Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
Antrim is a former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two-member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801–1885 and 1922–1950.
Antrim | |
---|---|
Former County constituency for the House of Commons | |
1801–1885 | |
Replaced by | East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim |
Created from | County Antrim |
1922–1950 | |
Replaced by | North Antrim and South Antrim |
Created from | East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim |
Boundaries
From 1801 until 1885, the constituency consisted of the whole of County Antrim, excluding the parts in the Parliamentary borough constituencies of Belfast, Carrickfergus and Lisburn. From 1885 to 1922, the constituency was split between the divisions of East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim.
From 1922 until 1950, the constituency consisted of the Administrative county of Antrim, that is the whole of County Antrim excluding the part in the City of Belfast. In 1950 the county was split, between the divisions of Antrim North and Antrim South.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1801–1885
Key to parties: C Conservative, L Liberal, NP no party identified, T Tory, U Unionist, W Whig. Changes of party name in 1832 are indicated i.e. (T,C) and (W,L).
Election | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1801 | Rt Hon. John Staples (NP) | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory[1] | |||
1802 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory[2] | ||||
1812 | Francis Seymour-Conway | Tory | ||||
1818 | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Tory | ||||
1822 by-election | Richard Seymour-Conway | Tory | ||||
1826 | Edmond Alexander McNaghten | Tory[1] | ||||
1830 | George Chichester | Tory[2] | ||||
1831 | Whig[2] | |||||
1834 | Conservative[2] | |||||
1837 | John Irving | Conservative | ||||
1841 by-election | Nathaniel Alexander | Conservative | ||||
1845 by-election | Sir Horace Seymour | Conservative | ||||
1847 | Sir Edward Macnaghten, Bt | Conservative | ||||
1852 | Edward William Pakenham | Conservative | George Macartney | Conservative | ||
1854 by-election | Thomas Pakenham | Conservative | ||||
1859 | George Upton | Conservative | ||||
1863 by-election | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Conservative | ||||
1865 | Henry Seymour | Conservative | ||||
1869 by-election | Hugh Seymour | Conservative | ||||
1874 | James Chaine | Conservative | ||||
1880 | Edward MacNaghten | Conservative | ||||
1885 by-election | William Pirrie Sinclair | Liberal |
Notes:
- (1) Earl of Yarmouth (1800–1870) was known as Viscount Beauchamp until 17 June 1822.
- (2) Earl of Belfast became W by 1831 and is categorised as L from 1832.
- (3) Earl of Yarmouth (1843–1912) was known as Hugh de Grey Seymour until 25 August 1870.
MPs 1922–1950
Election | Member | Party | Member | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1922 | Rt Hon. Charles Craig | Ulster Unionist | Hugh O'Neill | Ulster Unionist | ||
1929 | Joseph McConnell | |||||
1943 by-election | John Dermot Campbell | |||||
1945 | Samuel Gillmor Haughton | |||||
1950 | constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim |
Elections
In two-member elections the bloc voting system was used. Voters could cast a vote for one or two candidates, as they chose. The two candidates with the largest number of votes were elected. In by-elections, to fill a single seat, the first past the post system applied.
There was no election in 1801. The representatives of the county in the former Parliament of Ireland became members of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom.
After 1832, when registration of voters was introduced, a turnout figure is given for contested elections. In two-member elections, when the exact number of participating voters is unknown, this is calculated by dividing the number of votes by two. To the extent that voters did not use both their votes this will be an underestimate of turnout. If the electorate figure is unknown the last known electorate figure is used to provide an estimate of turnout.
Where a party had more than one candidate in one or both of a pair of successive elections change is calculated for each individual candidate, otherwise change is based on the party vote.
Elections in the 1940s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Hugh O'Neill | 57,259 | 43.1 | N/A | |
UUP | Samuel Gillmor Haughton | 57,232 | 43.1 | N/A | |
NI Labour | Henry Holmes | 18,403 | 12.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 38,829 | 73.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 134,528 | 56.2 | N/A | ||
UUP hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | John Dermot Campbell | 42,371 | 69.4 | N/A | |
NI Labour | Robert Getgood | 17,253 | 28.3 | New | |
Progressive Unionist | Reginald Hanson Press | 1,432 | 2.4 | New | |
Majority | 25,118 | 41.1 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 135,795 | 45.0 | N/A | ||
UUP hold | Swing | N/A |
- Seat vacant at dissolution (Death of Campbell)
Elections in the 1930s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Joseph McConnell | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
UUP | Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Joseph McConnell | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
UUP | Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Elections in the 1920s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Hugh O'Neill | 53,864 | 37.5 | N/A | |
UUP | Joseph McConnell | 52,851 | 36.8 | N/A | |
Ulster Liberal | George Henderson | 18,985 | 13.2 | New | |
Ulster Liberal | Robert Boyd | 17,824 | 12.4 | New | |
Majority | 33,866 | 23.6 | -23.4 | ||
Turnout | 123,474 | 58.6 | -5.6 | ||
UUP hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Charles Craig | 60,868 | 49.0 | N/A | |
UUP | Hugh O'Neill | 60,764 | 49.0 | N/A | |
Sinn Féin | William McCormick | 2,514 | 2.0 | New | |
Majority | 58,250 | 47.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 98,616 | 64.2 | N/A | ||
UUP hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Charles Craig | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
UUP | Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUP | Charles Craig | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
UUP | Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Elections in the 1880s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William Pirrie Sinclair | 3,971 | 50.9 | +2.6 | |
Conservative | Robert Torrens O'Neill | 3,832 | 49.1 | −2.6 | |
Majority | 139 | 1.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 7,803 | 66.7 | -16.5 | ||
Registered electors | 11,701 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.6 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Chaine | 5,124 | 26.3 | −8.5 | |
Conservative | Edward MacNaghten | 4,936 | 25.4 | −7.7 | |
Liberal | Charles Wilson | 4,789 | 24.6 | +8.5 | |
Liberal | Samuel Black | 4,610 | 23.7 | +7.6 | |
Majority | 147 | 0.8 | −0.2 | ||
Turnout | 9,730 (est) | 83.2 | +4.1 | ||
Registered electors | 11,701 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −8.5 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | −7.7 |
Elections in the 1870s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Chaine | 4,356 | 34.8 | N/A | |
Conservative | Edward O'Neill | 4,142 | 33.1 | N/A | |
Liberal | Charles Wilson | 4,009 | 32.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 133 | 1.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 8,258 (est) | 79.1 (est) | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 10,436 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1860s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hugh Seymour | 5,588 | 70.9 | N/A | |
Liberal | Robert Shafto Adair | 2,294 | 29.1 | New | |
Majority | 3,294 | 41.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 7,882 | 67.3 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 11,715 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
- Caused by Seymour's death.
- Note: Hugh Seymour was known as the Earl of Yarmouth from 25 August 1870.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | Henry Seymour | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 11,715 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Seymour | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 10,921 | ||||
Conservative hold |
- Caused by Seymour's appointment as Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | Henry Seymour | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 10,921 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 10,195 | ||||
Conservative hold |
- Caused by Upton's succession to the peerage, becoming Viscount Templetown.
Elections in the 1850s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Pakenham | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | George Upton | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 9,822 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Pakenham | 4,686 | 44.4 | N/A | |
Conservative | George Hume Macartney | 4,341 | 41.1 | N/A | |
Whig | Henry Hutchinson Hamilton O'Hara[4] | 1,533 | 14.5 | New | |
Majority | 2,808 | 26.7 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 6,047 (est) | 62.5 (est) | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 9,676 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Pakenham | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
- Caused by Pakenham's death
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward William Pakenham | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | George Macartney | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 8,207 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1840s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | Edmund Workman-Macnaghten | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 6,962 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Horace Seymour | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
- Caused by Irving's death
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Irving | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 2,157 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
- Caused by O'Neill's succession to the peerage, becoming 3rd Viscount O'Neill
Elections in the 1830s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John O'Neill | Unopposed | |||
Conservative | John Irving | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 4,032 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Conservative gain from Whig |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John O'Neill | Unopposed | |||
Whig | George Chichester | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 3,822 | ||||
Conservative hold | |||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | 1,719 | 28.9 | ||
Whig | George Chichester | 1,654 | 27.8 | ||
Tory | Edmund McDonnell | 1,451 | 24.4 | ||
Tory | John Cromie | 1,133 | 19.0 | ||
Turnout | 3,026 | 86.8 | |||
Registered electors | 3,487 | ||||
Majority | 65 | 1.1 | |||
Tory hold | |||||
Majority | 203 | 3.4 | |||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | |||
Whig | George Chichester | Unopposed | |||
Tory hold | |||||
Whig gain from Tory |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | 839 | 40.1 | ||
Tory | George Chichester | 719 | 34.4 | ||
Tory | Edmund McDonnell | 523 | 25.0 | ||
Non Partisan | Mark Kerr | 10 | 0.5 | ||
Majority | 196 | 9.4 | |||
Turnout | c. 1,046 | c. 51.3 | |||
Registered electors | 2,037 | ||||
Tory hold | |||||
Tory hold |
Elections in the 1820s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | Richard Seymour-Conway | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Elections in the 1810s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Francis Seymour-Conway | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory hold | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 19th century
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | John Staples | Co-opted | N/A | N/A | |
Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Co-opted | N/A | N/A |
References
- Escott, Margaret. "MACNAGHTEN, Edmond Alexander (1762-1832), of Beardiville, co. Antrim and Duke Street, St. James's, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- Stooks Smith, Henry (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 214. Retrieved 9 May 2020 – via Google Books.
- Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.
- "General Intelligence". Coventry Standard. 17 April 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- Farrell, Stephen. "Co. Antrim". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F. W. S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
- Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922, edited by B. M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
- Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume I 1832–1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
- Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1979)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 2 )