Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)

Antrim is a former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two-member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801–1885 and 1922–1950.

Antrim
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
18011885
Replaced byEast Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim
Created fromCounty Antrim
19221950
Replaced byNorth Antrim and South Antrim
Created fromEast Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim

Boundaries

Map showing the UK Parliament constituency of County Antrim (1801–1885) within Ireland.

From 1801 until 1885, the constituency consisted of the whole of County Antrim, excluding the parts in the Parliamentary borough constituencies of Belfast, Carrickfergus and Lisburn. From 1885 to 1922, the constituency was split between the divisions of East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim.

From 1922 until 1950, the constituency consisted of the Administrative county of Antrim, that is the whole of County Antrim excluding the part in the City of Belfast. In 1950 the county was split, between the divisions of Antrim North and Antrim South.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1801–1885

Key to parties: C Conservative, L Liberal, NP no party identified, T Tory, U Unionist, W Whig. Changes of party name in 1832 are indicated i.e. (T,C) and (W,L).

Election1st Member1st Party2nd Member2nd Party
1801 Rt Hon. John Staples (NP) Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Tory[1]
1802 Hon. John O'Neill Tory[2]
1812 Francis Seymour-Conway Tory
1818 Hugh Henry John Seymour Tory
1822 by-election Richard Seymour-Conway Tory
1826 Edmond Alexander McNaghten Tory[1]
1830 George Chichester Tory[2]
1831 Whig[2]
1834 Conservative[2]
1837 John Irving Conservative
1841 by-election Nathaniel Alexander Conservative
1845 by-election Sir Horace Seymour Conservative
1847 Sir Edward Macnaghten, Bt Conservative
1852 Edward William Pakenham Conservative George Macartney Conservative
1854 by-election Thomas Pakenham Conservative
1859 George Upton Conservative
1863 by-election Hon. Edward O'Neill Conservative
1865 Henry Seymour Conservative
1869 by-election Hugh Seymour Conservative
1874 James Chaine Conservative
1880 Edward MacNaghten Conservative
1885 by-election William Pirrie Sinclair Liberal

Notes:

  • (1) Earl of Yarmouth (1800–1870) was known as Viscount Beauchamp until 17 June 1822.
  • (2) Earl of Belfast became W by 1831 and is categorised as L from 1832.
  • (3) Earl of Yarmouth (1843–1912) was known as Hugh de Grey Seymour until 25 August 1870.

MPs 1922–1950

ElectionMemberPartyMemberParty
1922 Rt Hon. Charles Craig Ulster Unionist Hugh O'Neill Ulster Unionist
1929 Joseph McConnell
1943 by-election John Dermot Campbell
1945 Samuel Gillmor Haughton
1950 constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim

Elections

In two-member elections the bloc voting system was used. Voters could cast a vote for one or two candidates, as they chose. The two candidates with the largest number of votes were elected. In by-elections, to fill a single seat, the first past the post system applied.

There was no election in 1801. The representatives of the county in the former Parliament of Ireland became members of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom.

After 1832, when registration of voters was introduced, a turnout figure is given for contested elections. In two-member elections, when the exact number of participating voters is unknown, this is calculated by dividing the number of votes by two. To the extent that voters did not use both their votes this will be an underestimate of turnout. If the electorate figure is unknown the last known electorate figure is used to provide an estimate 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.

Elections in the 1940s

General election 5 July 1945: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Hugh O'Neill 57,259 42.6 N/A
UUP Samuel Gillmor Haughton 57,232 42.5 N/A
NI Labour Henry Holmes 18,403 13.7 N/A
Majority 38,829 28.8 N/A
Turnout 134,528 56.2 N/A
UUP hold Swing
By-Election 11 February 1943: Antrim
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP John Dermot Campbell 42,371 69.4 N/A
NI Labour Robert Getgood 17,253 28.3 New
Progressive Unionist Reginald Hanson Press 1,432 2.4 New
Majority 25,118 41.1 N/A
Turnout 135,795 45.0 N/A
UUP hold Swing N/A
  • Seat vacant at dissolution (Death of Campbell)

Elections in the 1930s

General election 14 November 1935: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Joseph McConnell Unopposed N/A N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 27 October 1931: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Joseph McConnell Unopposed N/A N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1920s

General election 30 May 1929: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Hugh O'Neill 53,864 37.5 -11.5
UUP Joseph McConnell 52,851 36.8 -12.2
Ulster Liberal George Henderson 18,985 13.2 New
Ulster Liberal Robert Boyd 17,824 12.4 New
Majority 33,866 23.6 -23.4
Turnout 123,474 58.6 -5.6
UUP hold Swing N/A
General election 29 October 1924: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Charles Craig 60,868 49.0 N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill 60,764 49.0 N/A
Sinn Féin William McCormick 2,514 2.0 New
Majority 58,250 47.0 N/A
Turnout 98,616 64.2 N/A
UUP hold Swing
General election 6 December 1923: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Charles Craig Unopposed N/A N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 15 November 1922: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UUP Charles Craig Unopposed N/A N/A
UUP Hugh O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 21 May 1885: Antrim[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Pirrie Sinclair 3,971 50.9 +2.6
Conservative Robert Torrens O'Neill 3,832 49.1 −2.6
Majority 139 1.8 N/A
Turnout 7,803 66.7 -16.5
Registered electors 11,701
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +2.6
General election 6 April 1880: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Chaine 5,124 26.3 −8.5
Conservative Edward MacNaghten 4,936 25.4 −7.7
Liberal Charles Wilson 4,789 24.6 +8.5
Liberal Samuel Black 4,610 23.7 +7.6
Majority 147 0.8 −0.2
Turnout 9,730 (est) 83.2 +4.1
Registered electors 11,701
Conservative hold Swing −8.5
Conservative hold Swing −7.7

Elections in the 1870s

General election 12 February 1874: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Chaine 4,356 34.8 N/A
Conservative Edward O'Neill 4,142 33.1 N/A
Liberal Charles Wilson 4,009 32.1 N/A
Majority 133 1.0 N/A
Turnout 8,258 (est) 79.1 (est) N/A
Registered electors 10,436
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1860s

By-election, 21 August 1869: Antrim[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Seymour 5,588 70.9 N/A
Liberal Robert Shafto Adair 2,294 29.1 New
Majority 3,294 41.8 N/A
Turnout 7,882 67.3 N/A
Registered electors 11,715
Conservative hold Swing N/A
  • Caused by Seymour's death.
  • Note: Hugh Seymour was known as the Earl of Yarmouth from 25 August 1870.
General election 23 November 1868: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward O'Neill Unopposed
Conservative Henry Seymour Unopposed
Registered electors 11,715
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 17 July 1866: Antrim[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Seymour Unopposed
Registered electors 10,921
Conservative hold
General election 22 July 1865: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward O'Neill Unopposed
Conservative Henry Seymour Unopposed
Registered electors 10,921
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 6 May 1863: Antrim[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward O'Neill Unopposed
Registered electors 10,195
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Upton's succession to the peerage, becoming Viscount Templetown.

Elections in the 1850s

General election 10 May 1859: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Pakenham Unopposed
Conservative George Upton Unopposed
Registered electors 9,822
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 16 April 1857: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Pakenham 4,686 44.4 N/A
Conservative George Hume Macartney 4,341 41.1 N/A
Whig Henry Hutchinson Hamilton O'Hara[4] 1,533 14.5 New
Majority 2,808 26.7 N/A
Turnout 6,047 (est) 62.5 (est) N/A
Registered electors 9,676
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
By-election, 27 December 1854: Antrim[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Pakenham Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Pakenham's death
General election 23 July 1852: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward William Pakenham Unopposed
Conservative George Macartney Unopposed
Registered electors 8,207
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s

General election 11 August 1847: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathaniel Alexander Unopposed
Conservative Edmund Workman-Macnaghten Unopposed
Registered electors 6,962
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 22 December 1845: Antrim[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Horace Seymour Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Caused by Irving's death
General election 13 July 1841: Antrim (2 seats)[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Irving Unopposed
Conservative Nathaniel Alexander Unopposed
Registered electors 2,157
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 14 April 1841: Antrim[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathaniel Alexander Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1830s

General election 5 August 1837: Antrim (2 seats)[3][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative John O'Neill Unopposed
Conservative John Irving Unopposed
Registered electors 4,032
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Whig
General election 15 January 1835: Antrim (2 seats)[3][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative John O'Neill Unopposed
Whig George Chichester Unopposed
Registered electors 3,822
Conservative hold
Whig hold
General election 2 January 1833: Antrim (2 seats)[3][2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory John O'Neill 1,719 28.9
Whig George Chichester 1,654 27.8
Tory Edmund McDonnell 1,451 24.4
Tory John Cromie 1,133 19.0
Turnout 3,026 86.8
Registered electors 3,487
Majority 65 1.1
Tory hold
Majority 203 3.4
Whig hold
General election 21 May 1831: Antrim (2 seats)[3][2][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed
Whig George Chichester Unopposed
Tory hold
Whig gain from Tory
General election 13 August 1830: Antrim (2 seats)[3][2][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory John O'Neill 839 40.1
Tory George Chichester 719 34.4
Tory Edmund McDonnell 523 25.0
Non Partisan Mark Kerr 10 0.5
Majority 196 9.4
Turnout c.1,046 c.51.3
Registered electors 2,037
Tory hold
Tory hold

Elections in the 1820s

General election 20 June 1826: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Unopposed N/A N/A
1822 Antrim by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Seymour-Conway Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 22 March 1820: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Hugh Henry John Seymour Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1810s

General election 27 June 1818: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Hugh Henry John Seymour Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 21 October 1812: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Seymour-Conway Unopposed N/A N/A
1812 Antrim by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
1811 Antrim by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 19th century

General election 18 May 1807: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 19 November 1806: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 19 July 1802: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John O'Neill Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Unopposed N/A N/A
Co-option 1 January 1801: Antrim (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Staples Co-opted N/A N/A
Tory Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Co-opted N/A N/A

References

  1. Escott, Margaret. "MACNAGHTEN, Edmond Alexander (1762-1832), of Beardiville, co. Antrim and Duke Street, St. James's, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  2. Stooks Smith, Henry (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 214.
  3. Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.
  4. "General Intelligence". Coventry Standard. 17 April 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 15 September 2018 via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. Farrell, Stephen. "Co. Antrim". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  • 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)
  • Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922, edited by B. M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
  • 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 III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1979)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 2 )
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