Meath (UK Parliament constituency)

UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland, 1801–1885

For the 1923–1937 and 1948–2007 constituency, see Meath (Dáil constituency).

County Meath

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
County| County Meath
1801–1885
Seats| 2
Created from| County Meath (IHC)
Replaced by|

* North Meath
* South Meath

Meath was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

## Boundaries

[edit]

This constituency comprised the whole of County Meath.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Election | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Party

|
|
|
|

1801 |  | Hamilton Gorges |  |  | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet | Whig[1]
1802 |  | Thomas Cherburgh Bligh | Whig[1]
1812 |  | Thomas Taylour, Earl of Bective (later Marquess of Headfort)  | Whig[2]
Feb 1830  |  | Arthur Plunkett, Baron Killeen, later Earl of Fingall  | Whig[1]
Aug 1831  |  | Henry Grattan | Repeal Association[1][3]
1832 |  | Morgan O'Connell | Repeal Association[1][3]
Feb 1840  |  | Matthew Corbally | Whig[4][5][6]
1841 |  | Daniel O'Connell[7] | Repeal Association[1][3]
Jun 1842  |  | Matthew Corbally | Whig[4][5][6]
1852 |  | Ind. Irish[3] |  | Frederick Lucas | Ind. Irish[3]
1855  |  | Edward McEvoy | Ind. Irish[3]
1859  |  | Liberal[3] |  | Liberal[3]
1871  |  | John Martin | Ind. Nationalist[3]
1874 |  | Home Rule League[3] |  | Nicholas Ennis | Home Rule League[3]
1875  |  | Charles Stewart Parnell[8] | Home Rule League[3]
Apr 1880 |  | Robert Henry Metge | Home Rule League[3]
May 1880  |  | Alexander Martin Sullivan | Home Rule League[3]
Feb 1882  |  | Michael Davitt[9] | Home Rule League[3]
Apr 1882  |  | Edward Sheil | Home Rule League[3]
Feb 1884  |  | William Meagher | Home Rule League[3]
1885 | Constituency divided: see South Meath and North Meath

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

Taylour succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Marquess of Headfort and causing a by-election.

By-election, 22 February 1830: Meath[3][1][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Arthur Plunkett | Unopposed
Registered electors | 977  |
| Whig hold
General election 1830: Meath[3][1][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet | Unopposed
| Whig | Arthur Plunkett | Unopposed
Registered electors | 977  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold
General election 1831: Meath[3][1][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Arthur Plunkett | 417  | 47.2
| Whig | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet  | 250  | 28.3
| Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | 198  | 22.4
| Whig | James Lenox William Naper  | 10  | 1.1
| Tory | Richard Rowley | 8  | 0.9
Majority  | 52  | 5.9
Turnout | c. 442 | c. 45.2
Registered electors | 977  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

Somerville's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 11 August 1831: Meath[3][1][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | 309  | 67.3  | +44.9
| Whig | John Duncan Bligh | 150  | 32.7  | −43.9
Majority  | 159  | 34.6  | N/A
Turnout | 459  | 47.0  | c. +1.8
Registered electors | 977  |  |
| Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Swing | +44.4  |
General election 1832: Meath[3][1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | Unopposed
| Irish Repeal | Morgan O'Connell | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,520  |
| Irish Repeal gain from Whig
| Irish Repeal gain from Whig
General election 1835: Meath[3][1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Irish Repeal (Whig) | Morgan O'Connell | 838 | 35.7
| Irish Repeal (Whig) | Henry Grattan | 826 | 35.2
| Conservative | Randal Plunkett  | 346  | 14.7
| Conservative | Gustavus Lambert  | 337  | 14.4
Majority  | 480  | 20.5
Turnout | c. 1,174 | c. 72.6
Registered electors | 1,617  |
| Irish Repeal hold
| Irish Repeal hold
General election 1837: Meath[3][1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Irish Repeal (Whig) | Morgan O'Connell | Unopposed
| Irish Repeal (Whig) | Henry Grattan | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,872  |
| Irish Repeal hold
| Irish Repeal hold

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

O'Connell resigned after being appointed assistant registrar of deeds, causing a by-election.

By-election, 4 February 1840: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed
| Whig gain from Irish Repeal
General election 1841: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Irish Repeal | Daniel O'Connell | Unopposed
| Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,236  |  |
| Irish Repeal hold
| Irish Repeal hold

O'Connell was also elected for County Cork and opted to sit there, causing a by-election.

By-election, 10 June 1842: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed
| Whig gain from Irish Repeal
General election 1847: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Matthew Corbally | 598  | 41.8  | New
| Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | 503  | 35.1  | N/A
| Conservative | Henry Corbet Singleton  | 331  | 23.1  | New
Turnout | 716 (est)  | 44.4 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 1,611  |  |
Majority  | 95  | 6.7  | N/A
| Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Swing | N/A |
Majority  | 172  | 12.0  | N/A
| Irish Repeal hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 1852: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Independent Irish | Frederick Lucas | 2,004  | 44.2  | N/A
| Independent Irish | Matthew Corbally | 1,968  | 43.4  | +1.6
| Independent Irish | Henry Grattan | 565  | 12.5  | −22.6
Majority  | 1,403  | 30.9  | N/A
Turnout | 2,269 (est)  | 53.8 (est)  | +9.4
Registered electors | 4,218  |  |
| Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal | Swing | N/A |
| Independent Irish gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |

Lucas' death caused a by-election.

By-election, 17 December 1855: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Independent Irish | Edward McEvoy | 1,639  | 64.6  | N/A
| Whig | Henry Meredyth[11] | 899  | 35.4  | New
Majority  | 740  | 29.2  | −1.7
Turnout | 2,538  | 60.2  | +6.4
Registered electors | 4,218  |  |
| Independent Irish hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1857: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Independent Irish | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed
| Independent Irish | Edward McEvoy | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,177  |  |
| Independent Irish hold
| Independent Irish hold
General election 1859: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed
| Liberal | Edward McEvoy | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,383  |  |
| Liberal hold
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

General election 1865: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed
| Liberal | Edward McEvoy | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,155  |  |
| Liberal hold
| Liberal hold
General election 1868: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Matthew Corbally | 1,696  | 49.3  | N/A
| Liberal | Edward McEvoy | 1,655  | 48.1  | N/A
| Liberal | John Thomas Hinds  | 88  | 2.6  | N/A
Majority  | 1,567  | 45.5  | N/A
Turnout | 1,720 (est)  | 42.8 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 4,018  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

Corbally's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 17 Jan 1871: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Ind. Nationalist | John Martin | 1,140  | 62.5  | New
| Conservative | George John Plunkett  | 684  | 37.5  | New
Majority  | 456  | 25.0  | N/A
Turnout | 1,824  | 43.6  | +0.8
Registered electors | 4,179  |  |
| Ind. Nationalist gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A |
General election 1874: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Home Rule | Nicholas Ennis | 1,716  | 38.8  | N/A
| Home Rule | John Martin | 1,709  | 38.7  | N/A
| Conservative | James Lennox Napier  | 992  | 22.5  | N/A
Majority  | 717  | 16.2  | N/A
Turnout | 2,705 (est)  | 66.5 (est)  | +23.7
Registered electors | 4,069  |  |
| Home Rule gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A |
| Home Rule gain from Ind. Nationalist | Swing | N/A |

Martin's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 17 Apr 1875: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Home Rule | Charles Stewart Parnell | 1,771  | 62.8  | −14.7
| Conservative | James Lennox Napier  | 912  | 32.3  | +9.8
| Home Rule | John Thomas Hinds  | 138  | 4.9  | N/A
Majority  | 859  | 30.5  | +14.3
Turnout | 2,821  | 68.2  | +1.7
Registered electors | 4,139  |  |
| Home Rule hold | Swing | −12.3  |

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1880: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Parnellite Home Rule League | Charles Stewart Parnell | 2,283  | 45.2  | +6.4
| Home Rule | Robert Henry Metge | 2,252  | 44.6  | +5.9
| Conservative | Henry Lorton Bourke  | 514  | 10.2  | −12.3
Majority  | 1,738  | 34.4  | +18.2
Turnout | 2,797 (est)  | 72.1 (est)  | +5.6
Registered electors | 3,877  |  |
| Home Rule hold | Swing | +6.3  |
| Home Rule hold | Swing | +6.0  |

Parnell was also elected MP for Cork City and opted to sit there, causing a by-election.

By-election, 20 May 1880: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Home Rule | Alexander Martin Sullivan | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,877  |  |
| Home Rule hold

Sullivan resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 22 Feb 1882: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Home Rule | Michael Davitt | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,711  |  |
| Home Rule hold

Davitt was disqualified because he was in prison, causing a by-election.

By-election, 14 Apr 1882: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Home Rule | Edward Sheil | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,711  |  |
| Home Rule hold

Metge resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 21 Feb 1884: Meath[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Home Rule | William Meagher | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,660  |  |
| Home Rule hold

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 236. Retrieved 6 October 2018 - via Google Books.
2. ^ Fitzpatrick, David (1994). Oceans of Consolation: Personal Accounts of Irish Migration to Australia. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. p. 301\. ISBN 0-8014-2606-5. Retrieved 21 May 2020 - via Google Books.
3. ^ 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 Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. pp. 231–232, 303–304. ISBN 0901714127.
4. ^ a b "Election News". Cambridge Independent Press. Cambridgeshire. 18 June 1842. p. 3. Retrieved 2 March 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
5. ^ a b "Meath". Gloucestershire Chronicle. 1 February 1840. p. 4. Retrieved 3 March 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
6. ^ a b "T.he Globe states that Mr. Matthew Elias Corbally,w ho declined". The Spectator. 28 May 1842. p. 11. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
7. ^ O'Connell was also returned for County Cork and chose to sit for Cork
8. ^ At the 1880 general election, Parnell was also returned for both Mayo and Cork City. He chose to sit for Cork
9. ^ As a convicted felon, Davitt was held to be incapable of taking his seat. A by-election was held in April 1882
10. ^ a b c d Salmon, Philip. "Co. Meath". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
11. ^ "County of Meath Election". Berkshire Chronicle. 15 December 1855. p. 8. Retrieved 6 October 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.

## References

[edit]

* The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
* Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.
* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 2)

* v
* t
* e

Parliamentary constituencies in County Meath

Parliament of Ireland
to 1800|

* County Meath (????-1800)
* Athboy (1613-1800)
* Duleek (1727-1800)
* Kells (1561-1800)
* Navan (1469-1800)
* Ratoath (????-1800)
* Trim (1572-1800)

Westminster 1801-1922
and First Dáil 1918|

* Meath (1801-1885)
* North Meath (1885-1922)
* South Meath (1885-1922)

Dáil Éireann
1918–present|

| Historic|

* Louth–Meath (1921-1923)
* Meath (1923-1937, 1948-2007)
* Meath–Westmeath (1937-1948)

|

Current|

* Meath East (2007-)
* Meath West (2007-)

European Parliament
1979-present|

* Leinster (1979-2004)
* East (2004-2014)
* Midlands–North-West (2004-)

Constituencies in Ireland by county

Republic of Ireland|

* Carlow
* Cavan
* Clare
* Cork
* Donegal
* Dublin
* Galway
* Kerry
* Kildare
* Kilkenny
* Laois
* Leitrim
* Limerick
* Longford
* Louth
* Mayo
* Meath
* Monaghan
* Offaly
* Roscommon
* Sligo
* Tipperary
* Waterford
* Westmeath
* Wexford
* Wicklow

Northern Ireland|

* Antrim
* Armagh
* Down
* Fermanagh
* Londonderry
* Tyrone

*[c.]: circa
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template