Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
Antrim | |
---|---|
Former County constituency for the House of Commons | |
1801–1885 | |
Replaced by | East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim |
Created from | County Antrim |
1922–1950 | |
Replaced by | North Antrim and South Antrim |
Created from | East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim |
Antrim is a former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two-member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801–1885 and 1922-1950.
Boundaries
From 1801 until 1885, the constituency consisted of the whole of County Antrim, excluding the parts in the Parliamentary borough constituencies of Belfast, Carrickfergus and Lisburn. From 1885 - 1922, the constituency was split between the divisions of East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim.
From 1922 until 1950, the constituency consisted of the Administrative county of Antrim, that is the whole of County Antrim excluding the part in the City of Belfast. In 1950 the county was split, between the divisions of Antrim North and Antrim South.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1801–1885
Key to parties: C Conservative, L Liberal, NP no party identified, T Tory, U Unionist, W Whig. Changes of party name in 1832 are indicated i.e. (T,C) and (W,L).
Election | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1801 | Rt Hon. John Staples (NP) | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory | |||
1802 | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Tory | ||||
1812 | Earl of Yarmouth | Tory | ||||
1818 | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Tory | ||||
1822 by-election | Earl of Yarmouth | Tory | ||||
1826 | Edmond Alexander McNaghten | Tory | ||||
1830 | Earl of Belfast | Tory | ||||
1831 | Whig | |||||
1832 | Conservative | Liberal | ||||
1837 | John Irving | Conservative | ||||
1841 by-election | Nathaniel Alexander | Conservative | ||||
1845 by-election | Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour | Conservative | ||||
1847 | Sir Edward Macnaghten, Bt | Conservative | ||||
1852 | Edward William Pakenham | Conservative | George Macartney | Conservative | ||
1854 by-election | Thomas Henry Pakenham | Conservative | ||||
1859 | George Upton | Conservative | ||||
1863 by-election | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Conservative | ||||
1865 | Henry Seymour | Conservative | ||||
1869 by-election | Earl of Yarmouth | Conservative | ||||
1874 | James Chaine | Conservative | ||||
1880 | Edward MacNaghten | Conservative | ||||
1885 by-election | William Pirrie Sinclair | Liberal |
Notes:
- (1) Earl of Yarmouth (1800–1870) was known as Viscount Beauchamp until 17 June 1822.
- (2) Earl of Belfast became W by 1831 and is categorised as L from 1832.
- (3) Earl of Yarmouth (1843–1912) was known as Hugh de Grey Seymour until 25 August 1870.
MPs 1922–1950
Election | Member | Party | Member | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1922 | Rt Hon. Charles Curtis Craig 18 February 1869 – 28 January 1960 |
Ulster Unionist | Rt Hon. Sir Hugh O'Neill, Bt 8 June 1883 – 28 November 1982 |
Ulster Unionist | ||
1929 | Sir Joseph McConnell 17 September 1877 – 27 August 1942 |
Ulster Unionist | ||||
1943 by-election | John Dermot Campbell 20 January 1898 – 23 January 1945 |
Ulster Unionist | ||||
1945 | Samuel Gillmor Haughton 1 December 1889 – 19 May 1959 |
Ulster Unionist | ||||
1950 | constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim |
Elections
In two-member elections the bloc voting system was used. Voters could cast a vote for one or two candidates, as they chose. The two candidates with the largest number of votes were elected. In by-elections, to fill a single seat, the first past the post system applied.
There was no election in 1801. The representatives of the county in the former Parliament of Ireland became members of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom.
After 1832, when registration of voters was introduced, a turnout figure is given for contested elections. In two-member elections, when the exact number of participating voters is unknown, this is calculated by dividing the number of votes by two. To the extent that voters did not use both their votes this will be an underestimate of turnout. If the electorate figure is unknown the last known electorate figure is used to provide an estimate 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.
Elections in the 1940s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Rt Hon. Sir Hugh O'Neill, Bt | 57,259 | 43.09 | N/A | |
UUP | Samuel Gillmor Haughton | 57,232 | 43.07 | N/A | |
NI Labour | Henry Holmes | 18,403 | 12.79 | N/A | |
Turnout | 134,528 | 56.23 | N/A | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | John Dermot Campbell | 42,371 | 69.40 | N/A | |
NI Labour | Robert Getgood | 17,253 | 28.26 | N/A | |
Progressive Unionist | Reginald Hanson Press | 1,432 | 2.35 | N/A | |
Majority | 25,118 | 41.14 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 135,795 | 44.96 | N/A | ||
UUP hold | Swing | N/A | |||
- Seat vacant at dissolution (Death of Campbell)
Elections in the 1930s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Sir Joseph McConnell, Bt | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
UUP | Rt Hon. Sir Hugh O'Neill, Bt | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Sir Joseph McConnell, Bt | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
UUP | Rt Hon. Sir Hugh O'Neill, Bt | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Elections in the 1920s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Rt Hon. Robert William Hugh O'Neill | 53,864 | 37.5 | -11.42 | |
UUP | Sir Joseph McConnell | 52,851 | 36.8 | N/A | |
Liberal | George Henderson | 18,985 | 13.2 | N/A | |
Liberal | Robert Boyd | 17,824 | 12.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 33,866 | 23.6 | |||
Turnout | 123,474 | 58.6 | -5.6 | ||
UUP hold | Swing | n/a | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Rt Hon. Charles Curtis Craig | 60,868 | 49.03 | N/A | |
UUP | Rt Hon. Hugh O'Neill | 60,764 | 48.95 | N/A | |
Sinn Féin | William McCormick | 2,514 | 2.03 | N/A | |
Turnout | 98,616 | 64.21 | N/A | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Rt Hon. Charles Curtis Craig | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
UUP | Rt Hon. Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Charles Curtis Craig | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
UUP | Rt Hon. Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Elections in the 1880s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William Pirrie Sinclair | 3,971 | 50.89 | +50.89 | |
Conservative | Hon. Robert Torrens O'Neill | 3,832 | 49.11 | +49.11 | |
Majority | 139 | 1.78 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 11,701 (1880) | 66.69 | -16.46 | ||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Chaine | 5,124 | 26.33 | -8.50 | |
Conservative | Edward MacNaghten | 4,936 | 25.37 | +25.37 | |
Liberal | Charles Wilson | 4,789 | 24.61 | -7.44 | |
Liberal | Samuel Black | 4,610 | 23.69 | +23.69 | |
Turnout | 11,701 | 83.15 | +23.23 | ||
Elections in the 1870s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Chaine | 4,356 | 34.83 | +34.83 | |
Conservative | Hon. Edward O'Neill | 4,142 | 33.12 | +33.12 | |
Liberal | Charles Wilson | 4,009 | 32.05 | +2.95 | |
Turnout | 10,436 | 59.92 | -7.36 | ||
Elections in the 1860s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hugh de Grey Seymour | 5,588 | 70.90 | N/A | |
Liberal | Sir Robert Shafto Adair, Bt | 2,294 | 29.10 | N/A | |
Majority | 3,294 | 41.79 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 11,715 | 67.28 | N/A | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
- Note: Hugh de Grey Seymour was known as the Earl of Yarmouth from 25 August 1870.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative | George Henry Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | George Henry Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative | George Henry Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections in the 1850s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Henry Pakenham | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative | Hon. George Frederick Upton | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Henry Pakenham | 4,686 | 44.38 | N/A | |
Conservative | George Macartney | 4,341 | 41.11 | N/A | |
Liberal | Henry Hutchinson Hamilton O'Hara | 1,533 | 14.52 | N/A | |
Turnout | 9,676 | 54.57 | N/A | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Henry Pakenham | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward William Pakenham | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative | George Macartney | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Elections in the 1840s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative | Sir Edmund Charles Workman Macnaghten, Bt | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Irving | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Elections in the 1830s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative | John Irving | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Liberal | Earl of Belfast | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | 1,719 | 28.86 | N/A | |
Liberal | Earl of Belfast | 1,654 | 27.77 | N/A | |
Conservative | Edmund McDonnell | 1,451 | 24.36 | N/A | |
Conservative | John Cromie | 1,133 | 19.02 | N/A | |
Turnout | 3,487 | 86.78 | N/A | ||
- Note: 3,026 voters cast 5,957 votes.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Whig | Earl of Belfast | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | 839 | 40.12 | N/A | |
Tory | Earl of Belfast | 719 | 34.39 | N/A | |
Tory | Edmund McDonnell | 523 | 26.01 | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Lord Mark Kerr | 10 | 0.48 | N/A | |
Elections in the 1820s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Viscount Beauchamp | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Elections in the 1810s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Earl of Yarmouth | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections in the 19th century
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Hon. John Bruce Richard O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | Right Hon. John Staples | Co-opted | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Co-opted | N/A | N/A | |
References
- 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)
- Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B. M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
- 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 III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1979)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 2 )