1889 Elginshire and Nairnshire by-election facts for kids

A by-election is a special election held to fill a vacant seat in a parliament or other elected body. This happens when the person who held the seat leaves office before their term is over. In 1889, a by-election took place in a part of Scotland called Elginshire and Nairnshire. The election was won by a politician named John Seymour Keay.

What is a By-election?

Imagine a team has a player, but that player has to leave the team early. A by-election is like a special game to find a new player to take their spot. In politics, it's an election held when a Member of Parliament (MP) resigns, passes away, or is removed from their job. This allows people in that area to choose a new representative without waiting for the next big general election.

Who Was John Seymour Keay?

John Seymour Keay was a politician from the Liberal Party. He was the person who won this special election in 1889. Winning meant he became the new Member of Parliament for Elginshire and Nairnshire. He would then represent the people of that area in the United Kingdom's Parliament.

Where is Elginshire and Nairnshire?

Elginshire and Nairnshire were two counties in the north-east of Scotland. Today, much of this area is part of a larger region called Moray. In the 1800s, these areas were mostly rural, with towns, farms, and beautiful landscapes. People living there would vote for their representative in Parliament.

How the Election Worked

In the 1889 by-election, two main political parties were involved. John Seymour Keay represented the Liberal Party. His opponent, Charles Bowman Logan, was from the Liberal Unionist Party. Voters in Elginshire and Nairnshire went to polling stations to cast their votes. They chose which candidate they wanted to represent them in Parliament.

The Final Votes

After all the votes were counted, John Seymour Keay was declared the winner. He received more votes than his opponent. This meant he would go to London to speak for the people of Elginshire and Nairnshire. The election results show how many people voted and the percentage each candidate received.