Dumfries Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)

Dumfries Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP).

Dumfries Burghs
Former District of burghs constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of ScotlandDumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire
Major settlementsDumfries, Annan, Lochmaben, Kirkcudbright
1708–1918
SeatsOne
Created fromAnnan
Dumfries
Kirkcudbright
Lochmaben
Sanquhar
Replaced byDumfriesshire
Galloway

Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland burgh constituencies of Dumfries, Annan, Kirkcudbright Burgh, Lochmaben and Sanquhar.

Boundaries

The constituency comprised the Dumfriesshire burghs of Dumfries, Annan, Lochmaben and Sanquhar and the Kirkcudbrightshire burgh of Kirkcudbright.

History

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished for the 1918 general election.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Dumfries, Annan, Lochmaben and Sanquar were then merged into the county constituency of Dumfriesshire. Kirkcudbright was merged into Galloway.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMemberParty
1708 William Johnstone
1710 John Hutton
1713 Sir William Johnstone
1715 Alexander Fergusson
1722 William Douglas
1727 Archibald Douglas
1734 Charles Erskine
1735 William Kirkpatrick
1738 Sir Robert Laurie
1741 Lord John Johnstone
1743 Sir James Johnstone, 3rd Bt
1754 Archibald Douglas
1761 Thomas Miller
1766 James Montgomery
1768 William Douglas
1780 Sir Robert Herries
1784 Sir James Johnstone, 4th Bt
1790 Patrick Miller
1796 Alexander Hope
1800 William Johnstone Hope
1802 Charles Hope
1803 James Stopford
1806 Henry Erskine
1807 Sir John Heron-Maxwell
1812 Lord William Douglas Tory[6][7]
1832 Matthew Sharpe Whig[6][8]
1841 William Ewart Radical[9][10][11][12][13]
1859 Liberal
1868 Robert Jardine Liberal
1874 Ernest Noel Liberal
1886 Liberal Unionist
1886 Sir Robert Reid Liberal
1906 John Gulland Liberal
1918 constituency abolished

Elections

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: Dumfries District[6][7][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory William Douglas Unopposed
Registered electors c. 95
Tory hold
General election 1831: Dumfries District[6][7][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory William Douglas 3 60.0
Whig Matthew Sharpe 2 40.0
Majority 1 20.0
Turnout 5 c. 5.3
Registered electors c. 95
Tory hold
General election 1832: Dumfries District[6][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Matthew Sharpe 488 56.9 +16.9
Whig David Hannay 370 43.1 N/A
Majority 118 13.8 N/A
Turnout 858 88.7 c. +83.4
Registered electors 967
Whig gain from Tory Swing +16.9
General election 1835: Dumfries District[6][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Matthew Sharpe 422 53.3 −3.6
Whig David Hannay 370 46.7 +3.6
Majority 52 6.6 −7.2
Turnout 792 79.3 −9.4
Registered electors 999
Whig hold Swing −3.6
General election 1837: Dumfries District[6][15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Matthew Sharpe Unopposed
Registered electors 1,050
Whig hold

Elections in the 1840s
General election 1841: Dumfries District[15][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Ewart 402 54.0 New
Whig Alexander Johnston[16] 342 46.0 N/A
Majority 60 8.0 N/A
Turnout 744 76.2 N/A
Registered electors 977
Radical gain from Whig
General election 1847: Dumfries District[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Ewart Unopposed
Registered electors 892
Radical hold

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: Dumfries District[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Ewart Unopposed
Registered electors 881
Radical hold
General election 1857: Dumfries District[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Ewart 506 73.2 N/A
Conservative James Hannay[17] 185 26.8 New
Majority 321 46.4 N/A
Turnout 691 78.3 N/A
Registered electors 882
Radical hold Swing N/A
General election 1859: Dumfries District[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ewart 432 51.7 −21.5
Conservative George Gustavus Walker[18] 403 48.3 +21.5
Majority 29 3.4 -43.0
Turnout 835 86.4 +8.1
Registered electors 966
Liberal hold Swing −21.5

Elections in the 1860s
General election 1865: Dumfries District[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ewart 540 58.4 +6.7
Independent Liberal John Clark Kennedy[19][20] 384 41.6 New
Majority 156 16.8 +13.4
Turnout 924 82.2 −4.2
Registered electors 1,124
Liberal hold Swing +6.7
General election 1868: Dumfries District[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Jardine 1,125 51.0 −7.4
Independent Liberal Ernest Noel[21] 1,083 49.0 +7.4
Majority 42 2.0 -14.8
Turnout 2,208 93.8 +11.6
Registered electors 2,353
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1870s
Noel
General election 1874: Dumfries Burghs[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ernest Noel 1,420 55.9 +4.9
Conservative Morden Carthew Yorstoun 1,122 44.1 New
Majority 298 11.8 +9.8
Turnout 2,542 89.7 −4.1
Registered electors 2,833
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: Dumfries Burghs[15][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ernest Noel 1,700 64.7 +8.8
Conservative William Gordon[23] 872 33.2 −10.9
Ind. Conservative Theodore Edgar Dickson Byrne[24][25] 54 2.1 New
Majority 828 31.5 +19.7
Turnout 2,626 89.6 −0.1
Registered electors 2,931
Liberal hold Swing +9.9
General election 1885: Dumfries Burghs [26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ernest Noel 1,546 53.1 −11.6
Conservative Miles Walker Mattinson 1,363 46.9 +13.7
Majority 183 6.2 −25.3
Turnout 2,909 92.4 +2.8
Registered electors 3,147
Liberal hold Swing −12.7
General election 1886: Dumfries Burghs [26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Reid 1,547 56.0 +2.9
Conservative Miles Walker Mattinson 1,217 44.0 -2.9
Majority 330 12.0 +5.8
Turnout 2,764 87.8 −4.6
Registered electors 3,147
Liberal hold Swing +2.9

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1892: Dumfries Burghs [26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Reid 1,698 59.3 +3.3
Liberal Unionist Andrew Agnew 1,166 40.7 -3.3
Majority 532 18.6 +6.6
Turnout 2,864 86.1 −1.7
Registered electors 3,325
Liberal hold Swing +3.3

Reid is appointed Solicitor General for Scotland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 1894: Dumfries Burghs[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Reid Unopposed
Liberal hold
Reid
General election 1895: Dumfries Burghs [26][27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Reid 1,785 60.1 +0.8
Conservative William Murray 1,185 39.9 -0.8
Majority 600 20.2 +1.6
Turnout 2,970 85.9 −0.2
Registered electors 3,456
Liberal hold Swing +0.8

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1900: Dumfries Burghs [26][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Reid 1,847 58.7 -1.4
Liberal Unionist William Murray 1,300 41.3 +1.4
Majority 547 17.4 -2.8
Turnout 3,147 84.7 −1.2
Registered electors 3,717
Liberal hold Swing -1.4
Gulland
General election 1906: Dumfries Burghs [26][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Gulland 2,035 59.2 +0.5
Conservative Joseph J. Glover 1,402 40.8 -0.5
Majority 633 18.4 +1.0
Turnout 3,437 90.7 +6.0
Registered electors 3,790
Liberal hold Swing +0.5
1909 Dumfries Burghs by-election[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Gulland 1,877 54.2 -5.0
Conservative John Bryce Duncan 1,585 45.8 +5.0
Majority 292 8.4 -10.0
Turnout 3,462 86.9 -3.8
Registered electors 3,984
Liberal hold Swing -5.0

Elections in the 1910s
General election January 1910: Dumfries Burghs [29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Gulland 2,303 57.1 −2.1
Conservative John Bryce Duncan 1,730 42.9 +2.1
Majority 573 14.2 −4.2
Turnout 4,033 93.6 +2.9
Registered electors 4,307
Liberal hold Swing −2.1
General election December 1910: Dumfries Burghs [29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Gulland 2,315 59.2 +2.1
Conservative John Pollok-McCall 1,596 40.8 -2.1
Majority 719 18.4 +4.2
Turnout 3,911 91.1 −2.5
Registered electors 4,294
Liberal hold Swing +2.1

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: John Gulland
  • Unionist: Sir Archibald Mclnnes Shaw|Archibald Mclnnes Shaw[31]

Notes
  1. "Dumfries Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. "Dumfries Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  3. "Dumfries Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  4. "Dumfries Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. "Dumfries Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1820-1832). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  6. Smith, Henry Stooks (1841). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 199. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via Google Books.
  7. Escott, Margaret. "Dumfries Burghs". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  8. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer. p. 204. Retrieved 14 August 2019 – via Google Books.
  9. Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 164. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via Google Books.
  10. Boase, George Clement (1889). "Ewart, William" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 18. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  11. Farrell, S. M. (9 January 2014) [2004]. "Ewart, William (1798–1869)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9011.
  12. "Leeds Intelligencer". 31 July 1841. p. 7. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Dumfries Burghs". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 7. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. Cook, Chris; Stevenson, John (1980). British Historical Facts 1760-1830. Basingstoke: Palgrave. p. 58. doi:10.1007/978-1-137-06465-3. ISBN 978-1-137-06465-3. Retrieved 7 May 2020 – via Google Books.
  15. 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.
  16. "Evening Mail". 7 July 1841. p. 2. Retrieved 14 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "The Scotch Elections". Dundee, Perth, and Cupar Advertiser. 20 March 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 2 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. "Election Intelligence". Glasgow Herald. 18 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 2 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. "Dumfries". Hamilton Advertiser. 24 June 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 10 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "Dumfries". Wexford Independent. 24 June 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 10 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. "Election News". Liverpool Daily Post. 22 July 1868. p. 10. Retrieved 10 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. "Election Results". The Times. 6 April 1880. p. 6. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  23. "The General Election". Edinburgh Evening News. 1 April 1880. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. "The General Election". Glasgow Herald. 18 March 1880. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. "Dumfries Burghs". Ayr Advertiser. 15 January 1880. p. 5. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  27. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  28. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  29. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  30. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  31. Dundee Courier 28 Feb 1914
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