1879 Elginshire and Nairnshire by-election facts for kids
The 1879 Elginshire and Nairnshire by-election was a special election held on 17 September 1879. This election took place because the person who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Viscount Macduff, became a peer. When someone becomes a peer, they move to the House of Lords and can no longer be an MP in the House of Commons.
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What Is a By-election?
A by-election is a special election that happens when a seat in Parliament becomes empty between general elections. This can happen if an MP resigns, passes away, or, like in this case, becomes a peer. It allows people in that area to choose a new representative.
Why Did This Election Happen?
The MP for Elginshire and Nairnshire was Viscount Macduff. He was a member of the Liberal Party. When he inherited a peerage, he became a Lord. This meant he had to leave his seat in the House of Commons. So, a by-election was needed to find a new MP for the area.
Who Were the Candidates?
Two main candidates ran in this by-election:
- Sir George Macpherson-Grant represented the Liberal Party.
- Brodie represented the Conservative Party.
What Were the Results?
The election was held on 17 September 1879. The people of Elginshire and Nairnshire voted for their new Member of Parliament.
| Elginshire and Nairnshire by-election 1879 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Liberal | Sir George Macpherson-Grant | 939 | |||
| Conservative | Brodie | 701 | |||
| Majority | 258 | ||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | ||||
Sir George Macpherson-Grant won the election. He became the new Liberal MP for Elginshire and Nairnshire. The Liberal Party kept the seat, meaning they continued to represent the area in Parliament.
