Londonderry City (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Londonderry City
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
County County Londonderry
Borough Londonderry
18011922
Seats1
Created from Londonderry City (IHC)
Replaced by Londonderry

Londonderry City was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, representing the city of Derry in County Londonderry. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the United Kingdom House of Commons on the electoral system of the first past the post.

Contents

Boundaries

The parliamentary borough of Londonderry was granted representation in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom under the Acts of Union 1800 which took effect on 1 January 1801. It inherited the boundaries and franchise of the Londonderry City constituency of the abolished Irish House of Commons.

A report on the constituency was conducted in December 1831, proposing a new boundary. [1] The Parliamentary Boundaries (Ireland) Act 1832 defined the boundaries of the parliamentary borough as: [2]

From the Point on the South-west of the City at which Mary Blue's Burn joins the River Foyle, up Mary Blue's Burn to the Point at which the same crosses Stanley's Walk; thence, Westward, along Stanley's Walk to the Point at which the same meets a Road which runs nearly parallel to Mary Blue's Burn; thence, Northward, along the last-mentioned Road to the Point at which the same reaches the Entrance Gate to the Bishop's Demesne and Deer Park; thence, Westward, along the Road which proceeds from the said Entrance Gate to the Point at which the same turns South-westward; thence, Northward, along a small Stream for about Seventy Yards to the Point at which the same meets a Bank which skirts the Southeastern Bank of a circular Plantation, and runs up to the Creggan and Burt Road; thence along the Bank so running to the Creggan and Burt Road to the Point at which the same meets the Creggan and Burt Road; thence along a Ditch which runs from the Northern Side of the Creggan and Burt Road, and nearly opposite to the Point last described, to the Point at which the same meets a small Stream; thence in a straight Line to the North-western Corner of the Enclosure Wall of the Lunatic Asylum; thence along the Northern Enclosure Wall of the Lunatic Asylum, and in a Line in continuation thereof, to the Point at which such Line cuts the River Foyle; thence, Southward, along the River Foyle to the Point at which the same is met, on the Eastern Side, by a Ditch or Bank which forms the Southern Boundary of the Pleasure Grounds of Mr. William Bond; thence along the last-mentioned Ditch or Bank to the Point at which the same meets the Newton Limavady Road; thence, Southward, along the Newton Limavady Road for about Ninety Yards to the Point where the said Road joins the old Strabane Road; thence along the old Strabane Road for about Three hundred and ninety Yards to the Point where the same is met by a narrow Road running therefrom to the Tank; thence, Westward, along the last-mentioned narrow Road for about Thirty Yards to the Spot where the same is met by a Bank, now planted with Bushes, running Southward; thence along the last-mentioned Bank to the Spot where the same is met by a Lane running from Waterside up a steep Hill to the old Strabane Road; thence to the nearest Point of a small Stream which is the Boundary between the Townlands of Clooney and Gobnascale; thence down the said Stream for about Seventy Yards to the Point where the same is met by a Lane running South-westward to the Fields; thence along the last-mentioned Lane to the Point where it cuts the Boundary between the Townlands of Gobnascale and Tamneymore; thence, Westward, along the Boundary between the Townlands of Gobnascale and Tamneymore to the Point at which the same meets the River Foyle; thence, South-ward, along the River Foyle to the Point first described.

Under the Representation of the People (Ireland) Act 1868, its boundaries were extended to include all of the municipal borough of Londonderry. [3] It was not affected by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 or the Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918.

The Government of Ireland Act 1920 established the Parliament of Northern Ireland, which came into operation in 1921. The representation of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of the United Kingdom was reduced from 30 MPs to 13 MPs, taking effect at the 1922 United Kingdom general election. Londonderry City, North Londonderry and South Londonderry were combined to form the single-seat county constituency of Londonderry. [4]

Politics

After the extension of the franchise under the Representation of the People Act 1884, the constituency was one of the most marginal seats in Ireland.

Sinn Féin won in 1918. The MP, Professor Eoin MacNeill, was also returned for National University of Ireland. As MacNeill did not take his seat in the United Kingdom House of Commons he could not choose which constituency he would represent and arrange a by-election in the other. He played an active role in the First Dáil and in the Ministry of Dáil Éireann.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMPParty
1801 co-option Henry Alexander Tory
1802 Sir George Hill, Bt Tory [5]
1830 Sir Robert Ferguson, Bt Whig [6] [7] [8] [9]
1860 by-election William McCormick Irish Conservative
1865 Lord Claud Hamilton Irish Conservative
1868 Richard Dowse Liberal
1872 by-election Charles Lewis Irish Conservative
1886 Justin McCarthy [a] Irish Parliamentary
1892 John Ross Irish Unionist
1895 Edmund Vesey Knox Irish Parliamentary
1899 by-election Arthur John Moore Irish Parliamentary
1900 James Hamilton Irish Unionist
1913 by-election David Cleghorn Hogg Liberal
1914 by-election James Brown Dougherty Liberal
1918 Eoin MacNeill Sinn Féin
1922 Constituency abolished
  1. Lewis was declared elected at the 1886 general election, but the result was overturned on petition, and the seat awarded to McCarthy.

Elections

The elections in this constituency were conducted on the electoral system of first past the post.

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Londonderry City [10] [6] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Whig Robert Ferguson 258 73.5
Tory John Richard James Hart8724.8
Whig John Montgomery61.7
Majority17148.7
Turnout 351c.54.0
Registered electors c.650
Whig gain from Tory

On petition, Ferguson's election was declared void, causing a by-election.

By-election, 2 April 1831: Londonderry City [10] [6] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Robert Ferguson 202 76.5 +3.0
Tory John Richard James Hart6223.51.3
Majority 14053.0+4.3
Turnout 264c.40.6c.13.4
Registered electors c.650
Whig hold Swing +2.2
General election 1831: Londonderry City [10] [6] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Robert Ferguson 205 77.4 +3.9
Whig Conolly McClausland Lecky6022.6N/A
Majority 14554.8+6.1
Turnout 26540.8c.13.2
Registered electors 650
Whig hold Swing +3.9
General election 1832: Londonderry City [10] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Robert Ferguson 308 57.7 19.7
Tory George Robert Dawson 22642.3New
Majority 8215.439.4
Turnout 53487.4+46.6
Registered electors 611
Whig hold Swing 19.7
General election 1835: Londonderry City [10] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 703
Whig hold
General election 1837: Londonderry City [10] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Whig Robert Ferguson 212 60.7
Conservative George Robert Dawson 13739.3
Majority7521.4
Turnout 34943.4
Registered electors 804
Whig hold

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Londonderry City [10] [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 742
Whig hold
General election 1847: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 1,904
Whig hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 724
Whig hold
General election 1857: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 825
Whig hold
General election 1859: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 825
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

Ferguson's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 2 April 1860: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Conservative William McCormick 326 45.6 New
Liberal Samuel MacCurdy Greer 30742.9N/A
Liberal George Skipton8211.5N/A
Majority 192.7N/A
Turnout 71586.7N/A
Registered electors 825
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
General election 1865: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Conservative Claud Hamilton 379 53.4 N/A
Liberal Samuel MacCurdy Greer 33146.6N/A
Majority 486.8N/A
Turnout 71081.1N/A
Registered electors 876
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
General election 1868: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Richard Dowse 704 54.0 +7.4
Irish Conservative Claud Hamilton 59946.07.4
Majority 1058.0N/A
Turnout 1,30387.9+6.8
Registered electors 1,483
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +7.4

Elections in the 1870s

Dowse was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 15 Feb 1870: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Richard Dowse 680 53.5 0.5
Irish Conservative Robert Baxter59246.5+0.5
Majority 887.01.0
Turnout 1,27285.82.1
Registered electors 1,483
Liberal hold Swing 0.5

Dowse resigned after being appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, causing a by-election.

By-election, 27 Nov 1872: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 696 53.2 +7.2
Liberal Christopher Palles 52239.914.1
Home Rule Joseph Biggar 896.8New
Irish Conservative Bartholomew McCorkell20.2N/A
Majority 17413.3N/A
Turnout 1,30980.77.2
Registered electors 1,622
Irish Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.7
General election 1874: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 744 51.0 +5.0
Liberal Bartholomew McCorkell71549.05.0
Majority 292.0N/A
Turnout 1,45986.61.3
Registered electors 1,685
Irish Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +5.0

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 964 52.4 +1.4
Liberal Adam Hogg87647.61.4
Majority 884.8+2.8
Turnout 1,84091.8+5.2
Registered electors 2,005
Irish Conservative hold Swing +1.4
1885 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 1,824 50.4 2.0
Irish Parliamentary Justin McCarthy 1,79249.6New
Majority 320.84.0
Turnout 3,61693.2+1.4
Registered electors 3,879
Irish Conservative hold Swing N/A
1886 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 1,781 50.0 0.4
Irish Parliamentary Justin McCarthy 1,77850.0+0.4
Majority 30.0N/A
Turnout 3,55991.81.4
Registered electors 3,879
Irish Conservative hold Swing 0.4

On petition, Lewis was unseated. McCarthy was named as MP on 25 October.

Elections in the 1890s

1892 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Unionist John Ross 1,986 50.3 +0.3
Irish National Federation Justin McCarthy 1,96049.70.3
Majority 260.6+0.6
Turnout 3,94694.8+3.0
Registered electors 4,161
Irish Unionist hold Swing +0.3
1895 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish National Federation Edmund Vesey Knox 2,033 50.5 +0.8
Irish Unionist John Ross 1,99449.50.8
Majority 391.0N/A
Turnout 4,02796.1+1.3
Registered electors 4,191
Irish National Federation gain from Irish Unionist Swing +0.8

Knox resigns, triggering a by-election.

By-election, 1899: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Parliamentary Arthur John Moore 2,343 50.5 0.0
Liberal Unionist Emerson Herdman2,30149.50.0
Majority 421.00.0
Turnout 4,64495.70.4
Registered electors 4,855
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1900s

1900 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton 2,361 50.7 +1.2
Irish Parliamentary Arthur John Moore 2,29449.31.2
Majority 671.4N/A
Turnout 4,65592.14.0
Registered electors 5,056
Irish Unionist gain from Irish National Federation Swing +1.2

Hamilton is appointed Treasurer of the Household, prompting a by-election in which he stood unopposed.

By-election, 1903: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton Unopposed
Irish Unionist hold
1906 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton Unopposed
Irish Unionist hold

Elections in the 1910s

January 1910 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton 2,435 50.6 N/A
Irish Parliamentary Shane Randolph Leslie2,37849.4New
Majority 571.2New
Turnout 4,81395.0N/A
Registered electors 5,068
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
December 1910 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton 2,415 51.1 +0.5
Irish Parliamentary Shane Randolph Leslie2,31048.90.5
Majority 1052.2+1.0
Turnout 4,72593.21.8
Registered electors 5,068
Irish Unionist hold Swing +0.5

Hamilton becomes Duke of Abercorn, prompting a by-election.

By-election 1913: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal David Cleghorn Hogg 2,699 50.5 New
Irish Unionist Hercules Pakenham 2,64249.51.6
Majority 571.0N/A
Turnout 5,34197.6+4.4
Registered electors 5,470
Liberal gain from Irish Unionist Swing N/A

Hogg's death prompts another by-election.

By-election, 1914: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal James Brown Dougherty Unopposed
Liberal hold
1918 general election: Londonderry City [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Sinn Féin Eoin MacNeill 7,335 50.7 New
Irish Unionist Robert Newton Anderson 7,02048.52.6
Irish Parliamentary William Hamilton Davey1200.848.1
Majority 3152.2N/A
Turnout 14,47586.56.7
Registered electors 16,736
Sinn Féin gain from Liberal Swing N/A

See also

Sources

References

  1. "Londonderry". Instructions by Secretary for Ireland, respecting Cities and Boroughs in Ireland sending Representatives to Parliament; Reports of Commissioners. Sessional papers. Vol. 43. Sessional papers. 8 June 1832. pp. 99–103.
  2. "Parliamentary Boundaries (Ireland) Act 1832 (c. 89)". The law journal for the year 1832–1949. Abridgment of statutes. Vol. X. E. B. Ince. 1832. pp. 239–246.
  3. "Representation of the People (Ireland) Act 1868 (31 & 31 Vict., c. 49)" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk . The National Archives.
  4. "Government of Ireland Act 1920: Fifth Schedule". legislation.gov.uk . The National Archives. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Farrell, Stephen. "Londonderry". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 234.
  7. Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 166.
  8. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 90–91.
  9. "Irish Members Return" . Northern Standard. 7 August 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 6 October 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Walker 1978.
  11. Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons, Volume 50. 1843.