Inverness-shire (UK Parliament constituency)

Inverness-shire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1918.

Inverness-shire
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
1708–1918
Number of membersOne
Replaced byWestern Isles
Inverness

There was also a burgh constituency called Inverness Burghs, 1708 to 1918, and a county constituency called Inverness, 1918 to 1983.

Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Inverness-shire.

History

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished in 1918.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Boundaries

The Inverness-shire Member of Parliament (MP) represented, nominally, the county of Inverness minus the Inverness parliamentary burgh, which was represented as a component of Inverness District of Burghs. However, by 1892 the boundaries of the county had been redefined for all purposes except parliamentary representation, and it had become a local government area, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889. 26 years were to elapse before a review of constituency boundaries took account of new local government boundaries. Results of the review were implemented under the Representation of the People Act 1918.

In 1918, the constituency was largely replaced by two new county constituencies. The Western Isles constituency was created to cover Outer Hebridean areas of the county of Inverness, as well as part of the county of Ross and Cromarty. The Inverness constituency was created to cover the rest of the county of Inverness, including the parliamentary burgh.[6]

Members of Parliament
ElectedMember[7]Party
1708 Alexander Grant
1710 Alexander MacKenzie
1715 John Forbes
1722 Sir James Grant, Bt. Whig
1741 Norman Macleod, (1705–1772)
1754 Pryse Campbell Whig
1761 Simon Fraser
1782 by-election Archibald Campbell Fraser
1784 Lord William Gordon
1790 Norman Macleod, (1754–1801) Pittite/Tory
1791 Foxite Whig
1796 John Simon Frederick Fraser Pittite/Tory
1802 Charles Grant (senior) Pittite/Tory
1818 Rt Hon. Charles Grant, later Baron Glenelg Tory/Canningite
1828 by-election Whig
1835 by-election Alexander William Chisholm Conservative
1838 by-election Francis William Grant Conservative
1840 by-election Henry James Baillie Conservative
1868 Donald Cameron Conservative
1885 Charles Fraser-Mackintosh Independent Liberal/Crofters'
1886 change Liberal Unionist /Crofters' Party
1892 Donald MacGregor Liberal/Crofters' Party
1895 James Evan Bruce Baillie Conservative
1900 Sir John Dewar, Bt., later Baron Forteviot Liberal
1917 by-election Thomas Brash Morison, who was subsequently
MP for Inverness		 Liberal
1918 constituency abolished

Election results

The original electorate for this constituency was limited to substantial landowners. The 40 shilling freehold qualification used for English county constituencies, which was not adjusted for inflation since it was first set in the 15th century, was significantly lower than the Scottish county qualification. In Scotland the qualification was land worth 40 shillings "of old extent", which prevented inflation lowering the real value of the property qualification required.[8]

The county electorate, in Scotland, was significantly extended in 1832 and was further expanded in 1868 and 1885. The change, before and after 1832, can be seen by comparing the 32 votes cast at the contested election in 1802 with the 467 votes cast in 1832 (when the new registration system recorded a registered electorate of 669).

Unless otherwise indicated, the primary source for the results listed was Craig. Candidates identified by Craig as Conservatives, in the 1832-1835 Parliament, are listed as Tories. In elections before the formal creation of the Liberal Party, shortly after the 1859 general election, candidates identified by Craig as Liberals are classified as Whigs. There were no Radicals candidates in this seat, according to Stooks Smith. Craig's registered electorate and vote figures are sometimes different from those of Stooks Smith, but Craig's figures are used below. For details of the books of Craig and Stooks Smith, see the Reference section below.

The calculations of change in % vote and swing, for the 1835 general election result, relate the performance of the Conservative candidate to his achievements as the Tory candidate in the 1832 general election.

1800s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s – 1890s – 1900s – 1910s

Elections in the 1800s
General election 1802: Inverness-shire [9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Charles Grant (senior) 15 46.9 N/A
Non Partisan Simon Fraser 11 34.4 N/A
Non Partisan Arthur Forbes 6 18.8 N/A
Majority 4 12.5 N/A
Turnout 32 N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: Inverness-shire[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Grant Unopposed
Registered electors 77
Whig gain from Tory

Grant was appointed as President of the Board of Control, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 30 December 1830: Inverness-shire[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Grant Unopposed
Registered electors 77
Whig hold
General election 1831: Inverness-shire[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Grant Unopposed
Registered electors 81
Whig hold
General election 1832: Inverness-shire[10][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Grant 257 55.0
Tory John Norman McLeod 210 45.0
Majority 47 10.0
Turnout 467 69.8
Registered electors 669
Whig hold
General election 1835: Inverness-shire[10][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Grant 260 50.7 −4.3
Conservative John Norman McLeod 253 49.3 +4.3
Majority 7 1.4 -8.7
Turnout 513 71.5 +1.7
Registered electors 717
Whig hold Swing −4.3
By-election, 15 May 1835: Inverness-shire[10][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alexander William Chisholm 268 52.8 +3.5
Whig James Murray Grant 240 47.2 -3.5
Majority 28 5.6 N/A
Turnout 508 70.9 -0.6
Registered electors 717
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +3.5
General election 1837: Inverness-shire[10][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alexander William Chisholm 303 54.9 +5.6
Whig James Murray Grant 249 45.1 −5.6
Majority 54 9.8 N/A
Turnout 552 73.3 +1.8
Registered electors 753
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +5.6
  • Resignation of Chisholm, in June 1838
By-election, 12 June 1838: Inverness-shire[10][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Francis William Grant Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s
  • Death of Grant
By-Election 31 March 1840: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Baillie Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1841: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Baillie Unopposed
Registered electors 789
Conservative hold
General election 1847: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Baillie Unopposed
Registered electors 817
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: Inverness-shire[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Baillie Unopposed
Registered electors 908
Conservative hold
General election 1857: Inverness-shire[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Baillie Unopposed
Registered electors 827
Conservative hold
General election 1859: Inverness-shire[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Baillie Unopposed
Registered electors 884
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1860s
General election 1865: Inverness-shire[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Baillie 336 53.1 N/A
Liberal George MacPherson-Grant 297 46.9 New
Majority 39 6.2 N/A
Turnout 633 72.1 N/A
Registered electors 878
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1868: Inverness-shire[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Cameron Unopposed
Registered electors 1,661
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1870s
General election 1874: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Cameron Unopposed
Registered electors 1,724
Conservative hold
By-Election 19 March 1874: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Cameron Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: Inverness-shire[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Cameron 808 50.9 N/A
Liberal Kenneth Mackenzie[13] 779 49.1 New
Majority 29 1.8 N/A
Turnout 1,587 85.7 N/A
Registered electors 1,851
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1885: Inverness-shire [14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Liberal (Crofters) Charles Fraser-Mackintosh 3,555 47.5 New
Conservative Reginald MacLeod 2,031 27.1 -23.8
Liberal Kenneth Mackenzie 1,897 25.4 -23.7
Majority 1,524 20.4 N/A
Turnout 7,483 80.2 -5.5
Registered electors 9,330
Independent Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
General election 1886: Inverness-shire[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist (Crofters) Charles Fraser-Mackintosh Unopposed
Liberal Unionist gain from Independent Liberal

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1892: Inverness-shire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal (Crofters) Donald MacGregor 3,035 52.9 New
Liberal Unionist Charles Fraser-Mackintosh 2,706 47.1 N/A
Majority 329 5.8 N/A
Turnout 5,741 67.7 N/A
Registered electors 8,480
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing N/A
  • Since the last election Fraser-Mackintosh had lost the support of the Highland Land League; which endorsed the Liberal nominee MacGregor as a Crofters' candidate.
  • Resignation of MacGregor'
By-Election 13 June 1895: Inverness-shire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Baillie 3,164 55.7 +8.6
Liberal (Crofters) Donald Macrae 2,514 44.3 -8.6
Majority 650 11.4 N/A
Turnout 5,678 69.0 +1.3
Registered electors 8,229
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +8.6
  • The Highland Land League supported Macrae in this election, so he was a Crofters' candidate as well as the Liberal nominee.
General election 1895: Inverness-shire[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Baillie 2,991 50.9 +3.8
Liberal Neil Kennedy 2,891 49.1 −3.8
Majority 100 1.8 N/A
Turnout 5,882 71.5 +3.8
Registered electors 8,229
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +3.8
  • Results compared with 1892 election, not the 1895 by-election.

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1900: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Dewar 3,168 52.5 +3.4
Conservative Alfred Donald Mackintosh 2,867 47.5 -3.4
Majority 301 5.0 N/A
Turnout 6,035 66.6 -4.9
Registered electors 9,061
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing -3.4 (L to C)
General election 1906: Inverness-shire [16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Dewar 3,918 68.4 +15.9
Conservative L.H. Strain 1,810 31.6 -15.9
Majority 2,108 36.8 +31.8
Turnout 5,728 57.5 -9.1
Registered electors 9,957
Liberal hold Swing -15.9 (L to C)

Elections in the 1910s
General election January 1910: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Dewar 4,599 62.4 -6.0
Conservative Reginald Macleod 2,774 37.6 +6.0
Majority 1,825 24.8 -12.0
Turnout 7,373 74.1 +16.6
Registered electors 9,951
Liberal hold Swing +6.0 (L to C)
General election December 1910: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Dewar Unopposed
Liberal hold
Thomas Morison
By-Election 2 January 1917: Inverness-shire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Brash Morison Unopposed
Liberal hold
  • Constituency abolished (1918)
Inverness election history


References
  • Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
  • 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)
  • 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 II 1886-1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "I"

Notes
  1. "Inverness-shire". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  2. "Inverness-shire". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  3. "Inverness-shire". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. "Inverness-shire". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  5. "Inverness-shire". History of Parliament Online (1820-1832). Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  6. Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972
  7. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "I"
  8. The House of Commons 1754-1790
  9. The Parliaments of England
  10. Stooks Smith, Henry (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 204. Retrieved 8 May 2020 – via Google Books.
  11. Fisher, David R. "Inverness-shire". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  12. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) |format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  13. "Election Intelligence". The Globe. 23 February 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 1 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench, 1889
  15. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  16. Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
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