List of ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of Great Britain
Ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of Great Britain at Westminster were held from 1707 to 1801, when a member of parliament (MP) was appointed as a minister in the government. Unlike most Westminster by-elections, ministerial by-elections were often a formality, uncontested by opposition parties. Re-election was required under the Succession to the Crown Act 1707.[1] This was in line with the principle established in 1624 that accepting an office of profit from the Crown would precipitate resignation from the House, with the option of standing for re-election.[2] Typically a minister sought re-election in the same constituency he had just vacated, but occasionally contested another seat which was also vacant. In 1910 The Times newspaper noted that the relevant Act had been passed in the reign of Queen Anne "to prevent the Court from swamping the House of Commons with placemen and pensioners", and described the process as "anomalous" and "indefensible" in the 20th century.[3] The Re-Election of Ministers Act 1919 ended the necessity to seek re-election within nine months of a general election,[2] and the Re-Election of Ministers Act (1919) Amendment Act 1926 ended the practice in all other cases.[2][1]
Elections
18th Parliament (1796–1800)
17th Parliament (1790–1796)
16th Parliament (1784–1790)
15th Parliament (1780–1784)
14th Parliament (1774–1780)
13th Parliament (1768–1774)
12th Parliament (1761–1768)
11th Parliament (1754–1761)
10th Parliament (1747–1754)
9th Parliament (1741–1747)
8th Parliament (1735–1741)
7th Parliament (1727–1734)
6th Parliament (1722–1727)
5th Parliament (1715–1722)
4th Parliament (1713–1715)
Date | Constituency | c/u | Former incumbent | Winner | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 August 1714 | Truro | u | Thomas Hare | Thomas Hare | First Register and Clerk of the Crown in Barbados |
4 May 1714 | Droitwich | u | Edward Jeffreys | Edward Jeffreys | Puisne Justice of Chester |
22 April 1714 | Leicester | u | Sir George Beaumont | Sir George Beaumont | Lord of the Admiralty |
15 April 1714 | Forfarshire | u | John Carnegie | John Carnegie | Solicitor General for Scotland |
5 April 1714 | Elgin Burghs | u | James Murray | James Murray | Commissary for Commercial Negotiations with France |
20 March 1714 | Dartmouth | u | Frederick Herne | John Fownes | Commissioner for Settling Trade with France and Death |
18 March 1714 | Hastings | c | Sir Joseph Martin | Sir Joseph Martin | Commissary for Commercial Negotiations with France |
16 March 1714 | Whitchurch | u | Thomas Vernon | Thomas Vernon | Lord of Trade |
15 March 1714 | Ripon | u | John Sharp | John Sharp | Lord of Trade |
15 March 1714 | Penryn | c | Alexander Pendarves | Samuel Trefusis | Surveyor General of Crown Lands |
3rd Parliament (1710–1713)
2nd Parliament (1708–1710)
1st Parliament (1707–1708)
Date | Constituency | c/u | Former incumbent | Winner | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 March 1708 | King's Lynn | u | Robert Walpole | Robert Walpole | Secretary at War |
2 March 1708 | Sandwich | u | Josiah Burchett | Josiah Burchett | Secretary to the Marines |
21 February 1708 | Westminster | u | Henry Boyle | Henry Boyle | Northern Secretary |
1 December 1707 | Hedon | u | Anthony Duncombe | Anthony Duncombe | Commissioner of Prizes[1 1] |
2 December 1707 | Lymington | u | Paul Burrard, junior | Paul Burrard, junior | Sub-Commissioner of Prizes at Portsmouth[1 1] |
29 November 1707 | Chipping Wycombe | u | Fleetwood Dormer | Fleetwood Dormer | Commissioner of Prizes[1 1] |
29 November 1707 | Great Bedwyn | c | Nicholas Pollexfen | Tracy Pauncefort | Commissioner of Prizes[1 1] |
Tracy Pauncefort | Nicholas Pollexfen | By-election result reversed on petition 22 December 1707 | |||
29 November 1707 | Aldborough | u | William Jessop | William Jessop | Justice of the Anglesey Circuit |
28 November 1707 | New Romney | u | John Brewer | John Brewer | Receiver General of Prizes[1 1] |
See also
References
- Boothroyd, David. "Causes of Byelections since the 'Reform Act'". United Kingdom Election Results. demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- Sandford, Mark (18 July 2013). "SN/PC/06395 : Resignation from the House of Commons" (PDF). House of Commons Background Papers. Parliament and Constitution Centre. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- "Election Intelligence. Walthamstow., The Osborne Judgment". The Times. 12 October 1910. p. 10. Retrieved 30 August 2012.(subscription required)
- Sargent sought re-election at Queenborough
- Grant sought re-election at New Windsor
- Adeane sought re-election at Cambridgeshire
- Rose sought re-election at Lymington
- Mornington sought re-election at Saltash
- Dundas sought re-election at Newtown to ensure that he had a seat when Parliament convened. Afterwards he resigned that seat and was returned for Edinburghsire.
- Neville sought re-election at Reading
- Strachey sought re-election at Saltash.
- Keene sought re-election at Ludgershall.
- Jenkinson sought re-election at Appleby.
- Villiers sought re-election at Aldborough.
- Thormond was elected in two constituencies and sought re-election at Minehead.
- Bilson Legge sought re-election at Hampshire.
- Potter sought re-election at Bath.
- Duncannon sought re-election at Harwich.
- William Pitt sought re-election at Buckingham and Okehampton and sat for Okehampton.
- Hay sought re-election at Calne.
- James Grenville sought re-election at Buckingham.
- James Grenville sought re-election at Bridport.
- Gore sought re-election at Portsmouth.
- George Lee sought re-election at Devizes.
- Middlesex sought re-election at Sussex.
- Parsons sought re-election at Maldon.
- Willes sought re-election at Weymouth.
- Daniel Pulteney sought re-election at Hedon.
- Denzil Onslow sought re-election at Surrey.
- Nicholas Lechmere sought re-election at Tewkesbury.
- James Stanhope sought re-election at Newport (I.o.w.).
- Thomas Onslow sought re-election at Surrey.
- Granville sought re-election at Fowey.
- Masham sought re-election at New Windsor.
- Held an office incompatible with membership of Parliament under the Regency Act. Re-elected after resigning office.