Perth Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
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Perth Burghs | |
---|---|
Former District of burghs constituency for the House of Commons | |
Major settlements | Perth, Cupar, St Andrews, Dundee, Forfar |
1708–1832 | |
Created from | Cupar, Dundee, Forfar, Perth, St Andrews |
Replaced by | Perth and 3 others |
Perth Burghs was a
Creation
The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the
Boundaries
The constituency covered five
History
The constituency elected one
For the
Members of Parliament
Election | Member | Party [6] | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1708 | Joseph Austin | |||
1710 | George Yeaman | |||
1715 | Patrick Haldane | |||
1722 | William Erskine | |||
1727 | John Drummond | |||
1743 by-election | Thomas Leslie | |||
1761 | George Dempster
|
|||
1768 | 5th Baronet
|
Whig | also returned for Cromartyshire, for which he chose to sit | |
1769 by-election | George Dempster
|
Independent Whig
|
||
1790 | George Murray
|
|||
1796 by-election | David Scott | |||
1805 by-election | Sir David Wedderburn, Bt | Tory | Postmaster-General for Scotland 1823–31 | |
1818 | Archibald Campbell | |||
1820 | Hon. Hugh Lindsay | |||
1830 | John Stuart-Wortley
|
Tory | later Baron Wharncliffe
| |
Jan 1831 by-election | Francis Jeffrey | later Lord Jeffrey | ||
Mar 1831 petition | William Ogilvy | |||
May 1831 | Francis Jeffrey | Whig | later Lord Jeffrey | |
1832 | constituency abolished |
Election results
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The electoral system for this constituency gave each of the five burghs one vote, with an additional casting vote (to break ties) for the burgh where the election was held. The place of election rotated amongst the burghs in successive Parliaments. The vote of a burgh was exercised by a burgh commissioner, who was elected by the burgh councillors.
The normal order of rotation for this district was Perth, Dundee, St Andrews, Cupar and Forfar. However the Court of Session had the power to suspend the participation of a burgh, as a punishment for corruption, which could disrupt the rotation if the normal returning burgh was not able to participate.[7]
At the time of the disputed elections in 1830 and 1831, Dundee was not able to take part in the voting. Although Dundee was not the returning burgh for the 1830-31 Parliament, its absence made the elections less certain and encouraged wrongdoing by candidates.[8]
The reference to some candidates as Non Partisan does not, necessarily, mean that they did not have a party allegiance. It means that the sources consulted did not specify a party allegiance. The sources used were Stooks Smith as well as Namier and Brooke (see the References section for further details).
Elections in the 18th century
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan
|
Joseph Austin | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
new seat
|
Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1710s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan
|
George Yeaman | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Nonpartisan hold
|
Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan
|
George Yeaman | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Nonpartisan hold
|
Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan
|
Patrick Haldane | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Nonpartisan hold
|
Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1720s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan
|
William Erskine | Returned and seated | N/A | N/A | |
Nonpartisan
|
Charles Leslie | Returned and unseated | N/A | N/A | |
Nonpartisan hold
|
Swing | N/A |
- This election resulted in a double return of both candidates. The House of Commons seated Erskine.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan
|
John Drummond | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Nonpartisan hold
|
Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1730s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan
|
John Drummond | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Nonpartisan hold
|
Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1740s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan
|
John Drummond | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Nonpartisan hold
|
Swing | N/A |
- December 1743: Death of Drummond
Notes
- ^ "Perth Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Perth Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Perth Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Perth Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Perth Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1820-1832). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 1)
- ^ House of Commons 1754-1790
- ^ Information about the disenfranchisement of Dundee and the disputed elections is set out in a note in The Parliaments of England
References
- History of Parliament: House of Commons 1754-1790, by Sir Lewis Namier and James Brooke (Sidgwick & Jackson 1964)
- The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 1)