East Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)

East (or Eastern) Aberdeenshire was a Scottish county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 to 1918 and from 1950 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Not to be confused with Aberdeenshire East (Scottish Parliament constituency).

East Aberdeenshire
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of ScotlandAberdeenshire
1950–1983
SeatsOne
Created fromEast Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Central Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Replaced byBanff & Buchan
Gordon
1868–1918
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromAberdeenshire
Aberdeen
Replaced byEast Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire
Central Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire

During the period 1918 to 1950, the area of the constituency was divided between East Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire and Central Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, which were both entirely within the county of Aberdeen.

In 1983, the East Aberdeenshire area was divided between the new constituencies of Banff and Buchan and Gordon.

Boundaries

1868 to 1885

When, created by the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1868, and first used in the 1868 general election, the constituency was nominally one of three covering the county of Aberdeen. The other two were the county constituency of West Aberdeenshire and the burgh constituency of Aberdeen. The county had been covered previously by the Aberdeenshire constituency and the Aberdeen constituency.

East Aberdeenshire was defined by the 1868 legislation as consisting of the parishes of Aberdour, Belhelvie, Bourtie, Crimond, Cruden, Daviot, Ellon, Fintray, Foveran, Fraserburgh, Fyvie, Keith-hall and Kinkell, King-Edward, Logie-Buchan, Longside, Lonmay, Methlick, Montquhitter, New Deer, New Machar, Old Deer, Oldmeldrum, Peterhead, Pitsligo, Rathen, Slains, Strichen, Tarves, Turriff, Tyrie and Udny, together with the part of the parish of Old Machar lying east of the River Don, and the parish of St Fergus in Banffshire.

1868 boundaries were also used in the 1874 general election and the 1880 general election.

1885 to 1918

For the 1885 general election the burgh constituencies of Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South were created. Both of these new constituencies included areas beyond the boundaries of the burgh of Aberdeen.

1885 boundaries were also used in the 1886 general election, the 1892 general election, the 1895 general election, the 1900 general election, the 1906 general election, the January 1910 general election and the December 1910 general election.

County boundaries were redefined under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, and the county of city of Aberdeen was created in 1900, but these developments did not affect constituency boundaries.

In 1918, the Representation of the People Act 1918 created new constituency boundaries, taking account of new local government boundaries, and grouped the county of Aberdeen, the county of city of Aberdeen and the county of Kincardine in the creation of new constituencies for the 1918 general election.

1950 to 1955

The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949 created new boundaries for the 1950 general election, and East Aberdeenshire was created as one of four constituencies covering the county of Aberdeen and the county of city of Aberdeen. East Aberdeenshire and West Aberdeenshire were entirely within the county of Aberdeen, and Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South were entirely within the county of city of Aberdeen. East Aberdeenshire consisted of the burghs of Ellon, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Peterhead, Rosehearty and Turriff and the districts of Deer, Ellon, Huntly and Turriff.[1]

The same boundaries were used for the 1951 general election.

1955 to 1983

For the 1955 general election, the burgh of Huntly and the district of Huntly were transferred to West Aberdeenshire.[1]

East Aberdeenshire retained the same boundaries for the 1959 general election, the 1964 general election, the 1966 general election, the 1970 general election, the February 1974 general election and the October 1974 general election.

In 1975, throughout Scotland, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, counties and burghs were abolished as local government areas, and East Aberdeenshire became a constituency within the Grampian region.

The 1979 general election was held before a review of constituency boundaries took account of new local government boundaries.

For the 1983 general election, the East Aberdeenshire area was divided between the new constituencies of Banff and Buchan and Gordon.

Members of Parliament

Eastern Aberdeenshire, 1868 to 1918
ElectionMember[2]Party
1868 William Dingwall FordyceLiberal
1875 by-election Sir Alexander Hamilton-GordonConservative
1879[3] Liberal
1885 Peter EsslemontLiberal
1892 by-election Thomas BuchananLiberal
1900 Archibald White MaconochieLiberal Unionist
1906 James AnnandLiberal
1906 by-election James MurrayLiberal
Jan. 1910 Henry CowanLiberal
1918 constituency abolished

East Aberdeenshire, 1950 to 1983
ElectionMember[2]Party
1950 Sir Robert Boothby Conservative
1958 by-election Patrick Wolrige-Gordon Conservative
Feb 1974 Douglas Henderson SNP
1979 Albert McQuarrie Conservative
1983 constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1860s
1868 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern [4][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Dingwall Fordyce Unopposed
Registered electors 4,297
Liberal win (new seat)

Elections in the 1870s
1874 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern [5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Dingwall Fordyce Unopposed
Registered electors 4,371
Liberal hold

Fordyce's death caused a by-election.

By-election 1875: Aberdeenshire Eastern [5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alexander Hamilton-Gordon[7] 1,903 55.0 New
Liberal George Hope[8] 1,558 45.0 N/A
Majority 345 10.0 N/A
Turnout 3,461 76.9 N/A
Registered electors 4,499
Conservative gain from Liberal

Elections in the 1880s
1880 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern [9][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alexander Hamilton-Gordon Unopposed
Registered electors 4,788
Liberal hold
1885 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern [10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Peter Esslemont 6,509 67.4 N/A
Conservative Henry Wolrige-Gordon[12] 3,155 32.6 New
Majority 3,354 34.8 N/A
Turnout 9,664 77.2 N/A
Registered electors 12,522
Liberal hold Swing N/A
1886 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Peter Esslemont 4,952 66.1 -1.3
Conservative William Harry Lumsden 2,544 33.9 +1.3
Majority 2,408 32.2 -2.6
Turnout 7,496 59.9 −17.3
Registered electors 12,522
Liberal hold Swing -1.3

Elections in the 1890s
1892 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern[13][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Peter Esslemont 5,116 59.4 −6.7
Conservative Francis Russell 3,492 40.6 +6.7
Majority 1,624 18.8 −13.4
Turnout 8,608 72.9 +13.0
Registered electors 11,803
Liberal hold Swing −6.7
By-election 1892: Aberdeenshire Eastern[13][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Buchanan 4,243 59.3 −0.1
Conservative Francis Russell 2,917 40.7 +0.1
Majority 1,326 18.6 −0.2
Turnout 7,160 60.7 −12.2
Registered electors 11,803
Liberal hold Swing −0.1
T.R. Buchanan
1895 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern[14][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Buchanan 4,723 58.8 −0.6
Liberal Unionist William Smith 3,308 41.2 +0.6
Majority 1,415 17.6 −1.2
Turnout 8,031 66.1 −6.8
Registered electors 12,157
Liberal hold Swing −0.6

Elections in the 1900s
1900 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern[14][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Archibald White Maconochie 4,173 50.4 +9.2
Liberal Thomas Buchanan 4,100 49.6 −9.2
Majority 73 0.8 N/A
Turnout 8,273 66.7 +0.6
Registered electors 12,404
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +9.2
James Annand
1906 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Annand 6,149 58.7 +9.1
Liberal Unionist Archibald White Maconochie 4,319 41.3 −9.1
Majority 1,830 17.4 N/A
Turnout 10,468 83.7 +17.0
Registered electors 12,509
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +9.1
By-election 1906: Aberdeenshire Eastern[15][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Murray Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1910s
January 1910 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern[16][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Cowan 6,600 62.5 +3.8
Liberal Unionist Charles Burn 3,962 37.5 −3.8
Majority 2,638 25.0 +7.6
Turnout 10,562 83.6 −0.1
Registered electors 12,635
Liberal hold Swing +3.8
Sir Henry Cowan
December 1910 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern[16][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Cowan 6,152 62.0 −0.5
Unionist William Craighead 3,772 38.0 +0.5
Majority 2,380 24.0 −1.0
Turnout 9,924 78.5 −5.1
Registered electors 12,649
Liberal hold Swing −0.5

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;

Elections in the 1950s
1950 general election: East Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Robert Boothby 24,971 65.96
Labour Gregor Mackenzie 12,886 34.04
Majority 12,085 31.92
Turnout 37,857 75.59
Unionist hold Swing
1951 general election: East Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Robert Boothby 24,985 68.05
Labour Alexander G.S. Whipp 11,730 31.95
Majority 13,255 36.10
Turnout 36,715 69.97
Unionist hold Swing
1955 general election: East Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Robert Boothby 18,600 68.5 +0.5
Labour Charles Ross 8,543 31.5 -0.4
Majority 10,057 37.0 +0.9
Turnout 27,143 59.76 -10.21
Unionist hold Swing


By-election 1958: East Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Patrick Wolrige-Gordon 14,314 48.5 -20.0
Labour John B Urquhart 7,986 27.1 -4.4
Liberal Maitland Mackie 7,153 24.3 New
Majority 6,328 21.4 -15.7
Turnout 29,485
Unionist hold Swing
1959 general election: East Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Patrick Wolrige-Gordon 18,982 63.4 -5.1
Labour John B Urquhart 10,980 36.6 +5.1
Majority 8,002 26.8 -10.2
Turnout 29,962 67.13 +7.37
Unionist hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
1964 general election: East Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Patrick Wolrige-Gordon 14,621 48.0 -15.4
Liberal Norman W King 7,088 23.3 New
Labour David McGibbon 6,840 22.5 -14.1
SNP Bruce Mavor Cockie 1,925 6.3 New
Majority 7,533 24.7 -2.1
Turnout 30,474
Unionist hold Swing
1966 general election: East Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Patrick Wolrige-Gordon 12,067 41.5 −6.5
Liberal Robin Sinclair 8,034 27.6 +4.3
Labour Ian Stuart Davidson 6,422 22.1 −0.4
SNP Bruce Mavor Cockie 2,584 8.9 +2.6
Majority 4,033 13.9 −10.8
Turnout 29,107 68.2
Conservative hold Swing −5.5

Elections in the 1970s
1970 general election: East Aberdeenshire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Patrick Wolrige-Gordon 12,866 40.9 −0.6
SNP Alex Farquhar 9,377 29.8 +20.9
Labour Harold C. Grimes 5,656 17.9 −4.2
Liberal Gurth Hoyer-Millar 3,548 11.3 −16.3
Majority 3,489 11.1 −2.8
Turnout 31,447 68.0 −0.2
Conservative hold Swing +2.0
February 1974 general election: Aberdeenshire East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Douglas Henderson 18,333 50.8 +21.0
Conservative Patrick Wolrige-Gordon 12,634 35.0 −5.9
Liberal W. Cruikshank 2,727 7.6 −3.7
Labour Sarah Beverley Sissons 2,416 6.7 −11.2
Majority 5,699 15.8 N/A
Turnout 36,110 76.6 +8.6
SNP gain from Conservative Swing
October 1974 general election: Aberdeenshire East [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Douglas Henderson 16,304 48.5 −2.3
Conservative Keith Raffan 11,933 35.5 +0.5
Labour Sarah Beverley Sissons 3,173 9.4 +2.7
Liberal C. Alistair Dow 2,232 6.6 −1.0
Majority 4,371 13.0 -2.8
Turnout 33,642 70.5 −6.1
SNP hold Swing −1.4
1979 general election: Aberdeenshire East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Albert McQuarrie 16,827 42.8 +7.3
SNP Douglas Henderson 16,269 41.4 −7.1
Labour N.L. Bonney 6,201 15.8 +6.4
Majority 558 1.4 N/A
Turnout 39,297 72.4 +1.9
Conservative gain from SNP Swing +7.2

See also

References
  1. Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972 (ISBN 0-900178-09-4), F. W. S. Craig 1972
  2. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 1)
  3. "Sir A Gordon and the East Aberdeenshire Liberals". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 14 July 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. Debrett's House of Commons, 1870
  5. 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.
  6. "Liberals have lost the seat for East Aberdeenshire". North Devon Journal. 30 December 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Election Intelligence". The Morning Post. 11 December 1875. p. 4. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "The Victory in Aberdeenshire". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 29 December 1875. p. 6. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. The Times, 29 April 1880
  10. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889
  11. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  12. "Local and District Issues". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 26 September 1885. p. 4. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  13. Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  14. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  15. Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  16. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916
  17. British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  18. Whitaker's Almanack, 1977
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