Forfarshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Forfarshire was a Scottish county constituency represented in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 until 1800, and then in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until 1950.

Forfarshire
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of ScotlandForfarshire
1708–1950
SeatsOne
Created fromForfarshire
Replaced byNorth Angus & Mearns
South Angus

It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.

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 Forfarshire.

Boundaries

The Representation of the People Act 1918 defined the constituency as consisting of the county of Forfar, except the county of the city of Dundee and the burghs of Montrose, Arbroath, Brechin, and Forfar. The four excepted burghs formed part of the Montrose District of Burghs.[1]

The county of Forfarshire was renamed Angus in 1928.[2] However, no change was made in the name of the constituency prior to its abolition.

History

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system until the seat was abolished for the 1950 general election.[3][4][5][6][7]

The constituency was abolished under the Representation of the People Act 1948, which reorganised parliamentary boundaries throughout the United Kingdom. The seat was divided between North Angus and Mearns (which also included Kincardineshire) and South Angus.[8]

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[9]Party
1708 John Carnegie (expelled)
1716 by-election James Scott
1733 by-election Robert Scott
1734 Thomas Lyon, later Earl of Strathmore
1735 by-election William Maule, Earl Panmure (from 1743)
1782 by-election Archibald Douglas Tory
1790 David Scott
1796 by-election William Maule, later Baron Panmure
1796 Sir David Carnegie
1805 by-election William Maule, later Baron Panmure Whig[10][11]
1831 by-election Donald Ogilvy (Unseated on petition Jan 1832) Whig[10]
January 1832 Lord Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton Whig[10][12]
1841 Lord Frederick Gordon-Hallyburton Whig[10][13]
1852 Lauderdale Maule Whig[14]
1854 by-election Adam Duncan, Viscount Duncan, later Earl of Camperdown Whig[15][16][17][18]
1859 Liberal
1860 by-election Charles Carnegie Liberal
1872 by-election James William Barclay Liberal
1886 Liberal Unionist
1892 Sir John Rigby, QC Liberal
1894 Charles Maule Ramsay Conservative Liberal Unionist
1895 Martin White Liberal
1897 by-election John Sinclair, later Baron Pentland Liberal
1909 by-election James Falconer Liberal
1918 William T. Shaw Unionist
1922 James Falconer Liberal
1924 Sir Harry Hope Unionist
1931 William T. Shaw Unionist
1945 Simon Ramsay, later Earl of Dalhousie Unionist
1950 constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: Forfarshire[10][19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig William Maule Unopposed
Registered electors 124
Whig hold
General election 1831: Forfarshire[10][19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig William Maule Unopposed
Registered electors 124
Whig hold

Maule was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Panmure and causing a by-election.

By-election, 3 October 1831: Forfarshire[10][19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Donald Ogilvy 46 51.1
Whig Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton 44 48.9
Majority 2 2.2
Turnout 90 72.6
Registered electors 124
Whig hold
  • On petition, Ogilvy was unseated in favour of Gordon-Hallyburton
General election 1832: Forfarshire[10][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton Unopposed
Registered electors 1,241
Whig hold
General election 1835: Forfarshire[10][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton 625 58.4
Conservative John Stuart-Wortley 446 41.6
Majority 179 16.8
Turnout 1,071 75.4
Registered electors 1,421
Whig hold
General election 1837: Forfarshire[10][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Douglas Gordon-Hallyburton Unopposed
Registered electors 1,790
Whig hold

Elections in the 1840s
General election 1841: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Frederick Gordon Unopposed
Registered electors 1,979
Whig hold
General election 1847: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Frederick Gordon-Hallyburton Unopposed
Registered electors 2,540
Whig hold

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Lauderdale Maule Unopposed
Registered electors 2,873
Whig hold

Maule was appointed Surveyor-General of the Ordnance, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 25 February 1853: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Lauderdale Maule Unopposed
Whig hold

Maule's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 11 October 1854: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Adam Haldane-Duncan Unopposed
Whig hold

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

By-election, 10 March 1855: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Adam Haldane-Duncan Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1857: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Adam Haldane-Duncan Unopposed
Registered electors 3,288
Whig hold
General election 1859: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Adam Haldane-Duncan Unopposed
Registered electors 3,421
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

Haldane-Duncan succeeded to the peerage, becoming Earl of Camperdown, and causing a by-election.

By-election, 1 February 1860: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Carnegie Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1865: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Carnegie Unopposed
Registered electors 2,108
Liberal hold
General election 1868: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Carnegie Unopposed
Registered electors 3,379
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1870s

Carnegie resigned after being appointed Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.

By-election, 16 Dec 1872: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James William Barclay 1,481 56.8 N/A
Conservative James Ramsay 1,128 43.2 New
Majority 353 13.6 N/A
Turnout 2,609 72.4 N/A
Registered electors 3,603
Liberal hold
General election 1874: Forfarshire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James William Barclay Unopposed
Registered electors 3,619
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: Forfarshire[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James William Barclay Unopposed
Registered electors 3,634
Liberal hold
General election 1885: Forfarshire[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James William Barclay 6,157 76.9 N/A
Conservative William Alexander Lindsay 1,851 23.1 New
Majority 4,306 53.8 N/A
Turnout 8,008 71.3 N/A
Registered electors 11,232
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General election 1886: Forfarshire[22][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist James William Barclay 3,839 52.8 +29.7
Liberal David Charles Guthrie 3,432 47.2 -29.7
Majority 407 5.6 N/A
Turnout 7,271 64.7 −6.6
Registered electors 11,232
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +29.7

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1892: Forfarshire[24][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Rigby 4,943 54.8 +7.6
Liberal Unionist James William Barclay 4,077 45.2 -7.6
Majority 866 9.6 N/A
Turnout 9,020 79.8 +15.1
Registered electors 11,307
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +7.6

Rigby is appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 1892: Forfarshire[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Rigby Unopposed
Liberal hold

Rigby resigns after being appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal, triggering a by-election.

1894 Forfarshire by-election[25][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Maule Ramsay 5,145 51.4 +6.2
Liberal Henry Robson 4,859 48.6 -6.2
Majority 286 2.8 N/A
Turnout 10,004 83.3 +3.5
Registered electors 12,010
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.2
General election 1895: Forfarshire[26][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Martin White 5,159 52.2 −2.6
Conservative Charles Maule Ramsay 4,718 47.8 +2.6
Majority 441 4.4 −5.2
Turnout 9,877 82.2 +2.4
Registered electors 12,010
Liberal hold Swing −2.6

White resigns, triggering a by-election.

Sinclair
1897 Forfar by-election[26][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Sinclair 5,423 52.2 0.0
Conservative Charles Maule Ramsay 4,965 47.8 0.0
Majority 458 4.4 0.0
Turnout 10,388 85.1 +2.9
Registered electors 12,200
Liberal hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1900: Forfarshire[26][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Sinclair 4,962 51.3 −0.9
Conservative Charles Maule Ramsay 4,714 48.7 +0.9
Majority 248 2.6 −1.8
Turnout 9,676 78.6 −3.6
Registered electors 12,313
Liberal hold Swing −0.9
General election 1906: Forfarshire[27][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Sinclair 6,796 67.5 +16.2
Liberal Unionist J. Mackay Bernard 3,277 32.5 −16.2
Majority 3,519 35.0 +32.4
Turnout 10,073 79.7 +1.1
Registered electors 12,644
Liberal hold Swing +16.2
Falconer
Forfarshire by-election, 1909[28][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Falconer 6,422 61.8 −5.7
Conservative Robert Blackburn 3,970 38.2 +5.7
Majority 2,452 23.6 −11.4
Turnout 10,392 81.3 +1.6
Registered electors 12,778
Liberal hold Swing −5.7

Elections in the 1910s
General election January 1910: Forfarshire[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Falconer 6,789 61.3 -6.2
Conservative Robert Blackburn 4,284 38.7 +6.2
Majority 2,505 22.6 -12.4
Turnout 11,073
Liberal hold Swing -0.5
General election December 1910: Forfarshire[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Falconer 6,449 59.5 -1.8
Conservative James B Duncan 4,397 40.5 +1.8
Majority 2,052 19.0 -3.6
Turnout 10,846
Liberal hold Swing -1.8
General election 1918: Forfarshire[30][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William T. Shaw 5,697 52.4 +11.9
Liberal James Falconer 5,179 47.6 −11.9
Majority 518 4.8 N/A
Turnout 10,876 44.2
Registered electors 24,611
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +11.9

Elections in the 1920s
General election 1922: Forfarshire[30][32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Falconer 8,567 54.8 +7.2
Unionist William T. Shaw 7,071 45.2 −7.2
Majority 1,496 9.6 N/A
Turnout 15,638 65.0 +20.8
Registered electors 24,040
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +7.2
General election 1923: Forfarshire[30][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Falconer 7,605 52.9 −1.9
Unionist William T. Shaw 6,758 47.1 +1.9
Majority 847 5.8 −3.8
Turnout 14,363 60.3 −4.7
Registered electors 23,828
Liberal hold Swing −1.9
General election 1924: Forfarshire[30][34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Harry Hope 8,022 49.1 +2.0
Liberal James Falconer 4,581 28.0 −24.9
Labour Charles Gallie 3,736 22.9 New
Majority 3,441 21.1 New
Turnout 16,339 68.3 +8.0
Registered electors 23,916
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +13.5
General election 1929: Forfarshire[30][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Harry Hope 8,852 42.2 −6.9
Liberal William Scott 6,901 32.8 +4.8
Labour Charles Gallie 5,257 25.0 +2.1
Majority 1,951 9.4 −11.7
Turnout 21,010 70.7 +2.4
Registered electors 29,737
Unionist hold Swing −5.9

Elections in the 1930s
General election 1931: Forfarshire[30][36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William T. Shaw 13,912 61.4 +19.2
Liberal William Scott 8,731 38.6 +5.8
Majority 5,181 22.8 +13.4
Turnout 22,643 75.2 +4.5
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1935: Forfarshire[30][37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist William T. Shaw 13,505 60.2 -1.2
Liberal William Scott 8,922 39.8 +1.2
Majority 4,583 20.4 -2.4
Turnout 22,427 71.5 -3.7
Unionist hold Swing -1.2

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1939–40:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

General election 1945: Forfarshire[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Simon Ramsay 13,615 51.6 -8.6
Labour E Douglas 8,199 31.1 New
Liberal Philip Fothergill 4,575 17.3 -22.5
Majority 5,416 20.5 +0.1
Turnout 26,389 69.1 -2.4
Unionist hold Swing

References
  1. Representation of the People Act 1918, Ninth Schedule, Part II, Parliamentary Counties in Scotland
  2. "Angus - What's in a name". Angus Council. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  3. "Forfarshire (Angus)". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  4. "Forfarshire (Angus)". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  5. "Forfarshire (Angus)". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  6. "Forfarshire (Angus)". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. "Forfarshire (Angus)". History of Parliament Online (1820-1832). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. Representation of the People Act 1948, First Schedule, Parliamentary Constituencies, Part III: Scotland
  9. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "F"
  10. Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 202. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via Google Books.
  11. Escott, Margaret. "MAULE, Hon. William Ramsay (1771-1852), of Panmure and Brechin Castle, Forfar". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  12. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer. p. 109. Retrieved 18 August 2019 – via Google Books.
  13. "Forfarshire". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 19 June 1841. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "County of Forfar". Edinburgh Evening Courant. 17 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 75. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via Google Books.
  16. Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 134–136. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  17. The Annual Register, or a View of the History and Politics, of the Year 1841. J. G. & F. Rivington. 1842. p. 65. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via Google Books.
  18. "South Eastern Gazette". 17 October 1854. p. 2. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. Escott, Margaret. "Forfarshire (Angus)". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  20. 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.
  21. The Times, April 1880.
  22. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889
  23. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  24. Whitaker's Almanack, 1893
  25. "Election Intelligence: Forfarshire". The Times. 20 November 1894. p. 6.
  26. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench
  27. Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
  28. The Times, 2 March 1909 p8
  29. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench illustrated with 500 armorial engravings (PDF). London: Dean & Son. 1918. p. 221. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  30. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  31. Whitaker's Almanack, 1920
  32. The Times, 17 November 1922
  33. The Times, 8 December 1923
  34. Oliver & Boyd's Edinburgh Almanac, 1927
  35. The Times, 1 June 1929
  36. Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
  37. Whitaker's Almanack, 1939
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