1830 Liverpool by-election

Last updated

1830 Liverpool by-election
30 November 1830
 
Candidate William Ewart Evelyn Denison
Party Radical Whig
Popular vote2,2152,186
Percentage50.3%49.7%
Member of Parliament (MP) before election

William Huskisson
Tory

Elected Member of Parliament (MP)

William Ewart
Radical

The 1830 Liverpool by-election took place on 30 November to elect one of Liverpool's two Members of Parliament (MPs) after the death of incumbent William Huskisson. Huskisson, who had died in a railway accident in September, was a Tory, as was fellow MP Isaac Gascoyne. Radical William Ewart defeated Whig Evelyn Denison. Both men's views were regarded as similar, but Denison was considered more elitist and anti-reform.

Contents

After allegations of bribery, the election was nullified in March. Both Ewart and Denison defeated Gascoyne heavily in the following year's general election.

Background

The constituency of Liverpool was entitled to two Members of Parliament (MPs). Since 1729, franchise in the constituency had been restricted to the Mayor, bailiffs, and freemen who were not receiving alms. This gave an electorate size contemporaneously estimated to be around 3,000, [1] although modern sources give more than 5,000 eligible voters in the early 1830s. [2]

Isaac Gascoyne and George Canning heavily defeated two other candidates to receive the seats in 1820. [1] Canning became prime minister in 1823, whereupon his protege, William Huskisson, succeeded him in the constituency. Gascoyne and Huskisson would continue as MPs until Huskisson died in an accident while attending the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway on 15 September, necessitating a by-election to determine his successor. [2]

Campaign

Campaigning for the election began before Huskisson was buried, on 24 September. [2]

William Ewart, a member of multiple commercial and politically-linked families, announced his candidacy on 1 October. [3]

A Mr. Gladstone was speculated as a possible third candidate on 22 October, but had not formally entered the race as of the following day. At the same time, the opinions of Denison and Ewart were considered so identical that in the absence of a third candidate the race was considered "in great measure a personal one". [4] Nevertheless, Denison was criticised for failing to disclose his opinions on various issues to the electorate at that time. [4]

During the campaign, Denison was criticised for espousing aristocratic and anti-franchise expansion views, which were considered especially hypocritical given that he had visited America. [5]

Results

This election was conducted over the course of 7 days. [6]

By-election, 30 November 1830: Liverpool [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Radical William Ewart 2,215 50.3 +30.6
Whig Evelyn Denison 2,18649.7New
Majority290.6N/A
Turnout 4,401c. 82.3c. +77.0
Registered electors c. 5,350
Radical gain from Tory Swing N/A

Aftermath

Both sides accused each other of bribery, and the election was declared null and void in March. [2]

In the 1831 election, both Denison and Ewart defeated Gascoyne by a respective 1,886 and 1,910 to Gascoyne's 610. Gascoyne, mockingly described as "Gallant" by the Morning Chronicle , was also deemed to have "the ambition to obtain a bad pre-eminence". [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK Parliament constituency since 1295

Canterbury is a constituency in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Rosie Duffield of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackburn (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1955 onwards

Blackburn is a constituency in Lancashire, England, which has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Kate Hollern of the Labour Party. From 1979 to 2015, it was represented by Jack Straw who served under the Labour leaders of Neil Kinnock and John Smith and the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockport (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Stockport is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Navendu Mishra of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wigan (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Wigan is a constituency in Greater Manchester, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Lisa Nandy of the Labour Party, who also serves as the Shadow Housing and Levelling Up Secretary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Grimsby (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Great Grimsby is a constituency in North East Lincolnshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since December 2019 by Lia Nici of the Conservative Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newark (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Newark is a constituency in Nottinghamshire, England. It is currently represented by Robert Jenrick of the Conservative Party who won the seat in a by-election on 5 June 2014, following the resignation of Patrick Mercer in April 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801 onwards

Ipswich is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since December 2019 by Tom Hunt of the Conservative Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1831 United Kingdom general election</span>

The 1831 United Kingdom general election saw a landslide win by supporters of electoral reform, which was the major election issue. As a result, it was the last unreformed election, as the Parliament which resulted ensured the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Polling was held from 28 April to 1 June 1831. The Whigs won a majority of 136 over the Tories, which was as near to a landslide as the unreformed electoral system could deliver. As the Government obtained a dissolution of Parliament once the new electoral system had been enacted, the resulting Parliament was a short one and there was another election the following year. The election was the first since 1715 to see a victory by a party previously in minority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1997

Lancaster was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1867, centred on the historic city of Lancaster in north-west England. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until the constituency was disenfranchised for corruption in 1867.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom 1801-1983 & 2010 onwards

Maldon is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its recreation in 2010 by Sir John Whittingdale, a Conservative.

Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950. The last two members to represent Oxford University when it was abolished were A. P. Herbert and Arthur Salter.

Bewdley was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1605 until 1950. Until 1885 it was a parliamentary borough in Worcestershire, represented by one Member of Parliament; the name was then transferred to a county constituency from 1885 until 1950. Its MPs included the former Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, who represented the seat from 1908 to 1937, and afterwards took the name of the constituency as part of his title when he was raised to the peerage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ripon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1868–1983

Ripon was a constituency sending members to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1983, centred on the city of Ripon in North Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beverley (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983–1997

Beverley has been the name of a parliamentary constituency in the East Riding of Yorkshire for three periods. From medieval times until 1869 it was a parliamentary borough consisting of a limited electorate of property owners of its early designated borders within the market town of Beverley, which returned (elected) two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English and Welsh-turned-UK Parliament during that period.

Liverpool was a borough constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament (MPs). In 1868, this was increased to three Members of Parliament.

North East Lancashire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The constituency was created by the Reform Act of 1867 and replaced the North Lancashire Parliamentary constituency, a county division with two seats.

Cricklade was a parliamentary constituency named after the town of Cricklade in Wiltshire.

Knaresborough was a parliamentary constituency which returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, and then one MP until its abolition in 1885.

Ilchester was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until 1832. It was one of the most notoriously corrupt rotten boroughs.

Kendal was a parliamentary borough centred on the town of Kendal in Westmorland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.

References

  1. 1 2 "Representation of Liverpool". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. Vol. 6, no. 301. 2 October 1830. p. 4. Retrieved 11 January 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Escott, Margaret. "Liverpool". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Representation of Liverpool". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. Vol. 6, no. 301. 2 October 1830. p. 2. Retrieved 11 January 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Representation of Liverpool". Sheffield and Rotherham Independent. Vol. 11, no. 566. 23 October 1830. p. 4. Retrieved 11 January 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Vindex (12 November 1830). "To the Editors of the Liverpool Mercury". Liverpool Mercury. Vol. 20, no. 1019. p. 8. Retrieved 11 January 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp.  180–184. ISBN   0-900178-13-2.
  7. ↑ No title. The Morning Chronicle. Vol. 19, no. 47. 6 May 1831. p. 2. Retrieved 11 January 2023– via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.