1861 Pembrokeshire by-election

Last updated

The 1861 Pembrokeshire by-election was held on 19 January 1861. The by-election was necessary due to the elevation of the incumbent Conservative MP, John Campbell to the peerage following the death of his father. It was won by the Conservative candidate George Lort Phillips. [1]

Contents

Candidates

Within days of the vacancy arising as a result of Cawdor's death and the elevation of his son and heir to the House of Lords, George Lort Phillips of Lawrenny had issued an address declaring himself as the Conservative candidate, with the support of his predecessor. The local Conservative newspaper, the Pembrokeshire Herald, strongly endorsed his candidacy. An editorial on 16 November, described Lort Phillips as a man who would not adopt "a blind adherence to ant party" (words often used in the mid-Victorian era to by Conservative candidates) and praised his support of the local militia and agricultural improvement societes. [2]

However, he was opposed by a Liberal candidate, Hugh Owen Owen, son of the Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire and previously MP for Pembroke Boroughs. In contrast to its strong support for Lort Phillips, the Herald referred to Owen's long absence from the county, his age (although he was only in his mid 50s), his abandonment of his previous Conservative views, the attitude of his father and his record years before as member for the Pembroke Boroughs. [2]

Although the Pembrokeshire Herald railed against "the evils" of a contested election the scene was set for a bitter contest. [2]

Campaign

Shortly after the vacancy arose, both candidates had issued their addresses, suggesting that they had been preparing for a contest for some time. [3]

Result

By-election, 19 January 1861: Pembrokeshire [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Lort Phillips 1,194 54.9 N/A
Liberal Hugh Owen 97945.1N/A
Majority2159.8N/A
Turnout 2,17377.4N/A
Registered electors 2,809
Conservative hold

Related Research Articles

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

Ceredigion is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Created in 1536, the franchise expanded in the late 19th century and on the enfranchisement of women. Its boundaries remained virtually unchanged until 1983. From 1536 until 1885 the area had two seats : a county constituency (Cardiganshire) comprising the rural areas, the other the borough constituency known as the Cardigan District of Boroughs comprising a few separate towns; in 1885 the latter was abolished, its towns and electors incorporated into the former, reduced to one MP. The towns which comprised the Boroughs varied slightly over this long period, but primarily consisted of Cardigan, Aberystwyth, Lampeter and Adpar, the latter now a suburb of Newcastle Emlyn across the Teifi, in Carmarthenshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997 onwards

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir Thomas Lloyd, 1st Baronet</span>

Sir Thomas Davies Lloyd, 1st Baronet was a British Liberal Member of Parliament, for Cardiganshire (Ceredigion) 1865–1868 and Cardigan Boroughs 1868–1874. Although he coveted a peerage and spent a fortune in pursuit of that aim, he had to be content with a baronetcy.

Pembrokeshire was a parliamentary constituency based on the county of Pembrokeshire in Wales. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Carmarthenshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1918

West Carmarthenshire was a parliamentary constituency in Wales which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Roch</span>

Walter Francis Roch, sometime MP (Lib.) for Pembrokeshire from 1908 to 1918 was a Welsh politician and landowner, whose political career ended when he continued to support H.H. Asquith over David Lloyd George.

The 1960 Ebbw Vale by-election on 17 November 1960 was a by-election for a single seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Caused by the death of Labour Party Deputy Leader Aneurin Bevan, the constituency was very safely held by Labour and never in significant danger of changing hands. The selection of Michael Foot, a prominent left-winger out of sympathy with the party leadership on nuclear disarmament and other issues, led to a lively campaign. Foot's handy win was seen as causing problems for party leader Hugh Gaitskell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W. R. H. Powell</span> British politician (1819–1889)

Walter Rice Howell Powell was a Welsh landowner and Liberal politician. He was Member of Parliament for Carmarthenshire from 1880 until 1885 and for West Carmarthenshire from 1885 until his death in 1889.

Henry George Allen MA JP QC was a British lawyer and Liberal politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet</span> British politician

Sir John Owen, 1st Baronet, born John Lord, was a British Tory politician from Wales. He sat as a Member of Parliament (MP) for over fifty years. His wealth came from coal mining but he lost most of his fortune as a result of costly electoral campaigns in Pembrokeshire, most notably those of 1831.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Scourfield</span> Welsh politician (1808–1876)

Sir John Henry Scourfield, 1st Baronet was a Welsh Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1852 to 1876.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir William Owen, 4th Baronet</span> Welsh politician

Sir William Owen, 4th Baronet (1697?–1781), of Orielton, Pembrokeshire, was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons for 52 years from 1722 to 1774.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Lort Phillips</span> British politician

George Lort-Phillips was Conservative Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire in Wales from 1861 until his death.

The 1908 Pembrokeshire by-election was held on 16 July 1908. The by-election was held due to the elevation to the peerage of the incumbent Liberal MP, John Wynford Philipps. It was won by the Liberal candidate Walter Roch.

The first election to Pembrokeshire County Council, was held in January 1889. It was followed by the 1892 election. The county was divided into numerous single member wards with two or more councillors elected to represent Tenby and Pembroke Dock.

John Lloyd Davies was a Welsh lawyer and politician, originally from the Aberystwyth area, who represented Cardigan boroughs in Parliament between 1855 and 1857.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Pryse</span> British politician

Colonel Edward Lewis Pryse was a British Liberal politician.

Sir Hugh Owen Owen, 2nd Baronet, known as Hugh Owen Lord until 1809, was a British Liberal Party, Conservative Party and Tory politician.

William Thomas Rowland Powell was a Welsh landowner and Conservative politician who served as Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire from 1859 until 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir Arthur Owen, 3rd Baronet</span> Welsh aristocrat, politician, baronet

Sir Arthur Owen, 3rd Baronet, of Orielton, Pembrokeshire, was a Welsh Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1695 and 1727.

References

  1. "Pembrokeshire Election". Pembrokeshire Herald. 18 January 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Pembrokeshire Election (editorial)". Pembrokeshire Herald. 16 November 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  3. "The County Representation (editorial)". Pembrokeshire Herald. 23 November 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   978-1-349-02349-3.