East Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)
East Somerset | |
---|---|
Former County constituency for the House of Commons | |
County constituency | |
Created from | Somerset |
East Somerset was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Somerset, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom between 1832 and 1918.
From 1832 to 1885, it returned two
Boundaries
1832–1868: The Hundreds or Liberties of Bath Forum, Bempstone, Brent and Wrington, Bruton, Catsash, Chew and Chewton, Norton Ferris, Frome, Glaston Twelve Hides, Hampton and Claverton, Horethorne, Keynsham, Kilmersdon, Mells and Leigh, Portbury, Wellow, Wells Forum, Whitstone, Winterstoke, and Witham Friary, and the parts of the Hundred of Hartcliffe with Bedminster excluded from the limits of the City of Bristol.[1]
1885–1918: The Sessional Divisions of Somerton and Wincanton, and part of the Sessional Divisions of Shepton Mallet and Wells.
History
1832–1868
The constituency, formally called The Eastern Division of Somerset, was created for the
1868–1885
The
1885–1918
At the 1885 general election, there were further radical boundary changes, Somerset's three two-member county divisions together with one abolished borough being reorganised into seven single-member county constituencies. One of these took the name of Eastern Somerset, but this included none of the voters from the 1867-85 East Somerset constituency, who were divided between the new Frome, Northern Somerset and Wells divisions.
The new Eastern division was carved out of the previous
Abolition
The constituency was abolished for the 1918 general election, when Somerset's number of county members was reduced by one. It was mostly replaced by the revised Wells county constituency, but the town of Somerton was transferred to Yeovil.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1832–1885
Election | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1832 | William Gore-Langton[2] | William Papwell Brigstocke[6] | Whig[3]
| |||
Feb. 1834 by-election | William Miles[6]1 | Tory[3] | ||||
Dec. 1834 | Conservative[3] | |||||
1847 by-election | William Pinney | |||||
1852 | William Knatchbull[6] | Conservative | ||||
1865 | Ralph Neville-Grenville[6] | Conservative | Richard Paget | Conservative | ||
1868 | Ralph Shuttleworth Allen[6] | Conservative | Richard Bright | Conservative | ||
1878 by-election | Sir Philip Miles, Bt[6] | Conservative | ||||
1879 by-election | Lord Brooke[6] | Conservative | ||||
1885 | Redistribution of Seats Act: Name transferred to a different constituency, electing only one member |
Notes
1 Miles was created a Baronet in 1859.
MPs 1885–1918
Election | Member | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1885 | Henry Hobhouse[6] | Liberal | |
1886 | Liberal Unionist
| ||
1906 | John Thompson[6]
|
Liberal | |
1910 | Ernest Jardine[6]
|
Liberal Unionist
| |
1912 | Conservative | ||
1918 | constituency abolished |
Election results
Decades: |
Elections in the 1830s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | William Gore-Langton | 4,249 | 35.8 | ||
Whig | William Papwell Brigstock | 4,003 | 33.8 | ||
Tory | William Miles | 3,603 | 30.4 | ||
Majority | 400 | 3.4 | |||
Turnout | 7,694 | 85.5 | |||
Registered electors | 8,996 | ||||
Whig win (new seat) | |||||
Whig win (new seat) |
Brigstock's death caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | William Miles | Unopposed | |||
Tory gain from Whig |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | William Gore-Langton | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | William Miles | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 9,107 | ||||
Whig hold | |||||
Conservative gain from Whig |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | William Gore-Langton | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | William Miles | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 9,561 | ||||
Whig hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1840s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | William Miles | Unopposed | |||
Whig | William Gore-Langton | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 9,759 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Whig hold |
Gore-Langton's death caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | William Pinney | Unopposed | |||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | William Miles | Unopposed | |||
Whig | William Pinney | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 9,655 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Whig hold |
Elections in the 1850s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | William Miles | 4,643 | 38.9 | N/A | |
Conservative | William Knatchbull | 4,309 | 36.1 | N/A | |
Whig | Arthur Elton[13] | 2,984 | 25.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,325 | 11.1 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 7,460 (est) | 73.6 (est) | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 10,140 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative gain from Whig |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | William Knatchbull | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | William Miles | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 10,592 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | William Knatchbull | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | William Miles | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 10,644 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1860s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Paget | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | Ralph Neville-Grenville | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 11,867 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ralph Shuttleworth Allen | 3,887 | 29.7 | N/A | |
Conservative | Richard Bright | 3,848 | 29.4 | N/A | |
Liberal | Arthur Hayter | 2,704 | 20.6 | New | |
Liberal | William Pinney | 2,656 | 20.3 | New | |
Majority | 1,144 | 8.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 6,548 (est) | 74.4 (est) | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 8,795 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1870s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ralph Shuttleworth Allen | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | Richard Bright | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 8,435 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Bright's death caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Philip Miles | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Allen resigned, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Greville | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1880s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Francis Greville | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | Philip Miles | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 8,360 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Henry Hobhouse | 4,732 | 59.1 | New | |
Conservative | Henry Hoare | 3,280 | 40.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,452 | 18.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 8,012 | 85.7 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 9,344 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist | Henry Hobhouse | Unopposed | |||
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal |
Elections in the 1890s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist | Henry Hobhouse | 4,330 | 54.8 | N/A | |
Liberal | Charles Morley | 3,575 | 45.2 | New | |
Majority | 755 | 9.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 7,905 | 85.8 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 9,208 | ||||
Liberal Unionist hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist | Henry Hobhouse | 4,408 | 56.9 | +2.1 | |
Liberal | John Swinburne-Hanham | 3,334 | 43.1 | -2.1 | |
Majority | 1,074 | 13.8 | +4.2 | ||
Turnout | 7,742 | 83.5 | −2.3 | ||
Registered electors | 9,268 | ||||
Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | +2.1 |
Elections in the 1900s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist | Henry Hobhouse | Unopposed | |||
Liberal Unionist hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Thompson
|
4,553 | 53.9 | New | |
Liberal Unionist
|
Bertram Falle | 3,890 | 46.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 663 | 7.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 8,443 | 86.9 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 9,717 | ||||
Liberal Unionist
|
Elections in the 1910s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist
|
Ernest Jardine
|
4,997 | 55.7 | +9.6 | |
Liberal | John Thompson
|
3,970 | 44.3 | -9.6 | |
Majority | 1,027 | 11.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 8,967 | ||||
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal
|
Swing | +9.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist
|
Ernest Jardine
|
4,748 | 55.1 | -0.6 | |
Liberal | John Thompson
|
3,875 | 44.9 | +0.6 | |
Majority | 873 | 10.2 | -1.2 | ||
Turnout | 8,623 | ||||
Liberal Unionist hold
|
Swing | -0.6 |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
- Unionist: Ernest Jardine
- Liberal: John Thompson
References
- ^ "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV. An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 300–383. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Jenkins, Terry. "Somerset: Background information". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 25. Retrieved 27 May 2019 – via Google Books.
- ^ Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 186. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ "North Devon Journal". 27 December 1832. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Somerset Eastern 1832-1918". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ "Election Talk". The Spectator. 13 December 1834. p. 6. Retrieved 19 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The General Election". Sherborne Mercury. 27 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 19 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "To the Editor of the Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury". Sherborne Mercury. 28 August 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 19 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Elvins, Brian. "Somerset County M.P.s 1832–1885—A Profile" (PDF). Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. p. 152. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ "The Provinces". The Spectator. 3 April 1847. p. 6. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
- ^ "To the Electors of the Eastern Division of Somerset". Bristol Times and Mirror. 24 July 1852. p. 4. Retrieved 13 August 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- Frome Times. 2 December 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 17 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
- ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
- ^ ISBN 9781349022984.
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
- ^ a b c British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
- The Constitutional Year Book for 1913 (London: National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, 1913)
- F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
- Michael Kinnear, The British Voter (London: BH Batsford, Ltd, 1968)
- Henry Pelling, Social Geography of British Elections 1885-1910 (London: Macmillan, 1967)
- Frederic A Youngs, jr, Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol I (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979)