Londonderry City (UK Parliament constituency)

Londonderry City was a parliamentary constituency in northern Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the United Kingdom House of Commons, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Not to be confused with Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency).
For the modern constituency covering the city, see Foyle (UK Parliament constituency).

Londonderry City
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyCounty Londonderry
BoroughLondonderry
1801–1922
Seats1
Created fromLondonderry City (IHC)
Replaced byLondonderry

Boundaries and boundary changes

This constituency was the parliamentary borough of Londonderry (or Derry) in County Londonderry.[lower-alpha 1]

It was an original constituency represented in the first UK Parliament when the Acts of Union 1800 took effect on 1 January 1801, inheriting the boundaries and franchise of the Londonderry City constituency of the abolished Irish House of Commons. In 1922 it was combined with North Londonderry and South Londonderry, to form the Londonderry county constituency.

Politics

After the extension of the franchise in 1885, the constituency was one of the most marginal seats in Ireland.

Sinn Féin won in 1918. The MP, Professor Eoin MacNeill, was also returned for National University of Ireland. As MacNeill did not take his seat in the United Kingdom House of Commons he could not choose which constituency he would represent and arrange a by-election in the other. He played an active role in the First Dáil and in the government it set up.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMemberParty
1801 co-option Henry Alexander Tory
1802 Sir George Hill, Bt Tory[1]
1830 Sir Robert Ferguson, Bt Whig[2][3][4][5]
1860 by-election William McCormick Conservative
1865 Lord Claud Hamilton Conservative
1868 Richard Dowse Liberal Party
1872 by-election Charles Lewis Conservative
1886 Justin McCarthy[6] Irish Parliamentary Party
1892 John Ross Unionist
1895 Edmund Vesey Knox Irish Parliamentary Party
1899 by-election Arthur John Moore Irish Parliamentary Party
1900 James Hamilton Unionist
1913 by-election David Cleghorn Hogg Liberal Party
1914 by-election James Brown Dougherty Liberal Party
1918 Eoin MacNeill Sinn Féin
1922 Constituency abolished

Elections

The elections in this constituency took place using the first past the post electoral system.

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: Londonderry City[7][2][1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Robert Ferguson 258 73.5
Tory John Richard James Hart 87 24.8
Whig John Montgomery 6 1.7
Majority 171 48.7
Turnout 351 c. 54.0
Registered electors c. 650
Whig gain from Tory

On petition, Ferguson's election was declared void, causing a by-election.

By-election, 2 April 1831: Londonderry City[7][2][1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Ferguson 202 76.5 +3.0
Tory John Richard James Hart 62 23.5 −1.3
Majority 140 53.0 +4.3
Turnout 264 c. 40.6 c. −13.4
Registered electors c. 650
Whig hold Swing +2.2
General election 1831: Londonderry City[7][2][1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Ferguson 205 77.4 +3.9
Whig Conolly McClausland Lecky 60 22.6 N/A
Majority 145 54.8 +6.1
Turnout 265 40.8 c. −13.2
Registered electors 650
Whig hold Swing +3.9
General election 1832: Londonderry City[7][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Ferguson 308 57.7 −19.7
Tory George Robert Dawson 226 42.3 New
Majority 82 15.4 −39.4
Turnout 534 87.4 +46.6
Registered electors 611
Whig hold Swing −19.7
General election 1835: Londonderry City[7][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 703
Whig hold
General election 1837: Londonderry City[7][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Robert Ferguson 212 60.7
Conservative George Robert Dawson 137 39.3
Majority 75 21.4
Turnout 349 43.4
Registered electors 804
Whig hold

Elections in the 1840s
General election 1841: Londonderry City[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 742
Whig hold
General election 1847: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 1,904
Whig hold

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 724
Whig hold
General election 1857: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 825
Whig hold
General election 1859: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Ferguson Unopposed
Registered electors 825
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

Ferguson's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 2 April 1860: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Conservative William McCormick 326 45.6 New
Liberal Samuel MacCurdy Greer 307 42.9 N/A
Liberal George Skipton 82 11.5 N/A
Majority 19 2.7 N/A
Turnout 715 86.7 N/A
Registered electors 825
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
General election 1865: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Conservative Claud Hamilton 379 53.4 N/A
Liberal Samuel MacCurdy Greer 331 46.6 N/A
Majority 48 6.8 N/A
Turnout 710 81.1 N/A
Registered electors 876
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
General election 1868: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Dowse 704 54.0 +7.4
Irish Conservative Claud Hamilton 599 46.0 −7.4
Majority 105 8.0 N/A
Turnout 1,303 87.9 +6.8
Registered electors 1,483
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +7.4

Elections in the 1870s

Dowse was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 15 Feb 1870: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Dowse 680 53.5 −0.5
Irish Conservative Robert Baxter 592 46.5 +0.5
Majority 88 7.0 −1.0
Turnout 1,272 85.8 −2.1
Registered electors 1,483
Liberal hold Swing −0.5

Dowse resigned after being appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, causing a by-election.

By-election, 27 Nov 1872: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 696 53.2 +7.2
Liberal Christopher Palles 522 39.9 −14.1
Home Rule Joseph Biggar 89 6.8 New
Irish Conservative Bartholomew McCorkell 2 0.2 N/A
Majority 174 13.3 N/A
Turnout 1,309 80.7 −7.2
Registered electors 1,622
Irish Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.7
General election 1874: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 744 51.0 +5.0
Liberal Bartholomew McCorkell 715 49.0 −5.0
Majority 29 2.0 N/A
Turnout 1,459 86.6 −1.3
Registered electors 1,685
Irish Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +5.0

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 964 52.4 +1.4
Liberal Adam Hogg 876 47.6 −1.4
Majority 88 4.8 +2.8
Turnout 1,840 91.8 +5.2
Registered electors 2,005
Irish Conservative hold Swing +1.4
1885 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 1,824 50.4 −2.0
Irish Parliamentary Justin McCarthy 1,792 49.6 New
Majority 32 0.8 −4.0
Turnout 3,616 93.2 +1.4
Registered electors 3,879
Irish Conservative hold Swing N/A
1886 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Conservative Charles Lewis 1,781 50.0 −0.4
Irish Parliamentary Justin McCarthy 1,778 50.0 +0.4
Majority 3 0.0 N/A
Turnout 3,559 91.8 −1.4
Registered electors 3,879
Irish Conservative hold Swing −0.4

On petition, Lewis was unseated. McCarthy was named as MP on 25 October.

Elections in the 1890s
1892 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist John Ross 1,986 50.3 +0.3
Irish National Federation Justin McCarthy 1,960 49.7 −0.3
Majority 26 0.6 +0.6
Turnout 3,946 94.8 +3.0
Registered electors 4,161
Irish Unionist hold Swing +0.3
1895 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish National Federation Edmund Vesey Knox 2,033 50.5 +0.8
Irish Unionist John Ross 1,994 49.5 −0.8
Majority 39 1.0 N/A
Turnout 4,027 96.1 +1.3
Registered electors 4,191
Irish National Federation gain from Irish Unionist Swing +0.8

Knox resigns, triggering a by-election.

By-election, 1899: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Arthur John Moore 2,343 50.5 0.0
Liberal Unionist Emerson Herdman 2,301 49.5 0.0
Majority 42 1.0 0.0
Turnout 4,644 95.7 −0.4
Registered electors 4,855
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1900s
1900 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton 2,361 50.7 +1.2
Irish Parliamentary Arthur John Moore 2,294 49.3 −1.2
Majority 67 1.4 N/A
Turnout 4,655 92.1 −4.0
Registered electors 5,056
Irish Unionist gain from Irish National Federation Swing +1.2
  • Results are compared to the 1895 election, not the by-election.

Hamilton is appointed Treasurer of the Household, prompting a by-election in which he stood unopposed.

By-election, 1903: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton Unopposed
Irish Unionist hold
1906 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton Unopposed
Irish Unionist hold

Elections in the 1910s
January 1910 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton 2,435 50.6 N/A
Irish Parliamentary Shane Randolph Leslie 2,378 49.4 New
Majority 57 1.2 New
Turnout 4,813 95.0 N/A
Registered electors 5,068
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
December 1910 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist James Hamilton 2,415 51.1 +0.5
Irish Parliamentary Shane Randolph Leslie 2,310 48.9 −0.5
Majority 105 2.2 +1.0
Turnout 4,725 93.2 −1.8
Registered electors 5,068
Irish Unionist hold Swing +0.5

Hamilton becomes Duke of Abercorn, prompting a by-election.

By-election 1913: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Cleghorn Hogg 2,699 50.5 New
Irish Unionist Hercules Pakenham 2,642 49.5 −1.6
Majority 57 1.0 N/A
Turnout 5,341 97.6 +4.4
Registered electors 5,470
Liberal gain from Irish Unionist Swing N/A

Hogg's death prompts another by-election.

By-election, 1914: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Brown Dougherty Unopposed
Liberal hold
1918 general election: Londonderry City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin Eoin MacNeill 7,335 50.7 New
Irish Unionist Robert Newton Anderson 7,020 48.5 −2.6
Irish Parliamentary William Hamilton Davey 120 0.8 −48.1
Majority 315 2.2 N/A
Turnout 14,475 86.5 −6.7
Registered electors 16,736
Sinn Féin gain from Liberal Swing N/A
  • Results are compared to the December 1910 election, not the later by-elections.
  • In common with other Sinn Féin MPs, Eoin MacNeill abstained from Westminster and took his seat as a TD in the First Dáil. He was also elected for the National University.

Footnotes
  1. Farrell, Stephen. "Londonderry". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 234.
  3. Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 166.
  4. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 90–91.
  5. "Irish Members Return". Northern Standard. 7 August 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 6 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. Lewis was declared elected at the 1886 general election, but the result was overturned on petition, and the seat awarded to McCarthy
  7. Walker 1978.
  8. Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons, Volume 50. 1843.

Notes
  1. There is a longstanding Derry/Londonderry name dispute. This article follows the approach that Derry refers to the city and County Londonderry refers to the county (outside of organisations' names, which may follow their own approaches).

References
  • The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)

Walker, Brian M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.

  • Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume I 1832–1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
  • Stenton, M.; Lees, S., eds. (1978). Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume II 1886–1918. The Harvester Press.
  • Stenton, M.; Lees, S., eds. (1979). 'Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume III 1919–1945. The Harvester Press.
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 4 )

See also
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