Buteshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Buteshire
Former
County constituency
for the House of Commons
17081918
Created fromButeshire
Replaced byBute and Northern Ayrshire

Buteshire was a

county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
from 1801 to 1918.

Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the

Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Buteshire
.

History

From 1708 to 1832 Buteshire and Caithness were paired as alternating constituencies: one of the constituencies elected a Member of Parliament (MP) to one parliament, the other to the next. The areas which were covered by the two constituencies are quite remote from each other, Caithness in the northeast of Scotland and Buteshire in the southwest.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

From 1832 to 1918, Buteshire was represented continuously by its own MP.

Boundaries

From 1708 to 1832, the Buteshire constituency covered the

Rothesay, which was a component of the Ayr Burghs
constituency. In 1832, Rothesay was merged into the Buteshire constituency.

By 1892, Bute had become a

county and, throughout Scotland, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, county boundaries had been redefined for all purposes except parliamentary representation. 26 years were to elapse before constituency boundaries were redrawn, by the Representation of the People Act 1918
, to take account of new local government boundaries.

In 1918, the

county of Ayr. The rest of the county of Ayr was divided between three other constituencies, all entirely within the county: the county constituencies of South Ayrshire and Kilmarnock
, and a remodelled Ayr Burghs.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1708 to 1832

Election Member Party
1708 Dugald Stewart
1710 John Montgomerie
1710 none
1713 John Campbell, later Duke of Argyll Whig
1715 none
1722
Patrick Campbell
1727 none
1734
Patrick Campbell
1741 none
1747 James Stuart-Mackenzie
1754 none
1761 James Stuart I
1762 Henry Wauchope
1768 none
1774 James Stuart II (later Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie)
1780 none
1784 James Stuart II
1790 none
1796 Frederick Stuart
1802 none
1806 James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie
1807 none
1812 John Marjoribanks[6]
1818 none
1820 Lord Patrick Crichton-Stuart Whig[7]
1826 none
1830 Sir William Rae, 3rd Baronet Tory[8]
1831 none

MPs 1832 to 1918

Election Member Party
1832
Charles Stuart
Conservative
1833 by-election Sir William Rae Conservative
1842 by-election James Stuart-Wortley Conservative
1852 Peelite[9][10][11]
1859 David Mure Conservative
1865 by-election George Boyle Conservative
1865
James Lamont
Liberal
1868 Charles Dalrymple Conservative
1880
Thomas Russell
Liberal
1880 by-election Charles Dalrymple Conservative
1885 James Robertson Conservative
1891 by-election Andrew Murray Conservative
1905 Norman Lamont Liberal
January 1910
Sir Harry Hope
Conservative
1918 constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Buteshire[8][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory William Rae Unopposed
Registered electors 21
Tory gain from Nonpartisan

For the 1831 election, Caithness returned the MP.

General election 1832: Buteshire[8][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Charles Stuart Unopposed
Registered electors 279
Tory win (new seat)
  • Considered a 'new seat' as the constituency did not elect an MP in 1831

Stuart resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 4 September 1833: Buteshire[8][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory William Rae Unopposed
Tory hold
General election 1835: Buteshire[8][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative William Rae Unopposed
Registered electors 310
Conservative hold
General election 1837: Buteshire[8][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative William Rae Unopposed
Registered electors 345
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Rae 134 65.0 N/A
Conservative Henry Dunlop[14] 72 35.0 N/A
Majority 62 30.0 N/A
Turnout 206 54.2 N/A
Registered electors 380
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Rae was appointed Lord Advocate, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 23 September 1841: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Rae Unopposed
Conservative hold

Rae's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 1 December 1842: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Conservative hold

Stuart-Wortley was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 7 February 1846: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1847: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Registered electors 410
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Registered electors 491
Peelite gain from Conservative

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

By-election, 12 February 1857: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Peelite hold
General election 1857: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Registered electors 489
Peelite hold
General election 1859: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Mure 138 51.7 N/A
Liberal
James Lamont
129 48.3 New
Majority 9 3.4 N/A
Turnout 267 55.7 N/A
Registered electors 479
Conservative gain from Peelite Swing N/A

Elections in the 1860s

Mure's appointment as a Senator of the College of Justice, becoming Lord Mure, caused a by-election.

By-election, 16 Feb 1865: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Boyle 205 51.9 +0.2
Liberal
James Lamont
190 48.1 -0.2
Majority 15 3.8 +0.4
Turnout 395 77.0 +21.3
Registered electors 513
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1865: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal
James Lamont
203 51.4 +3.1
Conservative George Boyle 192 48.6 -3.1
Majority 11 2.8 N/A
Turnout 395 77.0 +21.3
Registered electors 513
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1868: Buteshire[15][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dalrymple 527 59.3 +10.7
Liberal John William Burns[16] 362 40.7 −10.7
Majority 165 18.6 N/A
Turnout 889 82.9 +5.9
Registered electors 1,073
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.7

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dalrymple Unopposed
Registered electors 1,113
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Russell 568 50.8 New
Conservative Charles Dalrymple 551 49.2 N/A
Majority 17 1.6 N/A
Turnout 1,119 85.4 N/A
Registered electors 1,311
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Russell was disqualified due to his holding of a government contract at the time of the election, causing a by-election.

By-election, 6 Jul 1880: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dalrymple 585 52.0 +2.8
Liberal Thomas Russell 540 48.0 −2.8
Majority 45 4.0 N/A
Turnout 1,125 85.8 +0.4
Registered electors 1,311
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A

Dalrymple was appointed a

Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 3 Jul 1885: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dalrymple Unopposed
Conservative gain from Liberal
General election 1885: Buteshire[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Robertson 1,374 55.8 +6.6
Liberal Robert Allan Maclean 1,090 44.2 −6.6
Majority 284 11.6 N/A
Turnout 2,464 83.7 −1.7
Registered electors 2,943
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.6
General election 1886: Buteshire[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Robertson 1,364 62.5 +6.7
Liberal Nigel MacNeill 819 37.5 -6.7
Majority 545 25.0 +13.4
Turnout 2,183 74.2 -9.5
Registered electors 2,943
Conservative hold Swing +6.7

Robertson was appointed as Solicitor General for Scotland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 12 Aug 1886: Buteshire[18][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Robertson Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

1891 Buteshire by-election[19][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Murray 1,335 57.4 −5.1
Liberal John McCulloch[20] 990 42.6 +5.1
Majority 345 14.8 −10.2
Turnout 2,325 73.6 −0.6
Registered electors 3,159
Conservative hold
General election 1892: Buteshire[21][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Murray 1,466 59.1 -3.4
Liberal Robert Earle M Smith 1,013 40.9 +3.4
Majority 453 18.2 -6.8
Turnout 2,479 77.6 +3.4
Registered electors 3,195
Conservative hold Swing +1.7
General election 1895: Buteshire[22][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Murray Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Buteshire[22][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Murray 1,241 54.3 N/A
Liberal Norman Lamont 1,046 45.7 New
Majority 195 8.6 N/A
Turnout 2,287 67.0 N/A
Registered electors 3,412
Conservative hold Swing N/A
1905 Buteshire by-election[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Norman Lamont 1,460 50.6 +4.9
Liberal Unionist Edward Theodore Salvesen 1,426 49.4 −4.9
Majority 34 1.2 N/A
Turnout 2,886 80.7 +13.7
Registered electors 3,578
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +4.9
Lamont
General election 1906: Buteshire[18][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Norman Lamont 1,637 51.9 +6.2
Conservative Guy Thomas Speir 1,517 48.1 −6.2
Majority 120 3.8 N/A
Turnout 3,154 82.7 +15.7
Registered electors 3,816
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.2

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Buteshire[24][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Harry Hope
1,531 52.7 +4.6
Liberal Norman Lamont 1,372 47.3 -4.6
Majority 159 5.4 N/A
Turnout 2,903 81.5 -1.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
Mitchell
General election December 1910: Buteshire[18][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Harry Hope
1,569 54.4 +1.7
Liberal Edward Mitchell 1,316 45.6 -1.7
Majority 253 8.8 +3.4
Turnout 2,885 81.9 +0.4
Conservative hold Swing +1.7

References

  1. ^ "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1820-1832). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  6. ^ Escott, Margaret. "CRICHTON STUART, Lord Patrick James Herbert (1794-1859), of Rosemount, nr. Kilmarnock, Ayr and Cardiff Castle, Glam". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Stooks Smith, Henry (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 197–198. Retrieved 8 May 2020 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Montrose, Arbroath, and Brechin Review". 23 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ISBN 978-0-19-969579-9. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via Google Books
    .
  10. ISBN 0-19-821370-0. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via Google Books
    .
  11. ^ Fisher, David R. "Buteshire". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  12. ^ .
  13. ^ "Northern Warder and General Advertiser for the Counties of Fife, Perth and Forfar". 13 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ Debrett's House of Commons, 1870
  15. ^ "To the Electors of the County of Bute". Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette. 7 November 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  18. ^ The Liberal Year Book, 1908
  19. ^ "Representation of Buteshire". South Wales Echo. 6 October 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 16 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  21. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  22. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  23. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916

Sources