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Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)

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County Antrim is a former county constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. It was a two-member constituency in Ireland from 1801 to 1885 and in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1950.

Antrim
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyCounty Antrim
1801–1885
Seats2
Created fromCounty Antrim
Replaced by
1922–1950
Seats2
Created from
Replaced by

History and boundaries

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The constituency of County Antrim (1801–1885) within Ireland.

County Antrim had been represented by two seats in the Irish House of Commons. From 1801, under the Acts of Union 1800, it was represented by a county constituency with two MPs in the United Kingdom House of Commons. It consisted of County Antrim, except the parts in the parliamentary borough constituencies of Belfast, Carrickfergus and Lisburn. The boroughs of Antrim and Randalstown were disfranchised in 1801.

In 1885, Carrickfergus and Lisburn were disfranchised and the borders of the parliamentary borough of Belfast were extended. The county was split between the divisions of East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim.[1]

In 1922, following the establishment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, the number of seats in Northern Ireland at Westminster was cut from 30 to 13 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. The constituency of Antrim was recreated to elect two MPs, consisting of the administrative county of Antrim, that is the whole of County Antrim excluding the part in the city of Belfast.[2] In 1950, the county was split between the divisions of Antrim North and Antrim South, under the Representation of the People Act 1948, which abolished all multi-member constituencies in the United Kingdom.[3]

Members of Parliament

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MPs 1801–1885

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Election MP MP Note
1801 Rt Hon. John Staples Nonpartisan Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Tory[4]
1802 Hon. John O'Neill Tory[5]
1806
1807
1811 b O'Neill app. constable of Dublin Castle
1812 b O'Neill disqualified
1812 Francis Seymour-Conway Tory
1818 Hugh Henry John Seymour Tory
1820
1822 b Richard Seymour-Conway Tory
1826 Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Tory[4]
1830 George Chichester, Earl of Belfast Tory[5]
1831 Whig[5]
1832
1835 Conservative[5]
1837 John Irving Conservative
1841 b Nathaniel Alexander Conservative O'Neill succeeds as Viscount O'Neill
1841
1845 b Sir Horace Seymour Conservative Death of Irving
1847 Sir Edmund Macnaghten, Bt Conservative
1852 Edward William Pakenham Conservative George Macartney Conservative
1854 b Thomas Pakenham Conservative Death of Pakenham
1857
1859 George Upton Conservative
1863 b Hon. Edward O'Neill Conservative Upton succeeds as Viscount Templetown
1865 Henry Seymour Conservative
1866 b Seymour appointed Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty
1868
1869 b Hugh Seymour Conservative Death of Seymour
1874 James Chaine Conservative
1880 Edward MacNaghten Conservative
1885 b William Pirrie Sinclair Liberal Death of Chaine

Notes:

  • (1) Earl of Yarmouth (1800–1870) was known as Viscount Beauchamp until 17 June 1822.
  • (2) Earl of Yarmouth (1843–1912) was known as Hugh de Grey Seymour until 25 August 1870.

MPs 1922–1950

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Election MP MP
1922 Rt Hon. Charles Craig UUP Hugh O'Neill UUP
1923
1924
1929 Joseph McConnell UUP
1931
1935
1943 b John Dermot Campbell UUP
1945 Samuel Gillmor Haughton UUP
1950 Constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim

Elections

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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

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General election 5 July 1945: Antrim (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Hugh O'Neill 57,259 42.6 N/A
UUP Samuel Gillmor Haughton 57,232 42.5 N/A
NI Labour Henry Holmes 18,403 13.7 N/A
Majority 38,829 28.8 N/A
Turnout 134,528 56.2 N/A
UUP hold Swing
By-Election 11 February 1943: Antrim[6]
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

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General election 14 November 1935: Antrim (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Joseph McConnell Unopposed N/A N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 27 October 1931: Antrim (2 seats)[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Joseph McConnell Unopposed N/A N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1920s

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General election 30 May 1929: Antrim (2 seats)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Hugh O'Neill 53,864 37.5 −11.5
UUP Joseph McConnell 52,851 36.8 −12.2
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
General election 29 October 1924: Antrim (2 seats)[10]
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
General election 6 December 1923: Antrim (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Charles Craig Unopposed N/A N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 15 November 1922: Antrim (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Charles Craig Unopposed N/A N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1880s

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By-election, 21 May 1885: County Antrim[12]
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
General election 6 April 1880: County Antrim (2 seats)[12]
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

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General election 12 February 1874: County Antrim (2 seats)[12]
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

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By-election, 21 August 1869: County Antrim[13]
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.
General election 23 November 1868: County Antrim (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward O'Neill Unopposed
Conservative Henry Seymour Unopposed
Registered electors 11,715
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 17 July 1866: County Antrim[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Seymour Unopposed
Registered electors 10,921
Conservative hold
General election 22 July 1865: County Antrim (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward O'Neill Unopposed
Conservative Henry Seymour Unopposed
Registered electors 10,921
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 6 May 1863: County Antrim[13]
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

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General election 10 May 1859: County Antrim (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Pakenham Unopposed
Conservative George Upton Unopposed
Registered electors 9,822
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 16 April 1857: County Antrim (2 seats)[13]
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[14] 1,533 14.5 New
Majority 2,808 26.6 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
By-election, 27 December 1854: County Antrim[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Pakenham Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Pakenham's death
General election 23 July 1852: County Antrim (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward William Pakenham Unopposed
Conservative George Macartney Unopposed
Registered electors 8,207
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s

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General election 11 August 1847: County Antrim (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathaniel Alexander Unopposed
Conservative Edmund Workman-Macnaghten Unopposed
Registered electors 6,962
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 22 December 1845: County Antrim[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Horace Seymour Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Irving's death
General election 13 July 1841: County Antrim (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Irving Unopposed
Conservative Nathaniel Alexander Unopposed
Registered electors 2,157
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 14 April 1841: County Antrim[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathaniel Alexander Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1830s

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General election 5 August 1837: County Antrim (2 seats)[13][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative John O'Neill Unopposed
Conservative John Irving Unopposed
Registered electors 4,032
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Whig
General election 15 January 1835: County Antrim (2 seats)[13][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative John O'Neill Unopposed
Whig George Chichester Unopposed
Registered electors 3,822
Conservative hold
Whig hold
General election 2 January 1833: County Antrim (2 seats)[13][5]
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
General election 21 May 1831: County Antrim (2 seats)[15][5][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed
Whig George Chichester Unopposed
Tory hold
Whig gain from Tory
General election 13 August 1830: Antrim (2 seats)[15][5][16]
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

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General election 20 June 1826: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Unopposed N/A N/A
1822 Antrim by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Seymour-Conway Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold
General election 22 March 1820: Antrim (2 seats)
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

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General election 27 June 1818: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Hugh Henry John Seymour Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 21 October 1812: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Seymour-Conway Unopposed N/A N/A
1812 Antrim by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold
1811 Antrim by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold

Elections in the 19th century

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General election 18 May 1807: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 19 November 1806: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 19 July 1802: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Unopposed N/A N/A
Co-option 1 January 1801: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Staples Co-opted N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Co-opted N/A N/A

References

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  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 2 )
  • Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949. Macmillan Press.
  • Farrell, Stephen (2009). Fisher, D.R. (ed.). "Co. Antrim". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1820–1832. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  • Stooks Smith, Henry (1973) [1844–50]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Political Reference Publications.
  • Stenton, M., ed. (1976). Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume I 1832–1885. The Harvester Press.
  • Stenton, M.; Lees, S., eds. (1979). Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume III 1919–1945. The Harvester Press.
  • Walker, Brian M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.
  • Walker, Brian M., ed. (1992). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1918–92: Irish elections to parliaments and parliamentary assemblies at Westminster, Belfast, Dublin, Strabourg. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714968. ISSN 0332-0286.

Citations

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  1. ^ Sixth Schedule, Seventh Part III Ireland, "Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, 48 & 49 Vict. C. 23". The public general acts. Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. p. 183.
  2. ^ "Government of Ireland Act 1920: Fifth Schedule". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. ^ First Schedule, Part IV (Northern Ireland), (b) Borough constituencies, "Representation of the People Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6, Ch. 65)" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Stooks Smith, Henry (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 214.
  6. ^ a b Walker 1992, p. 20.
  7. ^ Walker 1992, p. 19.
  8. ^ Walker 1992, p. 18.
  9. ^ Walker 1992, p. 17.
  10. ^ Walker 1992, p. 16.
  11. ^ a b Walker 1992, p. 15.
  12. ^ a b c Walker 1978, p. 249.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Walker 1978, p. 248.
  14. ^ "General Intelligence". Coventry Standard. 17 April 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ a b Walker 1978, p. 195.
  16. ^ a b Farrell 2009.
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