Portsmouth (UK Parliament constituency)

Former parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Portsmouth

Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
County| Hampshire
Major settlements| Portsmouth
1295–1918
Seats| Two
Replaced by| Portsmouth North, Portsmouth South and Portsmouth Central

Portsmouth was a borough constituency based upon the borough of Portsmouth in Hampshire. It returned two members of parliament (MPs) to the Parliaments of England, Great Britain and from 1801 the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.

## History

[edit]

The constituency first elected MPs in 1295. It was abolished at the 1918 general election, when the Representation of the People Act 1918 divided it into three new constituencies; Portsmouth North, Portsmouth South and Portsmouth Central.

According to Namier and Brooke in The House of Commons 1754–1790, the right of election was in the freemen of the borough who numbered about 100. The town was known as an Admiralty borough and at least one MP was usually an Admiral.

The Earl of Sandwich was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1771 to 1782. He imposed tighter Admiralty control over the borough. This change of policy led to an independent element of the local Council supporting challengers to the Admiralty candidates between 1774 and 1780.

When party politics re-emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Portsmouth was a predominantly Whig constituency. It only once elected a Tory Member of Parliament between 1790 and 1832.

The Reform Act 1832 considerably expanded the electorate of the borough. The freemen retained their ancient right franchise, but were outnumbered by the new occupier voters amongst the 1,295 electors registered in 1832. As a result of the expanded electorate the borough became more competitive. Contested elections became the norm rather than the exception, as they had been before the Reform Act.

Candidates with naval connections continued to be frequent in Portsmouth, after the Reform Act. The borough developed into a marginal constituency, particularly in the last half century of its existence.

## Boundaries

[edit]

The parliamentary borough of Portsmouth was (as the area remains in the 21st century) a major seaport and naval base on the south coast of England. It is situated in the county of Hampshire.

From the 1885 general election until the dissolution before the 1918 election the constituency was surrounded (on the landward side) by the Fareham seat.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

### 1295–1640

[edit]

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

|

Parliament | First member | Second member

|
|

1357 | John Pounde |
1372 | Richard Abraham | ?
January 1377 | Richard Abraham | ?
February 1383 | Richard Abraham | ?
1386 | William Bristowe | Richard Mautravers[1]
1388 (Feb) | John atte Mede | ?[1]
1388 (Sep) | Richard Gay | William Bristowe[1]
1390 (Jan) | Richard Robust | William atte Pury[1]
1390 (Nov) |
1391 | William atte Pury | Henry Seys[1]
1393 | William atte Pury | Richard Whiliare[1]
1394 | William Hicche I | Henry Seys[1]
1395 | Richard Gay | Stephen Agulon[1]
1397 (Jan) | William Hicche II | Henry Seys[1]
1397 (Sep) | William Hicche II | Henry Seys[1]
1399 | William atte Pury | William Balchief[1]
1401 |
1402 | Richard Spicer alias Newport | William Hicche II[1]
1404 (Jan) |
1404 (Oct) |
1406 | William atte Pury | Richard Gay[1]
1407 |
1410 | Henry Abraham[1]
1411 | William Balchief | William atte Pury[1]
1413 (Feb) |
1413 (May) | William atte Pury | William Balchief[1]
1414 (Apr) |
1414 (Nov) | William Balchief | William atte Pury[1]
1415 | William atte Pury | Henry Abraham[1]
1416 (Mar) | William atte Pury | Thomas Robust[1]
1416 (Oct) |
1417 | William atte Pury | Richard Gay[1]
1419 | William Balchief | John Serle[1]
1420 | William Balchief | John Versy[1]
1421 (May) | Simon Stubbere | Henry Abraham[1]
1421 (Dec) | William Balchief | Richard Hert[1]
1422 | Henry Abraham |
1433 | Robert Abraham | Unknown[2]
1437 | Richard Abraham | Unknown
1467 | Henry Uvedale | Unknown[2]
1449-1450 | Robert Abraham | Unknown[2]
1510–1523 | No names known[3]
1529 | Geoffrey Lee | Francis Dignely[3]
1536 | ?
1539 | ?John Chaderton | ?[3]
1542 | Christopher Staverton | ?John Chaderton[3]
1545 | John Fryer | Michael Gore[3]
1547 | Robert Blount | Henry Knollys[3]
1553 (Mar) | Sir Richard Wingfield | John Chaderton[3]
1553 (Oct) | John Chaderton | Henry Bickley[3]
1554 (Apr) | Richard Sackville | William Cooke[3]
1554 (Nov) | Edmund Cockerell | John de Vic[3]
1555 | Ralph Henslowe | Edmund Cockerell[3]
1558 | Edward Cordell | Edmund Cockerell[3]
1559 | William Wynter | George Brooke alias Cobham[4]
1563 | William Wynter | Thomas Smythe[4]
1571 | Lawrence Blundestone | Henry Slater[4]
1572 | Sir Henry Radclyffe | Robert Colshill[4]
1584 | Thomas Bodley | Thomas Radcliffe[4]
1586 | Thomas Harris | Thomas Thorney[4]
1588 | Thomas Harris | Thomas Thorney[4]
1593 | Edward Radclyffe | Thomas Thorney[4]
1597 | William Greene | Thomas Thorney[4]
1601 | John Moore | Edward Jones[4]
1604 | Sir Oliver St John | Sir Richard Jenvoy
1614 | John Griffith | George Thorpe
1621–1622 | Sir Daniel Norton | Sir Benjamin Rudyerd
1624 | Sir William Uvedale | Sir Benjamin Rudyerd
1625 | Sir Benjamin Rudyerd | Sir Daniel Norton
1626 | Sir James Fullerton | Thomas Whatman
1628 | Owen Jennens | William Towerson
1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned

### 1640–1918

[edit]

Year |  | First member | First party |  | Second member | Second party

|
|
|
|
|
|

April 1640 |  | The Earl of Lanark |  |  | Hon. Henry Percy[n 1] | Royalist
November 1640 |  | Hon. George Goring | Royalist
1640 (?)  |  | Edward Dowse[n 2] | Parliamentarian
August 1642  | Goring disabled from sitting – seat vacant
1646  |  | Edward Boote |
December 1648  | Boote not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge | Dowce died late 1648 – seat left vacant
1653  | Portsmouth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1654 |  | Nathaniel Whetham |  | Portsmouth had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656 |  | Thomas Smith |
January 1659 |  | Francis Willoughby |  |  | John Child |
May 1659 | Portsmouth was not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660  |  | Richard Norton |  |  | Henry Whithed |
May 1660  |  | Andrew Henley |
1661  |  | Richard Norton |  |  | Sir George Carteret, Bt |
February 1679  |  | George Legge |  |  | Sir John Kempthorne |
August 1679  |  | Richard Norton |
1685  |  | William Legge |  |  | Henry Slingsby |
1689  |  | Richard Norton |
1690  |  | Edward Russell |  |  | Nicholas Hedger |
1695  |  | Matthew Aylmer |
1696  |  | John Gibson |
1698  |  | Thomas Erle |  |  | Sir George Rooke |
January 1702  |  | John Gibson |
July 1702  |  | Thomas Erle[n 3] |
December 1702  |  | William Gifford |
May 1708  |  | Thomas Erle[n 3] |  |  | George Churchill | Tory
December 1708  |  | Sir Thomas Littleton, Bt |
January 1710[n 4] |  | Sir Charles Wager |
October 1710  |  | Sir John Jennings |
1711  |  | Admiral Sir James Wishart |  |  | Sir William Gifford |
1713  |  | Sir Thomas Mackworth, Bt |
1715  |  | Sir Charles Wager |  |  | Sir Edward Ernle, Bt |
1722  |  | Sir John Norris |
1734  |  | Thomas Lewis |  |  | Philip Cavendish |
1737  |  | Charles Stewart |
February 1741  |  | Edward Vernon |
May 1741  |  | Martin Bladen |
1743  |  | Sir Charles Hardy |
1744  |  | Isaac Townsend |
1746  |  | Thomas Gore[n 5] |
15 December 1747 |  | Hon. Edward Legge[n 6] | Whig
28 December 1747 |  | Sir Edward Hawke[n 7] |
1754 |  | Sir William Rowley |
1761 |  | Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, Bt |
1774  |  | Peter Taylor |
1776  |  | Maurice Suckling |
1777  |  | Sir William Gordon |
1778  |  | Hon. Robert Monckton |
1782  |  | Sir Henry Fetherstonhaugh, Bt | Non-partisan[5]
1783  |  | Hon. Thomas Erskine | Whig[5]
1784 |  | Hon. William Cornwallis | Non-partisan[5]
1790 |  | Whig[5] |  | Hon. Thomas Erskine | Whig[5]
1796 |  | Lord Hugh Seymour | Non-partisan[5]
1801  |  | John Markham | Whig[5]
February 1806  |  | Hon. David Erskine |
November 1806 |  | Sir Thomas Miller, Bt | Whig[5]
1816  |  | John Bonham Carter | Whig[5][6][7]
1818 |  | Sir George Cockburn, Bt | Tory[5]
1820 |  | John Markham | Whig[5]
1826 |  | Francis Baring | Whig[5][8][6][7]
1838  |  | Sir George Thomas Staunton | Whig[5][9][10]
1852 |  | The Viscount Monck | Whig
1857 |  | Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, Bt | Conservative
1859 |  | Liberal
1865 |  | William Henry Stone | Liberal |  | Stephen Gaselee | Liberal
1868 |  | Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, Bt | Conservative
1874 |  | Thomas Charles Bruce | Conservative
1880 |  | Sir Henry Drummond Wolff | Conservative
1885 |  | Sir William Crossman | Liberal |  | Philip Vanderbyl | Liberal
1886 |  | Liberal Unionist |  | Sir Samuel Wilson | Conservative
1892 |  | Sir John Baker | Liberal |  | Walter Clough | Liberal
1900 |  | Thomas Bramsdon | Liberal
1900 |  | James Majendie | Conservative |  | Reginald Lucas | Conservative
1906 |  | Sir John Baker | Liberal |  | Thomas Bramsdon | Liberal
1910 |  | Lord Charles Beresford | Conservative |  | Sir Bertram Falle | Liberal Unionist
1912 |  | Unionist
1916 |  | Sir Hedworth Meux | Unionist
1918 | Constituency abolished

Notes

1. ^ Percy was re-elected to serve in the Long Parliament but was also elected for Northumberland, which he chose to represent, and did not sit again for Portsmouth
2. ^ This list follows that given by Brunton & Pennington. Cobbett lists Dowse as elected after the Civil War to replace Nicholas Weston, disabled from sitting in 1642, but Brunton & Pennington's more recent research records Weston as MP for Newtown (Isle of Wight).
3. ^ a b Erle was also elected for Wareham, which he chose to represent, and did not for Portsmouth in this Parliament
4. ^ On petition, the result of the 1710 election was overturned, and Wager and Jennings were declared not to have been duly elected
5. ^ Gore was re-elected in 1747, but had also been elected for Bedford, which he chose to represent, and did not sit again for Portsmouth
6. ^ It was soon afterwards discovered that Legge, who had been elected while on naval service overseas, had been dead 87 days before his election, which was declared void
7. ^ Admiral from 1757

## Election notes

[edit]

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).

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.

## Election results 1715–1800

[edit]

1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s

### Elections in the 1710s

[edit]

General election 31 January 1715: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Edward Ernle | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Charles Wager | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Seat vacated when Wager was appointed to an office

By-Election 7 April 1715: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Charles Wager | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

* Seat vacated when Wager was appointed to an office

By-Election 28 March 1718: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Charles Wager | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1720s

[edit]

General election 24 March 1722: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | John Norris | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Charles Wager | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
General election 19 August 1727: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | John Norris | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Charles Wager | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

### Elections in the 1730s

[edit]

General election 24 April 1734: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Thomas Lewis | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Philip Cavendish | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Death of Lewis

By-Election 10 February 1737: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Charles Stewart | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1740s

[edit]

* Death of Stewart

By-Election 21 February 1741: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Edward Vernon | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 6 May 1741: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Philip Cavendish | 60  | 48.78  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Martin Bladen | 54  | 43.90  | N/A
| Tory | Edward Vernon | 9  | 7.32  | N/A
Turnout | 123  | N/A | N/A

* Seat vacated when Cavendish was appointed to an office

By-Election 23 March 1742: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Philip Cavendish | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

* Death of Cavendish

By-Election 14 December 1743: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Sir Charles Hardy | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

* Death of Hardy

By-Election 28 December 1744: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Isaac Townsend | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

* Death of Bladen

By-Election 3 March 1746: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Thomas Gore | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1 July 1747: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Isaac Townsend | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Thomas Gore | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Gore chose to sit for Bedford

By-Election 15 December 1747: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Edward Legge | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

* Election declared void on 19 December 1747 as, unknown to anyone in England on 15 December, Legge had died on 19 September 1747.

By-Election 28 December 1747: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Edward Hawke | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1750s

[edit]

General election 18 April 1754: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | William Rowley | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Edward Hawke | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Seat vacated when Rowley was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty

By-Election 25 April 1757: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | William Rowley | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1760s

[edit]

General election 31 March 1761: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Edward Hawke | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Matthew Fetherstonhaugh | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Seat vacated when Hawke was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty

By-Election 10 December 1766: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Edward Hawke | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 22 March 1768: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Edward Hawke | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Matthew Fetherstonhaugh | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Death of Fetherstonhaugh

### Elections in the 1770s

[edit]

By-Election 29 March 1774: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Peter Taylor | 39  | 61.90  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Joshua Iremonger | 24  | 38.10  | N/A
Majority | 15  | 23.80  | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 10 October 1774: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Edward Hawke | 65  | 47.79  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Peter Taylor | 37  | 27.21  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Joshua Iremonger | 34  | 25.00  | N/A

* Creation of Hawke as a peer

By-Election 18 May 1776: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Maurice Suckling | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

* Death of Taylor

By-Election 26 November 1777: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | William Gordon | 23  | 65.71  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Henry Fetherstonhaugh | 12  | 34.29  | N/A
Majority | 11  | 31.43  | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

* Death of Suckling

By-Election 10 August 1778: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Robert Monckton | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1780s

[edit]

General election 9 September 1780: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Robert Monckton | 34  | 52.31  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | William Gordon | 20  | 30.77  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Henry Fetherstonhaugh | 11  | 16.92  | N/A

* Death of Monckton

By-Election 5 June 1782: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Henry Fetherstonhaugh | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A |

* Seat vacated on the grant of a pension, at the pleasure of the Crown, to Gordon

By-Election 28 July 1783: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Thomas Erskine | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig gain from Nonpartisan | Swing | N/A |

* Source for party: Stooks Smith

General election 1 April 1784: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Henry Fetherstonhaugh | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | William Cornwallis | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

### Elections in the 1790s

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Henry Fetherstonhaugh | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Thomas Erskine | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
General election 1796: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Thomas Erskine | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Hugh Seymour | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Seymour is referred to as Hugh Seymour-Conway in the above list of members of parliament

## Election results 1801–1918

[edit]

1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s – 1890s – 1900s – 1910s

### Elections in the 1800s

[edit]

* Death of Seymour

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

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Markham | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig gain from Nonpartisan
General election 1802: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Thomas Erskine | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | John Markham | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* The above list of members of parliament includes David Montagu Erskine as an MP in 1806, in succession to his father Thomas Erskine (who became Lord Chancellor and was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Baron Erskine in 1806). Stooks Smith does not record this election

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

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Markham | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Thomas Miller | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
General election 1807: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Markham | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Thomas Miller | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

### Elections in the 1810s

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Markham | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Thomas Miller | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

* Death of Miller

By-Election February 1817: Portsmouth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig hold
General election 1818: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Tory | George Cockburn | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

### Elections in the 1820s

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | 53  | 48.62  | N/A
| Whig | John Markham | 34  | 31.19  | N/A
| Tory | George Cockburn | 22  | 20.18  | N/A
Majority | 12  | 11.01  | N/A
Turnout | 109  |  | N/A
| Whig hold | Swing |  |
| Tory gain from Whig | Swing |  |
General election 1826: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1830: Portsmouth (2 seats)[5][11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | Unopposed
| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

* Seat vacated on the appointment of Baring as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury

By-election, 29 November 1830: Portsmouth[5][11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed
| Whig hold
General election 1831: Portsmouth (2 seats)[5][11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | Unopposed
| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed
Registered electors | 49  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold
General election 1832: Portsmouth (2 seats)[5][12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | 826  | 46.1
| Whig | Francis Baring | 707  | 39.5
| Radical | Charles Napier | 258  | 14.4
Majority  | 449  | 25.1
Turnout | 983  | 75.9
Registered electors | 1,295  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold
General election 1835: Portsmouth (2 seats)[5][12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | 643  | 30.5  | −15.6
| Whig | Francis Baring | 571  | 27.1  | −12.4
| Conservative | Charles Rowley | 557  | 26.4  | New
| Radical | Charles Napier | 335  | 15.9  | +1.5
Majority | 14  | 0.7  | −24.4
Turnout | 1,143  | 85.3  | +9.4
Registered electors | 1,340  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | −8.2  |
| Whig hold | Swing | −6.6  |
General election 1837: Portsmouth (2 seats)[5][12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Baring | 635  | 28.6  | −1.9
| Whig | John Bonham-Carter | 630  | 28.4  | +1.3
| Conservative | George Cockburn | 518  | 23.3  | +10.1
| Conservative | James Harris | 438  | 19.7  | +6.5
Majority | 112  | 5.1  | +4.4
Turnout | 1,118  | 71.6  | −13.7
Registered electors | 1,561  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | −5.1  |
| Whig hold | Swing | −3.5  |

Note (1837): Stooks Smith gives a registered electorate figure of 1,517; but Craig's figure is used to calculate turnout.

* Death of Carter

By-election, 26 February 1838: Portsmouth[5][12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | George Staunton | Unopposed
| Whig hold

Note (1838): Daniel Quarrier (Conservative) was a candidate for this by-election, but retired before the poll.

* Seat vacated on the appointment of Baring as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

By-election, 30 August 1839: Portsmouth[5][12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed
| Whig hold

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1841: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed
| Whig | George Staunton | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,834  |  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold
General election 1847: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed
| Whig | George Staunton | Unopposed
Registered electors | 2,068  |  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

* Seat vacated on the appointment of Baring as First Lord of the Admiralty..

By-election, 6 February 1849: Portsmouth[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed
| Whig hold

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 1852: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Baring | Unopposed
| Whig | Charles Monck | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,332  |  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

* Note (1852): Monck was a peer in the peerage of Ireland.
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Monck as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury.

By-election, 14 March 1855: Portsmouth[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Charles Monck | 1,478  | 75.8  | N/A
| Radical | Stephen Gaselee[13] | 473  | 24.2  | N/A
Majority | 1,005  | 51.6  | N/A
Turnout | 1,951  | 56.7  | N/A
Registered electors | 3,439  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1857: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone | 1,522  | 33.9  | New
| Whig | Francis Baring | 1,496  | 33.3  | N/A
| Whig | Charles Monck | 1,476  | 32.8  | N/A
Majority | 46  | 1.1  | N/A
Turnout | 2,247 (est)  | 61.2 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 3,671  |  |
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |

* Note (1857): Number of voters unknown. The turnout is estimated by dividing the number of votes by two. To the extent that electors did not use both their votes, the figure given will be an underestimate of actual turnout.

General election 1859: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone | 1,640  | 27.1  | +10.1
| Liberal | Francis Baring | 1,574  | 26.0  | −7.3
| Conservative | Thomas Charles Bruce | 1,447  | 23.9  | +6.9
| Liberal | Henry Keppel | 1,386  | 22.9  | −9.9
Turnout | 3,024 (est)  | 79.1 (est)  | +17.9
Registered electors | 3,821  |  |
Majority | 66  | 1.1  | 0.0
| Conservative hold | Swing | +9.4  |
Majority | 127  | 2.1  | N/A
| Liberal hold | Swing | −7.9  |

* Note (1859): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

General election 1865: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Henry Stone | 2,164  | 28.8  | +2.8
| Liberal | Stephen Gaselee | 2,103  | 28.0  | +5.1
| Conservative | James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone | 1,677  | 22.4  | −4.7
| Conservative | Thomas Charles Bruce | 1,559  | 20.8  | −3.1
Majority | 426  | 5.6  | +3.5
Turnout | 3,752 (est)  | 80.3 (est)  | +1.2
Registered electors | 4,670  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +3.4  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.5  |

* Note (1865): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.
* Expansion of the electorate provided for by the Reform Act 1867

General election 1868: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone | 5,306  | 41.5  | −1.7
| Liberal | William Henry Stone | 3,785  | 29.6  | +0.8
| Liberal | Stephen Gaselee | 3,687  | 28.9  | +0.9
Majority | 1,521  | 11.9  | N/A
Turnout | 9,042 (est)  | 78.0 (est)  | −2.3
Registered electors | 11,597  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | −1.7  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.8  |

* Note (1868): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

General election 1874: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone | 5,927  | 28.2  | +7.4
| Conservative | Thomas Charles Bruce | 5,879  | 27.9  | +7.1
| Liberal | William Henry Stone | 4,644  | 22.1  | −7.5
| Liberal | Sir Wyndham Portal, 1st Baronet  | 4,588  | 21.8  | −7.1
Majority | 1,235  | 5.8  | −5.9
Turnout | 10,519  | 70.5  | −7.5
Registered electors | 14,931  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +7.4  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.2  |

* Note (1874): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Elphinstone as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury

By-Election 16 March 1874: Portsmouth[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone | Unopposed
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1880: Portsmouth (2 seats)[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Thomas Charles Bruce | 6,683  | 26.4  | −1.5
| Conservative | Henry Drummond Wolff | 6,593  | 26.0  | −2.2
| Liberal | John Freeman Norris[14] | 6,040  | 23.8  | +1.7
| Liberal | Edmund Verney | 6,023  | 23.8  | +2.0
Majority | 553  | 2.2  | −3.6
Turnout | 12,670  | 77.0  | +6.5
Registered electors | 16,463  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.6  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.1  |

* Note (1880): Estimated turnout, see the 1857 note.
* Electorate expanded by the Representation of the People Act 1884

General election 1885: Portsmouth (2 seats)[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Crossman | 8,367  | 26.3  | +2.5
| Liberal | Philip Vanderbyl | 8,214  | 25.8  | +2.0
| Conservative | Thomas Charles Bruce | 7,650  | 24.0  | −2.4
| Conservative | Henry Drummond Wolff | 7,595  | 23.9  | −2.1
Majority | 564  | 1.8  | N/A
Turnout | 16,068  | 79.2  | +2.2
Registered electors | 20,279  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.5  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.1  |
Sir John Baker General election 1886: Portsmouth (2 seats)[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Unionist | William Crossman | 8,482  | 27.2  | +3.2
| Conservative | Samuel Wilson | 8,325  | 26.8  | +2.9
| Liberal | Philip Vanderbyl | 7,196  | 23.2  | −2.6
| Liberal | John Baker | 7,069  | 22.8  | −3.5
Turnout | 15,722  | 77.5  | −1.7
Registered electors | 20,279  |  |
Majority | 1,286  | 4.0  | N/A
| Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.9  |
Majority | 1,256  | 4.0  | N/A
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.2  |

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

Walter Clough General election 1892: Portsmouth (2 seats)[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | John Baker | 9,643  | 25.9  | +3.1
| Liberal | Walter Clough | 9,448  | 25.4  | +2.2
| Conservative | George Henry Smith Willis  | 9,135  | 24.5  | −2.3
| Liberal Unionist | Anthony Ashley | 9,000  | 24.2  | −3.0
Majority | 313  | 0.9  | N/A
Turnout | 18,731  | 80.6  | +3.1
Registered electors | 23,237  |  |
| Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +3.1  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.3  |
Harmsworth General election 1895: Portsmouth (2 seats)[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | John Baker | 10,451  | 26.2  | +0.3
| Liberal | Walter Clough | 10,255  | 25.6  | +0.2
| Conservative | Alfred Harmsworth | 9,717  | 24.3  | −0.2
| Liberal Unionist | Anthony Ashley | 9,567  | 23.9  | −0.3
Majority | 538  | 1.3  | +0.4
Turnout | 20,129  | 83.7  | +3.1
Registered electors | 24,057  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.3  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.3  |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

Bramsdon 1900 Portsmouth by-election Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Thomas Bramsdon | 10,287  | 51.4  | −0.4
| Conservative | James Majendie | 9,708  | 48.6  | +0.4
Majority | 579  | 2.8  | +1.5
Turnout | 19,995  | 74.9  | −8.8
Registered electors | 26,698  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −0.4  |
General election 1900: Portsmouth (2 seats)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Majendie | 10,818  | 26.1  | +1.8
| Conservative | Reginald Lucas | 10,383  | 25.1  | +1.2
| Liberal | John Baker | 10,214  | 24.6  | −1.6
| Liberal | Thomas Bramsdon | 10,031  | 24.2  | −1.4
Majority | 169  | 0.5  | N/A
Turnout | 21,072  | 78.9  | −4.8
Registered electors | 26,698  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.7  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.3  |
Sanders General election 1906: Portsmouth (2 seats)[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Thomas Bramsdon | 10,500  | 22.6  | −1.6
| Liberal | John Baker | 10,236  | 22.0  | −2.6
| Labour Repr. Cmte. | William Sanders | 8,172  | 17.6  | New
| Conservative | E.W. Hills  | 7,970  | 17.1  | −9.0
| Conservative | A. Whitelaw  | 7,752  | 16.7  | −8.4
| Naval  | Fred T. Jane | 1,859  | 4.0  | New
Majority | 2,530  | 5.5  | N/A
Turnout | 25,478  | 82.8  | +3.9
Registered electors | 30,754  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.7  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.9  |

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

General election January 1910: Portsmouth (2 seats)[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Lord Charles Beresford | 16,777  | 28.7  | +11.6
| Liberal Unionist | Bertram Falle | 15,592  | 26.8  | +10.1
| Liberal | Thomas Bramsdon | 12,397  | 21.3  | −1.3
| Liberal | Richard Lambert | 9,965  | 17.1  | −4.9
| Labour | William Sanders | 3,529  | 6.1  | −11.5
Turnout | 30,100  | 89.4  | +6.6
Registered electors | 33,666  |  |
Majority | 4,380  | 7.4  | N/A
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.5  |
Majority | 5,627  | 9.7  | N/A
| Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.5  |
Hemmerde General election December 1910: Portsmouth (2 seats)[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Lord Charles Beresford | 15,125  | 26.9  | −1.8
| Liberal Unionist | Bertram Falle | 14,856  | 26.5  | −0.3
| Liberal | Edward Hemmerde | 13,146  | 23.4  | +2.1
| Liberal | Henry Harben | 13,013  | 23.2  | +4.1
Turnout | 28,236  | 83.9  | −5.5
Registered electors | 33,666  |  |
Majority | 1,979  | 3.5  | −3.9
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0  |
Majority | 1,843  | 3.3  | −6.4
| Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | −2.2  |
1916 Portsmouth by-election[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Hedworth Meux | Unopposed
| Unionist hold

## 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 "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
2. ^ a b c Wedgwood, J.C., History of Parliament: Biographies of the Members of the Commons House, 1439–1509 (London, 1936), 1.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
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. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 131–134. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
6. ^ a b Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. pp. 138, 150. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
7. ^ a b Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 22–23, 185.
8. ^ Gambles, Anna (1999). Protection and Politics: Conservative Economic Discourse 1815–1852. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. p. 244\. ISBN 0-86193-244-7. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
9. ^ Brown, David (2010). Palmerston: A Biography. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 350\. ISBN 978-0-300-11898-8. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
10. ^ "Parliamentary Movements". Nottingham Journal. 23 February 1838. p. 2. Retrieved 30 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
11. ^ a b c Salmon, Philip; Spencer, Howard. "Portsmouth". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
12. ^ 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. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
13. ^ "Election Intelligence". Perthshire Advertiser. 15 March 1855. p. 2. Retrieved 30 June 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
14. ^ "The Representation of Portsmouth". Hampshire Telegraph. 20 March 1880. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 9 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
15. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.

## Sources

[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 (Macmillan Press 1977)
* British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
* The House of Commons 1715–1754, by Romney Sedgwick (HMSO 1970)
* The House of Commons 1754–1790, by Sir Lewis Namier and John Brooke (HMSO 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))
* Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume I 1832–1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
* Who's Who of British members of parliament, Volume II 1886–1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
* Who's Who of British members of parliament, Volume III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
* Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
* D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
* Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [2]
* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 2)

## External links

[edit]

* The Representation Of Portsmouth In Parliament