Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801–1868

Ayrshire

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of Scotland| Ayrshire
1708–1868
Seats| 1
Created from| Ayrshire
Replaced by| North Ayrshire
South Ayrshire.

Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1868, when it was divided into North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire.

It elected one Member of Parliament (MP), using the first-past-the-post voting system.

## Creation

[edit]

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Ayrshire.

## Boundaries

[edit]

The Ayrshire constituency represented the county of Ayrshire, minus the parliamentary burghs of Ayr and Irvine, which were components of the Ayr Burghs constituency.

## History

[edit]

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until it was divided into North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire for the 1868 general election.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Election | Member | Party

|
|

| 1708 | Francis Montgomerie |
| 1710 | John Montgomerie |
1713
1715
1722
| 1727 | James Campbell | Whig
1734
1741
| 1747 | Patrick Craufurd |
| 1754 | James Mure-Campbell, later Earl of Loudoun |
| 1761 | Archibald Montgomerie, later Earl of Eglinton | Whig
| 1768 | David Kennedy, later Earl of Cassillis |
| 1774 | Sir Adam Fergusson |
| 1780 | Hugh Montgomerie, later Earl of Eglinton |
| 1781 | Sir Adam Fergusson |
| 1784 | Hugh Montgomerie, later Earl of Eglinton |
| 1789 | William McDowall |
| 1790 | Sir Adam Fergusson |
| 1796 | Hugh Montgomerie, later Earl of Eglinton |
| 1796 | William Fullarton | Whig
1801
1802
| 1803 | Sir Hew Dalrymple-Hamilton |
1806
| 1807 | David Boyle |
| 1811 | Sir Hew Dalrymple-Hamilton |
1812
| 1818 | James Montgomerie | Tory[6]
1820
1826
| 1829 | William Blair | Tory[7]
1830
1831
| 1832 | Richard Alexander Oswald | Whig[7]
| 1835 | John Dunlop | Radical[8][9]
1837
| 1839 | Viscount Kelburn, later Earl of Glasgow | Conservative[7]
1841
| 1843 | Alexander Haldane Oswald | Conservative
1847
| 1852 | James Hunter Blair | Conservative
| 1854 | Sir James Fergusson | Conservative
| 1857 | Lord Patrick Crichton-Stuart | Whig[10][11][12]
| 1859 | Liberal
| 1859 | Sir James Fergusson | Conservative
1865

## Election results

[edit]

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1830: Ayrshire[7][13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Tory | William Blair (Ayrshire MP) | Unopposed
Registered electors | 185  |
| Tory hold
General election 1831: Ayrshire[7][13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Tory | William Blair (Ayrshire MP)  | 73  | 67.0
| Whig | Richard Alexander Oswald | 36  | 33.0
Majority  | 37  | 34.0
Turnout | 109  | 58.9
Registered electors | 185  |
| Tory hold
General election 1832: Ayrshire[7][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Richard Alexander Oswald | 2,152  | 86.9  | +53.9
| Tory | William Blair (Ayrshire MP)  | 324  | 13.1  | −53.9
Majority | 1,828  | 73.8  | N/A
Turnout | 2,476  | 78.6  | +19.7
Registered electors | 3,150  |  |
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +53.9  |
General election 1835: Ayrshire[7][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Richard Alexander Oswald | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,171  |  |
| Whig hold

Oswald's resignation caused a by-election.

By-election, 3 July 1835: Ayrshire[7][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Radical | John Dunlop | 1,435  | 63.4
| Conservative | John Cathcart  | 829  | 36.6
Majority  | 606  | 26.8
Turnout | 2,264  | 71.4
Registered electors | 3,171  |
| Radical gain from Whig
General election 1837: Ayrshire[7][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Radical | John Dunlop | 1,559  | 53.2
| Conservative | James Carr-Boyle | 1,370  | 46.8
Majority  | 189  | 6.4
Turnout | 2,929  | 73.5
Registered electors | 3,985  |
| Radical gain from Whig

Dunlop's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 1 May 1839: Ayrshire[7][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Carr-Boyle | 1,758  | 56.7  | +9.9
| Whig | James Campbell  | 1,296  | 41.8  | N/A
| Chartist | Hugh Craig[15] | 46  | 1.5  | New
Majority | 462  | 14.9  | N/A
Turnout | 3,100  | 73.1  | −0.4
Registered electors | 4,242  |  |
| Conservative gain from Radical

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1841: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Carr-Boyle | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,274  |  |
| Conservative gain from Radical

Carr-Boyle succeeded to the peerage, becoming 5th Earl of Glasgow and causing a by-election.

By-election, 3 August 1843: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Alexander Haldane Oswald | Unopposed
| Conservative hold
General election 1847: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Alexander Haldane Oswald | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,305  |  |
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 1852: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Hunter-Blair | 1,301  | 52.0  | N/A
| Peelite | Edward Cardwell[16] | 1,200  | 48.0  | N/A
Majority | 101  | 4.0  | N/A
Turnout | 2,501  | 65.4  | N/A
Registered electors | 3,823  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |

Blair's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 30 December 1854: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Fergusson | 1,510  | 52.2  | +0.2
| Peelite | Alexander Haldane Oswald | 1,381  | 47.8  | −0.2
Majority | 129  | 4.4  | +0.4
Turnout | 2,891  | 75.6  | +10.2
Registered electors | 3,823  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.2  |
General election 1857: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Patrick Crichton-Stuart | 1,663  | 53.3  | New
| Conservative | James Fergusson | 1,458  | 46.7  | −5.3
Majority | 205  | 6.6  | N/A
Turnout | 3,121  | 78.5  | +13.1
Registered electors | 3,976  |  |
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.3  |
General election 1859: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Patrick Crichton-Stuart | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,939  |  |
| Liberal hold

Crichton-Stuart's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 31 October 1859: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Fergusson | 1,687  | 50.7  | New
| Liberal | James Campbell[17] | 1,641  | 49.3  | N/A
Majority | 46  | 1.4  | N/A
Turnout | 3,328  | 81.7  | N/A
Registered electors | 4,072  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

General election 1865: Ayrshire[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Fergusson | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,642  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ayrshire". History of Parliament Online (1690–1715). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
2. ^ "Ayrshire". History of Parliament Online (1715–1754). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
3. ^ "Ayrshire". History of Parliament Online (1754–1790). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
4. ^ "Ayrshire". History of Parliament Online (1790–1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
5. ^ "Ayrshire". History of Parliament Online (1820–1832). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
6. ^ Jenkins, Terry. "MONTGOMERIE, James (1755-1829), of Wrighthill, Ayr". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 196. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
8. ^ Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer. p. 78. Retrieved 17 August 2019 - via Google Books.
9. ^ "Leicester Herald". 11 July 1835. p. 5. Retrieved 17 August 2019 - via British Newspaper Archive.
10. ^ Smith, Henry Stooks (1841). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. pp. 196–197. Retrieved 1 September 2018 - via Google Books.
11. ^ Churton, Edward (1836). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1836. p. 216. Retrieved 1 September 2018 - via Google Books.
12. ^ "Election Prospects". Morning Post. 22 June 1841. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 1 September 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
13. ^ a b Jenkins, Terry. "Ayrshire". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
15. ^ "Ayrshire Election". Yorkshire Gazette. p. 5. Retrieved 7 May 2020 - via British Newspaper Archive.
16. ^ "Polls on Wednesday". Greenock Advertiser. 10 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
17. ^ "Ayrshire County Election". Glasgow Herald. 27 October 1859. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.

* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 3)

## See also

[edit]

* Former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies

* v
* t
* e

Scottish Westminster constituencies

* 1708 to 1832
* 1832 to 1868
* 1868 to 1885
* 1885 to 1918
* 1918 to 1950
* 1950 to 1955
* 1955 to 1974
* 1974 to 1983
* 1983 to 1997
* 1997 to 2005
* 2005 to 2024
* from 2024

Current constituencies (2024)

* Aberdeen North
* Aberdeen South
* Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
* Airdrie & Shotts
* Alloa & Grangemouth
* Angus & Perthshire Glens
* Arbroath & Broughty Ferry
* Argyll, Bute & South Lochaber
* Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock
* Bathgate & Linlithgow
* Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk
* Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross
* Central Ayrshire
* Coatbridge & Bellshill
* Cowdenbeath & Kirkcaldy
* Cumbernauld & Kirkintilloch
* Dumfries & Galloway
* Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale
* Dundee Central
* Dunfermline & Dollar
* East Kilbride & Strathaven
* East Renfrewshire
* Edinburgh East & Musselburgh
* Edinburgh North & Leith
* Edinburgh South
* Edinburgh South West
* Edinburgh West
* Falkirk
* Glasgow East
* Glasgow North
* Glasgow North East
* Glasgow South
* Glasgow South West
* Glasgow West
* Glenrothes & Mid Fife
* Gordon & Buchan
* Hamilton & Clyde Valley
* Inverclyde & Renfrewshire West
* Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire
* Kilmarnock & Loudoun
* Livingston
* Lothian East
* Mid Dunbartonshire
* Midlothian
* Moray West, Nairn & Strathspey
* Motherwell, Wishaw & Carluke
* Na h-Eileanan an Iar
* North Ayrshire & Arran
* North East Fife
* Orkney & Shetland
* Paisley & Renfrewshire North
* Paisley & Renfrewshire South
* Perth & Kinross-shire
* Rutherglen
* Stirling & Strathallan
* West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine
* West Dunbartonshire

* v
* t
* e

Carrick

Settlements|

Former burghs
Ballantrae
Girvan
Maybole

Others
Auchencrosh
Balkissock
Bargany
Barr
Colmonell
Crosshill
Dailly
Drumshang
Dunure
Greenan
Kirkmichael
Kirkoswald
Lendalfoot
Maidens
Minishant
Old Dailly
Patna
Pinmore
Pinwherry
Smyrton
Straiton

Administration|

National subdivisions
Ayrshire and Arran lieutenancy area
Carrick earldom
Kyle and Carrick local government district
Sheriffdom and County of Ayr
South Ayrshire Council area

Parliamentary seats (Scotland)
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

Parliamentary seats (UK)
Ayrshire (1708–1868)
South Ayrshire (1868–1983)
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (1983–2005)
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (2005–)

Culture|

* Gaelic in Carrick and Galloway
* Sawney Bean

Geography|

Islands
Ailsa Craig

Lochs
Craigdow Loch
Loch Bradan
Loch Doon
Loch Dornal
Loch Finloch
Loch Goosey
Loch Spaig
Loch Spallander
Loch Spouts

Rivers
River Doon
River Stinchar
Water of App
Water of Girvan
Water of Tig

History|

Heritage sites
Blairquhan Castle
Carleton Castle
Crossraguel Abbey
Culzean Castle
Dinvin Motte
Dunduff Castle
Dunure Castle
Glenapp Castle
Greenan Castle
Kirkoswald Parish Church
Knockdolian
Maybole Castle
Maybole Collegiate Church
Penkill Castle
Turnberry Castle

People
Abbots of Crossraguel
Clan Kennedy
Earls or mormaers of Carrick
Marquesses of Ailsa and their predecessors

Sport|

* Girvan F.C.
* Maybole Juniors F.C.
* Turnberry golf course

Transport|

Railway lines
Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Maybole and Girvan Railway

Railway stations
Barrhill railway station
Girvan railway station
Maybole railway station

Roads
A77
A714
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