Roxburghshire (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids
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Roxburghshire was a special area in Scotland that used to elect one person to represent it in the UK Parliament. This Parliament is where laws are made for the whole United Kingdom. Roxburghshire sent its representative to Westminster, London, from 1708 until 1918.
Contents
How Roxburghshire Became a Constituency
Roxburghshire became a part of the British Parliament in 1708. This happened after Scotland and England joined together to form Great Britain in 1707. Before that, Roxburghshire had its own representative in the Scottish Parliament.
Where Was Roxburghshire?
The area called Roxburghshire for elections was the same as the county of Roxburgh in Scotland.
How Elections Worked
From 1708 until 1918, Roxburghshire always elected one Member of Parliament (MP). The winner was chosen using the "first past the post" system. This means the person with the most votes won, even if they didn't get more than half of all the votes.
In 1918, the Roxburghshire constituency was no longer used. Instead, a new area called Roxburgh and Selkirk was created. This new area covered both Roxburgh and Selkirk counties.
People Who Represented Roxburghshire
Many different people served as the Member of Parliament for Roxburghshire over the years. Here is a list of the MPs who represented the area:
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1708 | Sir Gilbert Eliott, 3rd Bt | ||
| 1715 | William Douglas | ||
| 1722 | Sir Gilbert Elliot, 2nd Bt | ||
| 1726 | Sir Gilbert Eliott, 3rd Bt | ||
| 1727 | William Douglas | ||
| 1734 | John Rutherfurd | ||
| 1742 | William Douglas | ||
| 1747 | Walter Scott | ||
| 1765 | Sir Gilbert Elliot | ||
| 1777 | Sir Gilbert Elliot | ||
| 1784 | Sir George Douglas | Whig | |
| 1806 | John Rutherfurd | ||
| 1812 | Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound | ||
| 1814 | Sir Alexander Don | ||
| 1826 | Henry Hepburne-Scott | Tory | |
| 1832 | George Elliot | Whig | |
| 1835 | Lord John Scott | Conservative | |
| 1837 | John Elliot | Whig | |
| 1841 | Francis Scott | Conservative | |
| 1847 | John Elliot | Whig | |
| 1859 | Sir William Scott, Bt | Liberal | |
| 1870 | James Innes-Ker | Liberal | |
| 1874 | Sir George Scott-Douglas | Conservative | |
| 1880 | Arthur Elliot | Liberal | |
| 1886 | Liberal Unionist | ||
| 1892 | Mark Napier | Liberal | |
| 1895 | The Earl of Dalkeith | Conservative | |
| 1906 | John Jardine | Liberal | |
| 1918 | constituency abolished | ||
Election Highlights
The elections in Roxburghshire often saw close contests between different political parties. In the early 1800s, the Whig and Tory parties were the main competitors. Later, the Liberal and Conservative parties became the strongest.
For example, in the 1830s, the Whigs and Tories traded wins. The Whigs gained the seat in 1832, but the Conservatives won it back in 1835. The Liberals often won elections in the later 1800s and early 1900s, but the Conservatives also had periods of success. The results show how the people of Roxburghshire changed their minds about which party they wanted to represent them.
