Berkshire
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyBerkshire
1265–1885
SeatsTwo until 1832; Three from 1832 to 1885
Replaced byAbingdon, Newbury, Windsor and Wokingham

Berkshire was a parliamentary constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. The county returned two knights of the shire until 1832 and three between 1832 and 1885.

Boundaries and boundary changes

This county constituency consisted of the historic county of Berkshire, in south-eastern England to the west of modern Greater London. Its northern boundary was the River Thames. See Historic counties of England for a map and other details. The Great Reform Act made some minor changes to the parliamentary boundaries of the county, transferring parts of five parishes to neighbouring counties while annexing parts of four other parishes which had previously been in Wiltshire.

The county, up to 1885, also contained the borough constituencies of Abingdon (1 seat from 1558), New Windsor (2 seats 1302–1868, 1 seat from 1868), Reading (2 seats from 1295) and Wallingford (2 seats 1295–1832, 1 seat from 1832). Although these boroughs elected MPs in their own right, they were not excluded from the county constituency, and owning property within the borough could confer a vote at the county election.

History

As in other county constituencies the franchise between 1430 and 1832 was defined by the Forty Shilling Freeholder Act, which gave the right to vote to every man who possessed freehold property within the county valued at £2 or more per year for the purpose of land tax; it was not necessary for the freeholder to occupy his land, nor even in later years to be resident in the county at all.

At the time of the Great Reform Act in 1832, Berkshire had a population of about 145,000, but only 3,726 votes were cast at the election of 1818, the highest recorded vote in the county before 1832, even though each voter could cast two votes. Although local landowners could never control a county the size of Berkshire in the way they could own a pocket borough, titled magnates still exercised considerable influence over deferential county voters: in the early 19th century Lord Craven and Lord Braybrooke were considered the "patrons" of the Berkshire constituency and could usually persuade the voters to support their favoured candidates.

The place of election for the county was the then county town of Abingdon. In 1880, according to the report in The Times (of London), the ballot boxes were taken to Reading for the count and declaration of the result, instead of these taking place at Abingdon as had happened previously. Before the Reform Act it was normal for voters to expect the candidates for whom they voted to meet their expenses in travelling to the poll and to provide food, liquor and lodgings when they arrived, making the cost of a contested election in some counties prohibitive, but this was less of a factor in a comparatively small county like Berkshire, and contested elections were not uncommon. Nevertheless, potential candidates preferred to canvass support beforehand and usually did not insist on a vote being taken unless they were confident of winning. There were contests in Berkshire at 11 of the 29 general elections between 1701 and 1832, but in the other 18 the candidates were returned unopposed.

Under the Great Reform Act of 1832, the county franchise was extended to occupiers of land worth £50 or more, as well as the forty-shilling freeholders, and Berkshire was given a third MP. Under the new rules, 5,582 electors were registered and entitled to vote at the general election of 1832.

The constituency was abolished in 1885, and the county was divided into three single-member constituencies: the Northern or Abingdon Division; the Southern or Newbury Division; and the Eastern or Wokingham Division. The Abingdon Division absorbed the abolished parliamentary boroughs of Abingdon and Wallingford, whilst the parliamentary boroughs of Reading and New Windsor were retained, each with 1 MP.

Members of Parliament

Knights of the shire 1265–1660

Some of the members elected during this period have been identified, but this list does not include Parliaments where no member has been identified. The year given is that of the first meeting of the Parliament, with the month added where there was more than one Parliament in the year. If a second year is given this is a date of dissolution. Early Parliaments usually only sat for a few days or weeks, so dissolutions in the same year as the first meeting are not recorded in this list. If a specific date of election is known this is shown in italic brackets. The Roman numerals in brackets, following some names, are used to distinguish different MPs of the same name in 'The House of Commons' 1509-1558 and 1558-1603.

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1300Hugh le Blount[1]
1307Hugh le Blount[1]
1313Hugh le Blount (twice)[1]
1327Thomas Foxley[2]
1332Thomas Foxley[2]
1338Thomas Foxley[2]
1370Sir Thomas Foxley[2]
1372Sir Thomas Foxley[2]
1380 (Jan)Richard Brunce
1383 (Oct)Richard Brunce
1384 (Apr)Richard Brunce
1384 (Nov)Richard Brunce
1385Richard Brunce
1386Richard Brunce[3]Sir Gilbert Talbot[3]
1388 (Feb)Laurence Drew[3]Edmund Sparsholt[3]
1388 (Sep)William Golafre[3]
1390 (Jan)Richard Brouns[3]Sir John Kentwood[3]
1390 (Nov)John Arches[3]Thomas Childrey[3]
1391Laurence Drew[3]John Eastbury[3]
1393Sir John Kentwood[3]Edmund Sparsholt[3]
1394Sir Richard Abberbury[3]Sir William Langford[3]
1395William Brunce[3]William Wood[3]
1397 (Jan)Sir Richard Abberbury[3]Robert James[3]
1397 (Sep)John Englefield[3]John Hartington[3]
1399Robert James[3]Edmund Sparsholt[3]
1401John Golafre[3]Thomas Gloucester[3]
1402John ArchesRobert James[3]
1404 (Jan)Sir William Langford[3]Edmund Sparsholt[3]
1404 (Oct)John Arches[3]John Golafre[3]
1406Thomas Childrey[3]Laurence Drew[3]
1407John Golafre[3]Edmund Sparsholt[3]
1410Robert James[3]
1411returns missing
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May)John Golafre[3]Robert de la Mare[3]
1414 (Apr)Edmund Sparsholt[3]
1414 (Nov)Laurence Drew[3]John Shotesbrook[3]
1415returns missing
1416 (Mar)Sir Peter Bessels[3]John Golafre[3]
1416 (Oct)returns missing
1417Robert de la Mare[3]Thomas Rothwell[3]
1419Thomas Beckingham[3]John Shotesbrook[3]
1420William Danvers[3]Thomas Rothwell[3]
1421 (May)William Fynderne[3]John Golafre[3]
1421 (Dec)William Danvers[3]William Perkins[3]
1422John Golafre[4]
1423Sir Peter Bessels
1425
1426John Golafre[4]
1427John Golafre[4]
1429John Golafre[4]
1485__? Fetiplace[5]
1491William Harcourt[6]
1510Sir Thomas Englefield ?[7]
1512
1515
1529Sir William Essex[7]Sir Richard Weston[7]
1536
1539Sir Thomas Pope[7]Richard Brydges[7]
1542Sir William Essex[7]Thomas Weldon[7]
1545
1547Henry Norreys[7]Thomas Denton[7]
1553 (Mar)Sir Henry Neville[7]Sir William Fitzwilliam (I)[7]
1553 (Oct)Sir Francis Englefield[7]William Hyde[7]
1554 (Apr)Sir Richard Brydges[7]
1554 (Nov)Sir Francis Englefield[7]
1555William Hyde[7]
1558John Fettiplace[7]
1558–1559Sir William Fitzwilliam (I)[8]Sir Henry Neville[8]
1562–1563John Cheney[8]
1571Sir Henry Neville[8]Richard Warde[8]
1572 (Apr)Sir Edward Unton[8]William Forster, died
and replaced Feb 1576 by William Norris,
also died and was repl. in 1580 by ?Edward Hoby[8]
1584 (Nov)Sir Henry Neville[8]Edward Unton[8]
1586 (Oct)Edward Unton[8]Thomas Parry[8]
1588 (Oct)Sir Henry Norreys (II)[8]Sir Edward Hoby[8]
1593Sir Henry Unton[8]Sir Humphrey Forster[8]
1597 (Sep)Sir Henry Norreys (II)[8]Francis Knollys[8]
1601Sr Richard Lovelace[8]George Hyde[8]
1604Sir Henry NevilleFrancis Knollys
1614Sir Thomas Parry
1621Sir Richard LovelaceSir Robert Knollys
1624Edmund DunchSir Richard Harrison
1625Sir Francis Knollys
1626John FettiplaceEdmund Dunch
1628Sir Richard Harrison
1629–1640No parliaments summoned
Apr 1640John FettiplaceHenry Marten,
Nov 1640John Fettiplace, disabled 1644
replaced by Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
who died and was replaced by Henry Neville		Henry Marten
ParliamentFirst memberSecond memberThird memberFourth memberFifth member
1653Samuel DunchVincent GoddardThomas WoodThree seats only
1654George PurefoyEdmund DunchSir Robert PyeJohn DunchJohn Southby
1656William TrumballEdmund DunchWilliam HideJohn DunchJohn Southby
1659John DunchSir Robert PyeRestored to two seats only

Knights of the shire 1660–1885

YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
1660 Richard Powle Sir Robert Pye
1661 Hon. John Lovelace
1670 Richard Neville
1677 Sir Humphrey Forster, 2nd Bt.
1678 The Earl of Stirling
March 1679 William Barker
August 1679 Richard Southby
1685 Sir Humphrey Forster, 2nd Bt.
1689 Lord Norreys Sir Henry Winchcombe, 2nd Bt.
1690 Sir Humphrey Forster, 2nd Bt.Tory
1695 Richard Neville (the younger)Whig
1701 Sir John Stonhouse, 3rd Bt.Tory
1710 Henry St JohnTory
1712 Robert PackerTory
1731 Winchcombe Howard PackerTory
1734 William ArcherTory
1739 Peniston PowneyTory
1746 Henry Pye
1757 Arthur Vansittart
1766 Hon. Thomas Craven
1772 John Elwes
1774 Christopher Griffith
1776 Winchcombe Henry Hartley
1784 George VansittartTory[9] Henry James Pye
1790 Winchcombe Henry Hartley
1794 by-election Charles DundasWhig[9]
1812 Hon. Richard NevilleTory[9]
1820 Whig[9]
1825 by-election Robert PalmerTory[9]
1831 Robert ThrockmortonWhig[9]
June 1832 by-election Robert PalmerTory[9]
December 1832 Third member added
electionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond partyThird memberThird party
1832 Robert ThrockmortonWhig[9] Robert PalmerTory[9] John WalterWhig[9]
1834 Conservative[9]
1835 Philip PuseyConservative[9]
1837 The Viscount BarringtonConservative[9]
1846 Peelite[10][11]
1852 George Henry VansittartConservative
1857 Hon. Philip Pleydell-BouverieWhig[12][13]
1859 Leicester Viney VernonConservative John WalterLiberalLiberal
1860 by-election Richard BenyonConservative
1865 Robert Loyd-LindsayConservative Sir Charles Russell, 3rd BaronetConservative
1868 John WalterLiberal
1876 by-election Philip WroughtonConservative
1885 Constituency abolished

Elections

In multi-member elections the bloc voting system was used. Voters could cast a vote for one or two (or three in three-member elections 1832–1868) candidates, as they chose. The leading candidates with the largest number of votes were elected. In 1868 the limited vote was introduced, which restricted an individual elector to using one or two votes, in elections to fill three seats.

In by-elections, to fill a single seat, the first past the post system applied.

After 1832, when registration of voters was introduced, a turnout figure is given for contested elections. In three-member elections, when the exact number of participating voters is unknown, this is calculated by dividing the number of votes by three (to 1868) and two thereafter. To the extent that electors did not use all their votes this will be an underestimate of turnout.

Where a party had more than one candidate in one or both of a pair of successive elections change is calculated for each individual candidate, otherwise change is based on the party vote.

Candidates for whom no party has been identified are classified as Non Partisan. The candidate might have been associated with a party or faction in Parliament or consider himself to belong to a particular political tradition. Political parties before the 19th century were not as cohesive or organised as they later became. Contemporary commentators (even the reputed leaders of parties or factions) in the 18th century did not necessarily agree who the party supporters were. The traditional parties, which had arisen in the late 17th century, became increasingly irrelevant to politics in the 18th century (particularly after 1760), although for some contests in some constituencies party labels were still used. It was only towards the end of the century that party labels began to acquire some meaning again, although this process was by no means complete for several more generations.

Sources: The results are based on the History of Parliament Trust's volumes on the House of Commons in various periods for 1660–1820, Stooks Smith from 1820 until 1832 and Craig from 1832. Where Stooks Smith gives additional information this is indicated in a note. See references below for further details of these sources.

1660s – 1670s – 1680s – 1690s – 1700s – 1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s

Elections in the 1660s

General Election 19 April 1660: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Robert Pye Elected N/A N/A
Non Partisan Richard Powle {{{votes}}} N/A N/A
Non Partisan John Southby Defeated N/A N/A
  • Note (1660): Vote totals not available
General election 14 April 1661: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Lovelace Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Richard Powle Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1670s

By-Election 12 December 1670: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Richard Neville (the elder) Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Neville 7 October 1676
By-Election 5 March 1677: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Humphrey Forster Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Powle 12 July 1678
By-Election 19 August 1678: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan The Earl of Stirling Returned N/A N/A
Non Partisan William Barker Returned N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1678): The vote totals are unknown but must have been close as the Returning Officer made a double return, which had not been resolved by the House of Commons when Parliament was dissolved on 24 January 1679
General Election 3 March 1679: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Humphrey Forster Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan William Barker Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 18 August 1679: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan William Barker Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Richard Southby Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1680s

General election 28 February 1681: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan William Barker Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Richard Southby Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 23 March 1685: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Humphrey Forster Elected N/A N/A
Non Partisan Richard Southby Elected N/A N/A
Non Partisan The Earl of Stirling Defeated N/A N/A
  • Note (1685): Vote totals not available
General election 14 January 1689: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Norreys Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Henry Winchcombe Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1690s

General election 24 February 1690: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Henry Winchcombe Elected N/A N/A
Tory Humphrey Forster 822 N/A N/A
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) 793 N/A N/A
Non Partisan Lord Norreys Defeated N/A N/A
Non Partisan Robert Pye Defeated N/A N/A
Turnout 1,615+ N/A N/A
General election 28 October 1695: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Humphrey Forster Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 3 August 1698: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Humphrey Forster Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1700s

General Election 22 January 1701: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Humphrey Forster Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 26 November 1701: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Stonhouse Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 5 August 1702: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Stonhouse Elected N/A N/A
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) Elected N/A N/A
Tory Humphrey Forster Defeated N/A N/A
General election 9 May 1705: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) Elected N/A N/A
Tory John Stonhouse Elected N/A N/A
Tory Humphrey Forster Defeated N/A N/A
General election 5 May 1708: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Stonhouse Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1710s

General election 18 October 1710: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Stonhouse 1,977 40.46 N/A
Tory Henry St John 1,877 38.42 N/A
Whig Richard Neville (the younger) 1,032 21.12 N/A
Turnout 4,886 N/A N/A
By-Election 23 July 1712: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Packer Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 2 September 1713: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Stonhouse Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Robert Packer Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 2 February 1715: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Stonhouse Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Robert Packer Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1720s

General election 21 March 1722: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Stonhouse Elected N/A N/A
Tory Robert Packer Elected N/A N/A
Whig Henry Grey Defeated N/A N/A
  • Note (1722): Vote totals not available. Sedgwick states that the majority was over 400 and that 2,177 electors voted.
  • Note (1727–1768): Namier and Brook observe that there were no contested elections and that the county was represented by a succession of Tory country gentlemen. Sedgwick however identified a contested election in 1727.
General election 1727: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Packer 1,620 36.02 N/A
Tory John Stonhouse 1,558 34.65 N/A
Whig The Viscount Fane 1,319 29.33 N/A

Elections in the 1730s

  • Death of Packer 4 April 1731
By-Election 5 May 1731: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Winchcombe Packer Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan gain from Tory Swing N/A
  • Death of Stonhouse 10 October 1733
By-Election 5 May 1731: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan William Archer Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan gain from Tory Swing N/A
General election 1 May 1734: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Winchcombe Packer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan William Archer Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Archer 30 June 1739
By-Election 5 December 1739: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Peniston Powney Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1740s

General election 20 May 1741: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Winchcombe Packer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Peniston Powney Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Packer 21 August 1746
By-Election 26 November 1746: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Henry Pye Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General election 8 July 1747: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Peniston Powney Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Henry Pye Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1750s

General election 17 April 1754: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Peniston Powney Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Henry Pye Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Powney 8 March 1757
By-Election 13 April 1757: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Arthur Vansittart Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1760s

General election 8 April 1761: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Henry Pye Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Arthur Vansittart Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Pye 2 March 1766
By-Election 2 April 1766: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Thomas Craven Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General election 30 March 1768: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Arthur Vansittart 1,519 42.89 N/A
Non Partisan Thomas Craven 1,389 39.22 N/A
Non Partisan John Stone 634 17.90 N/A

Elections in the 1770s

  • Death of Craven 14 December 1772
By-Election 30 December 1772: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Elwes Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General election 20 October 1774: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Elwes Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Christopher Griffith Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Griffith 12 January 1776
By-Election 21 February 1776: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Winchcombe Henry Hartley Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1780s

General election 27 September 1780: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Elwes Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Winchcombe Henry Hartley Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 7 April 1784: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan George Vansittart 678 40.94 N/A
Non Partisan Henry James Pye 677 40.88 N/A
Non Partisan Winchcombe Henry Hartley 301 18.18 N/A

Elections in the 1790s

General election 24 June 1790: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan George Vansittart Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Winchcombe Henry Hartley Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Hartley 12 August 1794
By-Election 16 September 1794: Berkshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Dundas Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1 June 1796: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Vansittart 1,332 37.95 N/A
Whig Charles Dundas 1,322 37.95 N/A
Whig Edward Loveden Loveden 846 24.10 N/A
  • Note (1796): Party labels; poll 5 days (Source: Stooks Smith)

Elections in the 1800s

General election 12 July 1802: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Vansittart Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Charles Dundas Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 6 November 1806: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Vansittart Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Charles Dundas Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 11 May 1807: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Vansittart Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Charles Dundas Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1810s

General election 12 October 1812: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Dundas 1,717 44.99 N/A
Tory Richard Griffin 1,574 41.25 N/A
Radical William Hallett 525 13.76 N/A
  • Note (1812): Poll 15 days; 1,992 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith). Stooks Smith and Thorn refer to the Hon. Richard Griffin as the Hon. R. Neville, a name he used before 1797 - see Baron Braybrooke for more details.
General election 25 June 1818: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Griffin 1,224 40.56 -0.69
Whig Charles Dundas 1,154 38.24 -6.75
Radical William Hallett 640 21.21 +7.45
  • Note (1818): Poll 15 days. (Source: Stooks Smith). Stooks Smith and Thorn refer to the Hon. Richard Griffin as the Hon. R. Neville, see note (1812).

Elections in the 1820s

General election 1820: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Dundas 1,084 47.73 +9.49
Whig Richard Griffin 1,055 46.46 +5.90
Whig William Hallett 132 5.81 -15.40
  • Note (1820): Poll 15 days; 1,258 voted. Stooks Smith refers to the Hon. Richard Griffin as the Hon. R. Neville, see note (1812). Stooks Smith commented that "this was the third election at which Mr Hallett, without any chance of success, kept the poll open for 15 days".
General election 1826: Berkshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Dundas Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Robert Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Berkshire (2 seats)[9][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Dundas Unopposed
Tory Robert Palmer Unopposed
Whig hold
Whig hold
General election 1831: Berkshire (2 seats)[9][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Dundas Unopposed
Whig Robert Throckmorton Unopposed
Whig hold
Whig gain from Tory
By-election, 7 June 1832: Berkshire[9][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Robert Palmer 1,210 55.2
Whig William Hallett 984 44.8
Majority 226 10.4
Turnout 2,194 c. 73.1
Registered electors c. 3,000
Tory gain from Whig
  • Poll 7 days
General election 1832: Berkshire (3 seats)[9][15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Robert Palmer 2,942 27.7
Whig Robert Throckmorton 2,774 26.1
Whig John Walter 2,479 23.3
Tory Philip Pusey 2,440 22.9
Turnout 4,863 87.1
Registered electors 5,582
Majority 168 1.6
Tory win (new seat)
Majority 39 0.4
Whig hold
Whig hold
General election 1835: Berkshire (3 seats)[9][15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Robert Palmer Unopposed
Conservative Philip Pusey Unopposed
Whig John Walter Unopposed
Registered electors 5,632
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Whig
Whig hold
General election 1837: Berkshire (3 seats)[9][15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Robert Palmer 2,556 30.0
Conservative The Viscount Barrington 2,360 27.7
Conservative Philip Pusey 2,312 27.1
Whig Sir East George Clayton-East, 1st Baronet 1,302 15.3
Turnout 1,010 11.8
Turnout 3,707
Registered electors 5,599
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Whig

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Berkshire (3 seats)[15][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Barrington Unopposed
Conservative Robert Palmer Unopposed
Conservative Philip Pusey Unopposed
Registered electors 5,685
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1847: Berkshire (3 seats)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Barrington Unopposed
Conservative Robert Palmer Unopposed
Peelite Philip Pusey Unopposed
Registered electors 5,241
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Peelite gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Berkshire (3 seats)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Henry Vansittart 1,741 33.2 N/A
Conservative Robert Palmer 1,705 32.6 N/A
Conservative William Barrington 1,636 31.2 N/A
Peelite John Walter[16][17][18] 155 3.0 N/A
Majority 1,481 28.2 N/A
Turnout 1,746 (est) 34.0 (est) N/A
Registered electors 5,129
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Peelite Swing N/A
General election 1857: Berkshire (3 seats)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Palmer 1,802 29.2 −3.4
Whig Philip Pleydell-Bouverie 1,524 24.7 New
Conservative George Henry Vansittart 1,494 24.2 −9.0
Conservative Leicester Viney Vernon 1,360 22.0 −9.2
Turnout 3,090 (est) 63.3 (est) +29.3
Registered electors 4,884
Majority 278 4.5 −23.7
Conservative hold Swing −5.3
Majority 30 0.5 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +21.7
Conservative hold Swing −8.1
General election 1859: Berkshire (3 seats)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Philip Pleydell-Bouverie Unopposed
Conservative Leicester Viney Vernon Unopposed
Liberal John Walter Unopposed
Registered electors 4,791
Liberal hold
Conservative hold
Liberal gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1860s

  • Death of Vernon
By-Election 2 May 1860: Berkshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Benyon Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1865: Berkshire (3 seats)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Loyd-Lindsay 2,227 19.0 N/A
Conservative Richard Benyon 2,192 18.7 N/A
Conservative Charles Russell 2,117 18.0 N/A
Liberal John Walter 1,813 15.4 N/A
Liberal Viscount Uffington 1,809 15.4 N/A
Liberal Philip Pleydell-Bouverie 1,583 13.5 N/A
Majority 304 2.6 N/A
Turnout 3,914 (est) 77.3 (est) N/A
Registered electors 5,066
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
General election 1868: Berkshire (3 seats)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Loyd-Lindsay 3,231 27.9 +8.9
Conservative Richard Benyon 3,171 27.3 +8.6
Liberal John Walter 2,747 23.7 +8.3
Liberal Auberon Herbert 2,450 21.1 +5.7
Majority 424 3.6 +1.0
Turnout 5,800 (est) 75.8 (est) -1.5
Registered electors 7,647
Conservative hold Swing +0.3
Conservative hold Swing +1.5
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Berkshire (3 seats)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Fellowes Benyon Unopposed
Conservative Robert Loyd-Lindsay Unopposed
Liberal John Walter Unopposed
Registered electors 7,745
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Liberal hold
  • Resignation of Benyon
By-Election 24 February 1876: Berkshire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Wroughton 3,454 75.0 N/A
Ind. Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith[19] 1,149 25.0 New
Majority 2,305 50.0 N/A
Turnout 4,603 59.6 N/A
Registered electors 7,721
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 10 April 1880: Berkshire (3 seats)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Loyd-Lindsay 3,294 32.8 N/A
Conservative Philip Wroughton 3,272 32.5 N/A
Liberal John Walter 1,794 17.8 N/A
Liberal Thomas Rogers[20] 1,696 16.9 N/A
Majority 1,478 14.7 N/A
Turnout 5,028 (est) 62.4 (est) N/A
Registered electors 8,061
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
  • Constituency divided in the 1885 redistribution

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 "Essex Knights and the Parliaments of Edward I". Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Putnam Lineage"
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Richmond, Colin; Woodger, L. S. (1993). "Berkshire". In Clark, Linda; Rawcliffe, Carole; Roskell, J. S. (eds.). The House of Commons 1386-1421. The History of Parliament Trust.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "GOLAFRE, John (d.1442), of Fyfield, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  5. ↑ Cavill. The English Parliaments of Henry VII 1485-1504.
  6. ↑ Cavill, P. R. (13 August 2009). The English Parliaments of Henry VII. ISBN 9780191610264. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Baker, T. F. T. (1982). "Berkshire". In Bindoff, S. T. (ed.). The House of Commons 1509-1558. The History of Parliament Trust.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Hasler, P. W., ed. (1981). "Berkshire". The House of Commons 1558-1603. The History of Parliament Trust.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 4–6. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  10. ↑ Sartori, Andrew (2004). Liberalism in Empire: An Alternative History. Oakland: University of California Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-520-28168-4 – via Google Books.
  11. ↑ Bord, Joe (2009). Science and Whig Manners: Science and Political Style in Britain, c. 1790-1850 (eBook ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 129. doi:10.1057/9780230595231. ISBN 978-0-230-59523-1. LCCN 2008037191 – via Google Books.
  12. ↑ Farrell, Stephen (2009). Fisher, D. R. (ed.). "PLEYDELL BOUVERIE, Hon. Philip (1788–1872), of Down Ampney House, Glos.; 36 Curzon Street and 11 Haymarket, Mdx".
  13. ↑ "Berkshire". Coventry Standard. 10 April 1857. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. 1 2 3 Fisher, David R. "Berkshire". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 353–354. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  16. ↑ "Shipping and Mercantile Gazette". 5 July 1852. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ↑ Thursfield, James Richard (1899). "Walter, John (1818-1894)" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 59. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  18. ↑ "Members Returned for the New Parliament". Morning Chronicle. 30 March 1857. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ↑ "Election News". The Scotsman. 17 February 1876. p. 6.
  20. ↑ "Berks County Election". Reading Mercury. 17 April 1880. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 2)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
  • Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808)
  • The House of Commons 1509-1558, by S.T. Bindoff (Secker & Warburg 1982)
  • The House of Commons 1558-1603, by P.W. Hasler (HMSO 1981)
  • The House of Commons 1660-1690, by Basil Duke Henning (Secker & Warburg 1983)
  • The House of Commons 1690-1715, by Eveline Cruickshanks, Stuart Handley and D.W. Hayton (Cambridge University Press 2002)
  • 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 House of Commons 1790-1820, by R.G. Thorne (Secker & Warburg 1986)
  • 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)
  • John Cannon, Parliamentary Representation 1832 - England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1973)
  • J Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Reform 1640-1832 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
  • Edward Porritt and Annie G Porritt, The Unreformed House of Commons (Cambridge University Press, 1903)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.