Wikipedia

Nottinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)

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.

Nottinghamshire
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyNottinghamshire
1290–1832
SeatsTwo
Replaced byNorth Nottinghamshire and South Nottinghamshire

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

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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

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1290–1640

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1305 Sir Hugh de Hercy and Thomas Malet

1316 Sir Hugh de Hercy and Lawrence Chaworth

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
1318 Sir Richard Willoughby[1] Peter Foun[1]
1320 John Darcy
1324 Robert de Jorce[1] Sir Richard de Willoughby[1]
1361–1393 Robert Morton
1373 John Gateford
1376–1390 Sir John Burton (5 times)
1377–1388 John Annesley
1378 Sir John Leake
1378 William Neville
1379 Sir John Birmingham
1380 (Nov) John Gateford
1381 Sir Thomas Rempston
1383 Sir Thomas Rempston
1386 Sir John Annesley Sir John Leake[2]
1388 (Feb) Sir John Annesley Sir John Leake[2]
1388 (Sep) Sir John Annesley Sir Robert Cockfield[2]
1390 (Jan) John Gateford Sir John Leake[2]
1390 (Nov) Sir John Burton Hugh Cressy[2]
1391 Sir Thomas Hercy Sir Robert Cockfield[2]
1393 Sir Thomas Rempston John Gateford[2]
1394 Sir William Neville Nicholas Strelley[2]
1395 Sir Thomas Rempston Nicholas Burdon[2]
1397 (Jan) Sir Thomas Rempston Hugh Cressy[2]
1397 (Sep) Sir Thomas Rempston Robert Morton[2]
1399 William Leek John Gateford[2]
1401 Sir John Burton (son of Sir John, 1376) John Kniveton[2]
1402 Sir John Clifton Sir Richard Stanhope[2]
1404 (Jan) John Leek Sir Richard Stanhope[2]
1404 (Oct) Simon Leek Sir Richard Stanhope[2]
1406 Sir Thomas Chaworth Sir Richard Stanhope[2]
1407 Sir John Zouche Sir Hugh Hussey[2]
1410
1411 William Rigmaiden Thomas Staunton[2]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) Sir John Zouche Sir Thomas Rempston II[2]
1413 (Apr) Sir Robert Plumpton Henry Sutton[2]
1414 (Nov) Ralph Mackerell Sir Hugh Hussey[2]
1415
1416 (Mar) William Compton Sir Thomas Rempston II[2]
1416 (Oct)
1417 Sir Thomas Chaworth Sir Henry Pierrepont[2]
1419 Sir John Zouche Ralph Hussey[2]
1420 Sir Thomas Chaworth Ralph Mackerell[2]
1421 (May) Sir Thomas Chaworth Sir William Mering[2]
1421 (Dec) Sir Henry Pierrepont Sir Richard Stanhope[2]
1422 Sir John Zouche
1423 Sir Henry Pierrepont Sir Thomas Chaworth
1425 Sir Henry Pierrepont Sir William Mering
1427 Ralph Mackerell[3]
1429 John Bowes
1432 John Bowes
1435 John Bowes
1436 William Plumpton
1437 Sir Thomas Chaworth
1439 John Bowes
1442 Sir William Mering Sir John Zouche
1445 Sir Thomas Chaworth
1510–1523 No names known[4]
1529 Sir John Markham Sir John Byron[4]
1536
1539 Gervase Clifton John Hercy[4]
1542
1545 Sir Anthony Neville Michael Stanhope[4]
1547 Sir Michael Stanhope Sir John Markham[4]
1553 (Mar) William Mering George Lascelles[4]
1553 (Oct) Sir John Hercy Sir William Holles[4]
1554 (Apr) Sir John Constable Ellis Markham[4]
1554 (Nov) Richard Whalley Ellis Markham[4]
1555 Richard Whalley Anthony Forster[4]
1558 Sir John Markham Hugh Thornhill[4]
1559 (Jan)(writ) Sir John Markham John Manners[5]
1562–1563 John Manners John Molyneux[5]
1571 Robert Markham Edward Stanhope[5]
1572 Henry Pierrepont Edward Stanhope[5]
1584 (Nov) Sir Thomas Manners Sir Robert Constable[5]
1586 Sir Thomas Manners Sir Thomas Stanhope[5]
1588 (Oct) Robert Markham Brian Lascelles[5]
1593 (Jan) Sir Charles Cavendish Philip Strelley[5]
1597 (Oct) John Byron Richard Whalley[5]
1601 (Oct) Sir Charles Cavendish Robert Pierrepont[5]
1604–1611 Sir John Holles Percival Willoughby
Addled Parliament (1614) Sir Gervase Clifton
1621–1622 George Chaworth, 1st Viscount Chaworth
Happy Parliament (1624) Robert Sutton
Useless Parliament (1625) Sir Henry Stanhope
1626 Sir Henry Stanhope Sir Thomas Hutchinson
1628 Sir John Byron Sir Gervase Clifton
No Parliament summoned 1629–1640

1640–1832

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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 Martin 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 Bennett 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 John Thornhagh
(John Hewett)[6]		 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)[7]		 Non Partisan
1796 Lord William Bentinck[8] Whig Hon. Evelyn Pierrepont Non Partisan
1801 Hon. Charles Pierrepont
(Viscount Newark)[9]		 Non Partisan
1803 Anthony Hardolph Eyre Non Partisan
1812 Lord William Bentinck Whig
1814 Frank Frank
(Frank Sotheron)		 Tory
1816 Lord William Bentinck Whig
1826 John Lumley[10] Whig
1831 Evelyn Denison Whig
1832 Constituency abolished: see Northern Nottinghamshire, Southern Nottinghamshire

Notes

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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.

  1. ^ a b c d Members of Parliament 1213-1702. London: House of Commons. 1878.
  2. ^ 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". Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  3. ^ "MACKERELL, Ralph (d.1436), of Wilsthorpe, Derbys. and Clifton, Notts". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "History of Parliament". Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  6. ^ Adopted the surname Hewett in 1756
  7. ^ Adopted the surname Pierrepont in 1788
  8. ^ Stooks Smith incorrectly lists Lord Edward Bentinck as re-elected in 1796. In fact he was elected MP for Clitheroe.
  9. ^ Styled Viscount Newark from 1806
  10. ^ Styled Viscount Lumley from June 1832.

Election notes

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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. Three families; the Duke of Newcastle, the Duke of Portland and the Pierreponts, all Whigs, dominated the county until well into the 19th century, which was why there was no contest after 1722.

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

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1710s –

1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s – 1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s

Elections in the 1710s

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General election 1715: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Francis Willoughby Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan William Levinz Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1720s

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General election 1722: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Sutton 1,349 25.89 N/A
Whig Emanuel Howe 1,339 25.70 N/A
Tory William Levinz 1,265 24.28 N/A
Tory Francis Willoughby 1,257 24.13 N/A
  • Howe was a Peer of Ireland
General election 1727: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Robert Sutton Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Emanuel Howe Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1730s

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  • 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 % ±%
Nonpartisan William Levinz Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Thomas Bennet Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan hold Swing N/A
General election 1734: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan William Levinz (junior) Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Thomas Bennet Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Bennet
By-Election February 1739: Nottinghamshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan John Mordaunt Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1740s

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General election 1741: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan William Levinz (junior) Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan John Mordaunt Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1747: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Robert Manners-Sutton Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan John Thornhagh Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Sutton adopted the new surname of Manners-Sutton

Elections in the 1750s

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General election 1 May 1754: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Robert Manners-Sutton Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan John Thornhagh Unopposed N/A N/A
  • John Thornhagh adopted the new surname of Hewett

Elections in the 1760s

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General election 8 April 1761: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Robert Manners-Sutton Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan John Hewett Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Manners-Sutton
By-Election 13 December 1762: Nottinghamshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Thomas Willoughby Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan hold Swing N/A
General election 28 March 1768: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Thomas Willoughby Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan John Hewett Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1770s

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General election 19 October 1774: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Henry Pelham-Clifton Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Thomas Willoughby Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 11 January 1775: Nottinghamshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Edward Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Lincoln
By-Election 9 December 1778: Nottinghamshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Charles Medows Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1780s

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General election 13 September 1780: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Edward Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Charles Medows Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 21 April 1784: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Edward Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Charles Medows Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Charles Medows adopted the surname of Pierrepont in 1788

Elections in the 1790s

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General election 1790: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Edward Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Charles Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1796: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan William Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Evelyn Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Note (1796): Stooks Smith incorrectly has Lord Edward Bentinck returned at this election rather than Lord William Bentinck

Elections in the 1800s

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  • Death of Pierrepont
By-Election November 1801: Nottinghamshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Charles Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan hold
General election 1802: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan William Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Charles Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Resignation of Bentinck
By-Election April 1803: Nottinghamshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Anthony Eyre (MP) Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan hold
  • 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 % ±%
Nonpartisan Charles Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Anthony Eyre (MP) Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1807: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Charles Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan Anthony Eyre (MP) Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1810s

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General election 1812: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Charles Pierrepont Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan William Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Resignation of Bentinck
By-Election April 1814: Nottinghamshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Frank Sotheron Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory gain from Nonpartisan
  • Succession of Newark as 2nd Earl Manvers
By-Election June 1816: Nottinghamshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan William Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan hold
General election 1818: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Frank Sotheron Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan William Bentinck Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Frank adopted the new surname of Sotheron

Elections in the 1820s

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General election 1818: Nottinghamshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Frank Sotheron Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan William 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

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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

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References

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  • 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)
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