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City of London (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

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The City of London was a United Kingdom parliamentary constituency. It was a 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 1950.

Boundaries and boundary changes

This borough constituency (or 'parliamentary borough/burgh') consisted of the City of London, which is at the very centre of Greater London. The only change by the Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832 was to include The Temple.

Bounded south by the Thames, the City adjoins Westminster westward, enfranchised in 1545. In other directions a web of tiny liberties and parishes of diverse size adjoined from medieval times until the 20th century. Most of the population of Middlesex was beyond the city's boundaries. From the 17th century three of four new 'divisions' of Ossulstone Hundred adjoined the city reflecting their relative density – Holborn division and Finsbury division to the north and Tower division to the north-east and the east, all enfranchised in 1832.

London is first known to have been enfranchised and represented in Parliament in 1298. Because it was the most important city in England it received four seats in Parliament instead of the normal two for a constituency. Previous to 1298 from the middle of that century, the intermittent first parliaments, the area's households, officially, could turn to their Middlesex "two knights of the shire" – two members of the Commons – as to their interests in Parliament as the City formed part of the geographic county yet from early times wielded independent administration, its corporation.

The city was represented by four MPs until 1885, when this was cut to two, and in 1950 the constituency was abolished.

The City of London was originally a densely populated area. Before the Reform Act 1832 the composition of the City electorate was not as democratic as that of some other borough constituencies, such as neighbouring Westminster. The right of election was held by members of the Livery Companies. However the size and wealth of the community meant that it had more voters than most other borough constituencies. Namier and Brooke estimated the size of the City electorate, in the latter part of the 18th century, at about 7,000. Only Westminster had a larger size of electorate.

During the 19th and 20th centuries the metropolitan area of London expanded greatly. The resident population of the City fell. People moved to the new definitively urban expansion and suburbs; businesses moved in. However the City authorities did not want to extend their jurisdiction beyond the traditional "square mile" so the constituency was left unchanged as its resident population fell. By 1900 almost all electors in the City qualified through Livery Company membership and lived outside of the city. The business voters were a type of plural voter which when abolished by the Representation of the People Act 1948 meant the City became immediately under-sized in electorate, akin to the least-worst examples of pre-1832 "rotten and pocket boroughs".

In 1950 the area was merged for parliamentary purposes with the eldest parts of the neighbouring City of Westminster, to form the seat Cities of London and Westminster. The pre-1900 heavily subdivided city became simplified for the period 1907 and 1965 into one civil parish, before in that year this level of local government complication was taken away. Statutory protection applied between 1986 and 2011 to prevent division of the City between seats:

There shall continue to be a constituency which shall include the whole of the City of London and the name of which shall refer to the City of London"

Members of Parliament 1707–1950

See City of London (elections to the Parliament of England) for citizens known to have represented the City in Parliament before 1707

Parliaments of Great Britain 1707–1800

From To Name Born Died
1707 1715 Sir William Withers (T) c. 1654 31 January 1721
1708 1710 John Ward (W) c. 1650 12 March 1726
1710 1715 Sir Richard Hoare (T) 8 September 1649 6 January 1719
1710 1714 Sir George Newland (T) c. 1646 26 March 1714
1710 1715 Sir John Cass (T) 28 February 1661 5 July 1718
1715 1722 Robert Heysham (W) 16 August 1663 25 February 1723
1715 1722 Sir John Ward (W) c. 1650 12 March 1726
1715 1724 Peter Godfrey (T) 1665 10 November 1724
1715 1722 Sir Thomas Scawen (W) c. 1650 22 September 1730
1722 1727 Richard Lockwood (T) 1676 30 August 1756
1722 1761 Sir John Barnard (W) c. 1685 29 August 1764
1722 1727 Francis Child (T) c. 1684 20 April 1740
1724 1727 Sir Richard Hopkins ... 2 January 1746
1727 1734 Sir John Eyles, Bt (W) 1683 11 March 1745
1727 1741 Micajah Perry (W) ... 22 January 1753
1727 1741 Humphry Parsons (T) c. 1676 21 March 1741
1734 1741 Robert Willimot (T) ... 19 December 1746
1741 1747 George Heathcote (T) 7 December 1700 7 June 1768
1741 1747 Sir Daniel Lambert (T) 7 September 1685 13 May 1750
1741 1742 Sir Robert Godschall (T) c. 1692 26 June 1742
1742 1754 Sir William Calvert (W) c. 1703 3 May 1761
1747 1758 Slingsby Bethell (W) 16 March 1695 1 November 1758
1747 1754 Stephen Janssen (W) ... 1777
1754 1773 Sir Robert Ladbroke (T) c. 1713 31 October 1773
1754 1770 William Beckford (T) 19 December 1709 21 June 1770
1758 1768 Sir Richard Glyn (T) 13 June 1711 1 January 1773
1761 1774 Hon. Thomas Harley (T) 24 August 1730 1 December 1804
1768 1774 Barlow Trecothick (RW) c. 1718 28 May 1775
1770 1780 Richard Oliver 7 January 1735 16 April 1784
1773 1784 Frederick Bull (R) c. 1714 10 January 1784
1774 1780 John Sawbridge (R) 1732 21 February 1795
1774 1781 George Hayley (R) ... 30 August 1781
1780 1780 John Kirkman 1741 19 September 1780
1780 1790 Nathaniel Newnham c. 1741 26 December 1809
1780 1795 John Sawbridge 1732 21 February 1795
1781 1796 Sir Watkin Lewes c. 1740 13 July 1821
1784 1793 Brook Watson 11 February 1735 2 October 1807
1790 1800 Sir William Curtis 25 January 1752 18 January 1829
1793 1800 Sir John Anderson, Bt c. 1735 21 May 1813
1795 1800 William Lushington 18 January 1747 11 September 1823
1796 1800 Harvey Christian Combe 1752 4 July 1818

Note:-

  • (a) Expelled

Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801

MPs 1801–1885

Election Member Party Member Party Member Party Member Party
1801 Sir William Curtis, Bt Tory Sir John Anderson, Bt Tory William Lushington Non-partisan Harvey Christian Combe Whig
1802 Sir Charles Price Tory
1806 Sir James Shaw, Bt Tory
1812 John Atkins Tory
1817 by-election Sir Matthew Wood, Bt Whig
1818 Thomas Wilson Tory Robert Waithman Whig John Thomas Thorp Whig
1820 Sir William Curtis, Bt Tory George Bridges Tory
1826 William Thompson Tory Robert Waithman Whig, Liberal William Ward Tory
1831 William Venables Whig
1832 George Grote Radical Sir John Key, Bt Whig
March 1833 by-election George Lyall Conservative
August 1833 by-election William Crawford Whig
1835 James Pattison Whig
1841 John Masterman Conservative George Lyall Conservative Lord John Russell Whig
1843 by-election James Pattison Whig
1847 Baron Lionel de Rothschild Whig
1849 by-election Sir James Duke, Bt Whig
1857 Robert Wigram Crawford Whig
1859 Liberal Liberal Liberal Liberal
1861 by-election Western Wood Liberal
1863 by-election George Goschen Liberal
1865 William Lawrence Liberal
1868 Charles Bell Conservative
1869 by-election Baron Lionel de Rothschild Liberal
1874 William Cotton Conservative Philip Twells Conservative John Hubbard Conservative
1880 Sir Robert Fowler, Bt Conservative William Lawrence Liberal
1885 reduced to two seats

MPs 1885–1950

Election Member Party Member Party
1885 John Hubbard Conservative Sir Robert Fowler, Bt Conservative
1887 by-election Thomas Charles Baring Conservative
Apr 1891 by-election Hucks Gibbs Conservative
Jun 1891 by-election Sir Reginald Hanson, Bt Conservative
1892 Alban Gibbs Conservative
1900 Sir Joseph Dimsdale (C) Conservative
1906 Sir Edward Clarke Conservative
Feb 1906 by-election Arthur Balfour Conservative
Jun 1906 by-election Sir Frederick Banbury, Bt Conservative
1918 Coalition Conservative Coalition Conservative
1922 by-election Edward Grenfell Conservative
1922 Conservative
1924 by-election Sir Vansittart Bowater, Bt Conservative
1935 by-election Sir Alan Anderson Conservative
1938 by-election Sir George Broadbridge, Bt Conservative
1940 by-election Sir Andrew Duncan National
1945 by-election Ralph Assheton Conservative
1950 Constituency abolished

Elections

In multi-member elections the bloc voting system was used. Voters could cast a vote for one to four (or up to two in two-member elections 1885–1950) candidates, as they chose. The leading candidates with the largest number of votes were elected. In 1868 the limited vote was introduced, which restricted an individual elector to using one, two or three votes, in elections to fill four seats.

In by-elections, to fill a single-seat, the first past the post system applied.

After 1832, when registration of voters was introduced, a turnout figure is given for contested elections. In multi-member elections, when the exact number of participating voters is unknown, this is calculated by dividing the number of votes by four (to 1868), three (1868–1885) and two thereafter. To the extent that electors did not use all their votes this will be an underestimate 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.

Candidates for whom no party has been identified are classified as non-partisan. The candidate might have been associated with a party or faction in Parliament or consider himself to belong to a particular political tradition. Political parties before the 19th century were not as cohesive or organised as they later became. Contemporary commentators (even the reputed leaders of parties or factions) in the 18th century did not necessarily agree who the party supporters were. The traditional parties, which had arisen in the late 17th century, became increasingly irrelevant to politics in the 18th century (particularly after 1760), although for some contests in some constituencies party labels were still used. It was only towards the end of the century that party labels began to acquire some meaning again, although this process was by no means complete for several more generations.

Sources: The results are based on the History of Parliament Trust's volumes on the House of Commons in various periods from 1715 to 1820, Stooks Smith from 1820 until 1832 and Craig from 1832. Where Stooks Smith gives additional information this is indicated in a note. See references below for further details of these sources.

Dates of general and by-elections from 1660 to 1715 (excluding general elections at which no new MP was returned)

  • 27 Mar 1660
  • 19 Mar 1661
  • 10 Feb 1663
  • 17 Feb 1679
  • 15 May 1685
  • 9 Jan 1689
  • 14 May 1689
  • 11 Mar 1690
  • 2 Mar 1693
  • 25 Oct 1695
  • 30 Jul 1698
  • 1 Feb 1701
  • 20 Mar 1701
  • 24 Nov 1701
  • 18 Aug 1702
  • 17 May 1705
  • 16 Dec 1707
  • 14 May 1708
  • 16 Nov 1710

Parliament of Great Britain election results 1713–1800

1710s –

1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s

Elections in the 1710s

General election 1713: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Hoare 3,842 12.84 N/A
Tory George Newland 3,826 12.78 N/A
Tory John Cass 3,802 12.70 N/A
Tory William Withers 3,763 12.57 N/A
Whig John Ward 3,730 12.46 N/A
Whig Robert Heysham 3,688 12.32 N/A
Whig Peter Godfrey 3,657 12.22 N/A
Whig Thomas Scawen 3,625 12.11 N/A
  • 6,787 voted. The losing candidates demanded a scrutiny, which did not change the result. (Source: Copy of the pollbook)
General election 29 January 1715: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Heysham 3,499 13.86 N/A
Whig John Ward 3,475 13.76 N/A
Tory Peter Godfrey 3,471 13.75 N/A
Whig Thomas Scawen 3,439 13.62 N/A
Tory John Cass 2,884 11.42 N/A
Tory William Withers 2,879 11.40 N/A
Tory William Stewart 2,828 11.20 N/A
Tory George Mertinns 2,774 10.99 N/A

Elections in the 1720s

General election 9 May 1722: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Lockwood 4,235 18.40 +18.40
Whig John Barnard 3,980 17.29 +17.29
Tory Peter Godfrey 3,852 16.74 +2.99
Tory Francis Child 3,784 16.44 +16.44
Tory Humphrey Parsons 3,593 15.61 +15.61
Whig Robert Heysham 3,573 15.52 +1.66
  • After a scrutiny the members returned were unchanged and vote totals were amended to Lockwood 4,025; Barnard 3,840; Godfrey 3,723; Child 3,575; Heysham 3,441; Parsons 3,393.
  • Death of Godfrey 10 November 1724
By-Election 11 December 1724: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician Richard Hopkins 3,332 53.37 +53.37
Nonpartisan politician Charles Goodfellow 2,911 46.63 +46.63
Majority 421 6.74 N/A
Nonpartisan politician gain from Tory Swing N/A
General election 24 November 1727: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Eyles 3,643 13.71 +13.71
Whig John Barnard 3,620 13.62 -3.67
Whig Micajah Perry 3,494 13.15 +13.15
Tory Humphry Parsons 3,370 12.68 -2.93
Nonpartisan politician John Thompson 3,340 12.57 +12.57
Tory Richard Lockwood 3,086 11.61 -6.79
Nonpartisan politician John Williams 3,017 11.35 +11.35
Nonpartisan politician Richard Hopkins 3,010 11.32 +11.32
  • After a scrutiny the members returned were unchanged and vote totals were amended to Eyles 3,539; Barnard 3,514; Perry 3,396; Parsons 3,255; Thompson 3,244; Lockwood 2,977; Hopkins 2,921; Williams 2,914.

Elections in the 1730s

General election 10 May 1734: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Humphrey Parsons 3,932 21.92 +9.24
Whig John Barnard 3,841 21.41 +7.79
Whig Micajah Perry 3,725 20.76 +7.61
Tory Robert Willimot 2,984 16.63 +16.63
Tory John Barber 2,381 13.27 +13.27
Tory Robert Godschall 1,078 6.01 +6.01
  • Note (1734): Poll 7 days (Source: Stooks Smith)

Elections in the 1740s

General election 13 May 1741: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Barnard 3,769 21.35 -0.06
Tory George Heathcote 3,322 18.82 +18.82
Tory Daniel Lambert 3,217 18.23 +18.23
Tory Robert Godschall 3,143 17.81 +11.80
Whig Micajah Perry 1,713 9.71 -11.05
Nonpartisan politician Edward Bellamy 1,312 7.43 +7.43
Nonpartisan politician Edward Vernon 1,175 6.66 +6.66
  • Note (1741): Poll 7 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
  • Death of Godschall 26 June 1742
By-Election 13 July 1742: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Calvert Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig gain from Tory Swing N/A
General election 10 July 1747: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Calvert 3,806 20.85 +20.85
Whig John Barnard 3,781 20.71 -0.64
Whig Slingsby Bethell 3,146 17.23 +17.23
Whig Stephen Janssen 3,008 16.48 +16.48
Tory Daniel Lambert 2,530 13.86 -4.37
Tory Robert Ladbroke 1,986 10.88 +10.88

Elections in the 1750s

General election 7 May 1754: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Barnard 3,553 18.96 -1.75
Whig Slingsby Bethell 3,547 18.93 +1.70
Tory Robert Ladbroke 3,390 18.09 +7.21
Tory William Beckford 2,941 15.70 +15.70
Tory Richard Glyn 2,655 14.17 +14.17
Whig William Calvert 2,650 14.14 -6.71
  • Note (1754): Poll 7 days, 5,931 voted (Source: Stooks Smith)
  • Death of Bethell 1 November 1758
By-Election 30 November 1758: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Glyn Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory gain from Whig Swing N/A

Elections in the 1760s

General election 4 April 1761: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Ladbroke 4,306 23.36 +5.27
Tory Thomas Harley 3,983 21.61 +21.61
Tory William Beckford 3,663 19.87 +4.17
Tory Richard Glyn 3,285 17.83 +3.66
Whig Samuel Fludyer 3,193 17.32 +17.32
  • Note (1761): Poll 7 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 25 March 1768: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Pro-Government Thomas Harley 3,729 19.02 -2.59
Independent Opposition Robert Ladbroke 3,678 18.76 -4.60
Nonpartisan politician William Beckford 3,402 17.35 -2.52
Rockingham Whigs Barlow Trecothick 2,957 15.08 +15.08
Nonpartisan politician Richard Glyn 2,823 14.40 -3.43
Nonpartisan politician John Paterson 1,769 9.02 +9.02
Radical John Wilkes 1,247 6.36 +6.36

Elections in the 1770s

  • Death of Beckford 21 June 1770
By-Election 11 July 1770: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Richard Oliver Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan politician hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Ladbroke 31 October 1773
By-Election 23 December 1773: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Frederick Bull 2,695 52.07 New
Nonpartisan politician John Roberts 2,481 47.93 New
Majority 214 4.14 N/A
Nonpartisan politician hold Swing N/A
General election 18 October 1774: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical John Sawbridge 3,456 17.8 New
Radical George Hayley 3,390 17.5 New
Independent Radical/Opposition Richard Oliver 3,354 17.3 New
Radical Frederick Bull 3,096 15.9 New
Nonpartisan politician William Baker 2,802 14.4 New
Nonpartisan politician Brass Crosby 1,913 9.9 New
Nonpartisan politician John Roberts 1,398 7.2 New

Elections in the 1780s

General election 19 September 1780: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician George Hayley 4,062 21.63 +4.16
Nonpartisan politician John Kirkman 3,804 20.26 New
Nonpartisan politician Frederick Bull 3,150 16.77 +0.83
Nonpartisan politician Nathaniel Newnham 3,036 16.17 New
Nonpartisan politician John Sawbridge 2,957 15.75 -2.06
Nonpartisan politician Richard Clarke 1,771 9.43 New
  • Death of Kirkman 19 September 1780
By-Election 28 November 1780: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician John Sawbridge Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan politician hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Hayley 30 August 1781
By-Election 2 October 1781: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician Watkin Lewes 2,685 53.05 New
Nonpartisan politician Richard Clarke 2,387 46.95 +37.50
Majority 309 6.10 N/A
Nonpartisan politician hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Bull 10 January 1784
By-Election 26 January 1784: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician Brook Watson 2,097 66.78 New
Nonpartisan politician Brass Crosby 1,043 33.22 New
Majority 1,054 33.56 N/A
Nonpartisan politician hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1784 be): Poll 3 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 7 May 1784: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician Brook Watson 4,776 24.19 New
Nonpartisan politician Watkin Lewes 4,541 23.00 New
Nonpartisan politician Nathaniel Newnham 4,467 22.56 +6.49
Nonpartisan politician John Sawbridge 2,812 14.24 -1.51
Nonpartisan politician Richard Atkinson 2,803 14.20 New
Nonpartisan politician Samuel Smith 286 1.50 New
Nonpartisan politician William Pitt 56 0.31 New
  • Note (1784): Poll 7 days. Mr Pitt was returned on the show of hands, but retired before the poll. (Source: Stooks Smith)

Elections in the 1790s

General election 26 June 1790: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician William Curtis 4,346 22.16 +22.16
Nonpartisan politician Brook Watson 4,101 20.91 -3.28
Nonpartisan politician Watkin Lewes 3,747 19.10 -3.90
Nonpartisan politician John Sawbridge 3,686 18.79 +4.55
Nonpartisan politician Nathaniel Newnham 2,670 13.61 -9.02
Nonpartisan politician William Pickett 1,064 5.42 +5.42
  • Note (1790): Poll 7 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
  • Appointment of Watson as Commissary General
By-Election 6 March 1793: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician John Anderson Unopposed N/A N/A
Nonpartisan politician hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1793): Mr Newnham was a candidate, but declined to go to the poll. (Source: Stooks Smith)
  • Death of Sawbridge 21 February 1795
By-Election 12 March 1795: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician William Lushington 2,334 59.94 +59.94
Nonpartisan politician Harvey Christian Combe 1,560 40.06 +40.06
Majority 774 19.88 N/A
Nonpartisan politician hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1795): Poll 3 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 2 June 1796: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan politician William Lushington 4,379 20.97 +20.97
Nonpartisan politician William Curtis 4,313 20.66 -1.50
Nonpartisan politician Harvey Christian Combe 3,865 18.51 +18.51
Nonpartisan politician John Anderson 3,170 15.18 +15.18
Nonpartisan politician William Pickett 2,795 13.39 +7.97
Nonpartisan politician Watkin Lewes 2,356 11.28 -7.82
  • Note (1796): Poll 7 days (Source: Stooks Smith)

Parliament of the United Kingdom election results (4 seats) 1801–1885

1800s –

1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s

Elections in the 1800s

General election 6 July 1802: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Harvey Christian Combe 3,377 23.91 +5.40
Tory Charles Price 3,236 22.91 +22.91
Tory William Curtis 2,989 21.16 +0.50
Tory John Anderson 2,387 16.90 +1.72
Whig Benjamin Travers 1,371 9.71 +9.71
Nonpartisan politician Watkin Lewes 652 4.62 -6.66
Nonpartisan politician William Lushington 113 0.80 -20.17
  • Note (1802): Poll 7 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 31 October 1806: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Harvey Christian Combe 2,294 24.11 +0.20
Tory James Shaw 2,275 23.91 +23.91
Tory Charles Price 2,254 23.69 +0.78
Tory William Curtis 2,213 23.26 +2.10
Tory John Atkins 314 3.30 +3.30
Whig John Hankey 164 1.72 +1.72
  • Note (1806): Poll 3 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 1807: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Charles Price 3,117 26.30 +2.61
Tory William Curtis 3,059 25.81 +2.55
Tory James Shaw 2,863 24.15 +0.24
Whig Harvey Christian Combe 2,588 21.83 -2.28
Whig John Hankey 226 1.91 +0.19
  • Note (1807): Mr Hankey died on the afternoon of the first day's polling. All the candidates voted for him. (Source: Stooks Smith)

Elections in the 1810s

General election 5 October 1812: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Harvey Christian Combe 5,125 22.85 +1.02
Tory William Curtis 4,577 20.40 -5.41
Tory James Shaw 4,082 18.20 -5.95
Tory John Atkins 3,645 16.25 +16.25
Whig Robert Waithman 2,622 11.69 +11.69
Whig Matthew Wood 2,373 10.58 +10.58
Nonpartisan politician Claudius Hunter 8 0.04 +0.04
By-Election 10 June 1817: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Matthew Wood Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 16 June 1818: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Matthew Wood 5,700 22.38 +11.80
Tory Thomas Wilson 4,829 18.96 +18.96
Whig Robert Waithman 4,693 18.43 +6.74
Whig John Thorp 4,335 17.02 +17.02
Tory William Curtis 4,224 16.58 -3.82
Tory John Atkins 1,688 6.63 -9.62
  • Note (1818): Poll 7 days, 7,978 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)

Elections in the 1820s

General election 7 March 1820: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Matthew Wood 5,370 19.22 -3.16
Tory Thomas Wilson 5,358 19.18 +0.22
Tory William Curtis 4,908 17.57 +0.99
Tory George Bridges 4,259 15.25 +15.25
Whig Robert Waithman 4,119 14.74 -3.69
Whig John Thorp 3,921 14.04 -2.98
  • Note (1820): Poll 7 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 9 June 1826: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Thompson 6,483 24.71 +24.71
Whig Robert Waithman 5,042 19.21 +4.47
Tory William Ward 4,991 19.02 +19.02
Whig Matthew Wood 4,880 18.60 -0.62
Whig William Venables 4,514 17.20 +17.20
Whig Alderman Garrett 330 1.26 +1.26
  • Note (1826): Poll 7 days. 8,639 voted. Alderman Garrett was proposed without his consent. (Source: Stooks Smith)

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Thompson Unopposed
Whig Robert Waithman Unopposed
Tory William Ward Unopposed
Whig Matthew Wood Unopposed
Tory hold
Whig hold
Tory hold
Whig hold
General election 29 April 1831: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Thompson Unopposed
Whig Robert Waithman Unopposed
Whig Matthew Wood Unopposed
Whig William Venables Unopposed
Tory hold
Whig hold
Whig hold
Whig gain from Tory
General election 12 December 1832: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical George Grote 8,412 23.9 New
Whig Matthew Wood 7,488 21.3 N/A
Whig Robert Waithman 7,452 21.2 N/A
Whig John Key 6,136 17.4 N/A
Tory George Lyall 5,112 14.5 N/A
Radical Michael Scales (politician) 569 1.6 New
Turnout 11,500 61.9 N/A
Registered electors 18,584
Majority 924 2.6 N/A
Radicals gain from Tory Swing N/A
Majority 1,024 2.9 N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Waithman 6 February 1833
By-election, 27 February 1833: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Lyall 5,569 55.2 +40.7
Whig William Venables 4,527 44.8 −15.1
Majority 1,042 10.4 N/A
Turnout 10,096 54.3 −7.6
Registered electors 18,584
Tory gain from Whig Swing +27.9
  • Resignation of Key by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds
By-election, 12 August 1833: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Crawford 4,041 66.8 +6.9
Tory Francis Kemble 2,004 33.2 +18.7
Majority 2,037 33.6 +30.7
Turnout 6,045 32.5 −29.4
Registered electors 18,584
Whig hold Swing −5.9
General election 5 January 1835: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Matthew Wood 6,418 16.9 −4.4
Whig James Pattison 6,050 15.9 −5.3
Whig William Crawford 5,961 15.7 −1.7
Radical George Grote 5,955 15.6 −8.3
Conservative George Lyall 4,599 12.1 +7.3
Conservative William Ward 4,560 12.0 +7.2
Conservative Thomas Wilson 4,514 11.9 +7.1
Turnout 11,456 62.6 −0.7
Registered electors 18,288
Majority 6 0.1 −2.8
Whig hold Swing −4.9
Whig hold Swing −5.4
Whig hold Swing −3.6
Majority 1,356 3.5 +0.9
Radicals hold Swing −6.9
General election 1837: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Matthew Wood 6,517 21.4 +4.5
Whig William Crawford 6,071 20.0 +4.3
Whig James Pattison 6,070 20.0 +4.1
Radical George Grote 5,879 19.3 +3.7
Conservative John Hinde Palmer 5,873 19.3 −16.7
Turnout 11,932 60.6 −2.0
Registered electors 19,678
Majority 191 0.7 +0.6
Whig hold Swing +4.3
Whig hold Swing +4.2
Whig hold Swing +4.1
Majority 6 0.0 −3.6
Radicals hold Swing +3.9

Elections in the 1840s

General election 28 June 1841: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Masterman 6,339 12.8 +8.0
Whig Matthew Wood 6,315 12.8 −8.6
Conservative George Lyall 6,290 12.7 +7.9
Whig John Russell 6,221 12.6 New
Conservative Matthias Wolverley Attwood 6,212 12.5 +7.7
Whig James Pattison 6,070 12.3 −7.7
Whig William Crawford 6,065 12.2 −7.8
Conservative John Pirie 6,017 12.1 +7.3
Turnout 12,383 (est) 64.9 (est) +4.3
Registered electors 19,068
Majority 24 0.0 N/A
Conservative gain from Radicals Swing N/A
Majority 25 0.0 -0.7
Whig hold Swing −8.2
Majority 69 0.0 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +8.0
Majority 9 0.1 -0.6
Whig hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Wood 25 September 1843
By-election, 20 October 1843: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Pattison 6,532 50.6 +0.7
Conservative Thomas Charles Baring 6,367 49.4 −0.7
Majority 165 1.2 +1.2
Turnout 12,899 64.4 −0.5
Registered electors 20,030
Whig hold Swing +0.7
By-election, 8 July 1846: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Russell Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 28 July 1847: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Russell 7,137 14.3 +1.7
Whig James Pattison 7,030 14.1 +1.8
Whig Lionel de Rothschild 6,792 13.6 +0.8
Conservative John Masterman 6,722 13.5 +0.7
Whig George Larpent 6,719 13.5 +1.3
Conservative Robert Cooper Lee Bevan 5,268 10.5 −2.2
Conservative John Johnson (London candidate) 5,069 10.1 −2.4
Conservative James William Freshfield 4,704 9.4 −2.7
Radical William Payne 513 1.0 New
Turnout 13,437 67.0 +2.1
Registered electors 20,057
Majority 70 0.1 +0.1
Whig hold Swing +1.7
Whig hold Swing +1.7
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +1.2
Majority 3 0.0 —
Conservative hold Swing −0.4
  • Note (1847): De Rothschild and Payne were classified as Reformer candidates. (Source: Stooks Smith)
  • Resignation of de Rothschild to seek re-election after rejection of the Jewish Disabilities Bill
By-election, 4 July 1849: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Lionel de Rothschild 6,017 68.1 +12.6
Conservative John Manners 2,814 31.9 −11.6
Majority 3,203 36.2 +36.1
Turnout 8,831 41.5 −25.5
Registered electors 21,270
Whig hold Swing +12.1
  • Note (1849): De Rothschild was classified as a Reformer candidate. (Source: Stooks Smith)
  • Death of Pattison June 1849
By-election, 27 July 1849: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Duke Unopposed
Whig hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Masterman 6,195 24.3 −19.2
Whig John Russell 5,537 21.7 +7.4
Whig James Duke 5,270 20.7 +6.6
Whig Lionel de Rothschild 4,748 18.6 +5.0
Whig Robert Wigram Crawford 3,765 14.8 +1.3
Majority 658 2.6 +2.6
Turnout 11,025 (est) 53.2 (est) −13.8
Registered electors 20,728
Conservative hold Swing −19.8
Whig hold Swing +6.1
Whig hold Swing +5.7
Whig hold Swing +4.9
By-Election 3 January 1853: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Russell Unopposed
Whig hold
By-Election 14 June 1854: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Russell Unopposed
Whig hold
By-Election 3 March 1855: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Russell Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 27 March 1857: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Duke 6,664 22.4 +1.7
Whig Lionel de Rothschild 6,398 21.5 +2.9
Whig John Russell 6,308 21.2 −0.5
Whig Robert Wigram Crawford 5,808 19.6 +4.8
Whig Raikes Currie 4,519 15.2 N/A
Majority 1,289 4.4 N/A
Turnout 7,424 (est) 38.8 (est) −14.4
Registered electors 19,115
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing N/A
  • Resignation of de Rothschild to seek re-election after rejection of the Jewish Disabilities Bill
By-Election 28 July 1857: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Lionel de Rothschild Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1859: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Duke Unopposed
Liberal Lionel de Rothschild Unopposed
Liberal John Russell Unopposed
Liberal Robert Wigram Crawford Unopposed
Registered electors 19,026
Liberal hold
Liberal hold
Liberal hold
Liberal hold
By-Election 27 June 1859: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Russell Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

  • Creation of Russell as the 1st Earl Russell
By-election, 29 July 1861: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Western Wood 5,747 52.3 N/A
Conservative William Cubitt 5,241 47.7 New
Majority 506 4.6 N/A
Turnout 10,988 59.2 N/A
Registered electors 18,562
Liberal hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Wood 17 May 1863
By-election, 2 June 1863: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Goschen Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 10 July 1865: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Goschen 7,102 19.9 N/A
Liberal Robert Wigram Crawford 7,086 19.9 N/A
Liberal William Lawrence 6,637 18.6 N/A
Liberal Lionel de Rothschild 6,525 18.3 N/A
Conservative George Lyall 4,197 11.8 New
Conservative Robert Fowler 4,086 11.5 New
Majority 2,328 6.5 N/A
Turnout 10,529 (est) 67.8 (est) N/A
Registered electors 15,534
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
By-election, 26 February 1866: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Goschen Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 16 November 1868: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Goschen 6,520 15.1 −4.8
Liberal Robert Wigram Crawford 6,258 14.5 −5.4
Liberal William Lawrence 6,215 14.4 −4.2
Conservative Charles Bell 6,130 14.2 +2.4
Conservative Philip Twells 6,099 14.1 +2.6
Conservative Sills John Gibbons 6,013 13.9 New
Liberal Lionel de Rothschild 5,995 13.9 −4.4
Turnout 12,328 (est) 61.1 (est) −6.7
Registered electors 20,185
Majority 85 0.2 −6.3
Liberal hold Swing −3.7
Liberal hold Swing −4.0
Liberal hold Swing −4.6
Majority 135 0.3 N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.5
  • Note (1868): Craig refers to R.N. de Rothschild, but Stenton confirms the candidate was L.N. de Rothschild
  • Appointment of Goschen as President of the Poor Law Board
By-election, 21 December 1868: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Goschen Unopposed
Liberal hold
  • Death of Bell 9 February 1869
By-election, 22 February 1869: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Lionel de Rothschild Unopposed
Liberal gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1870s

General election 10 February 1874: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Cotton 8,397 18.7 +4.5
Conservative Philip Twells 8,330 18.6 +4.5
Conservative John Hubbard 8,210 18.3 +4.4
Liberal George Goschen 6,787 15.1 0.0
Liberal William Lawrence 6,654 14.8 +0.4
Liberal Lionel de Rothschild 6,490 14.5 +0.6
Majority 1,423 3.2 +2.9
Turnout 14,956 (est) 66.1 (est) +5.0
Registered electors 22,626
Conservative hold Swing +2.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.0
Liberal hold Swing −2.2
  • Note (1874): Craig refers to R.N. de Rothschild, but Stenton confirms the candidate was L.N. de Rothschild

Elections in the 1880s

General election 3 April 1880: City of London (4 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Cotton 10,326 21.3 +2.6
Conservative Robert Fowler 10,274 21.2 +2.6
Conservative John Hubbard 10,256 21.2 +2.9
Liberal William Lawrence 5,950 12.3 −2.5
Liberal Richard Martin 5,837 12.1 −3.0
Liberal Walter Morrison 5,743 11.9 −2.6
Majority 4,306 8.9 +5.7
Turnout 16,129 (est) 67.1 (est) +1.0
Registered electors 24,042
Conservative hold Swing +2.6
Conservative hold Swing +2.8
Conservative hold Swing +2.8
Liberal hold Swing −2.6
  • Reduction of constituency to two seats, in the 1885 redistribution

Parliament of the United Kingdom election results (2 seats) 1885–1950

1880s –

1890s – 1900s – 1910s – 1920s – 1930s – 1940s

Elections in the 1880s

Robert Nicholas Fowler, 1st Bt, by Frank Holl
Fowler
General election 1885: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Fowler 12,827 38.8 +17.6
Conservative John Hubbard 8,802 26.7 +5.5
Liberal Stephen Low 5,817 17.6 +5.3
Ind. Conservative William Cotton 5,563 16.9 −4.4
Turnout 33,009 68.6 +1.5 (est)
Majority 2,985 9.1 +7.2
Registered electors 29,152
Conservative hold Swing +7.5
Conservative hold Swing +1.4
General election 1886: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Fowler Unopposed
Conservative John Hubbard Unopposed
Conservative hold

Fowler was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Addington, requiring a by-election.

By-Election 27 July 1887: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Charles Baring Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

Baring's death caused a by-election.

By-Election 18 April 1891: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hucks Gibbs Unopposed
Conservative hold

Fowler's death caused a by-election.

By-Election 3 June 1891: City of London
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Reginald Hanson Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1892: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Reginald Hanson 10,556 44.0 N/A
Conservative Alban Gibbs 9,258 38.5 N/A
Ind. Conservative James Ritchie (Conservative politician) 4,207 17.5 New
Majority 5,051 21.0 N/A
Turnout 13,490 (est) 41.3 N/A
Registered electors 32,664
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1895: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alban Gibbs Unopposed
Conservative Reginald Hanson Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alban Gibbs Unopposed
Conservative Joseph Dimsdale Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
1904 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alban Gibbs Unopposed
Conservative hold
Sir Edward Clarke
Clarke
Felix Schuster
Schuster
West Ridgeway
Ridgeway
General election 1906: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Clarke 16,019 38.0 N/A
Conservative Alban Gibbs 15,619 37.2 N/A
Liberal Felix Schuster 5,313 12.7 New
Liberal Joseph West Ridgeway 5,064 12.1 New
Majority 10,306 24.5 N/A
Turnout 44,015 68.7 N/A
Registered electors 31,030
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
A.J. Balfour LCCN2014682753 (cropped)
Balfour
February 1906 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Balfour 15,474 78.9 +3.7
Free Trader Thomas Gibson Bowles 4,134 21.1 New
Majority 11,340 57.8 +33.3
Turnout 19,608 63.2 −5.5
Registered electors 31,030
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Frederick Banbury
Banbury
June 1906 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Banbury Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Balfour 17,907 45.0 +7.0
Conservative Frederick Banbury 17,302 43.4 +6.2
Liberal Hugh Bell 4,623 11.6 −13.2
Turnout 39,832 74.7 +6.0
Registered electors 30,010
Majority 12,679 31.8 +7.3
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election December 1910: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Balfour Unopposed
Conservative Frederick Banbury Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1918: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Arthur Balfour Unopposed
C Unionist Frederick Banbury Unopposed
Unionist hold
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

Bowater 4586276615 645365ed26 o
Bowater
1922 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Grenfell 10,114 62.08 N/A
Ind. Conservative Vansittart Bowater 6,178 37.92 New
Majority 3,936 24.16 New
Turnout 44,083 36.96 N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1922: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Frederick Banbury Unopposed N/A N/A
Unionist Edward Grenfell Unopposed N/A N/A
Unionist hold Swing
General election 1923: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Frederick Banbury Unopposed N/A N/A
Unionist Edward Grenfell Unopposed N/A N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A
1924 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Vansittart Bowater 12,962 70.11 N/A
Liberal Henry Bell 5,525 29.89 New
Majority 7,437 40.22 N/A
Turnout 44,130 41.89 N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1924: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Vansittart Bowater Unopposed N/A N/A
Unionist Edward Grenfell Unopposed N/A N/A
Unionist hold Swing
Thomas Owen Jacobsen
Jacobsen
General election 1929: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Vansittart Bowater 16,149 43.9 N/A
Unionist Edward Grenfell 16,092 43.7 N/A
Liberal Thomas Owen Jacobsen 4,579 12.4 New
Majority 11,513 31.3 N/A
Turnout 46,469 45.2 N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vansittart Bowater Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Edward Grenfell Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing
1935 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Anderson Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1935: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Anderson Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Vansittart Bowater Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing
1938 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Broadbridge Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1940s

1940 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Andrew Duncan Unopposed N/A N/A
National gain from Conservative Swing N/A
General election 1945: City of London (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Andrew Duncan 5,332 39.48 N/A
Conservative George Broadbridge 5,309 39.31 N/A
Liberal Andrew McFadyean 1,487 11.01 New
Independent S. W. Alexander 1,379 10.21 New
Majority 23 0.17 N/A
Turnout 10,851 63.9 N/A
Conservative hold Swing
1945 City of London by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Assheton 4,506 74.99 +74.99
Liberal Arthur Comyns Carr 1,503 25.01 +14.00
Majority 3,003 49.98 N/A
Turnout 11,650 51.58 -12.3
Conservative hold Swing N/A

See also

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