Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801–1885

Bristol

Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
1295–1885
Seats| two
Replaced by| Bristol East
Bristol North
Bristol South
Bristol West

Bristol was a two-member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England (to 1707), Great Britain (1707–1800), and the United Kingdom (from 1801). The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.

## Boundaries

[edit]

The historic port city of Bristol is located in what is now the South West Region of England. It straddles the border between the historic geographical counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. It was usually accounted as a Gloucestershire borough in the later part of the 19th and the 20th centuries.

The parliamentary borough of Bristol was represented in Parliament from the 13th century, as one of the most important population centres in the Kingdom. Namier and Brooke comment that in 1754 the city was the second largest in the Kingdom and had the third largest electorate for an urban seat.

From the 1885 United Kingdom general election the city was divided into four single member seats. These were Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

|

The use of Roman numerals in the list below denotes different politicians of the same name, not that the individuals concerned would have used the Roman numerals as part of their name.

Non Partisan denotes that the politician concerned is not known to have been associated with a party (not necessarily that he was not). Whilst Whig and Tory societies in the city continued to nominate candidates in the last half of the 18th century, the electoral labels used in Bristol had very little to do with what the MPs did in national politics.

Year | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Party

|
|
|
|

1295 | John le Taverner[1] |
1298  | John le Taverner | John de Cheddre[1]
1301  | John de Malmesbury[1] |
1305  | Thomas Welishote | John Hasard[1]
1306  | John le Taverner | Robert de Holhurst[1]
1307 (Jan)  | Geoffrey Comper | Nicholas Coker[1]
1309  | Stephen de Bello Monte | Robert Martyn[1]
1311 (Aug)  | Richard Colpeck | John Fraunceys[1]
1311 (Nov)  | John Haszard | John le Lun[1]
1313 (Mar)  | John de Wellescoten | John Methelan[1]
1313 (Sep)  | John Fraunceys | John Tropyn[1]
1315  | Robert Wyldemersh | Thomas le Spicer[1]
1316 (Jan)  | Nicholas de Roubergwe | John Veys[1]
1318  | Gilbert Pickering | Richard de Woodhall[1]
1319  | Thomas de Salop | Robert de Lyncoln[1]
1320  | John le Hunte | John Welishote[1]
1321  | John de Romeneye | William de Hanyngfeld[1]
1322 (May)  | William de Clyf | John Fraunceys jnr (son of 1311)[1]
1322 (Nov)  | John le Taverner | John Fraunceys jnr[1]
1324 (Jan)  | John de Axebridge | John Fraunceys jnr[1]
1325  | John de Axebridge | John Fraunceys jnr[1]
1327  | John de Axebridge | John de Romeneye[1]
1328 (Feb)  | Richard de Panes | Hugh le Hunte[1]
1328 (Apr)  | William de Trowbridge | Hugh de Langebridge[1]
1330 (Mar)  | John Fraunceys | Hugh le Hunte[1]
1330 (Nov)  | Hugh le Hunte | Richard de Panes[1]
1332 (Mar)  | John de Romeneye | John de Axebridge[1]
1332 (Sep)  | Hugh de Langebridge | John de Axebridge[1]
1332 (Dec)  | Richard de Chelreye | John Fraunceys snr[1]
1334 (Feb)  | John Otery | John de Strete[1]
1334 (Sep)  | Robert Gyene or Gwyen[1]
1335  | Hugh de Langebridge | John de Strete[1]
1336 (Mar)  | Robert de Gyn or de Gyeyn | John Franceys[1]
1336 (Sep)  | John Fraunceys jnr | Thomas Tropin[1]
1336 (Dec)  | Hugh de Langebridge | John le Spycer
William le Haukare[1]
1337 (Jan)  | Robert de Gyene | John de Strete[1]
1338 (Jan)  | Everard le Fraunceys | Philip de Torynton[1]
1338 (Jul)  | Everard le Fraunceys | Philip de Torynton[1]
1339 (Jan)  | Everard le Fraunceys | John de Strete[1]
1340 (Jan)  | Thomas Tropyn | John le Spicer[1]
1341  | Robert Guyene | Philip de Toryton[1]
1344  | Roger Turtle | John de Horncastle[1]
1346 (Sep)  | John de Wycoumbe | John Neel[1]
1348 (Jan)  | Everard Fraunceys or le Freynshe | John de Strete[1]
1348 (Mar)  | Everard le Fraunceys | Thomas de Lodelawe[1]
1351  | John de Colyngton or Cobbington | John Seymour[1]
1353  | Thomas Babbecary | William Coumbe[1]
1354  | Richard le Spicer | Reginald le French[1]
1358  | Reginald French | Richard Brompton[1]
1360  | Thomas Babbecari | Galfridus Beauflour (Geoffrey Beauflower)[1]
1361  | Reginald le French | William Yonge[1]
1362  | Walter Frompton | Edmund Blanket[1]
1363  | John Serjaunt | John Stoke[1]
1365  | William Haye | William Cannings[1]
1366  | William Somerwell | Thomas Denbaud[1]
1368  | Richard Chaimburleyn | Richard Sydenham[1]
1369  | Robert Cheddre | Edmund Blanket[1]
1371 (Jun)  | John Bathe[1]
1372  | Walter Derby | John Stoke[1]
1373  | Walter Derby | Thomas Beaupyne or Beaupenny[1]
1377 (Jan)  | Ehas Spelly | Thomas Beaupyne or Beaupenny[1]
1378  | Thomas Beaupyne | Walter de Frompton[1]
1381  | Elias Spelly | John Stokes[1]
1382 (May)  | Thomas Beaupyne | John Viell[1]
1382 (Oct)  | Walter Derby | John Fullbroke[1]
1383 (Feb)  | William I Canynges(d.1396) | John Candavere[1]
1383 (Oct)  | John Canynges(d.1405) | William Frome[1]
1384 (Apr)  | William I Canynges(d.1396) | William Somerwell[1]
1384 (Nov)  | Elias Spelly | Walter Tedistill (Tyddeley?)[1]
1385  | Elias Spelly | Thomas Knapp[1]
1386  | Elias Spelly | William I Canynges (d.1396)[1]
1388 (Feb)  | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Knapp[1]
1388 (Sep)  | Robert Gardiner | John Fulbrook[1]
1390 (Jan)  | John Viell | William Frome[1]
1391  | William Frome | John Stephens[1]
1393  | Thomas Beaupyne | John Stephens[1]
1397 (Jan)  | William Frome | John Banbury[1]
1399  | Thomas Norton | Richard Pavys or Pannys[1]
1402  | Thomas Norton | John Droyes[1]
1406  | Henry Bokerell | Gilbert Joce[1]
1407 (Oct)  | John Droys, merchant | John Newton, merchant[1]
1411 (Oct)  | Thomas Norton | David Dudbroke[1]
1413 (Apr)  | Thomas Norton | John Leycester[1]
1414 (Jan)  | Thomas Young | John Spyne[1]
1414 (Oct)  | Thomas Blount, merchant | John Clyve, merchant[1]
1416 (Feb)  | Robert Russell | Robert Colville[1]
1417 (Oct)  | Thomas Norton | John Burton[1]
1419 (Sep)  | Robert Russell | Mark William[1]
1420 (Nov)  | Thomas Norton | John Spyne[1]
1421 (Mar)  | Thomas Norton | Henry Gildeney[1]
1421 (Nov)  | Mark William | Richard Trenode[1]
1422 (Oct)  | John Burton | Roger Lyveden or Lavindon[1]
1423 (Oct)  | John Burton | Roger Leveden or Lavindon[1]
1425 (Mar)  | Richard Trenode | Walter Power or Powell[1]
1426 (Feb)  | Henry Gildeney | John Langley[1]
1427 (Sep)  | John Burton | Henry Gildeney[1]
1429 (Sep)  | Richard Trenode | John Sharp[1]
1430 (Dec)  | Thomas Fish | Walter Power or Powell[1]
1432 (Apr)  | John Burton | John Sharp[1]
1433 (Jun)  | Robert Russell | Walter Power[1]
1435 (Sep)  | Thomas Fisshe | Thomas Young(d.1476)[1]

[2]

1436 (Dec)  | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Norton jnr[1]
1439  | William II Canynges(d.1474)[3] |
1442 (Jan)  | Thomas Young(d.1476) | John Sharp[1]
1447 (Jan)  | Thomas Young(d.1476) | John Sharp, jnr (son of John Sharp 1429)[1]
1449 (Jan)  | Thomas Young(d.1476) | John Sharp, jnr[1]
1449 (Nov)  | Thomas Young(d.1476) | John Sharp, jnr[1]
1450 (Oct)  | Thomas Young(d.1476) | William II Canynges(d.1474)[1]
1453 (Feb)  | John Shipward | William Pa(vy?)[1]
1455 (Jul)  | Thomas Young(d.1476) | William II Canynges(d.1474)[1]
1459 (Nov)  | John Shipward | Philip Mede[1]
1460 (Sep)  | John Shipward | Philip Mede[1]
1462  | Thomas Meede[4] |
1467 (Apr)  | William Spencer | John Bagot[1]
1472 (Aug)  | John Twynyho | John Bagot[1]
1478 (Jan)  | John Hawkes | Edmund Westcote[1]
1483 (Jan)  | Edmund Westcote | William Wykam[1]
1484 (Jan)  | John Twynyho | Robert Strange[1]
1485 (Oct)  | John Esterfield | Robert Strange (MP for Bristol)[1]
1487 (Oct)  | John Esterfield | Henry Vaughan[1]
1490 (Jan)  | William Toker | John Fisher[1]
1491 (Oct)  | John Syram™ (or Seymour?) | John Pynke[1]
1495 (Oct)  | Henry Vaughan | Philip Kingston[1]
1505  | Henry Dale | Thomas Snigg[1]
1510 )Jan)  | Richard Vaughan | Henry Dale[1]
1512 (Jan)  | Thomas Smith | Richard Hobby[1]
1523 (Apr)  | Robert Thorn | Richard Hobby[1]
1529 |  | Thomas Jubbes |  |  | Richard Abingdon |
1536 |  | Nicholas Thorn |  |  | Roger Coke |
1539 |  | Thomas White |  |  | David Broke1 |
1541 |  | David Broke |  |  | Robert Elyot |
1545 |  | Robert Keilway |  |  | John Drewes |
1553 |  | John Walshe |  |  | David Harris |
1554 |  | Thomas Lansden |
1555 |  | William Chester |
1558 |  | William Tyndall |  |  | Robert Butler |
1559 |  | John Walshe |  |  | William Carr |
1563 |  | John Walshe, made judge,
repl. by Thomas Chester |  |  | William Carr |
1571 |  | John Popham |  |  | Philip Langley |
1584 |  | Thomas Hanham |  |  | Richard Cole |
1586 |  | Thomas Aldworth |
1588 |  | William Saltern |
1593 |  | Richard Cole |
1597 |  | George Snigge
made Baron of the Court of Exchequer
and replaced 1605 by John Whitson |  |  | William Ellys |
1601 |  | John Hopkins | Non Partisan
1604 |  | Thomas James | Non Partisan
1614 |  | John Whitson | Non Partisan  |  | Thomas James | Non Partisan
1621 |  | John Barker | Non-Partisan  |  | John Guy | Non Partisan
1624 |  | John Barker | Non Partisan  |  | John Guy | Non Partisan
1625 |  | Nicholas Hyde | Non Partisan  |  | John Whitson | Non Partisan
1626 |  | John Whitson | Non Partisan  |  | John Doughty | Non Partisan
1628 |  | John Doughty | Non Partisan  |  | John Barker | Non Partisan
1640 (Mar) |  | John Glanville | Non Partisan  |  | Humphrey Hooke | Non Partisan
1640 (Oct) |  | Humphrey Hooke | Non Partisan  |  | Richard Longe | Non Partisan
1642  |  | John Glanville | Non Partisan  |  | John Tailer | Non Partisan
1646  |  | Richard Aldworth | Non Partisan  |  | Luke Hodges | Non Partisan
1654 |  | Richard Aldworth | Non Partisan  |  | Miles Jackson | Non Partisan
1656 |  | Robert Aldworth | Non Partisan  |  | John Dodderidge
Miles Jackson | Non Partisan
1659 |  | Robert Aldworth | Non Partisan  |  | Joseph Jackson | Non Partisan
1660 |  | John Stephens | Non Partisan  |  | Sir John Knight | Non Partisan
1661 |  | The Earl of Ossory 2 | Non Partisan
1666 |  | Sir Humphrey Hooke 3 | Non Partisan
1678 |  | Sir Robert Cann | Non Partisan
1681 |  | Thomas Earle | Non Partisan
1681 |  | Sir Richard Hart | Non Partisan
1685 |  | Sir John Churchill 4 | Non Partisan  |  | Sir Richard Crumpe | Non Partisan
1685 |  | Sir Richard Hart | Non Partisan
1689 |  | Sir John Knight II | Non Partisan
1695 |  | Sir Thomas Day | Non Partisan  |  | Robert Yate | Non Partisan
1701 |  | Sir William Daines | Non Partisan
1710 |  | Edward Colston | Tory |  | Joseph Earle | Non Partisan
1713 |  | Thomas Edwards | Non Partisan
1715 |  | Sir William Daines | Non Partisan
1722 |  | Sir Abraham Elton, Bt I | Non Partisan
1727 |  | John Scrope | Non Partisan  |  | Sir Abraham Elton, Bt II 6 | Non Partisan
1734 |  | Thomas Coster 5 | Non Partisan
1739 |  | Edward Southwell | Non Partisan
1742 |  | Robert Hoblyn | Non Partisan
1754 |  | Robert Craggs-Nugent
(later The Viscount Clare) 8 | Whig |  | Richard Beckford 7 | Tory
1756 |  | Jarrit Smith | Tory
1768 |  | Matthew Brickdale | Tory
1774 |  | Henry Cruger | Whig |  | Edmund Burke | Whig
1780 |  | Matthew Brickdale | Tory[5] |  | Sir Henry Lippincott, Bt 9 | Tory[5]
1781 |  | George Daubeny | Tory[5]
1784 |  | Henry Cruger | Whig[5]
1790 |  | Marquess of Worcester | Tory |  | The Lord Sheffield 10 | Whig[5]
1796 |  | Charles Bragge
(later Charles Bragge Bathurst) 11 | Tory[5]
1802 |  | Evan Baillie | Whig[5]
1812 |  | Richard Hart Davis | Tory[5]
1812 |  | Edward Protheroe I | Whig[5]
1820 |  | Henry Bright | Whig[5][6]
1830 |  | James Evan Baillie | Whig[5][7]
1831 |  | Edward Protheroe II | Whig[5][8]
1832 |  | Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bt | Tory[5]
1834 |  | Conservative[5]
1835 |  | Philip John Miles | Conservative[5]
1837 |  | Philip William Skinner Miles | Conservative[5] |  | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley 13 | Radical[9][10][11]
1852 |  | Henry Gore-Langton | Whig[10]
1859 |  | Liberal |  | Liberal
1865 |  | Sir Morton Peto 12 | Liberal
1868 |  | John Miles | Conservative
1868 |  | Samuel Morley | Liberal
1870 |  | Elisha Smith Robinson 14 | Liberal
1870 |  | Kirkman Hodgson 12 | Liberal
1878 |  | Lewis Fry | Liberal
1885 | constituency divided. See Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West.

Notes:-

* 1 By 4 February 1536 David Broke had been elected vice Thomas Jubbes deceased. He was probably re-elected in the 1536 general election and certainly was at the 1539 and 1542 elections..
* 2 A Peer of Ireland. He was created a Peer of England, as 1st Baron Butler, in 1666.
* 3 Died 16 October 1677.
* 4 Died 11 October 1685.
* 5 Died 30 September 1739.
* 6 Died 20 October 1742.
* 7 Died 24 January 1756.
* 8 Created a Peer of Ireland, as 1st Viscount Clare, in 1767.
* 9 Died 30 December 1780.
* 10 A Peer of Ireland, as 1st Baron Sheffield, created in 1781.
* 11 Adopted a new surname of Bathurst, in 1804.
* 12 Resigned.
* 13 Died 10 March 1870.
* 14 Election declared void on petition.

## Elections

[edit]

During the existence of this constituency, Bristol was a city with the status of being a county of itself. That meant that the city was not subject to the administration of the officials of the geographic counties in which it was situated. In electoral terms it meant that the voters for the parliamentary borough included those qualified on the same 40 shilling freeholder franchise as that for a county constituency. Other electors qualified as freemen of the borough. These were the ancient right franchises, applicable to Bristol, preserved by the Reform Act 1832, which also introduced a broader occupation franchise for all borough constituencies.

Bristol was a fairly partisan constituency in the eighteenth century with two rival clubs - the Union Club for the Whigs and the Steadfast Society for the Tories.[12]

The bloc vote electoral system was used in two seat elections and first past the post for single member by-elections. Each voter had up to as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings (until the secret ballot was introduced in 1872).

Namier and Brooke, in The House of Commons 1754-1790, estimated the electorate of Bristol to number about 5,000.[13] When registration of electors was introduced in 1832 the city had 10,315 names on the electoral register.

Note on percentage change calculations: Where there was only one candidate of a party in successive elections, for the same number of seats, change is calculated on the party percentage vote. Where there was more than one candidate, in one or both successive elections for the same number of seats, then change is calculated on the individual percentage vote.

Note on sources: The information for the election results given below is taken from Sedgwick 1715–1754, Namier and Brooke 1754–1790, Stooks Smith 1790-1832 and from Craig thereafter. Where Stooks Smith gives additional information or differs from the other sources this is indicated in a note after the result.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

|

1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s

### Elections in the 1710s

[edit]

General election 9 February 1715: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Daines | 1,936  | 24.87  | N/A
| Whig | Joseph Earle | 1,879  | 24.14  | N/A
| Tory | Philip Freke | 1,991  | 25.58  | N/A
| Tory | Thomas Edwards | 1,978  | 25.41  | N/A

* Note (1715): Although the Whig candidates received fewer votes than the Tory ones, the Returning Officer declared them elected and the House of Commons did not hear the petitions against the return; so Daines and Earle continued to sit throughout the Parliament.

### Elections in the 1720s

[edit]

General election 28 March 1722: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Joseph Earle | 2,141  | 37.22  | +13.08
| Whig | Abraham Elton | 1,869  | 32.49  | N/A
| Tory | William Hart | 1,743  | 30.30  | N/A
General election 8 September 1727: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Scrope | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Abraham Elton | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Note (1727): William Hart (Tory) was a candidate, but he did not go to a poll after Mr Elton paid him £1,000 to cover his election expenses.
* Elton became the 2nd Baronet, upon the death of his father (the MP of the same name elected in 1722) in 1728.

### Elections in the 1730s

[edit]

General election 24 May 1734: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Abraham Elton | 2,428  | 38.15  | N/A
| Tory | Thomas Coster | 2,071  | 32.54  | N/A
| Whig | John Scrope | 1,866  | 29.32  | N/A

* Death of Coster

By-Election 12 December 1739: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Southwell | 2,651  | 54.61  | N/A
| Non Partisan  | Henry Combe | 2,203  | 45.39  | N/A
Majority | 448  | 9.23  | N/A
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | N/A |

* Note (1759): Southwell was an Opposition Whig

### Elections in the 1740s

[edit]

General election 13 May 1741: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Abraham Elton | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Edward Southwell | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Death of Elton

By-Election 24 November 1742: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Robert Hoblyn | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Tory gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |
General election 1 July 1747: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Southwell | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Tory | Robert Hoblyn | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

### Elections in the 1750s

[edit]

General election 1 May 1754: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Robert Nugent | 2,592  | 37.04  | N/A
| Tory | Richard Beckford | 2,245  | 32.09  | N/A
| Tory | John Philipps | 2,160  | 30.87  | N/A

* Note (1754): Nugent 2,601; Philips 2,165. (Source: Stooks Smith)
* Death of Beckford

By-Election 18 March 1756: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Jarrit Smith | 2,418  | 50.75  | N/A
| Whig | John Spencer | 2,347  | 49.25  | N/A
Majority | 71  | 1.49  | N/A
| Tory hold | Swing | N/A |

* Seat vacated by appointment of Craggs-Nugent as a Vice Treasurer of Ireland

By-Election 26 December 1759: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1760s

[edit]

General election 27 March 1761: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Tory | Jarrit Smith | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Seat vacated by appointment of Craggs-Nugent as First Commissioner of the Board of Trade and Plantations

By-Election 16 December 1766: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |

* Creation of Craggs-Nugent as the 1st Viscount Clare, in the Peerage of Ireland, in 1767

General election 16 March 1768: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Tory | Matthew Brickdale | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Seat vacated by appointment of Viscount Clare as a Vice Treasurer of Ireland

By-Election 27 June 1768: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1770s

[edit]

General election 3 November 1774: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Henry Cruger | 3,565  | 39.56  | N/A
| Whig | Edmund Burke | 2,707  | 30.04  | N/A
| Tory | Matthew Brickdale | 2,456  | 27.26  | N/A
| Whig | Robert Nugent | 283  | 3.14  | N/A

* Note (1774): 5,384 voted. Lord Clare resigned on the second day when Mr. Burke was first proposed. Mr. Burke was at the time in Malton, for which place he had been returned when the deputation arrived to invite him to Bristol, where he arrived on the sixth day's poll. (Source: Stooks Smith)

### Elections in the 1780s

[edit]

General election 20 September 1780: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Matthew Brickdale | 2,771  | 37.62  | +10.36
| Tory | Henry Lippincott | 2,518  | 34.18  | N/A
| Whig | Henry Cruger | 1,271  | 17.25  | −22.31
| Whig | Samuel Peach | 788  | 10.70  | N/A
| Whig | Edmund Burke | 18  | 0.24  | −29.80

* Note (1780): Lippincott 3,518; Burke 0. Mr. Rich. Combe, late member of Aldeburgh, was a Candidate, but died the day before the commencement of the poll. (Source: Stooks Smith)
* Death of Lippincott

By-Election 26 February 1781: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | George Daubeny | 3,143  | 53.15  | N/A
| Whig | Henry Cruger | 2,771  | 46.85  | N/A
Majority | 372  | 6.29  | N/A
| Tory hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 10 May 1784: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Matthew Brickdale | 3,458  | 35.05  | −2.57
| Whig | Henry Cruger | 3,052  | 30.93  | +13.68
| Tory | George Daubeny | 2,984  | 30.24  | N/A
| Whig | Samuel Peach | 373  | 3.73  | −6.97

* Note (1784): 6,094 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)

### Elections in the 1790s

[edit]

General election 1790: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Henry Somerset | 544  | 49.54  | N/A
| Whig | John Baker-Holroyd | 537  | 48.91  | N/A
| Non Partisan  | -. Lewis  | 12  | 1.09  | N/A
| Non Partisan  | William Cunningham | 5  | 0.46  | N/A
General election 1796: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Charles Bragge | 364  | 44.83  | −4.71
| Whig | John Baker-Holroyd | 340  | 41.87  | −7.04
| Whig | Benjamin Hobhouse | 108  | 13.30  | N/A

* Note (1796): Poll 1 day. (Source: Stooks Smith)

### Elections in the 1800s

[edit]

* Members of the last Parliament of Great Britain, continued in office for the first Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801

Co-option 1801: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Charles Bragge | Co-opted  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | John Baker-Holroyd | Co-opted  | N/A | N/A

* Seat vacated on the appointment of Bragge as Treasurer of the Navy

By-Election November 1801: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Charles Bragge | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Tory hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1802: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Charles Bragge | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Evan Baillie | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Note (1802): Sir Frederick Eden was a candidate, but retired before the election. (Source: Stooks Smith)
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Bragge as Secretary at War

By-Election August 1803: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Charles Bragge | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Tory hold | Swing | N/A |

* Bragge changed his surname to Bathurst in 1804

General election 1806: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Charles Bathurst | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Evan Baillie | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
General election 1807: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Charles Bathurst | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Evan Baillie | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

### Elections in the 1810s

[edit]

* Seat vacated on the appointment of Bathurst as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 23 June 1812

By-Election July 1812: Bristol  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Richard Hart Davis  | 1,907  | 89.03  | N/A
| Radical | Henry Hunt | 235  | 10.97  | N/A
| Radical | William Cobbett | 0  | 0.00  | N/A
Majority | 1,672  | 78.06  | N/A
| Tory hold | Swing | N/A |

* Note (1812 by-election): Poll 13 days; 2,142 electors voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)

General election 1812: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Richard Hart Davis  | 2,910  | 39.24  | N/A
| Whig | Edward Protheroe  | 2,435  | 32.84  | N/A
| Whig | Samuel Romilly | 1,615  | 21.78  | N/A
| Radical | Henry Hunt | 455  | 6.14  | N/A

* Note (1812): Poll 10 days; 4,389 electors cast 7,415 votes. (Source: Stooks Smith)

General election 1818: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Richard Hart Davis  | 3,377  | 46.13  | +6.89
| Whig | Edward Protheroe  | 2,259  | 30.86  | −1.98
| Whig | Hugh Duncan Baillie | 1,684  | 23.01  | +23.01

* Note (1818): Poll 5 days; 4,121 electors cast 7,320 votes. (Source: Stooks Smith)

### Elections in the 1820s

[edit]

General election 1820: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Henry Bright | 2,975  | 50.45  | +50.45
| Tory | Richard Hart Davis  | 2,795  | 47.40  | +1.27
| Whig | Hugh Duncan Baillie | 127  | 2.15  | −20.86
General election 1826: Bristol (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Richard Hart Davis  | 3,887  | 48.14  | +0.74
| Whig | Henry Bright | 2,314  | 28.66  | −21.79
| Whig | Edward Protheroe  | 1,874  | 23.21  | +23.21

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1830: Bristol (2 seats)[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Richard Hart Davis  | 5,012  | 44.6  |
| Whig | James Evan Baillie | 3,378  | 30.1  |
| Whig | Edward Davis Protheroe | 2,842  | 25.3  |
| Radical | James Acland  | 8  | 0.0  |
Turnout | 6,311  |  |
Majority | 1,634  | 14.5  |
| Tory hold | Swing |  |
Majority | 3,370  | 30.1  |
| Whig hold | Swing |  |

* Note (1830): Poll 4 days (Source: Stooks Smith)

General election 1831: Bristol (2 seats)[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | James Evan Baillie | Unopposed
| Whig | Edward Davis Protheroe | Unopposed
| Whig hold
| Whig gain from Tory
General election 14 December 1832: Bristol (2 seats)[5][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Richard Vyvyan | 3,697  | 29.3  | New
| Whig | James Evan Baillie | 3,159  | 25.0  | N/A
| Whig | Edward Davis Protheroe | 3,030  | 24.0  | N/A
| Whig | John Williams  | 2,741  | 21.7  | N/A
Majority | 538  | 5.3  | N/A
Turnout | 6,631  | 64.3  | N/A
Registered electors | 10,315  |  |
| Tory gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 9 January 1835: Bristol (2 seats)[5][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Philip John Miles | 3,709  | 32.7  | +18.1
| Conservative | Richard Vyvyan | 3,313  | 29.2  | +14.6
| Whig | James Evan Baillie | 2,518  | 22.2  | −48.5
| Radical | John Hobhouse[15] | 1,808  | 15.9  | N/A
Majority | 1,191  | 10.5  | N/A
Turnout | 5,879  | 58.2  | −6.1
Registered electors | 10,100  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +21.2  |
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +19.4  |
General election 22 July 1837: Bristol (2 seats)[5][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Philip William Skinner Miles | 3,839  | 37.6  | +4.9
| Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 3,212  | 31.5  | +15.6
| Conservative | William Fripp  | 3,156  | 30.9  | +1.7
Turnout | 6,375  | 63.8  | +5.6
Registered electors | 9,992  |  |
Majority | 627  | 6.1  | −0.9
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.5  |
Majority | 56  | 0.6  | N/A
| Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.5  |

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 28 June 1841: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Philip William Skinner Miles | 4,193  | 36.1  | −1.5
| Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 3,739  | 32.2  | +0.7
| Conservative | William Fripp  | 3,684  | 31.7  | +0.8
Turnout | 5,808 (est)  | 52.1 (est)  | −11.7
Registered electors | 11,150  |  |
Majority | 454  | 3.9  | −2.2
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9  |
Majority | 55  | 0.5  | −0.1
| Radical hold | Swing | +0.7  |
General election 1847: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 4,381  | 45.5  | +29.4
| Conservative | Philip William Skinner Miles | 2,595  | 27.0  | −9.1
| Conservative | William Fripp  | 2,476  | 25.7  | −6.0
| Radical | Apsley Pellatt | 171  | 1.8  | −14.3
Turnout | 6,913  | 62.7  | +10.6
Registered electors | 11,032  |  |
Majority | 1,786  | 18.5  | +18.0
| Radical hold | Swing | +18.5  |
Majority | 2,424  | 25.2  | +21.3
| Conservative hold | Swing | −8.3  |

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 10 July 1852: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 4,681  | 36.4  | −10.9
| Whig | Henry Gore-Langton | 4,531  | 35.3  | N/A
| Conservative | Foster Alleyne McGeachy  | 3,632  | 28.3  | −24.4
Turnout | 6,422 (est)  | 51.2 (est)  | −11.5
Registered electors | 12,548  |  |
Majority | 150  | 1.1  | −17.4
| Radical hold | Swing | +6.8  |
Majority | 899  | 7.0  | N/A
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |

* Note (1852): From this election the number of electors who voted is unknown, so the number of votes cast is divided by two, and the resultant figure is used to calculate an estimated minimum turnout. To the extent that electors did not cast both their possible votes the turnout figure will be an underestimate.

General election 27 March 1857: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | Unopposed
| Whig | Henry Gore-Langton | Unopposed
Registered electors | 12,612  |  |
| Radical hold
| Whig hold
General election 30 April 1859: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 4,432  | 34.3  | N/A
| Liberal | Henry Gore-Langton | 4,285  | 33.2  | N/A
| Conservative | Frederick William Slade[16] | 4,205  | 32.5  | New
Majority | 80  | 0.7  | N/A
Turnout | 6,461 (est)  | 50.0 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 12,929  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

General election 15 July 1865: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 5,296  | 35.8  | +1.5
| Liberal | Morton Peto | 5,228  | 35.3  | +2.1
| Conservative | Thomas Fremantle | 4,269  | 28.9  | −3.6
Majority | 959  | 6.5  | +5.8
Turnout | 9,531 (est)  | 84.3 (est)  | +34.3
Registered electors | 11,303  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +1.7  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.0  |

* Resignation of Peto

By-Election 30 April 1868: Bristol[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Miles | 5,173  | 51.0  | +22.1
| Liberal | Samuel Morley | 4,977  | 49.0  | −22.1
Majority | 196  | 2.0  | N/A
Turnout | 10,150  | 89.8  | +5.5
Registered electors | 11,303  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +22.1  |

* McCalmont reports that Miles was unseated on petition, but that no new writ was issued before the 1868 general election. Craig also reports the election was voided.[14]

General election 16 November 1868: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 8,759  | 36.2  | +0.4
| Liberal | Samuel Morley | 8,714  | 36.1  | +0.8
| Conservative | John Miles | 6,694  | 27.7  | −1.2
Majority | 2,020  | 8.4  | +1.9
Turnout | 15,431 (est)  | 72.9 (est)  | −11.4
Registered electors | 21,153  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.5  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.7  |

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

* Death of Berkeley

By-Election 29 March 1870: Bristol[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Elisha Smith Robinson | 7,882  | 52.7  | −19.6
| Conservative | Sholto Vere Hare[17] | 7,062  | 47.3  | +19.6
Majority | 820  | 5.4  | −3.0
Turnout | 14,944  | 70.6  | −2.3
Registered electors | 21,153  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −19.6  |

* Election of Robinson declared void on petition

By-Election 27 June 1870: Bristol[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Kirkman Hodgson | 7,816  | 51.9  | −20.4
| Conservative | Sholto Vere Hare[17] | 7,238  | 48.1  | +20.4
Majority | 578  | 3.8  | −4.6
Turnout | 15,054  | 71.2  | −1.7
Registered electors | 21,153  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −20.4  |

* Swing from Liberal to Conservative

General election 5 February 1874: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Kirkman Hodgson | 8,888  | 26.3  | −9.9
| Liberal | Samuel Morley | 8,732  | 25.8  | −10.3
| Conservative | Sholto Vere Hare[17] | 8,552  | 25.3  | +11.4
| Conservative | George Henry Chambers[18] | 7,626  | 22.6  | +8.7
Majority | 180  | 0.5  | −7.9
Turnout | 16,899 (est)  | 73.9 (est)  | +1.0
Registered electors | 22,867  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −9.4  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −9.5  |

* Resignation of Hodgson

By-Election 16 December 1878: Bristol[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Lewis Fry | 9,342  | 54.5  | +2.4
| Conservative | Ivor Guest | 7,795  | 45.5  | −2.4
Majority | 1,547  | 9.0  | +8.5
Turnout | 17,137  | 69.0  | −4.9
Registered electors | 24,851  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.4  |

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election April 1880: Bristol (2 seats)[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Morley | 10,704  | 31.2  | +5.4
| Liberal | Lewis Fry | 10,070  | 29.4  | +3.1
| Conservative | Ivor Guest | 9,395  | 27.4  | +2.1
| Liberal | Elisha Smith Robinson | 4,100  | 12.0  | N/A
Majority | 675  | 2.0  | +1.5
Turnout | 17,135 (est)  | 73.8 (est)  | −0.1
Registered electors | 23,229  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.2  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +1.0  |

* Constituency abolished - city split into four divisions (1885)

## See also

[edit]

* List of former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies
* Unreformed House of Commons

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du "The parliamentary history of the county of Gloucester". William Retlaw Williams on Internet Archive. 1898. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
2. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004, Vol. "C", p.970, Canynges. Thomas Young was half-brother to William II Canynges
3. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004, Vol. "C", p.970, Canynges
4. ^ Robinson, W.J. (1915). West Country Churches. Bristol: Bristol Times and Mirror Ltd. p. 67.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u 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. pp. 31–34. Retrieved 29 October 2018 - via Google Books.
6. ^ Terry Jenkins (2009). "BRIGHT, Henry (1784–1869), of 2 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, Mdx.". In Fisher, David (ed.). The House of Commons 1820–1832. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
7. ^ "Election Address". Discovering Bristol. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
8. ^ Terry Jenkins (2009). "Bristol". In Fisher, David (ed.). The House of Commons 1820–1832. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
9. ^ Bush, Graham William Arthur (1976). "The Structure and Politics of the Council". Bristol and its Municipal Government 1820-1851. Bristol Record Society. p. 147\. ISSN 0305-8727. Retrieved 19 April 2018. `{{cite book}}`: `|journal=` ignored (help)
10. ^ a b Steele, E. D. (1991). "At home". Palmerston and Liberalism, 1855-1865. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 72\. ISBN 0-521-40045-7. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
11. ^ "Bristol". Worcester Journal. 5 August 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 19 April 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
12. ^ Pages 88 to 91,Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition - London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
13. ^ John Brooke (1964). "Bristol". In Namier, Sir Lewis; Brooke, John (eds.). The House of Commons 1754–1790. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 67–68\. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
15. ^ "A Guide to the Elections". Yorkshire Gazette. 3 January 1835. p. 4. Retrieved 10 September 2019 - via British Newspaper Archive.
16. ^ "Election Intelligence". Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser. 20 April 1859. p. 6. Retrieved 19 April 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
17. ^ a b c "To the County of Bristol". Western Daily Press. 22 June 1870. p. 1. Retrieved 28 December 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
18. ^ "Bristol". The Irish Times. 31 January 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 28 December 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
* British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
* McCalmont's Parliamentary Poll Book: British Election Results 1832-1918 (8th edition, The Harvester Press 1971)
* A. D.K. Hawkyard (1982). "Bristol". In Bindoff, S. T. (ed.). The House of Commons 1509–1558. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 10 November 2022.

* P. W. Hasler (1981). "Bristol". In Hasler, P. W. (ed.). The House of Commons 1558–1603. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 10 November 2022.

* Romney R. Sedgwick (1970). "Bristol". In Sedgwick, Romney (ed.). The House of Commons 1715–1754. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 10 November 2022.

* 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) out of copyright
* Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832-1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)