Truro (UK Parliament constituency)

Former parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Truro

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Truro in Cornwall for the 1992 general election

Location of Cornwall within England

County| Cornwall
Major settlements| Truro, St Austell
1950–1997
Seats| One
Created from| Penryn and Falmouth and Camborne
Replaced by| Truro & St Austell
1885–1918
Seats| One
Type of constituency| County constituency
Created from| Helston, Truro and West Cornwall
Replaced by| Penryn and Falmouth, St Ives and Camborne
1295–1885
Seats| Two
Type of constituency| Borough constituency
Replaced by| Truro

Truro was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall represented in the House of Commons of England and later of Great Britain from 1295 until 1800, then in the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918 and finally from 1950 to 1997. Until 1885 it was a parliamentary borough, electing two members of parliament (MPs) by the plurality-at-large system of election; the name was then transferred to the surrounding county constituency, which elected a single Member by the first past the post system. In 1997, although there had been no changes to its boundaries, it was renamed as Truro and St Austell, reflecting the fact that St Austell by then had a larger population than Truro.

## Boundaries

[edit]

1950–1974: The Borough of Truro, the Urban District of St Austell, the Rural District of Truro except the parish of Gwennap, and in the Rural District of St Austell the parishes of Creed, Grampound, Roche, St Dennis, St Ewe, St Goran, St Mewan, St Michael Caerhays, and St Stephen-in-Brannel.

1974–1983: The Boroughs of Truro, and St Austell with Fowey, the Rural District of Truro except the parish of Gwennap, and in the Rural District of St Austell the parishes of Creed, Grampound, Roche, St Dennis, St Ewe, St Goran, St Mewan, St Michael Caerhays, and St Stephen-in-Brannel.

1983–1997: The District of Carrick wards of Boscawen, Chacewater, Feock, Kea, Kenwyn, Moresk, Newlyn, Perranzabuloe, Probus, Roseland, St Agnes, St Clement, Tregolls, and Trehaverne, and the Borough of Restormel wards of Crinnis, Mevagissey, Poltair, Rock, St Ewe, St Mewan, St Stephen-in-Brannel, Trevarna, and Treverbyn.

## History

[edit]

The constituency has existed in a number of different forms. The constituency of Truro, up until 1885 elected two members to parliament; this was reduced to one. In 1918 the constituency was abolished but it was recreated again in 1950.

The seat became a safe Lib Dem bet thanks to the popularity and eloquence of its former MP, David Penhaligon. His death in a car crash, aged only 42, robbed the House of Commons of one of its most independent-minded and pragmatic members. His successor, Matthew Taylor, held the seat comfortably from a by-election in 1987, and remained its MP after the name change in 1997.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

### Truro Parliamentary borough

[edit]

#### MPs 1295–1629

[edit]

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

|

* Constituency created (1295)

Parliament | First member | Second member

|
|

1358 | John Hamely[1] |
1386 | John Tregoose | Robert Clerk[2]
1388 (Feb) | Henry Gourlyn | John Tremayne[2]
1388 (Sep) | John Tr...uran | John Trebernet[2]
1390 (Jan) | John Coke | Walter Bloyowe[2]
1390 (Nov) |  |
1391 | John Urban | Roger Juyl[2]
1393 | Ralph Trenewith I | Walter Bloyowe[2]
1394 |  |
1395 | Richard Respryn | Andrew Borlase[2]
1397 (Jan) | John Trereise | John Megre[2]
1397 (Sep) | Nicholas Trenewith | John Lawhire[2]
1399 | Richard Carhorta | Pascoe Polruddan[2]
1401 |  |
1402 | Ralph Kayl | John Trereise[2]
1404 (Jan) |  |
1404 (Oct) |  |
1406 | Ralph Cardrewe | Thomas Brunsham[2]
1407 |  |
1410 |  |
1411 | Thomas Paderda | William Colyn[2]
1413 (Feb) |  |
1413 (May) | John Chinals | William Chamberlain[2]
1414 (Apr) |  |
1414 (Nov) | John Trereise | William Trethake I[2]
1415 |  |
1416 (Mar) | Peter Hayme | William Moun[2]
1416 (Oct) |  |
1417 | John Megre | Andrew Hirnans[2]
1419 | John Trewint | John Langedon[2]
1420 | William Panter | Robert Trenerth[2]
1421 (May) | William Trethake II | William Richard[2]
1421 (Dec) | Robert Treage | William Richard[2]
1422 | John But
1425 | John But
1467 | Edward Aysshton |
1510–1523 | No names known |
1529 | Roger Corbet | John Thomas
1536 | ?Roger Corbet | ?
1539 | ? |
1542 | ? |
1545 | Francis Smith | Robert Trencreke
1547 | Robert Trencreke | Nicholas Randall
First Parliament of 1553  | Nicholas Randall | Thomas Roydon
Second Parliament of 1553  | John Methnes[3]
Parliament of 1554  | William Iseham | Thomas Duppa
Parliament of 1554–1555  | John Melhuish | Thomas Roydon
Parliament of 1555  | Nicholas Randall | Thomas Randall[4]
Parliament of 1558  | Thomas Roydon
Parliament of 1563–1567  | John Carminow | John Mitchell[5]
Parliament of 1571  | Henry Killigrew | Vincent Skinner
Parliament of 1572–1581  | Oliver Carminow
Parliament of 1584–1585  | Edward Darcy | Michael Hicks
Parliament of 1586–1587  | John Stanhope | Roland Lytton
Parliament of 1588–1589  | Hannibal Vyvyan | John Woolton
Parliament of 1593  | John Parker | Nicholas Smyth
Parliament of 1597–1598  | Maurice Berkeley | Reade Stafford
Parliament of 1601  | William Daniel | Thomas Harris
Parliament of 1604–1611  | Henry Cossen | Thomas Burgess
Addled Parliament (1614) | Thomas Russell | Thomas Burgess, junior
Parliament of 1621–1622  | Barnaby Gough, sat for Cambridge Univ.
and replaced by Sir John Catcher[6] | John Trefusis[7]
Happy Parliament (1624) | Richard Daniel | Thomas Burgess
Useless Parliament (1625) | William Rous | Henry Rolle
Parliament of 1626  | Francis Rous
Parliament of 1628  | Richard Daniel
No Parliament summoned 1629–1640

#### MPs 1640–1885

[edit]

Election | First member[8] | First party | Second member[8] | Second party

|
|
|
|

April 1640 |  | Francis Rous | Parliamentarian |  | John Rolle | Parliamentarian
November 1640
November 1648  | Rolle died – seat left vacant
1653  | Truro was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 |  | Francis Rous |  | Truro had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656 |  | Walter Vincent |
January 1659 |  | Charles Boscawen |
May 1659 | Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660  |  | Walter Vincent |  |  | Edward Boscawen |
1661  |  | Nicholas Arundell |
1666  |  | John Arundell |
1679  |  | William Boscawen |
1681  |  | Henry Ashurst |
1685  |  | John Arundell |  |  | Henry Vincent |
1689  |  | Sir Henry Ashurst, Bt |
1690  |  | John Cloberry |
1695  |  | Hugh Fortescue | Whig
March 1701  |  | Sir John Hawles | Whig
December 1701  |  | Sir William Scawen sat for Grampound  |
February 1702  |  | Sir Robert Cotton | Tory
July 1702  |  | Thomas Powys |
November 1702  |  | Sir Philip Meadowes |
May 1705  |  | Hugh Boscawen | Whig
November 1705  |  | Peregrine Bertie | Whig
May 1708 |  | James Brydges[9] |
December 1708  |  | Robert Furnese | Whig
1710 |  | Hugh Boscawen | Whig
1713 |  | Thomas Hare |  |  | William Collier |
1715 |  | John Selwyn |  |  | Spencer Cowper | Whig
1721  |  | Thomas Wyndham |
1727 |  | Hugh Boscawen |  |  | Sidney Meadows |
1734 |  | Kelland Courtenay |  |  | Robert Trefusis |
1741 |  | Charles Hamilton |  |  | James Hammond |
1742  |  | Admiral the Hon. Edward Boscawen | Tory[10]
1747 |  | Hon. John Boscawen[11] | Tory[10]
1761 |  | Lt General the Hon. George Boscawen | Tory[10]
1767  |  | Edward Hugh Boscawen | Tory[10]
1774 |  | George Boscawen | Tory[10] |  | Bamber Gascoyne | Whig[10]
1780 |  | Henry Rosewarne | Whig[10]
1783  |  | John Pollexfen Bastard | Tory[10]
February 1784  |  | Sir John St Aubyn, Bt | Whig[10]
April 1784 |  | William Macarmick | Tory[10] |  | William Augustus Spencer Boscawen | Tory[10]
1787  |  | John Hiley Addington | Tory[10]
1790 |  | James Gordon | Tory[10]
1792  |  | Charles Ingoldsby Paulet[12] | Tory[10]
1796 |  | Lt Colonel John Leveson-Gower | Tory[10] |  | John Lemon | Whig[10]
1802 |  | Captain Edward Leveson-Gower | Tory[10]
1807 |  | Edward Boscawen | Tory[10]
1808  |  | Charles Powlett Townshend | Tory[10]
1810  |  | William John Bankes | Tory[10]
1812 |  | Sir George Warrender, Bt | Tory[10]
1814  |  | George Dashwood | Tory
1818 |  | Lord FitzRoy Somerset | Tory[10] |  | William Edward Tomline | Tory[10]
1820 |  | Sir Hussey Vivian | Whig[10] |  | William Gossett | Whig[10]
1826 |  | Lord FitzRoy Somerset | Tory[10] |  | William Edward Tomline | Tory[10]
1829  |  | Viscount Encombe | Tory[10] |  | Nathaniel William Peach | Tory[10]
1832 |  | Sir Hussey Vivian | Whig[10] |  | William Tooke | Whig[10]
1835 |  | John Ennis Vivian | Conservative[10]
1837 |  | Edmund Turner | Whig[13][14][10]
1849  |  | Humphrey Willyams | Whig[15][16]
1852 |  | Sir Henry Vivian | Whig[17][18]
1857 |  | Augustus Smith | Whig[17] |  | Edward Brydges Willyams | Whig
1859 |  | Liberal |  | Montague Edward Smith | Conservative
February 1865  |  | Sir Frederick Williams, Bt | Conservative
July 1865 |  | Hon. John Vivian | Liberal
1871 |  | Sir James McGarel-Hogg, Bt | Conservative
1878 |  | Arthur Tremayne | Conservative
1880  |  | Edward Brydges Willyams | Liberal
1885  | Borough constituency abolished – name transferred to single-member county constituency

### Truro County constituency

[edit]

#### MPs 1885–1918

[edit]

Election | Member[8] | Party

|
|

| 1885 | William Bickford-Smith | Liberal later Liberal Unionist
| 1892 | John Charles Williams | Liberal Unionist
| 1895 | Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence | Liberal Unionist
| 1906 | George Hay Morgan | Liberal
| 1918 | constituency abolished

#### MPs 1950–1997

[edit]

Election | Member[8] | Party

|
|

| 1950 | Geoffrey Wilson | Conservative
| 1970 | Piers Dixon | Conservative
| Oct 1974 | David Penhaligon | Liberal
| 1987 by-election | Matthew Taylor | Liberal
| 1988 | Liberal Democrats
| 1997 | name changed to Truro & St. Austell

## Elections

[edit]

St Austell area election results

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1830: Truro[10][19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Tory | John Scott | 14  | 46.7
| Tory | Nathaniel William Peach  | 14  | 46.7
| Whig | John Lubbock | 1  | 3.3
| Whig | William Tooke | 1  | 3.3
Majority  | 13  | 43.4
Turnout | c. 15 | c. 62.5
Registered electors | 24  |
| Tory hold
| Tory hold

178 free burgesses polled for Lubbock and Tooke, and one for Scott and Peach, but their votes were rejected.

General election 1831: Truro[10][19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | John Scott | 10  | 45.5  | −1.2
| Tory | Nathaniel William Peach  | 10  | 45.5  | −1.2
| Whig | William Tooke | 1  | 4.5  | +1.2
| Whig | Humphrey Willyams | 1  | 4.5  | +1.2
Majority | 9  | 41.0  | −2.4
Turnout | c. 11 | c. 45.8 | c. −16.7
Registered electors | 24  |  |
| Tory hold | Swing | −1.2  |
| Tory hold | Swing | −1.2  |

24 votes were tendered by inhabitant householders for Tooke and Willyams, but these were rejected.[19]

General election 1832: Truro[10][20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Hussey Vivian | 291  | 42.2  | +37.7
| Whig | William Tooke | 203  | 29.4  | +24.9
| Tory | John Ennis Vivian | 196  | 28.4  | −62.6
Majority | 7  | 1.0  | N/A
Turnout | 386  | 95.3  | c. +49.5
Registered electors | 406  |  |
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +34.5  |
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +28.1  |
General election 1835: Truro[10][20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | 316  | 41.3  | +12.9
| Whig | William Tooke | 274  | 35.8  | +6.4
| Whig | Hussey Vivian | 176  | 23.0  | −19.2
Turnout | 456  | 89.4  | −5.9
Registered electors | 510  |  |
Majority | 42  | 5.5  | N/A
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +12.9  |
Majority | 98  | 12.8  | +11.8
| Whig hold | Swing | ±0.0  |
General election 1837: Truro[10][20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edmund Turner | 393  | 45.0  | +22.0
| Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | 254  | 29.1  | −12.2
| Whig | William Tooke | 226  | 25.9  | −9.9
Turnout | 488  | 84.3  | −5.1
Registered electors | 579  |  |
Majority | 139  | 15.9  | +3.1
| Whig hold | Swing | +14.1  |
Majority | 28  | 3.2  | −2.3
| Conservative hold | Swing | −12.2  |

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1841: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edmund Turner | Unopposed
| Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | Unopposed
Registered electors | 622  |  |
| Whig hold
| Conservative hold
General election 1847: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edmund Turner | Unopposed
| Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | Unopposed
Registered electors | 627  |  |
| Whig hold
| Conservative hold

Turner's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 11 January 1849: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Humphrey Willyams | 240  | 51.7  | N/A
| Conservative | Montague Edward Smith | 224  | 48.3  | N/A
Majority | 16  | 3.4  | N/A
Turnout | 464  | 79.2  | N/A
Registered electors | 586  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 1852: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Henry Vivian | 267  | 26.3  | N/A
| Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | 263  | 25.9  | N/A
| Whig | Augustus Smith | 255  | 25.1  | N/A
| Conservative | Montague Edward Smith | 229  | 22.6  | N/A
Turnout | 507 (est)  | 83.5 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 607  |  |
Majority | 4  | 0.4  | N/A
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
Majority | 8  | 0.8  | N/A
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1857: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Augustus Smith | Unopposed
| Whig | Edward Brydges Willyams | Unopposed
Registered electors | 646  |  |
| Whig hold
| Whig gain from Conservative
General election 1859: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Montague Edward Smith | 303  | 40.9  | New
| Liberal | Augustus Smith | 225  | 30.4  | N/A
| Liberal | John Vivian | 213  | 28.7  | N/A
Majority | 78  | 10.5  | N/A
Turnout | 522 (est)  | 80.7 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 647  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

Montague Edward Smith resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.

By-election, 14 February 1865: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Williams | 249  | 53.1  | +12.2
| Liberal | John Vivian | 220  | 46.9  | −12.2
Majority | 29  | 6.2  | −4.3
Turnout | 469  | 82.7  | +2.0
Registered electors | 567  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +12.2  |
General election 1865: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Williams | Unopposed
| Liberal | John Vivian | Unopposed
Registered electors | 567  |  |
| Conservative hold
| Liberal hold
General election 1868: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Williams | 731  | 40.2  | N/A
| Liberal | John Vivian | 683  | 37.5  | N/A
| Liberal | John Passmore Edwards | 406  | 22.3  | N/A
Majority | 48  | 2.7  | N/A
Turnout | 1,276 (est)  | 88.9 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 1,435  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |

Vivian was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, causing a by-election.

By-election, 21 December 1868: Truro[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | John Vivian | Unopposed
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

Vivian resigned after being appointed Under-Secretary of State for War.

By-election, 13 Sep 1871: Truro (1 seat)[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James Hogg | 605  | 58.1  | +17.9
| Liberal | Edward Jenkins | 436  | 41.9  | −17.9
Majority | 169  | 16.2  | N/A
Turnout | 1,041  | 72.2  | −16.7
Registered electors | 1,442  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |  |
General election 1874: Truro (2 seats)[20][21] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Williams | 798  | 31.4  | −8.8
| Conservative | James Hogg | 723  | 28.5  | N/A
| Liberal | Henry Riversdale Grenfell  | 565  | 22.2  | −15.3
| Liberal | Joseph Graham  | 455  | 17.9  | −5.4
Majority | 158  | 6.3  | N/A
Turnout | 1,271 (est)  | 80.3 (est)  | −8.6
Registered electors | 1,582  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |  |

Williams' death caused a by-election.

By-election, 26 Sep 1878: Truro (1 seat)[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Arthur Tremayne | 656  | 51.8  | −8.1
| Liberal | Edward Brydges Willyams | 611  | 48.2  | +8.1
Majority | 45  | 3.6  | −2.7
Turnout | 1,267  | 80.3  | 0.0
Registered electors | 1,578  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −8.1  |

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1880: Truro (2 seats) [22][20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | James McGarel-Hogg | 781  | 45.5  | +17.0
| Liberal | Brydges Willyams | 754  | 43.9  | −3.8
| Conservative | John Chester  | 181  | 10.5  | −20.9
Turnout | 1,158 (est)  | 75.1 (est)  | −5.2
Registered electors | 1,542  |  |
Majority | 27  | 1.6  | −4.7
| Conservative hold | Swing | +9.5  |
Majority | 573  | 33.4  | N/A
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.5  |
General election 1885: Truro [23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Bickford-Smith | 3,816  | 57.0  | +13.1
| Conservative | William Molesworth-St Aubyn | 2,883  | 43.0  | −13.0
Majority | 933  | 14.0  | −19.4
Turnout | 6,699  | 75.9  | +0.8 (est)
Registered electors | 8,825  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +13.1  |
Thomas Lough General election 1886: Truro [23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Unionist | William Bickford-Smith | 3,522  | 69.5  | +26.5
| Liberal | Thomas Lough | 1,546  | 30.5  | −26.5
Majority | 1,976  | 39.0  | N/A
Turnout | 5,068  | 57.4  | −18.5
Registered electors | 8,825  |  |
| Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +26.5  |

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

General election 1892: Truro [23][24] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Unionist | John Williams | 4,029  | 61.5  | −8.0
| Liberal | John Henry Lile  | 2,518  | 38.5  | +8.0
Majority | 1,511  | 23.0  | −16.0
Turnout | 6,547  | 76.5  | +19.1
Registered electors | 8,556  |  |
| Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | -8.0  |
General election 1895: Truro [23][25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Unionist | Edwin Lawrence | 3,282  | 52.1  | −9.4
| Liberal | Henry Turner Waddy  | 3,012  | 47.9  | +9.4
Majority | 270  | 4.2  | −18.8
Turnout | 6,294  | 69.5  | −7.0
Registered electors | 9,057  |  |
| Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | -9.4  |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

General election 1900: Truro [23][25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Unionist | Edwin Durning-Lawrence | 3,869  | 55.9  | +3.8
| Liberal | Charles W. Thornton  | 3,051  | 44.1  | −3.8
Majority | 818  | 11.8  | +7.6
Turnout | 6,920  | 74.5  | +5.0
Registered electors | 9,290  |  |
| Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | +3.8  |
Hay Morgan General election 1906: Truro [23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Hay Morgan | 4,187  | 53.2  | +9.1
| Liberal Unionist | Edwin Durning-Lawrence | 3,683  | 46.8  | −9.1
Majority | 504  | 6.4  | N/A
Turnout | 7,870  | 83.7  | +9.2
Registered electors | 9,403  |  |
| Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +9.1  |

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

General election January 1910: Truro [23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Hay Morgan | 4,874  | 53.4  | +0.2
| Liberal Unionist | Edwin Durning-Lawrence | 4,261  | 46.6  | −0.2
Majority | 613  | 6.8  | +0.4
Turnout | 9,135  | 89.9  | +6.2
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.2  |
General election December 1910: Truro [23][26] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | George Hay Morgan | 4,573  | 52.3  | −1.1
| Conservative | Charles Williams | 4,176  | 47.7  | +1.1
Majority | 397  | 4.6  | −2.2
Turnout | 8,749  | 86.1  | −3.8
| Liberal hold | Swing | -1.1  |

General Election 1914/15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

* Liberal: Walter Burt[27]
* Unionist:

### Elections in the 1950s

[edit]

General election 1950: Truro [28] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 18,910  | 41.8  |
| Labour | Henry Brinton | 15,617  | 34.5  |
| Liberal | Gerald Edward Leaman Whitmarsh  | 10,746  | 23.7  |
Majority | 3,293  | 7.3  |
Turnout | 45,273  | 83.3  |
| Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1951: Truro [28] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 24,883  | 55.7  | +13.9
| Labour | John N. Newby  | 19,752  | 44.2  | +9.7
Majority | 5,131  | 11.5  | +4.2
Turnout | 44,635  | 81.2  | −2.1
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1  |
General election 1955: Truro [28] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 19,900  | 46.1  | −9.6
| Labour | John N. Newby  | 15,183  | 35.2  | −9.0
| Liberal | Nancy Seear | 8,056  | 18.7  | New
Majority | 4,717  | 10.9  | −0.6
Turnout | 43,139  | 78.7  | −2.5
| Conservative hold | Swing | -0.3  |
General election 1959: Truro [29] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 19,544  | 44.2  | −1.9
| Labour | Ronald James Rae Blindell  | 15,057  | 34.0  | −1.2
| Liberal | Nancy Seear | 9,637  | 21.8  | +3.1
Majority | 4,487  | 10.2  | −0.7
Turnout | 44,238  | 80.2  | +1.5
| Conservative hold | Swing | -0.4  |

### Elections in the 1960s

[edit]

General election 1964: Truro [29] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 18,328  | 40.6  | −3.6
| Labour | Douglas W. J. Grazier  | 14,224  | 31.5  | −2.5
| Liberal | William Rowse Hosking  | 12,575  | 27.9  | +8.1
Majority | 4,104  | 9.1  | −1.1
Turnout | 45,127  | 79.2  | −1.0
| Conservative hold | Swing | -0.5  |
General election 1966: Truro [28] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 18,701  | 40.4  | −0.2
| Labour | Reginald Cyril J. Scott  | 17,093  | 37.0  | +5.5
| Liberal | William Rowse Hosking  | 10,450  | 22.6  | −5.3
Majority | 1,608  | 3.4  | −5.7
Turnout | 46,244  | 79.2  | 0.0
| Conservative hold | Swing | -2.8  |

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

General election 1970: Truro [28] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Piers Dixon | 24,894  | 49.3  | +8.9
| Labour | Raymond Charles Cuss  | 16,684  | 33.0  | −4.0
| Liberal | Michael Steed | 8,923  | 17.7  | −4.9
Majority | 8,210  | 16.3  | +12.9
Turnout | 50,501  | 76.0  | −3.2
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.4  |
General election February 1974: Truro [30] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Piers Dixon | 23,493  | 40.3  | −9.0
| Liberal | David Penhaligon | 20,932  | 35.9  | +18.2
| Labour | M. W. White  | 12,945  | 22.2  | −10.8
| Mebyon Kernow | James Whetter | 850  | 1.5  | New
Majority | 2,561  | 4.4  | −11.9
Turnout | 58,220  | 81.5  | +5.5
| Conservative hold | Swing | -13.6  |
General election October 1974: Truro [30] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | David Penhaligon | 22,549  | 39.8  | +3.9
| Conservative | Piers Dixon | 22,085  | 39.0  | −1.3
| Labour | A. F. Long  | 11,606  | 20.5  | −1.7
| Mebyon Kernow | James Whetter | 384  | 0.7  | −0.8
Majority | 464  | 0.8  | New
Turnout | 56,624  | 78.6  | −2.9
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.6  |
General election 1979: Truro [30] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | David Penhaligon | 33,571  | 52.8  | +13.0
| Conservative | R. A. Brown  | 24,863  | 39.1  | +0.1
| Labour | Bruce Malcolm Tidy  | 4,689  | 7.4  | −13.1
| Cornish Nationalist | James Whetter | 227  | 0.4  | −0.3
| National Front | N. F. Hedger  | 182  | 0.3  | New
Majority | 8,708  | 13.7  | +12.9
Turnout | 63,532  | 82.9  | +4.3
| Liberal hold | Swing | +6.4  |

### Elections in the 1980s

[edit]

General election 1983: Truro[31] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | David Penhaligon | 31,279  | 57.3  | +4.5
| Conservative | Philip Darren Buddell  | 20,799  | 38.1  | −1.0
| Labour | Janet Mary Beecroft  | 2,479  | 4.6  | −2.8
Majority | 10,480  | 19.2  | +5.5
Turnout | 54,447  | 79.6  | −3.3
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.8  |
By-election 1987: Truro  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Matthew Owen John Taylor | 30,599  | 60.4  | +3.1
| Conservative | Nick St. Aubyn | 15,982  | 31.5  | −6.6
| Labour | John King  | 3,603  | 7.1  | +2.5
| Green | Howard Hoptrough  | 403  | 0.8  | New
| Death off Road: Freight on Rail  | Helen Anscomb  | 75  | 0.1  | New
Majority | 14,617  | 28.9  | +9.7
Turnout | 50,662  | 70.2  | −9.4
| Liberal hold | Swing | +4.8  |
General election 1987: Truro[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Matthew Owen John Taylor | 28,368  | 49.0  | −8.3
| Conservative | Nick St Aubyn | 23,615  | 40.8  | +2.7
| Labour | John King  | 5,882  | 10.2  | +5.6
Majority | 4,753  | 8.2  | −11.0
Turnout | 57,865  | 79.9  | +0.3
| Liberal hold | Swing | -5.5  |

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1992: Truro[33][34] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Matthew Taylor | 31,230  | 50.5  | +1.5
| Conservative | Nick St Aubyn | 23,660  | 38.3  | −2.5
| Labour | James H. Geach  | 6,078  | 9.8  | −0.4
| Green | Liam Keating  | 569  | 0.9  | New
| Liberal | Christopher Tankard  | 208  | 0.3  | New
| Natural Law | Margot Hartley  | 108  | 0.2  | New
Majority | 7,570  | 12.2  | +4.0
Turnout | 61,853  | 82.3  | +2.4
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +2.0  |

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "HAMELY (HAMYLYN), Sir John (aft.1324–1399), of Wimborne St. Giles, Dorset". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
3. ^ Willis 1750, p. 25.
4. ^ Willis 1750, p. 47.
5. ^ Willis 1750, p. 71.
6. ^ Gough sat for Cambridge University ([citation needed]).
7. ^ "John Trefuses" according to Cobbett: Browne Willis has "Samuel Trefusis (Willis 1750, p. 177)"
8. ^ a b c d Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 2)
9. ^ Brydges was also elected for Hereford, which he chose to represent, and never sat for Truro ([citation needed]).
10. ^ 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 Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 48–50. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
11. ^ Lieutenant-Colonel from 1748, Colonel 1758, Major General 1761 ([citation needed]).
12. ^ Styled Earl of Wiltshire from December 1794 ([citation needed]).
13. ^ "Truro". Globe. 27 July 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
14. ^ Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 232. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
15. ^ "Aberdeen Press and Journal". 17 January 1849. p. 3. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
16. ^ "Election Intelligence". Berkshire Chronicle. 13 January 1849. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
17. ^ a b "Royal Cornwall Gazette". 9 July 1852. p. 5. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
18. ^ "Election Movements in Devonshire". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 14 March 1857. p. 8. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
19. ^ a b c Jenkins, Terry. "Truro". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
20. ^ 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. 312–313\. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
21. ^ "Election for the Borough of Truro". West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. 5 February 1874. p. 1. Retrieved 21 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
22. ^ "Truro Election". The Cornishman. No. 90\. 1 April 1880. p. 5.
23. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 243\. ISBN 9781349022984.
24. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1894
25. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
26. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
27. ^ Cornishman, 9 Apr 1914
28. ^ a b c d e British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973, by F. W. S. Craig.
29. ^ a b F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973.
30. ^ a b c British parliamentary election results, 1974-1983, by F. W. S. Craig.
31. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
32. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
33. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
34. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

## Sources

[edit]

* Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. pp. 25, 47, 71, 177.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807)
* 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)
* F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
* Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988)
* Lewis Namier & John Brooke, The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1754–1790 (London: HMSO, 1964)
* J. E. Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
* Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig – Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
* Frederic A. Youngs jr, Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol II (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991)
* The History of Parliament Trust, Truro, Borough from 1386 to 1868

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

|

*[c.]: circa