Kilmarnock Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1832–1918

Kilmarnock Burghs

Former district of burghs constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of Scotland| Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Dumbartonshire, Renfrewshire
Major settlements| Kilmarnock, Dumbarton, Rutherglen, Renfrew, Port Glasgow
1832–1918
Seats| One
Created from| Ayrshire constituency
Renfrewshire
Glasgow Burghs
Replaced by| Kilmarnock
Dumbarton Burghs
West Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire
Rutherglen

Kilmarnock Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system.

Kilmarnock county constituency was created when the district of burghs constituency was abolished.

## Boundaries

[edit]

The constituency consisted of five parliamentary burghs: Kilmarnock in the county of Ayr, Dumbarton in the county of Dumbarton, Rutherglen in the county of Lanark and Renfrew and Port Glasgow in the county of Renfrew.

The Kilmarnock burgh was previously within the Ayrshire constituency and Port Glasgow was previously within the Renfrewshire constituency. Dumbarton, Rutherglen and Renfrew were transferred from Glasgow Burghs.

In 1918 the burgh of Kilmarnock was merged into the then new Kilmarnock county constituency, which included areas previously within North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. The new Kilmarnock constituency consisted of "The county district of Kilmarnock, inclusive of all burghs situated therein except in so far as included in the Ayr District of Burghs." The burgh of Dumbarton was transferred to Dumbarton Burghs, the burgh of Port Glasgow was merged into West Renfrewshire, the burgh of Renfrew into East Renfrewshire and the burgh of Rutherglen into the Rutherglen constituency.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Election | Member[1] | Party

|
|

| 1832 | John Dunlop | Whig[2][3]
| 1835 | John Bowring | Radical[3]
| 1837 | John Campbell Colquhoun | Conservative[2][3]
| 1841 | Alexander Johnston | Whig[2][3]
| May 1844 by-election | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | Whig[4][5][6]
| 1859 | Liberal
| Feb 1874 | James Fortescue Harrison | Liberal[2]
| 1880 | John Dick Peddie | Liberal
| 1885 | Peter Sturrock | Conservative
| 1886 | Stephen Williamson | Liberal
| 1895 | John McAusland Denny | Conservative
| 1906 | Adam Rolland Rainy | Liberal
| 1911 by-election | Will Gladstone | Liberal
| 1915 by-election | Alexander Shaw | Liberal
1918 | constituency abolished: see Kilmarnock

## Election results

[edit]

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1832: Kilmarnock Burghs[2][3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | John Dunlop | 535  | 50.3
| Whig | James Campbell  | 528  | 49.7
Majority  | 7  | 0.6
Turnout | 1,063  | 92.0
Registered electors | 1,155  |
| Whig win (new seat)
General election 1835: Kilmarnock Burghs[2][3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Radical | John Bowring | 520  | 54.8  | N/A
| Whig | John Dunlop | 276  | 29.1  | −21.2
| Conservative | Robert Downie  | 153  | 16.1  | New
Majority | 244  | 25.7  | N/A
Turnout | 949  | 75.3  | −16.7
Registered electors | 1,261  |  |
| Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |
General election 1837: Kilmarnock Burghs[2][3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Campbell Colquhoun | 509  | 53.7  | +37.6
| Radical | John Bowring | 438  | 46.3  | −8.5
Majority | 71  | 7.4  | N/A
Turnout | 947  | 65.3  | −10.0
Registered electors | 1,451  |  |
| Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +23.1  |

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1841: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Alexander Johnston | 490  | 50.6  | N/A
| Conservative | John Campbell Colquhoun | 479  | 49.4  | −4.3
Majority | 11  | 1.2  | N/A
Turnout | 969  | 76.8  | +11.5
Registered electors | 1,262  |  |
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |

Johnston's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 29 May 1844: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | 389  | 44.9  | −5.7
| Conservative | Henry Thoby Prinsep | 379  | 43.8  | −5.6
| Chartist | Henry Vincent | 98  | 11.3  | New
Majority | 10  | 1.1  | −0.1
Turnout | 866  | 67.2  | −9.6
Registered electors | 1,289  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | −0.1  |
General election 1847: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,243  |  |
| Whig hold

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 1852: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | 558  | 64.9  | N/A
| Conservative | James Archibald Campbell[7] | 302  | 35.1  | New
Majority | 256  | 29.8  | N/A
Turnout | 860  | 62.3  | N/A
Registered electors | 1,380  |  |
| Whig hold

Pleydell-Bouverie was appointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 7 April 1855: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | Unopposed
| Whig hold

Pleydell-Bouverie was appointed President of the Poor Law Board, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 16 August 1855: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | Unopposed
| Whig hold
General election 1857: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,414  |  |
| Whig hold
General election 1859: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,449  |  |
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

General election 1865: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,645  |  |
| Liberal hold
General election 1868: Kilmarnock Burghs[2][8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | 2,892  | 57.4  | N/A
| Liberal | Edwin Chadwick | 1,148  | 22.8  | N/A
| Independent Liberal | Robert Thomson[9][10] | 999  | 19.8  | New
Majority | 1,744  | 34.6  | N/A
Turnout | 5,039  | 77.2  | N/A
Registered electors | 6,531  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

General election 1874: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | James Fortescue Harrison | 3,316  | 52.3  | N/A
| Liberal | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | 3,019  | 47.7  | −9.7
Majority | 297  | 4.6  | −30.0
Turnout | 6,335  | 79.0  | +1.8
Registered electors | 8,020  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1880: Kilmarnock Burghs[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | John Dick Peddie | 3,320  | 49.5  | N/A
| Conservative | John Neilson Cuthbertson[11] | 2,005  | 29.9  | New
| Independent Liberal | Robert Malcolm Kerr[12] | 1,384  | 20.6  | New
Majority | 1,315  | 19.6  | +15.0
Turnout | 6,709  | 87.1  | +8.1
Registered electors | 7,700  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1885: Kilmarnock Burghs[13][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Sturrock | 3,645  | 40.2  | +10.3
| Liberal | John Dick Peddie | 3,513  | 38.7  | −10.8
| Independent Liberal | John Dalrymple | 1,862  | 20.5  | −0.1
| Ind. Conservative | John Steven Storr  | 55  | 0.6  | New
Majority | 132  | 1.5  | N/A
Turnout | 9,075  | 86.6  | −0.5
Registered electors | 10,475  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +11.6  |
General election 1886: Kilmarnock Burghs[13][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Stephen Williamson | 4,664  | 55.2  | +16.5
| Conservative | Peter Sturrock | 3,870  | 44.8  | +4.6
Majority | 884  | 10.4  | N/A
Turnout | 8,444  | 80.6  | −6.0
Registered electors | 10,475  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.0  |

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

General election 1892: Kilmarnock Burghs[14][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Stephen Williamson | 5,110  | 54.1  | −1.1
| Conservative | Charles Dickson | 4,335  | 45.9  | +1.1
Majority | 775  | 8.2  | −2.2
Turnout | 9,445  | 84.2  | +3.6
Registered electors | 11,216  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | -1.1  |
General election 1895: Kilmarnock Burghs[14][16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Denny | 5,432  | 51.8  | +5.9
| Liberal | Stephen Williamson | 5,051  | 48.2  | −5.9
Majority | 381  | 3.6  | N/A
Turnout | 10,483  | 87.2  | +3.0
Registered electors | 12,027  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.9  |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

General election 1900: Kilmarnock Burghs[14][16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Denny | 6,076  | 51.6  | −0.2
| Liberal | Adam Rainy | 5,692  | 48.4  | +0.2
Majority | 384  | 3.2  | −0.4
Turnout | 11,768  | 86.4  | −0.8
Registered electors | 13,621  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.2  |
General election 1906: Kilmarnock Burghs[14][17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Adam Rainy | 8,268  | 59.0  | +10.6
| Conservative | Thomas W McIntyre  | 5,743  | 41.0  | −10.6
Majority | 2,525  | 18.0  | N/A
Turnout | 14,011  | 87.4  | +1.0
Registered electors | 16,024  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.6  |

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

Adam Rainy General election January 1910: Kilmarnock Burghs[18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Adam Rainy | 8,937  | 61.1  | +2.1
| Conservative | John James Bell  | 5,701  | 38.9  | −2.1
Majority | 3,236  | 22.2  | +4.2
Turnout | 14,638  | 88.9  | +2.5
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.1  |
W. Gladstone General election December 1910: Kilmarnock Burghs[19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Adam Rainy | 8,657  | 60.9  | −0.2
| Conservative | James Buyers Black  | 5,569  | 39.1  | +0.2
Majority | 3,088  | 21.8  | −0.4
Turnout | 14,226  | 86.4  | −2.5
| Liberal hold | Swing |  |
J.D. Rees Alex Shaw Kilmarnock Burghs by-election, 1911[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Will Gladstone | 6,923  | 48.3  | −12.6
| Conservative | John Rees | 4,637  | 32.4  | −6.7
| Labour | Thomas McKerrell | 2,761  | 19.3  | New
Majority | 2,286  | 15.9  | −5.9
Turnout | 14,321  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | -3.0  |
Kilmarnock Burghs by-election, 1915[18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Alexander Shaw | Unopposed
| Liberal hold

## See also

[edit]

* Former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "K" (part 2)
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s 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.
3. ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 205. Retrieved 2 September 2018 – via Google Books.
4. ^ Boase, George Clement (1896). "Pleydell-Bouverie, Edward" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 45\. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
5. ^ "Leicester Journal". 31 May 1844. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 2 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
6. ^ "Kilmarnock Election". Ayr Advertiser; or, West Country Journal. 23 May 1844. p. 4. Retrieved 2 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
7. ^ "Glasgow Gazette". 10 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 2 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
8. ^ Debrett's House of Commons, 1870
9. ^ "The Rev. Mr Thomson at Port-Glasgow". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. 14 November 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 19 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
10. ^ "Kilmarnock". Newcastle Journal. 17 November 1868. p. 4. Retrieved 19 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
11. ^ "The General Election". Glasgow Herald. 7 April 1880. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 2 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
12. ^ "Renfrew". Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette. 27 March 1880. p. 6. Retrieved 2 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
13. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889
14. ^ a b c d e f Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885–1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
15. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
16. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
17. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
18. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
19. ^ British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 by Craig, F.W.S. (1974)
20. ^ British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 by Craig, F. W. S. (1974)

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