Dorchester (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Dorchester was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Dorchester in Dorset. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England, Great Britain and House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1295 to 1868, when its representation was reduced to one member.

Contents

The constituency was abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, after which Dorchester was placed in the new Dorset South constituency. In 1918 it was transferred to Dorset West, where it has remained since.

Members of Parliament

1295-1629

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1386 Henry Cravell Peter Blount [1]
1388 (Feb) John Perle Thomas Lamer [1]
1388 (Sep) William Chuse Thomas Gardener [1]
1390 (Jan) William Tylle John Blount [1]
1390 (Nov)
1391 Thomas Lamer John Gould [1]
1393 Robert Gutton Thomas Gardener [1]
1394 William Pullare William Ash [1]
1395 John Blount Thomas Hussey [1] [2]
1397 (Jan) Robert Veel John Jordan [1]
1397 (Sep) Robert Gutton John Jordan [1]
1399 John Blount John Westpray [1]
1401
1402 John Bomel John Jordan [1]
1404 (Jan) John Blount John Jordan [1]
1404 (Oct)
1406 Richard Hyde John Jordan [1]
1407 John Cheverell John Jordan [1]
1410 John Jordan [1]
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) Walter Tracy William Newton [1]
1414 (Apr) John Blount John Gryffyn [1]
1414 (Nov) John Jordan Richard Berell [1]
1415
1416 (Mar)
1416 (Oct)
1417 Reynold Jacob John Ford [1]
1419 John Ford [1]
1420 John Stork John Ford [1]
1421 (May) John Stork John Ford [1]
1421 (Dec) Robert Mose John Ford [1]
Second Parliament of 1553 Christopher Hole William Holman
Parliament of 1554 Owen Hayman
Parliament of 1554-1555 John Davy
Parliament of 1555 Robert Robotham Ralph Perne
Parliament of 1558 Christopher Hole John Hayward
Parliament of 1559 William Holman John Leweston
Parliament of 1563-1567 Thomas Marten Lewis Montgomery Chose to sit for Northampton
By-election John Gardiner
Parliament of 1571 Henry Macwilliam William Adyn
Parliament of 1572-1581 George Carleton George Trenchard
Parliament of 1584-1585 Robert Beale Thomas Freke
Parliament of 1586-1587 Robert Napier
Parliament of 1588-1589 Nowell Sotherton
Parliament of 1593 Dr Francis James Thomas Dabridgecourt
Parliament of 1597-1598 Robert Ashley Richard Wright
Parliament of 1601 Henry Brouncker [3] Matthew Chubbe
Parliament of 1604-1611 John Spicer
Addled Parliament (1614) Francis Ashley George Horsey
Parliament of 1621-1622 Sir Francis Ashley [4] John Parkins
Happy Parliament (1624–1625) William Whiteway Richard Bushrode
Useless Parliament (1625) Sir Francis Ashley William Whiteway
Parliament of 1625-1626 Michael Humphreys died
replaced by William Whiteway jnr 		Richard Bushrode
Parliament of 1628-1629 Denzil Holles John Hill
No Parliament summoned 1629-1640

1640-1868

YearFirst MemberFirst PartySecond MemberSecond Party
April 1640 Denzil Holles [5] Parliamentarian Denis Bond Parliamentarian
November 1640
December 1648Holles excluded in Pride's Purge - seat vacant
1653Dorchester was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 John Whiteway Dorchester had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656 John Whiteway
January 1659 James Gould John Bushrode
May 1659 Dorchester was not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 Denzil Holles John Whiteway
March 1661 James Gould
May 1661 John Churchill
1677 James Gould
1679 Sir Francis Holles Nicholas Gould
1680 James Gould
1681 Nathaniel Bond
1685 Edward Meller William Churchill
January 1689 Gerard Napier Thomas Trenchard
December 1689 Thomas Chafin
March 1690 James Gould Sir Robert Napier, Bt
December 1690 Thomas Trenchard
1695 Nathaniel Bond Nathaniel Napier
1698 Sir Robert Napier, Bt
1701 Thomas Trenchard
1702 Sir Nathaniel Napier, Bt
1705 Awnsham Churchill
1708 John Churchill
1709 Denis Bond
1710 Sir Nathaniel Napier, Bt Benjamin Gifford
1713 Henry Trenchard
April 1720 Robert Browne [6]
May 1720 Abraham Janssen
1722 Edmund Morton Pleydell [7] Joseph Damer
1723 William Chapple
1727 John Browne
1737 Robert Browne
1741 Nathaniel Gundry
1751 George Damer John Pitt
1752 George Clavell
1754 The Lord Milton
1761 Thomas Foster
1762 John Damer Tory [8]
1765 William Ewer Tory [8]
1780 Hon. George Damer [9] Tory [8]
1789 Thomas Ewer Tory [8]
Jan. 1790 Hon. Cropley Ashley Tory [8]
Jun. 1790 Whig [8] Francis Fane Tory [8]
1791 Hon. Cropley Ashley Tory [8]
1807 Robert Williams Whig [8]
1811 Charles Henry Bouverie
October 1812 Robert Williams
December 1812 William A'Court
1814 Sir Samuel Shepherd
1819 Charles Warren
1826 William Ashley-Cooper Tory Tory [8]
Apr. 1830 Henry Sturt
Aug. 1830 Lord Ashley Tory [8]
1831 Hon. Henry Ashley-Cooper Tory [8]
1834 Conservative [8] Conservative [8]
1835 Robert Williams Conservative [8]
1841 Sir James Graham, Bt Conservative [8]
1847 Hon. George Dawson-Damer Conservative Henry Sturt Conservative
1852 Richard Brinsley Sheridan [10] Whig [11] [12] [13]
1856 Charles Napier Sturt Conservative
1859 Liberal
1868 representation reduced to one member

1868-1885

ElectionMemberParty
1868 representation reduced to one member
1868 Charles Napier Sturt Conservative
1874 William Brymer Conservative
1885 constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1830s

By-election, 10 April 1830: Dorchester [14] [8] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
No label Henry Sturt Unopposed
Registered electors c. 500
No label gain from Tory
General election 1830: Dorchester [14] [8] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Tory Robert Williams, senior Unopposed
Tory Anthony Ashley-Cooper Unopposed
Registered electors c. 500
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1831: Dorchester [14] [8] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Tory Robert Williams, senior Unopposed
Tory Anthony Ashley-Cooper Unopposed
Registered electors c. 500
Tory hold
Tory hold

Ashley-Cooper resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 11 October 1831: Dorchester [14] [8] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Tory Henry Ashley-Cooper Unopposed
Registered electors c. 500
Tory hold
General election 1832: Dorchester [14] [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Tory Robert Williams, senior Unopposed
Tory Henry Ashley-Cooper Unopposed
Registered electors 322
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1835: Dorchester [14] [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Williams, junior Unopposed
Conservative Henry Ashley-Cooper Unopposed
Registered electors 318
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1837: Dorchester [14] [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Williams, junior Unopposed
Conservative Henry Ashley-Cooper Unopposed
Registered electors 397
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Ashley Unopposed
Conservative James Graham Unopposed
Registered electors 367
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Graham was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 13 September 1841: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Graham Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1847: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Dawson-Damer Unopposed
Conservative Henry Sturt Unopposed
Registered electors 405
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Richard Brinsley Sheridan 235 36.9 New
Conservative Henry Sturt 215 33.8 N/A
Conservative George Dawson-Damer 18629.2N/A
Majority203.1N/A
Turnout 318 (est)73.6 (est)N/A
Registered electors 432
Whig gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Sturt resigned in order to contest the 1856 by-election in Dorset, causing a by-election.

By-election, 22 July 1856: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Napier Sturt Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1857: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Richard Brinsley Sheridan Unopposed
Conservative Charles Napier Sturt Unopposed
Registered electors 451
Whig hold
Conservative hold
General election 1859: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Richard Brinsley Sheridan Unopposed
Conservative Charles Napier Sturt Unopposed
Registered electors 442
Liberal hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Napier Sturt 268 42.8 N/A
Liberal Richard Brinsley Sheridan 255 40.7 N/A
Conservative Henry Drummond Wolff 10316.5N/A
Turnout 313 (est)72.5 (est)N/A
Registered electors 432
Majority132.1N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Majority15224.2N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Seat reduced to one member

General election 1868: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Napier Sturt Unopposed
Registered electors 628
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Brymer 353 60.2 N/A
Liberal Sir Francis Somerville Head, 2nd Baronet23339.8New
Majority12020.4N/A
Turnout 58685.2N/A
Registered electors 688
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Dorchester [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Brymer 374 53.0 −7.2
Liberal Algernon Greville 33247.0+7.2
Majority426.0−14.4
Turnout 70686.4+1.2
Registered electors 817
Conservative hold Swing −7.2

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "Dorchester". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "HUSSEY, Thomas I, of North Bowood, Dorset. | History of Parliament Online".
  3. ↑ "BROUNCKER, Henry (C.1550-1607), of Erlestoke, Wilts. And West Ham, Essex. | History of Parliament Online".
  4. ↑ Ashley resigned his place in favour of Sir Thomas Edmondes but was rechosen when Edmondes chose to sit for another constituency
  5. ↑ Disabled from sitting January 1648 but re-instated June 1648
  6. ↑ On petition (in a dispute over the franchise), Browne was declared not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Janssen, was seated in his place
  7. ↑ On petition, Pleydell was declared not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Chapple, was seated in his place
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp.  85–87. ISBN   0-900178-13-2.
  9. ↑ Damer was declared re-elected in 1790, but on petition was found not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Ashley, was seated in his place
  10. ↑ Sheridan was the grandson of his celebrated namesake Richard Brinsley Sheridan
  11. ↑ "London Electoral History — Steps Towards Democracy: 6.2 History of Elections in Westminster, 1749–1852" (PDF). London Electoral History 1700-1850. Newcastle University. p. 11. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Roberts, Andrew. "Biographies of Honorary (Unpaid) Lunacy Commissioners 1828-1912". THE LUNACY COMMISSION, A STUDY OF ITS ORIGIN, EMERGENCE AND CHARACTER. Middlesex University. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  13. ↑ The Illustrated London News, Volume 6. Illustrated London News & Sketch Limited. 1845. p. 151. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. p. 112. ISBN   978-1-349-02349-3.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Farrell, stephen. "Dorchester". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 11 April 2020.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–2010 and 2024 onwards

Bridgwater is a parliamentary constituency represented in 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">Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–2010

Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset. Until 1918, it was a parliamentary borough, electing two Member of Parliaments (MPs) between 1295 and 1885 and one from 1885 to 1918; the name was then transferred to a county constituency, electing one MP.

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

Stafford is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Leigh Ingham from the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom 1801-1983 & 1997 onwards

Colchester is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Pam Cox, of the Labour party.

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

Chippenham is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2024 by Sarah Gibson, a Liberal Democrat. The 2024 constituency includes the Wiltshire towns of Calne, Chippenham, Corsham and Royal Wootton Bassett.

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

Abingdon was a parliamentary constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) from 1558 until 1983, making it one of the few English constituencies in the unreformed House of Commons to elect only one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Morpeth was a constituency centred on the town of Morpeth in Northumberland represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1553 to 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1800 to 1983.

Weymouth and Melcombe Regis was a parliamentary borough in Dorset represented in the English House of Commons, later in that of Great Britain, and finally in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was formed by the Union of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis Act 1571 which amalgamated the existing boroughs of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. Until 1832, the combined borough continued to elect the four Members of Parliament (MPs) to which its constituent parts had previously been entitled; the Great Reform Act reduced its representation to two Members, and the constituency was abolished altogether in 1885, becoming part of the new South Dorset constituency.

Helston, sometimes known as Helleston, was a parliamentary borough centred on the small town of Helston in Cornwall.

Radnor or New Radnor was a constituency in Wales between 1542 and 1885; it elected one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliaments of England (1542–1707), Great Britain (1707–1800) and the United Kingdom (1801–1885), by the first past the post electoral system. In the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the division was merged into Radnorshire.

Sudbury was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

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

Cirencester was a parliamentary constituency in Gloucestershire. From 1571 until 1885, it was a parliamentary borough, which returned two Member of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, and one member between 1868 and 1885. In 1885 the borough was abolished but the name was transferred to the county constituency in which it stood; this constituency was abolished for the 1918 general election.

Monmouth Boroughs was a parliamentary constituency consisting of several towns in Monmouthshire. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliaments of England, Great Britain, and finally the United Kingdom; until 1832 the constituency was known simply as Monmouth, though it included other "contributory boroughs".

Launceston, also known at some periods as Dunheved, was a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the British House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, and one member from 1832 until 1918. It was a parliamentary borough until 1885, and a county constituency thereafter.

Bridport was a parliamentary borough in Dorset, England, which elected two Members of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1868, and then one member from 1868 until 1885, when the borough was abolished.

Andover was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1295 to 1307, and again from 1586, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was a parliamentary borough in Hampshire, represented by two Members of Parliament until 1868, and by one member from 1868 to 1885. The name was then transferred to a county constituency electing one MP from 1885 until 1918.

Lyme Regis was a parliamentary borough in Dorset, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, and then one member from 1832 until 1868, when the borough was abolished.

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

Dorset was a county constituency covering Dorset in southern England, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs), traditionally known as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons of England from 1290 until 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until 1832.

Shaftesbury was a parliamentary constituency in Dorset. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England, Great Britain and the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1295 until 1832 and one member until the constituency was abolished in 1885.

References

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.