1904 Devonport by-election

The Devonport by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 20 June 1904.[1] The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

1904 Devonport by-election
20 June 1904
 
Candidate Benn Jackson
Party Liberal Conservative
Popular vote 6,219 5,179
Percentage 54.6% 45.4%
MP before election

John Lockie
Conservative

 Subsequent MP

John Benn
Liberal

Vacancy

John Lockie had been Conservative MP for one of the seats of Devonport since the 1902 Devonport by-election. He resigned at the age of 43 and died in January 1906.[2]

Electoral history

The seat had been Conservative since he gained it in the 1902 Devonport by-election. Both Devonport seats had been Liberal from 1892-1902.

1902 Devonport by-election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Lockie 3,785 50.2
Liberal Thomas Brassey 3,757 49.8
Majority 28 0.4 N/A
Turnout 7,542 84.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Candidates
Jackson

The local Conservative Association selected 53-year-old Sir John Jackson as their candidate to defend the seat. He was a contractor for Public Works. He completed the Admiralty Docks at Keyham, Devonport.[4]

The local Liberal Association selected 54-year-old John Benn as their candidate to gain the seat. Benn was active in the London Dock Strike of 1889, and, as an increasingly prominent London politician, was elected in 1892 as the Liberal Party candidate for St George Division of Tower Hamlets. He was narrowly defeated at the general election in 1895. As a London County Councillor, he helped introduce electric trams to London's streets in 1903. He served as Chairman of the London County Council from 1903-04.[5]

Campaign

Polling Day was fixed for 20 June 1904, just days after the previous MP resigned.

Result

The Liberals re-gained the seat from the Conservatives:

Benn
Devonport by-election, 1904[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Benn 6,219 54.6 +4.8
Conservative John Jackson 5,179 45.4 -4.8
Majority 1,040 9.2 N/A
Turnout 11,398 79.3 -5.0
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +4.8

Aftermath

At the following General Election the result was:

General election January 1906[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hudson Kearley 6,923 29.1
Liberal John Benn 6,527 27.5
Conservative John Jackson 5,239 22.0
Conservative F Holme-Summer 5,080 21.4
Majority 1,684 7.1
Liberal hold Swing
Majority 1,447 6.1
Turnout 23,769 81.4
Liberal hold Swing

References
  1. Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 98.
  2. Who Was Who
  3. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
  4. Who Was Who
  5. Who Was Who
  6. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
  7. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
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