- Nottinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)
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Nottinghamshire Former County constituency for the House of Commons County Nottinghamshire 1290–1832 Number of members Two Replaced by North Nottinghamshire and South Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament (MPs), traditionally known as Knights of the Shire.
The constituency was split into two two-member divisions, for Parliamentary purposes, by the Reform Act 1832. The county was then represented by the North Nottinghamshire and South Nottinghamshire constituencies.
Boundaries
The county of Nottinghamshire is located in the East Midlands of England. The county is known to have been represented in Parliament from 1290, although it probably sent knights of the shire to earlier meetings.
From 1295 the county and the town of Nottingham each returned two members to parliament. In 1572 East Retford was represented by two members, and in 1672 Newark-upon-Trent also. Under the Reform Act of 1832 the county returned four members in two divisions. By the act of 1885 it returned four members in four divisions; Newark and East Retford were disfranchised, and Nottingham returned three members in three divisions.
Members of Parliament
1290-1640
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Parliament First member Second member 1297 Sir John de Vilers 1307 Sir Walter Goushill of Hoveringham 1311 Sir Walter Goushill of Hoveringham 1312 John de Lisours 1313 Laurencius de Cadurcis 1320 John Darcy 1361–1393 Robert Morton 1376–1390 Sir John Burton (5 times) 1377–1388 John Annesley 1378 Sir John Leake 1378 William Neville 1379 Sir John Birmingham 1381 Sir Thomas Rempston 1383 Sir Thomas Rempston 1386 Sir John Annesley Sir John Leake[1] 1388 (Feb) Sir John Annesley Sir John Leake[1] 1388 (Sep) Sir John Annesley Sir Robert Cockfield[1] 1390 (Jan) John Gateford Sir John Leake[1] 1390 (Nov) Sir John Burton Hugh Cressy[1] 1391 Sir Thomas Hercy Sir Robert Cockfield[1] 1393 Sir Thomas Rempston John Gateford[1] 1394 Sir William Neville Nicholas Strelley[1] 1395 Sir Thomas Rempston Nicholas Burdon[1] 1397 (Jan) Sir Thomas Rempston Hugh Cressy[1] 1397 (Sep) Sir Thomas Rempston Robert Morton[1] 1399 William Leek John Gateford[1] 1401 Sir John Burton (son of Sir John, 1376) John Kniveton[1] 1402 Sir John Clifton Sir Richard Stanhope[1] 1404 (Jan) John Leek Sir Richard Stanhope[1] 1404 (Oct) Simon Leek Sir Richard Stanhope[1] 1406 Sir Thomas Chaworth Sir Richard Stanhope[1] 1407 Sir John Zouche Sir Hugh Hussey[1] 1410 1411 William Rigmaiden Thomas Staunton[1] 1413 (Feb) 1413 (May) Sir John Zouche Sir Thomas Rempston II[1] 1413 (Apr) Sir Robert Plumpton Henry Sutton[1] 1414 (Nov) Ralph Macherell Sir Hugh Hussey[1] 1415 1416 (Mar) William Compton Sir Thomas Rempston II[1] 1416 (Oct) 1417 Sir Thomas Chaworth Sir Henry Pierrepont[1] 1419 Sir John Zouche Ralph Hussey[1] 1420 Sir Thomas Chaworth Ralph Mackerell[1] 1421 (May) Sir Thomas Chaworth Sir William Mering[1] 1421 (Dec) Sir Henry Pierrepont Sir Richard Stanhope[1] 1423 Sir Henry Pierrepont 1425 Sir Henry Pierrepont 1429 John Bowes (speaker) 1432 John Bowes (speaker) 1435 John Bowes (speaker) 1436 Sir William Plumpton 1439 John Bowes (speaker) 1510–1523 No names known[2] 1529 Sir John Markham Sir John Byron[2] 1536 1539 Gervase Clifton John Hercy[2] 1542 1545 Sir Anthony Neville Michael Stanhope[2] 1547 Sir Michael Stanhope Sir John Markham[2] 1553 (Mar) William Mering George Lascelles[2] 1553 (Oct) Sir John Hercy Sir William Holles[2] 1554 (Apr) Sir John Constable Ellis Markham[2] 1554 (Nov) Richard Whalley Ellis Markham[2] 1555 Richard Whalley Anthony Forster[2] 1558 Sir John Markham Hugh Thornhill[2] 1559 (Jan)(writ) Sir John Markham John Manners[3] 1562–1563 John Manners John Molyneux[3] 1571 Robert Markham Edward Stanhope[3] 1572 Henry Pierrepont Edward Stanhope[3] 1584 (Nov) Sir Thomas Manners Sir Robert Constable[3] 1586 Sir Thomas Manners Sir Thomas Stanhope[3] 1588 (Oct) Robert Markham Brian Lascelles[3] 1593 (Jan) Sir Charles Cavendish Philip Strelley[3] 1597 (Oct) John Byron Sir Richard Whalley[3] 1601 (Oct) Sir Charles Cavendish Robert Pierrepont[3] 1604-1611 Sir John Holles Sir P Willoughby Addled Parliament (1614) Sir Gervase Clifton 1621-1622 George Chaworth, 1st Viscount Chaworth Happy Parliament (1624) ? Useless Parliament (1625) Robert Sutton 1626 Sir Henry Stanhope Robert Sutton 1628 Viscount Newark Sir Gervase Clifton No Parliament summoned 1629-1640 1640-1832
Year First member First party Second member Second party April 1640 Sir Thomas Hutchinson Parliamentarian Robert Sutton Royalist November 1640 Sir Thomas Hutchinson Parliamentarian Robert Sutton Royalist August 1643 Hutchinson died - seat vacant December 1643 Sutton disabled to sit - seat vacant 1645 John Hutchinson Gervase Pigot 1653 John Oddingsels Edward Cludd 1654 Representation increased to four members in First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate 1654 Hon. William Pierrepont, Major-General Edward Whalley, Colonel Edward Neville, Charles White 1656 Edward Cludd, Major-General Edward Whalley, Colonel Edward Neville, Peniston Whalley 1659 Representation reverted to two members in Third Parliaments of the Protectorate January 1659 Colonel Edward Neville Thomas Bristow May 1659 Colonel John Hutchinson One seat vacant March 1660 Lord Houghton Hon. William Pierrepont 1661 Anthony Eyre Sir Gervase Clifton 1666 Sir Francis Leke 1673 Sir Scrope Howe 1679 John White 1685 Sir William Clifton, 3rd Baronet Reason Mellish January 1689 Sir Scrope Howe Lord Houghton May 1689 John White 1690 William Sacheverell 1691 John White 1698 Sir Thomas Willoughby Gervase Eyre 1701 Sir Francis Molyneux 1702 Gervase Eyre 1704 John Thornhagh 1705 Sir Thomas Willoughby 1710 The Viscount Howe William Levinz Tory 1713 Hon. Francis Willoughby Tory 1722 The Viscount Howe Whig Sir Robert Sutton Whig 1732 William Levinz Tory Thomas Bennet Non Partisan 1734 William Levinz (junior) Non Partisan 1739 Hon. John Mordaunt Non Partisan 1747 Colonel Lord Robert Sutton
(Lord Robert Manners-Sutton)Non Partisan Non Partisan 1762 Hon. Thomas Willoughby Non Partisan 1774 Earl of Lincoln Non Partisan 1775 Lord Edward Bentinck Non Partisan 1778 Charles Medows
(Charles Pierrepont)[5]Non Partisan 1796 Lord William Bentinck[6] Whig Hon. Evelyn Pierrepont Non Partisan 1801 Hon. Charles Pierrepont
(Viscount Newark)[7]Non Partisan 1803 Anthony Hardolph Eyre Non Partisan 1812 Lord William Bentinck Whig 1814 Tory 1816 Lord William Bentinck Whig 1826 John Lumley[8] Whig 1831 Evelyn Denison Whig 1832 Constituency abolished: see Northern Nottinghamshire, Southern Nottinghamshire Notes
The use of the term 'Non Partisan' in the list does not necessarily mean that the MP was not associated with a particular party or faction in Parliament. Stooks Smith only gives Nottinghamshire candidates party labels for the contested 1722 election and not again until well into the 19th century.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "History of Parliament". http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/constituencies/nottinghamshire. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "History of Parliament". http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/nottinghamshire. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/constituencies/nottinghamshire. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- ^ Adopted the surname Hewett in 1756
- ^ Adopted the surname Pierrepont in 1788
- ^ Stooks Smith incorrectly lists Lord Edward Bentinck as re-elected in 1796. In fact he was elected MP for Clitheroe.
- ^ Styled Viscount Newark from 1806
- ^ Styled Viscount Lumley from June 1832.
Election Notes
The county franchise, from 1430, was held by the adult male owners of freehold land valued at 40 shillings or more. Each elector had as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings, which took place in Nottingham. The expense and difficulty of voting at only one location in the county, together with the lack of a secret ballot contributed to the corruption and intimidation of electors, which was widespread in the unreformed British political system.
The expense, to candidates and their supporters, of contested elections encouraged the leading families of the county to agree on the candidates to be returned unopposed whenever possible. Contested county elections were therefore unusual. The Duke of Newcastle and the Duke of Portland, both Whigs, dominated the county until well into the 19th century, which was why there was no contest after 1722. The Newcastle seat was usually held by a Pierrepont.
The bloc vote electoral system was used in two seat elections and first past the post for single member by-elections. Each voter had up to as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings.
Note on percentage change calculations: Where there was only one candidate of a party in successive elections, for the same number of seats, change is calculated on the party percentage vote. Where there was more than one candidate, in one or both successive elections for the same number of seats, then change is calculated on the individual percentage vote.
Note on sources: The information for the election results given below is taken from Stooks Smith 1715-1754, Namier and Brooke 1754-1790 and Stooks Smith 1790-1832.
Election results 1715-1832
1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s – 1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s
Elections in the 1710s
General Election 1715: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Francis Willoughby Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan William Levinz Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1720s
General Election 1722: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Whig Sir Robert Sutton 1,349 25.89 N/A Whig The Viscount Howe 1,339 25.70 N/A Tory William Levinz 1,265 24.28 N/A Tory Hon. Francis Willoughby 1,257 24.13 N/A - Howe was a Peer of Ireland
General Election 1727: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Sir Robert Sutton Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan The Viscount Howe Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1730s
- Seats vacated on Howe being appointed Governor of Barbados and Sutton being expelled from the House.
By-Election May 1732: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan William Levinz Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Thomas Bennet Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan hold Swing N/A General Election 1734: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan William Levinz (junior) Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Thomas Bennet Unopposed N/A N/A - Death of Bennet
By-Election February 1739: Nottinghamshire Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan John Mordaunt Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan hold Swing N/A Elections in the 1740s
General Election 1741: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan William Levinz (junior) Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan John Mordaunt Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1747: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord Robert Sutton Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan John Thornhagh Unopposed N/A N/A - Sutton adopted the new surname of Manners-Sutton
Elections in the 1750s
General Election 1 May 1754: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord Robert Manners-Sutton Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan John Thornhagh Unopposed N/A N/A - John Thornhagh adopted the new surname of Hewett
Elections in the 1760s
General Election 8 April 1761: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord Robert Manners-Sutton Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan John Hewett Unopposed N/A N/A - Death of Manners-Sutton
By-Election 13 December 1762: Nottinghamshire Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Thomas Willoughby Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan hold Swing N/A General Election 28 March 1768: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Thomas Willoughby Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan John Hewett Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1770s
General Election 19 October 1774: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Earl of Lincoln Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Thomas Willoughby Unopposed N/A N/A - Succession of Willoughby as the 4th Baron Middleton
By-Election 11 January 1775: Nottinghamshire Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord Charles Edward Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan hold Swing N/A - Death of Lincoln
By-Election 9 December 1778: Nottinghamshire Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Charles Medows Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan hold Swing N/A Elections in the 1780s
General Election 13 September 1780: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord Charles Edward Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Charles Medows Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 21 April 1784: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord Charles Edward Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Charles Medows Unopposed N/A N/A - Charles Medows adopted the surname of Pierrepont in 1788
Elections in the 1790s
General Election 1790: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord Charles Edward Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Charles Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1796: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord William Henry Cavendish Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Hon. Evelyn Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A - Note (1796): Stooks Smith incorrectly has Lord Charles Edward Bentinck returned at this election rather than Lord William Cavendish Bentinck
Elections in the 1800s
- Death of Pierrepont
By-Election November 1801: Nottinghamshire Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Charles, Lord Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan hold Swing N/A General Election 1802: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord William Henry Cavendish Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Charles, Lord Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A - Resignation of Bentinck
By-Election April 1803: Nottinghamshire Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Anthony Hardolph Eyre Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan hold Swing N/A - Pierrepont became known by the courtesy title of Viscount Newark, when his father was advanced in the peerage by being created Earl Manvers in 1806.
General Election 1806: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Viscount Newark Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Anthony Hardolph Eyre Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1807: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Viscount Newark Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Anthony Hardolph Eyre Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1810s
General Election 1812: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Viscount Newark Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Lord William Henry Cavendish Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A - Resignation of Bentinck
By-Election April 1814: Nottinghamshire Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Frank Frank Unopposed N/A N/A Tory gain from Non Partisan Swing N/A - Succession of Newark as 2nd Earl Manvers
By-Election June 1816: Nottinghamshire Party Candidate Votes % ±% Non Partisan Lord William Henry Cavendish Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan hold Swing N/A General Election 1818: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Frank Frank Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Lord William Henry Cavendish Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A - Frank adopted the new surname of Sotheron
Elections in the 1820s
General Election 1818: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Frank Sotheron Unopposed N/A N/A Non Partisan Lord William Henry Cavendish Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1826: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Frank Sotheron Unopposed N/A N/A Whig John Saville Lumley Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1830s
General Election 1830: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Frank Sotheron Unopposed N/A N/A Whig John Saville Lumley Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1831: Nottinghamshire (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Whig John Saville Lumley Unopposed N/A N/A Whig Evelyn Denison Unopposed N/A N/A - Constituency divided in (1832)
See also
References
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
- The House of Commons 1754-1790, by Sir Lewis Namier and John Brooke (HMSO 1964)
- 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)) out of copyright
- Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
- D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [2]
- J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "N" (part 3)
Categories:- Parliamentary constituencies in Nottinghamshire (historic)
- United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies established in 1290
- United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies disestablished in 1832
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