Londonderry City | |
---|---|
Former borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
County | County Londonderry |
Borough | Londonderry |
1801–1922 | |
Seats | 1 |
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.
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]
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.
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The elections in this constituency were conducted on the electoral system of first past the post.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | 258 | 73.5 | ||
Tory | John Richard James Hart | 87 | 24.8 | ||
Whig | John Montgomery | 6 | 1.7 | ||
Majority | 171 | 48.7 | |||
Turnout | 351 | c. 54.0 | |||
Registered electors | c. 650 | ||||
Whig gain from Tory |
On petition, Ferguson's election was declared void, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | 202 | 76.5 | +3.0 | |
Tory | John Richard James Hart | 62 | 23.5 | −1.3 | |
Majority | 140 | 53.0 | +4.3 | ||
Turnout | 264 | c. 40.6 | c. −13.4 | ||
Registered electors | c. 650 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | +2.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | 205 | 77.4 | +3.9 | |
Whig | Conolly McClausland Lecky | 60 | 22.6 | N/A | |
Majority | 145 | 54.8 | +6.1 | ||
Turnout | 265 | 40.8 | c. −13.2 | ||
Registered electors | 650 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | +3.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | 308 | 57.7 | −19.7 | |
Tory | George Robert Dawson | 226 | 42.3 | New | |
Majority | 82 | 15.4 | −39.4 | ||
Turnout | 534 | 87.4 | +46.6 | ||
Registered electors | 611 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | −19.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 703 | ||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | 212 | 60.7 | ||
Conservative | George Robert Dawson | 137 | 39.3 | ||
Majority | 75 | 21.4 | |||
Turnout | 349 | 43.4 | |||
Registered electors | 804 | ||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 742 | ||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 1,904 | ||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 724 | ||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 825 | ||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Robert Ferguson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 825 | ||||
Liberal hold |
Ferguson's death caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Conservative | William McCormick | 326 | 45.6 | New | |
Liberal | Samuel MacCurdy Greer | 307 | 42.9 | N/A | |
Liberal | George Skipton | 82 | 11.5 | N/A | |
Majority | 19 | 2.7 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 715 | 86.7 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 825 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Conservative | Claud Hamilton | 379 | 53.4 | N/A | |
Liberal | Samuel MacCurdy Greer | 331 | 46.6 | N/A | |
Majority | 48 | 6.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 710 | 81.1 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 876 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Richard Dowse | 704 | 54.0 | +7.4 | |
Irish Conservative | Claud Hamilton | 599 | 46.0 | −7.4 | |
Majority | 105 | 8.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,303 | 87.9 | +6.8 | ||
Registered electors | 1,483 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.4 |
Dowse was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland, requiring a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Richard Dowse | 680 | 53.5 | −0.5 | |
Irish Conservative | Robert Baxter | 592 | 46.5 | +0.5 | |
Majority | 88 | 7.0 | −1.0 | ||
Turnout | 1,272 | 85.8 | −2.1 | ||
Registered electors | 1,483 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | −0.5 |
Dowse resigned after being appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Conservative | Charles Lewis | 696 | 53.2 | +7.2 | |
Liberal | Christopher Palles | 522 | 39.9 | −14.1 | |
Home Rule | Joseph Biggar | 89 | 6.8 | New | |
Irish Conservative | Bartholomew McCorkell | 2 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 174 | 13.3 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,309 | 80.7 | −7.2 | ||
Registered electors | 1,622 | ||||
Irish Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Conservative | Charles Lewis | 744 | 51.0 | +5.0 | |
Liberal | Bartholomew McCorkell | 715 | 49.0 | −5.0 | |
Majority | 29 | 2.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,459 | 86.6 | −1.3 | ||
Registered electors | 1,685 | ||||
Irish Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Conservative | Charles Lewis | 964 | 52.4 | +1.4 | |
Liberal | Adam Hogg | 876 | 47.6 | −1.4 | |
Majority | 88 | 4.8 | +2.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,840 | 91.8 | +5.2 | ||
Registered electors | 2,005 | ||||
Irish Conservative hold | Swing | +1.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Conservative | Charles Lewis | 1,824 | 50.4 | −2.0 | |
Irish Parliamentary | Justin McCarthy | 1,792 | 49.6 | New | |
Majority | 32 | 0.8 | −4.0 | ||
Turnout | 3,616 | 93.2 | +1.4 | ||
Registered electors | 3,879 | ||||
Irish Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Conservative | Charles Lewis | 1,781 | 50.0 | −0.4 | |
Irish Parliamentary | Justin McCarthy | 1,778 | 50.0 | +0.4 | |
Majority | 3 | 0.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 3,559 | 91.8 | −1.4 | ||
Registered electors | 3,879 | ||||
Irish Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4 |
On petition, Lewis was unseated. McCarthy was named as MP on 25 October.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Unionist | John Ross | 1,986 | 50.3 | +0.3 | |
Irish National Federation | Justin McCarthy | 1,960 | 49.7 | −0.3 | |
Majority | 26 | 0.6 | +0.6 | ||
Turnout | 3,946 | 94.8 | +3.0 | ||
Registered electors | 4,161 | ||||
Irish Unionist hold | Swing | +0.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish National Federation | Edmund Vesey Knox | 2,033 | 50.5 | +0.8 | |
Irish Unionist | John Ross | 1,994 | 49.5 | −0.8 | |
Majority | 39 | 1.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 4,027 | 96.1 | +1.3 | ||
Registered electors | 4,191 | ||||
Irish National Federation gain from Irish Unionist | Swing | +0.8 |
Knox resigns, triggering a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Parliamentary | Arthur John Moore | 2,343 | 50.5 | 0.0 | |
Liberal Unionist | Emerson Herdman | 2,301 | 49.5 | 0.0 | |
Majority | 42 | 1.0 | 0.0 | ||
Turnout | 4,644 | 95.7 | −0.4 | ||
Registered electors | 4,855 | ||||
Irish Parliamentary hold | Swing | 0.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Unionist | James Hamilton | 2,361 | 50.7 | +1.2 | |
Irish Parliamentary | Arthur John Moore | 2,294 | 49.3 | −1.2 | |
Majority | 67 | 1.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 4,655 | 92.1 | −4.0 | ||
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.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Unionist | James Hamilton | Unopposed | |||
Irish Unionist hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Unionist | James Hamilton | Unopposed | |||
Irish Unionist hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Unionist | James Hamilton | 2,435 | 50.6 | N/A | |
Irish Parliamentary | Shane Randolph Leslie | 2,378 | 49.4 | New | |
Majority | 57 | 1.2 | New | ||
Turnout | 4,813 | 95.0 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 5,068 | ||||
Irish Unionist hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Unionist | James Hamilton | 2,415 | 51.1 | +0.5 | |
Irish Parliamentary | Shane Randolph Leslie | 2,310 | 48.9 | −0.5 | |
Majority | 105 | 2.2 | +1.0 | ||
Turnout | 4,725 | 93.2 | −1.8 | ||
Registered electors | 5,068 | ||||
Irish Unionist hold | Swing | +0.5 |
Hamilton becomes Duke of Abercorn, prompting a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | David Cleghorn Hogg | 2,699 | 50.5 | New | |
Irish Unionist | Hercules Pakenham | 2,642 | 49.5 | −1.6 | |
Majority | 57 | 1.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 5,341 | 97.6 | +4.4 | ||
Registered electors | 5,470 | ||||
Liberal gain from Irish Unionist | Swing | N/A |
Hogg's death prompts another by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | James Brown Dougherty | Unopposed | |||
Liberal hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sinn Féin | Eoin MacNeill | 7,335 | 50.7 | New | |
Irish Unionist | Robert Newton Anderson | 7,020 | 48.5 | −2.6 | |
Irish Parliamentary | William Hamilton Davey | 120 | 0.8 | −48.1 | |
Majority | 315 | 2.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 14,475 | 86.5 | −6.7 | ||
Registered electors | 16,736 | ||||
Sinn Féin gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A |