 | Charles Stewart | |||||
| February 1741 | Edward Vernon Edward Vernon Edward Vernon   was an English naval officer. Vernon was born in Westminster, England and went to Westminster School. He joined the Navy in 1700 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1702 and served on several different ships for the next five years... | |||||
| May 1741 | Martin Bladen | |||||
| 1743 | Sir Charles Hardy Charles Hardy Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Hardy  was a Royal Navy officer and colonial governor of New York.-Early career:Born at Portsmouth, the son of a vice admiral, Charles Hardy joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1731.... | |||||
| 1744 | Isaac Townsend Isaac Townsend Isaac Townsend  was an admiral in the British Royal Navy and a Member of Parliament.A post-Captain from 1720, Townsend commanded various ships. As captain of HMS Shrewsbury he took part in the expedition against Cartagena in 1741. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1744, Vice Admiral in 1746 and... | |||||
| 1746 | Thomas Gore | |||||
| 15 December 1747 | Hon. Edward Legge Edward Legge Edward Legge FRS  was a British Royal Navy captain who achieved a distinction when he was returned as Member of Parliament for Portsmouth on December 15, 1747 – an honour which meant little to him as he had died 87 days before.Legge was the fifth son of the Earl of Dartmouth... | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 28 December 1747 | Sir Edward Hawke Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke Admiral of the Fleet Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke KB, PC  was an officer of the Royal Navy. He is best remembered for his service during the Seven Years' War, particularly his victory over a French fleet at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, preventing a French invasion of Britain... | |||||
| 1754 British general election, 1754 The British general election, 1754 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 11th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.... | Sir William Rowley | |||||
| 1761 British general election, 1761 The British general election, 1761 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707... | Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, Bt Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, 1st Baronet Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, 1st Baronet FRS pronounced "fan-shaw"  was an English politician and landowner.He was the son of Matthew Fetherstonhaugh of Featherstone Castle, Northumberland. In 1746 he inherited the estates of a kinsman Sir Henry Fetherston but not Sir Henry's baronetcy which became... | |||||
| 1774 | Peter Taylor | |||||
| 1776 | Maurice Suckling Maurice Suckling Captain Maurice Suckling  was a Royal Navy officer who was instrumental in the training of his nephew, Horatio Nelson.-Seven Years War:... | |||||
| 1777 | Sir William Gordon | |||||
| 1778 | Hon. Robert Monckton Robert Monckton Robert Monckton  was an officer of the British army and a colonial administrator in British North America. He had a distinguished military and political career, being second in command to General Wolfe at the battle of Quebec and subsequently being the Governor of New York State... | |||||
| 1782 | Sir Henry Fetherstonhaugh, Bt | |||||
| 1783 | Hon. Thomas Erskine Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine KT PC KC  was a British lawyer and politician. He served as Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom between 1806 and 1807 in the Ministry of All the Talents.-Background and childhood:... | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 1784 British general election, 1784 The British general election of 1784 resulted in William Pitt the Younger securing an overall majority of about 120 in the House of Commons of Great Britain, having previously had to survive in a House which was dominated by his opponents.-Background:... | Hon. William Cornwallis William Cornwallis Admiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB  was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.  He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India... | |||||
| 1790 British general election, 1790 The British general election, 1790 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Political Situation:... | Hon. Thomas Erskine Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine KT PC KC  was a British lawyer and politician. He served as Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom between 1806 and 1807 in the Ministry of All the Talents.-Background and childhood:... | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 1796 British general election, 1796 The British general election, 1796 returned members to serve in the 18th and last House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain to be held before the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801... | Lord Hugh Seymour Lord Hugh Seymour Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour  was a senior British Royal Navy officer of the late 18th century who was the fifth son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford and became known for being both a prominent society figure and a highly competent naval officer... | |||||
| 1801 | John Markham | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| February 1806 | Hon. David Erskine David Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine David Montagu Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine  was a British diplomat and politician.-Background and education:... | |||||
| November 1806 United Kingdom general election, 1806 The United Kingdom general election, 1806 was the election of members to the 3rd Parliament of the United Kingdom. This was the second general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland.... | Sir Thomas Miller, Bt Sir Thomas Miller, 5th Baronet Sir Thomas Miller, 5th Baronet , MP for Lewes 1774–1778 and Portsmouth 1806–1816In 1770, Miller, formerly of Lavant, near Chichester, bought a country house in Hampshire called Froyle Place with the manor of Froyle.-References:... | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 1816 | John Bonham Carter | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 1818 United Kingdom general election, 1818 The 1818 general election of the United Kingdom saw the Whigs gain a few seats, but the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool retained a majority of around 90 seats... | Sir George Cockburn, Bt | Tory | ||||
| 1820 United Kingdom general election, 1820 The 1820 UK general election, held shortly after the Radical War in Scotland and the Cato Street Conspiracy. In this atmosphere, the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool were able to win a substantial majority over the Whigs.... | John Markham | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 1826 United Kingdom general election, 1826 The 1826 United Kingdom general election saw the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool win a substantial and increased majority over the Whigs. In Ireland, Home Rule candidates, working with the Whigs, won large gains from Unionist candidates.... | Francis Baring Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook Francis Thornhill Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook PC , known as Sir Francis Baring, Bt, from 1848 to 1866, was a British Whig politician who served in the governments of Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell.... | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 1838 | Sir George Thomas Staunton George Thomas Staunton Sir George Thomas Staunton, 2nd Baronet  was an English traveller and Orientalist.-Early life:Born at Milford House near Salisbury, he was the son of Sir George Leonard Staunton , first baronet, diplomatist and Orientalist... | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 1852 United Kingdom general election, 1852 The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain.  Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising... | The Viscount Monck | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s.  The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... | ||||
| 1857 United Kingdom general election, 1857 -Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *... | Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, Bt Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, 2nd Baronet Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, 2nd baronet   was a British  Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1857 and 1880.... | Conservative Conservative 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... | ||||
| 1865 United Kingdom general election, 1865 The 1865 United Kingdom general election saw the Liberals, led by Lord Palmerston, increase their large majority over the Earl of Derby's Conservatives to more than 80. The Whig Party changed its name to the Liberal Party between the previous election and this one.Palmerston died later in the same... | William Henry Stone William Henry Stone (MP) William Henry Stone  was an English Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1874.Stone was the son of William Stone of Dulwich Hill and his wife Mary Platt daughter of Thomas Platt of Hampstead... | Liberal Liberal 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... | Stephen Gaselee Stephen Gaselee (serjeant-at-law) Stephen Gaselee MP  was a serjeant-at-law.-Life:Gaselee, eldest son of Sir Stephen Gaselee, was born at 77 Upper Guildford Street, Russell Square, London, on 1 September 1807, and educated at Winchester School. He matriculated from Balliol College, Oxford, on 4 June 1824; graduated second class in... | Liberal Liberal 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... | ||
| 1868 United Kingdom general election, 1868 The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom... | Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, Bt Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, 2nd Baronet Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, 2nd baronet   was a British  Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1857 and 1880.... | Conservative Conservative 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... | ||||
| 1874 United Kingdom general election, 1874 -Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *... | Thomas Charles Bruce Thomas Charles Bruce Thomas Charles Bruce  was a British barrister and a  Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1885.... | Conservative Conservative 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... | ||||
| 1880 United Kingdom general election, 1880 -Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *... | Sir Henry Drummond Wolff Henry Drummond Wolff Sir Henry Drummond-Wolff GCB, GCMG, PC  was an English diplomat and Conservative Party politician, who started as a clerk in the Foreign Office.-Background:Wolff was the son of Georgiana Mary  and Joseph Wolff... | Conservative Conservative 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... | ||||
| 1885 United Kingdom general election, 1885 -Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:... | Sir William Crossman William Crossman Sir William Crossman K.C.M.G.   was an officer in the Royal Engineers and a  Liberal and Liberal Unionist politician.Crossman was born at Isleworth, Middlesex, the son of Robert Crossman and his wife Sarah... | Liberal Liberal 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... | Philip Vanderbyl Philip Vanderbyl Philip Vanderbyl  was a qualified doctor, merchant and a Liberal politician.Vanderbyl was the son of  P. V. Vanderbyl of the Cape of Good Hope. He trained as a doctor at the University of Edinburgh obtaining M.D. in honours and a gold medal. He became M.R.C.S. Eng. in 1849 and M.R.C.P. Lond. in 1855... | Liberal Liberal 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... | ||
| 1886 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**... | Liberal Unionist | Sir Samuel Wilson Samuel Wilson (pastoralist) Sir Samuel Wilson  was an Irish-born Australian pastoralist and politician, and later a British Member of Parliament.... | Conservative Conservative 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... | |||
| 1892 United Kingdom general election, 1892 The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892.  It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election... | Sir John Baker John Baker (Portsmouth politician) Sir John Baker  was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected at the 1892 general election as one of the two Members of Parliament  for Portsmouth, and held the seat until his defeat at the 1900 general election, when both Portsmouth seats were won by the Conservative Party.He... | Liberal Liberal 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... | Walter Owen Clough | Liberal Liberal 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... | ||
| May 1900 by-election Portsmouth by-election, 1900 The Portsmouth by-election, 1900 was a parliamentary by-election held on 3 May 1900 for one of the two seats in the British House of Commons constituency of Portsmouth in Hampshire.... | Thomas Arthur Bramsdon | Liberal Liberal 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... | ||||
| October 1900 United Kingdom general election, 1900 -Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**... | James Henry Alexander Majendie | Conservative Conservative 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... | Reginald Jaffray Lucas | Conservative Conservative 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... | ||
| 1906 United Kingdom general election, 1906 -Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**... | Sir John Baker John Baker (Portsmouth politician) Sir John Baker  was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected at the 1892 general election as one of the two Members of Parliament  for Portsmouth, and held the seat until his defeat at the 1900 general election, when both Portsmouth seats were won by the Conservative Party.He... | Liberal Liberal 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... | Thomas Arthur Bramsdon | Liberal Liberal 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... | ||
| January 1910 | Lord Charles Beresford | Conservative Conservative 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... | Sir Bertram Falle Bertram Falle, 1st Baron Portsea Bertram Godfray Falle, 1st Baron Portsea , known as Sir Bertram Falle, Bt, between 1916 and 1930,  was a Jersey-born barrister and politician in the United Kingdom.-Background and education:... | Liberal Unionist | ||
| 1912 | Conservative Conservative 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... | |||||
| 1916 by-election Portsmouth by-election, 1916 The Portsmouth by-election, 1916 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Portsmouth on 14 January 1916.  The seat had become vacant when Lord Charles Beresford  was elevated to peerage as Baron Beresford.The Conservative candidate, Hon... | Sir Hedworth Meux Hedworth Meux Admiral of the Fleet The Hon Sir Hedworth Meux GCB KCVO , formerly The Hon Hedworth Lambton  was an English naval officer famous for bringing help to the British forces in the Siege of Ladysmith.... | Conservative Conservative 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... | ||||
| 1918 United Kingdom general election, 1918 The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did... | Constituency abolished | |||||
Notes
Election notes
The bloc votePlurality-at-large voting
Plurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
electoral system was used in two seat elections and first past the post for single member by-elections. Each voter had up to as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings (until the secret ballot was introduced in 1872).
Note on percentage change calculations: Where there was only one candidate of a party in successive elections, for the same number of seats, change is calculated on the party percentage vote. Where there was more than one candidate, in one or both successive elections for the same number of seats, then change is calculated on the individual percentage vote.
Note on sources: The information for the election results given below is taken from Sedgwick 1715-1754, Namier and Brooke 1754-1790, Stooks Smith 1790-1832 and from Craig thereafter. Where Stooks Smith gives additional information or differs from the other sources this is indicated in a note after the result.
Election results 1715-1800
| 1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s | 
Elections in the 1710s
- Seat vacated when Wager was appointed to an office
- Seat vacated when Wager was appointed to an office
Elections in the 1720s
Elections in the 1730s
- Death of Lewis
Elections in the 1740s
- Death of Stewart
- Seat vacated when Cavendish was appointed to an office
- Death of Cavendish
- Death of Hardy
- Death of Bladen
-  Gore chose to sit for BedfordBedford (UK Parliament constituency)Bedford is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The seat was established in its current form in 1997, restoring a centuries old name. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election...
- Election declared void on 19 December 1747 as, unknown to anyone in England on 15 December, Legge had died on 19 September 1747.
Elections in the 1750s
-  Seat vacated when Rowley was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the AdmiraltyLord Commissioner of the AdmiraltyThe Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy.Officially known as the Commissioners for Exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland &c. The Lords...
Elections in the 1760s
-  Seat vacated when Hawke was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the AdmiraltyLord Commissioner of the AdmiraltyThe Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy.Officially known as the Commissioners for Exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland &c. The Lords...
- Death of Fetherstonhaugh
Elections in the 1770s
- Creation of Hawke as a peer
- Death of Taylor
- Death of Suckling
Elections in the 1780s
- Death of Monckton
- Seat vacated on the grant of a pension, at the pleasure of the Crown, to Gordon
- Source for party: Stooks Smith
Elections in the 1790s
- Seymour is referred to as Hugh Seymour-Conway in the above list of Members of Parliament
Election results 1801-1918
| 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s – 1890s – 1900s – 1910s | 
Elections in the 1800s
- Death of Seymour
- Markham is referred to as John Markham in the above list of Members of Parliament
-  The above list of Members of Parliament includes David Montagu Erskine as an MP in 1806, in succession to his father the Hon. Thomas Erskine (who became Lord ChancellorLord ChancellorThe Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
 and was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Baron ErskineBaron ErskineBaron Erskine, of Restormel Castle in the County of Cornwall, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, since 1960 a subsidiary title of the earldom of Buchan. It was created in 1806 for the Honourable Thomas Erskine on his appointment as Lord High Chancellor, a post he held until the...
 in 1806). Stooks Smith does not record this election
Elections in the 1810s
- Death of Miller
Elections in the 1820s
Elections in the 1830s
- Seat vacated on the appointment of Baring as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Note (1832): Stooks Smith was the source for the number of electors voting and classified Carter and Baring as Whigs and Napier as a Radical candidate.
Note (1835): Stooks Smith was the source for the number of electors voting. He classified Carter and Baring as Whigs, Rowley as a Tory and Napier as a Radical candidate.
Note (1837): Stooks Smith gives a registered electorate figure of 1,517; but Craig's figure is used to calculate turnout. Stooks Smith was the source for the number of electors voting. He classified Carter and Baring as Whigs, with Cockburn and Fitzharris as Tories.
- Death of Carter
- Note (1838): Stooks Smith classifies Staunton as a Whig. Dr Daniel Quarrier (Tory) was a candidate for this by-election, but retired before the poll.
-  Seat vacated on the appointment of Baring as Chancellor of the ExchequerChancellor of the ExchequerThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
 .
Elections in the 1840s
- Seat vacated on the appointment of Baring as First Lord of the Admiralty..
Elections in the 1850s
- Note (1852): Monck was a peer in the peerage of Ireland.
- Seat vacated on the appointment of Monck as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury.
- Note (1857): Number of voters unknown. The turnout is estimated by dividing the number of votes by two. To the extent that electors did not use both their votes, the figure given will be an underestimate of actual turnout.
- Note (1859): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.
Elections in the 1860s
- Note (1865): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.
-  Expansion of the electorate provided for by the Reform Act 1867Reform Act 1867The Representation of the People Act 1867, 30 & 31 Vict. c. 102 was a piece of British legislation that enfranchised the urban male working class in England and Wales....
- Note (1868): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.
Elections in the 1870s
- Note (1874): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.
- Seat vacated on the appointment of Elphinstone as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Elections in the 1880s
- Note (1880): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.
-  Electorate expanded by the Representation of the People Act 1884Representation of the People Act 1884In the United Kingdom, the Representation of the People Act 1884 and the Redistribution Act of the following year were laws which further extended the suffrage in Britain after the Disraeli Government's Reform Act 1867...
-  Crossman became a 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...
 when the party was formed shortly before the dissolution of Parliament in 1886
Elections in the 1890s
- Ashley's middle names were Evelyn Melbourne
Elections in the 1900s
- Resignation of Clough in April 1900
Elections in the 1910s
- Death of Baker - seat vacant at dissolution
- Falle became a Conservative, when the Conservative and Liberal Unionist parties formally merged in 1912
-  Elevation to the peerage of Beresford, as the 1st Baron BeresfordBaron BeresfordBaron Beresford is a title that was created three times, one in the Peerage of Ireland and later also two in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In all instances it was created for men who were eminent politicians or soldiers...
- Constituency divided in (1918)


