Chatham (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Chatham
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
County Kent
Major settlements Chatham
1832–1950
Number of membersOne
Replaced by Rochester & Chatham
Created from Kent

Chatham was a parliamentary constituency in Kent which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created for the 1832 general election, when the borough of Chatham was enfranchised under the Reform Act 1832.

Contents

It was abolished for the 1950 general election, when it was largely replaced by the new Rochester and Chatham constituency. This then became Medway in 1983. When the boroughs of Rochester upon Medway and Gillingham merged to form the larger unitary Borough of Medway in 1998, the Parliamentary constituency of Medway only covered part of the new borough, so for the 2010 election it was renamed Rochester and Strood.

Boundaries

1918–1950: The Borough of Rochester except part of St Peter's ward, and the Borough of Chatham wards of Luton and St John.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMemberParty
1832 William Leader Maberly Whig [1] [2]
1834 by-election George Byng Whig [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
1835 Sir John Beresford, Bt. Conservative
1837 George Byng Whig [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
1852 Sir Frederick Smith Conservative
1853 by-election Leicester Viney Vernon Conservative
1857 Sir Frederick Smith Conservative
1865 Arthur Otway Liberal
1874 George Elliot Conservative
1875 by-election Sir John Eldon Gorst Conservative
1892 Lewis Vivian Loyd Conservative
1895 Sir Horatio Davies Conservative
1906 John Jenkins Labour
1910 Gerald Hohler Conservative
1918 John Moore-Brabazon Conservative
1929 Frank Markham Labour
1931 National Labour
1931 Sir Park Goff Conservative
1935 Leonard Plugge Conservative
1945 Arthur Bottomley Labour
1950 constituency abolished: see Rochester and Chatham

Elections

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1832: Chatham [7] [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig William Leader Maberly 363 59.4
Radical Thomas Erskine Perry 24840.6
Majority11518.8
Turnout 61190.3
Registered electors 677
Whig win (new seat)

Maberly resigned on appointment as a Commissioner of Customs, causing a by-election.

By-election, 26 June 1834: Chatham [7] [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig George Byng 262 57.7 −1.7
Tory William Ching19242.3New
Majority7015.4−3.4
Turnout 45467.2−23.1
Registered electors 676
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1835: Chatham [7] [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Beresford 323 52.0 N/A
Whig George Byng 29848.0−11.4
Majority254.0N/A
Turnout 62192.4+2.1
Registered electors 672
Conservative gain from Whig Swing N/A
General election 1837: Chatham [7] [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig George Byng Unopposed
Registered electors 785
Whig gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig George Byng 457 66.1 N/A
Conservative Price Blackwood 23433.9New
Majority22332.2N/A
Turnout 69180.2N/A
Registered electors 862
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1847: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig George Byng Unopposed
Registered electors 1,145
Whig hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frederick Smith 636 56.9 New
Whig James Stirling [8] [9] 48243.1N/A
Majority15413.8N/A
Turnout 1,11881.5N/A
Registered electors 1,371
Conservative gain from Whig Swing

The election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, causing a by-election. [10]

By-election, 23 June 1853: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Leicester Viney Vernon 610 50.5 −6.4
Whig James Stirling [9] 59849.5+6.4
Majority121.0−12.8
Turnout 1,20890.2+8.7
Registered electors 1,339
Conservative hold Swing −6.4
General election 1857: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frederick Smith 672 51.1 −5.8
Whig William Govett Romaine [11] 64348.9+5.8
Majority292.2−11.6
Turnout 1,31589.9+8.4
Registered electors 1,463
Conservative hold Swing −5.8
General election 1859: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frederick Smith 713 52.2 +1.1
Liberal Arthur Otway 65247.8−1.1
Majority614.4+2.2
Turnout 1,36588.4−1.5
Registered electors 1,544
Conservative hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Arthur Otway 986 58.3 +10.5
Conservative George Elliot 70441.7−10.5
Majority28216.6N/A
Turnout 1,69080.3−8.1
Registered electors 2,104
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +10.5
General election 1868: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Arthur Otway 2,042 52.4 −5.9
Conservative George Elliot 1,85847.6+5.9
Majority1844.8−11.8
Turnout 3,90086.3+6.0
Registered electors 4,518
Liberal hold Swing −5.9

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Elliot 2,132 59.1 +11.5
Liberal Arthur Otway 1,47640.9−11.5
Majority65618.2N/A
Turnout 3,60880.8−5.5
Registered electors 4,468
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +11.5

Elliot resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 16 Feb 1875: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst 2,173 52.6 −6.5
Liberal William Henry Stone [12] 1,95847.4+6.5
Majority2155.2−13.0
Turnout 4,13183.7+2.9
Registered electors 4,935
Conservative hold Swing −6.5

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst 2,499 51.0 −8.1
Liberal Henry Carr Glyn [13] 2,39849.0+8.1
Majority1012.0−16.2
Turnout 4,89788.3+7.5
Registered electors 5,548
Conservative hold Swing −8.1

Gorst was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 11 Jul 1885: Chatham [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst Unopposed
Conservative hold
Collier Robert Collier.jpg
Collier
General election 1885: Chatham [14] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst 3,396 56.5 +5.5
Liberal Robert Collier 2,61043.5−5.5
Majority78613.0+11.0
Turnout 6,00685.9+2.4
Registered electors 6,988
Conservative hold Swing +5.5
Clarke Sir Andrew Clarke WDL11454.png
Clarke
General election 1886: Chatham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst 3,187 56.8 +0.3
Liberal Andrew Clarke 2,42243.2−0.3
Majority76513.6+0.6
Turnout 5,60980.3−5.6
Registered electors 6,988
Conservative hold Swing +0.3

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Chatham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Lewis Vivian Loyd 3,777 52.6 −4.2
Liberal Andrew Clarke 3,40047.4+4.2
Majority3775.2−8.4
Turnout 7,17783.2+2.9
Registered electors 8,629
Conservative hold Swing −4.2
Davies Horatio Davies.jpg
Davies
General election 1895: Chatham [14] [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Horatio Davies 4,082 53.8 +1.2
Liberal Robert Hippisley Cox3,49946.2−1.2
Majority5837.6+2.4
Turnout 7,58182.4−0.8
Registered electors 9,199
Conservative hold Swing +1.2

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Chatham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Horatio Davies Unopposed
Conservative hold
Jenkins John Jenkins 1905.JPG
Jenkins
General election 1906: Chatham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Repr. Cmte. John Jenkins 6,692 62.5 New
Conservative John Eustace Jameson 4,02037.5N/A
Majority2,67225.0N/A
Turnout 10,71279.7N/A
Registered electors 13,432
Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1910s

General election, January 1910: Chatham [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gerald Hohler 7,411 54.7 +17.2
Labour John Jenkins 6,13045.3−17.2
Majority1,2819.4N/A
Turnout 13,54185.7+6.0
Registered electors 15,799
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +17.2
Bernacchi Bernacchi at WIdnes.jpg
Bernacchi
Smith Frank Smith 1908.JPG
Smith
General election, December 1910: Chatham [14] [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gerald Hohler 6,989 56.4 +1.7
Liberal Louis Bernacchi 4,30234.7New
Labour Frank Smith 1,1038.9−36.4
Majority2,68721.7+12.3
Turnout 12,39478.4−7.3
Registered electors 15,799
Conservative hold
Woodcock Drysdale Woodcock.jpg
Woodcock
General election 1918: Chatham [18] [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 11,454 62.4 +6.0
Labour Dansy Hubbard4,13422.5+13.6
Liberal H. B. D. Woodcock 2,77815.1−19.6
Majority7,32039.9+18.2
Turnout 18,36659.2−19.2
Registered electors 31,000
Unionist hold Swing -3.8

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Chatham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 11,335 51.5 −10.9
Liberal Alfred John Callaghan 10,68248.5+33.4
Majority6533.0−36.9
Turnout 22,01769.8+10.6
Registered electors 31,525
Unionist hold Swing −22.1
Hamilton Mary Hamilton.jpg
Hamilton
General election 1923: Chatham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 9,994 41.6 −9.9
Liberal Alfred John Callaghan 8,22734.3−14.2
Labour Mary Hamilton 5,79424.1New
Majority1,7677.3+4.3
Turnout 24,01574.6+4.8
Registered electors 32,212
Unionist hold Swing +2.2
Dallow Cyril Berkeley Dallow.jpg
Dallow
General election 1924: Chatham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 13,184 52.2 +10.6
Labour William Harvey Moore9,27636.7+12.6
Liberal Cyril Berkeley Dallow2,80611.1−23.2
Majority3,90815.5+8.2
Turnout 25,26677.8+3.2
Registered electors 32,481
Unionist hold Swing +10.6
General election 1929: Chatham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Frank Markham 13,007 42.6 +5.9
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 12,23140.1−12.1
Liberal George H Bryans5,28417.3+6.2
Majority7762.5N/A
Turnout 30,52274.5−3.3
Registered electors 40,980
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +9.0

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Chatham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Park Goff 19,991 62.5 +22.4
Labour Oliver Baldwin 10,83733.9−8.7
New Party Martin Woodroffe1,1353.6New
Majority9,15428.6New
Turnout 31,96375.5+1.0
Registered electors 42,356
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +15.6

The sitting MP Sydney Frank Markham sought re-election as a National Labour candidate. However, the Conservatives refused to withdraw in his favour. As a result, he was forced to withdraw. Communist candidate Walter Hannington was also adopted [20] but subsequently withdrew. [21]

General election 1935: Chatham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Leonard Plugge 19,212 59.1 −3.4
Labour Hugh Gaitskell 13,31540.9+7.0
Majority5,89718.2−10.4
Turnout 32,52774.6−0.9
Registered electors 43,573
Conservative hold Swing −5.3

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Chatham [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Arthur Bottomley 19,250 55.3 +14.4
Conservative Leonard Plugge 15,53444.7−14.4
Majority3,71610.6N/A
Turnout 34,78472.1−2.5
Registered electors 48,270
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +14.4

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Stooks Smith, Henry (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p.  378. ISBN   0-900178-13-2.
  2. 1 2 3 Gash, Norman (2013). Politics in the Age of Peel: A Study in the Technique of Parliamentary Representation, 1830–1850. Faber & Faber. p. 330. ISBN   9780571302901 . Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  3. 1 2 Parliament Commons, Lists (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 46.
  4. 1 2 Hall, Catherine; Draper, Nicholas; McClelland, Keith; Donington, Katie; Lang, Rachel (2014). "Appendix 4: MPs 1832–80 in the compensation records". Legacies of British Slave-ownership: Colonial Slavery and the Formation of Victorian Britain. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 290. ISBN   978-1-107-04005-2 . Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  5. 1 2 Dod, Charles Roger (1843). "House of Commons". The Parliamentary Companion, Volume 11. London: Whitaker & Company. p.  133 . Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). "House of Commons". The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 148. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 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.
  8. ↑ "Chatham" . South Eastern Gazette. 13 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 22 April 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. 1 2 Harries-Jenkins, Gwyn (2007). "Chapter 7". The Army in Victorian Society. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 243. ISBN   978-0-415-41274-2 . Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "Controverted Elections" . Morning Post. 8 June 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 22 April 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ Williams, William Rees (1897). "Romaine, William Govett"  . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography . 49. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  12. ↑ "Election News" . The Scotsman . 11 February 1875. p. 6. Retrieved 28 December 2017– via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ↑ "Election News". Sheffield Independent. 27 November 1882. p. 2. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 94. ISBN   9781349022984.
  15. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  16. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  17. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 . Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p.  225. ISBN   0-900178-01-9.
  19. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1922
  20. ↑ OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. "Kent." Times [London, England] 14 Oct. 1931: 6. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "General Election: List Of Nominations." Times [London, England] 17 Oct. 1931: 6. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 July 2016.

Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 3)

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