Buteshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Buteshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918.

Buteshire
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
1708–1918
Created fromButeshire
Replaced byBute and Northern Ayrshire

Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Buteshire.

History

From 1708 to 1832 Buteshire and Caithness were paired as alternating constituencies: one of the constituencies elected a Member of Parliament (MP) to one parliament, the other to the next. The areas which were covered by the two constituencies are quite remote from each other, Caithness in the northeast of Scotland and Buteshire in the southwest.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

From 1832 to 1918, Buteshire was represented continuously by its own MP.

Boundaries

From 1708 to 1832, the Buteshire constituency covered the county of Bute (which historically included the islands of Arran, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae) minus the parliamentary burgh of Rothesay, which was a component of the Ayr Burghs constituency. In 1832, Rothesay was merged into the Buteshire constituency.

By 1892, Bute had become a local government county and, throughout Scotland, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, county boundaries had been redefined for all purposes except parliamentary representation. 26 years were to elapse before constituency boundaries were redrawn, by the Representation of the People Act 1918, to take account of new local government boundaries.

In 1918, the Bute and Northern Ayrshire county constituency was created, to cover the county of Bute and a northern portion of the county of Ayr. The rest of the county of Ayr was divided between three other constituencies, all entirely within the county: the county constituencies of South Ayrshire and Kilmarnock, and a remodelled Ayr Burghs.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1708 to 1832
ElectionMemberParty
1708Dugald Stewart
1710John Montgomerie
1710none
1713John Campbell, later Duke of ArgyllWhig
1715none
1722Patrick Campbell
1727none
1734Patrick Campbell
1741none
1747James Stuart-Mackenzie
1754none
1761James Stuart I
1762Henry Wauchope
1768none
1774James Stuart II (later Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie)
1780none
1784James Stuart II
1790none
1796Frederick Stuart
1802none
1806James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie
1807none
1812John Marjoribanks[6]
1818none
1820Lord Patrick Crichton-StuartWhig[7]
1826none
1830Sir William Rae, 3rd BaronetTory[8]
1831none

MPs 1832 to 1918
ElectionMemberParty
1832 Charles Stuart Conservative
1833 by-election Sir William Rae Conservative
1842 by-election James Stuart-Wortley Conservative
1852 Peelite[9][10][11]
1859 David Mure Conservative
1865 by-election George Boyle Conservative
1865 James Lamont Liberal
1868 Charles Dalrymple Conservative
1880 Thomas Russell Liberal
1880 by-election Charles Dalrymple Conservative
1885 James Robertson Conservative
1891 by-election Andrew Murray Conservative
1905 Norman Lamont Liberal
January 1910 Sir Harry Hope Conservative
1918 constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: Buteshire[8][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory William Rae Unopposed
Registered electors 21
Tory gain from Nonpartisan
  • Gain from Non Partisan at Caithness, which returned the 1826 MP as this seat's alternating pair

For the 1831 election, Caithness returned the MP.

General election 1832: Buteshire[8][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Charles Stuart Unopposed
Registered electors 279
Tory win (new seat)
  • Considered a 'new seat' as the constituency did not elect an MP in 1831

Stuart resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 4 September 1833: Buteshire[8][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory William Rae Unopposed
Tory hold
General election 1835: Buteshire[8][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative William Rae Unopposed
Registered electors 310
Conservative hold
General election 1837: Buteshire[8][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative William Rae Unopposed
Registered electors 345
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s
General election 1841: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Rae 134 65.0 N/A
Conservative Henry Dunlop[14] 72 35.0 N/A
Majority 62 30.0 N/A
Turnout 206 54.2 N/A
Registered electors 380
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Rae was appointed Lord Advocate, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 23 September 1841: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Rae Unopposed
Conservative hold

Rae's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 1 December 1842: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Conservative hold

Stuart-Wortley was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 7 February 1846: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1847: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Registered electors 410
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Registered electors 491
Peelite gain from Conservative

Stuart-Wortley was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 12 February 1857: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Peelite hold
General election 1857: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite James Stuart-Wortley Unopposed
Registered electors 489
Peelite hold
General election 1859: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Mure 138 51.7 N/A
Liberal James Lamont 129 48.3 New
Majority 9 3.4 N/A
Turnout 267 55.7 N/A
Registered electors 479
Conservative gain from Peelite Swing N/A

Elections in the 1860s

Mure's appointment as a Senator of the College of Justice, becoming Lord Mure, caused a by-election.

By-election, 16 Feb 1865: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Boyle 205 51.9 +0.2
Liberal James Lamont 190 48.1 -0.2
Majority 15 3.8 +0.4
Turnout 395 77.0 +21.3
Registered electors 513
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1865: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Lamont 203 51.4 +3.1
Conservative George Boyle 192 48.6 -3.1
Majority 11 2.8 N/A
Turnout 395 77.0 +21.3
Registered electors 513
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1868: Buteshire[15][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dalrymple 527 59.3 +10.7
Liberal John William Burns[16] 362 40.7 −10.7
Majority 165 18.6 N/A
Turnout 889 82.9 +5.9
Registered electors 1,073
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.7

Elections in the 1870s
General election 1874: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dalrymple Unopposed
Registered electors 1,113
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Russell 568 50.8 New
Conservative Charles Dalrymple 551 49.2 N/A
Majority 17 1.6 N/A
Turnout 1,119 85.4 N/A
Registered electors 1,311
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Russell was disqualified due to his holding of a government contract at the time of the election, causing a by-election.

By-election, 6 Jul 1880: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dalrymple 585 52.0 +2.8
Liberal Thomas Russell 540 48.0 −2.8
Majority 45 4.0 N/A
Turnout 1,125 85.8 +0.4
Registered electors 1,311
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A

Dalrymple was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 3 Jul 1885: Buteshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Dalrymple Unopposed
Conservative gain from Liberal
General election 1885: Buteshire[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Robertson 1,374 55.8 +6.6
Liberal Robert Allan Maclean 1,090 44.2 −6.6
Majority 284 11.6 N/A
Turnout 2,464 83.7 −1.7
Registered electors 2,943
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.6
General election 1886: Buteshire[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Robertson 1,364 62.5 +6.7
Liberal Nigel MacNeill 819 37.5 -6.7
Majority 545 25.0 +13.4
Turnout 2,183 74.2 -9.5
Registered electors 2,943
Conservative hold Swing +6.7

Robertson was appointed as Solicitor General for Scotland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 12 Aug 1886: Buteshire[18][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Robertson Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s
1891 Buteshire by-election[19][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Murray 1,335 57.4 −5.1
Liberal John McCulloch[20] 990 42.6 +5.1
Majority 345 14.8 −10.2
Turnout 2,325 73.6 −0.6
Registered electors 3,159
Conservative hold
General election 1892: Buteshire[21][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Murray 1,466 59.1 -3.4
Liberal Robert Earle M Smith 1,013 40.9 +3.4
Majority 453 18.2 -6.8
Turnout 2,479 77.6 +3.4
Registered electors 3,195
Conservative hold Swing +1.7
General election 1895: Buteshire[22][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Murray Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1900: Buteshire[22][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Murray 1,241 54.3 N/A
Liberal Norman Lamont 1,046 45.7 New
Majority 195 8.6 N/A
Turnout 2,287 67.0 N/A
Registered electors 3,412
Conservative hold Swing N/A
1905 Buteshire by-election[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Norman Lamont 1,460 50.6 +4.9
Liberal Unionist Edward Theodore Salvesen 1,426 49.4 −4.9
Majority 34 1.2 N/A
Turnout 2,886 80.7 +13.7
Registered electors 3,578
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +4.9
Lamont
General election 1906: Buteshire[18][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Norman Lamont 1,637 51.9 +6.2
Conservative Guy Thomas Speir 1,517 48.1 −6.2
Majority 120 3.8 N/A
Turnout 3,154 82.7 +15.7
Registered electors 3,816
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.2

Elections in the 1910s
General election January 1910: Buteshire[24][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Hope 1,531 52.7 +4.6
Liberal Norman Lamont 1,372 47.3 -4.6
Majority 159 5.4 N/A
Turnout 2,903 81.5 -1.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
Mitchell
General election December 1910: Buteshire[18][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Hope 1,569 54.4 +1.7
Liberal Edward Mitchell 1,316 45.6 -1.7
Majority 253 8.8 +3.4
Turnout 2,885 81.9 +0.4
Conservative hold Swing +1.7

References
  1. "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  3. "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  4. "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. "Buteshire". History of Parliament Online (1820-1832). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  6. Marjoribanks,Roger (2014) "Edinburgh Portrait, Sir John Marjoribanks , Bart, MP (1763–1833)" The Book of the Edinburgh Club, Volume 10, Pp 151-156, ISBN 0-9517284-9-0
  7. Escott, Margaret. "CRICHTON STUART, Lord Patrick James Herbert (1794-1859), of Rosemount, nr. Kilmarnock, Ayr and Cardiff Castle, Glam". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  8. Stooks Smith, Henry (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 197–198. Retrieved 8 May 2020 – via Google Books.
  9. "Montrose, Arbroath, and Brechin Review". 23 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. Taylor, James (2013). Boardroom Scandal: The Criminalization of Company Fraud in Nineteenth-Century Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-19-969579-9. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via Google Books.
  11. Foot, M. R. D., ed. (1968). The Gladstone Diaries: Volume One: 1825 - 1832. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 586. ISBN 0-19-821370-0. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via Google Books.
  12. Fisher, David R. "Buteshire". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  13. 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.
  14. "Northern Warder and General Advertiser for the Counties of Fife, Perth and Forfar". 13 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. Debrett's House of Commons, 1870
  16. "To the Electors of the County of Bute". Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette. 7 November 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889
  18. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  19. The Liberal Year Book, 1908
  20. "Representation of Buteshire". South Wales Echo. 6 October 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 16 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  22. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901
  23. Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  24. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916

Sources
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