Chatham (UK Parliament constituency)

Chatham was a parliamentary constituency in Kent which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created for the 1832 general election, when the borough of Chatham was enfranchised under the Reform Act 1832.

Chatham
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyKent
Major settlementsChatham
1832–1950
Number of membersOne
Replaced byRochester & Chatham
Created fromKent

It was abolished for the 1950 general election, when it was largely replaced by the new Rochester and Chatham constituency. This then became Medway in 1983. When the boroughs of Rochester upon Medway and Gillingham merged to form the larger unitary Borough of Medway in 1998, the Parliamentary constituency of Medway only covered part of the new borough, so for the 2010 election it was renamed Rochester and Strood.

Boundaries

1918–1950: The Borough of Rochester except part of St Peter's ward, and the Borough of Chatham wards of Luton and St John.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMemberParty
1832William Leader MaberlyWhig[1][2]
1834 by-electionGeorge ByngWhig[2][3][4][5][6]
1835Sir John Beresford, Bt.Conservative
1837George ByngWhig[2][3][4][5][6]
1852Sir Frederick SmithConservative
1853 by-electionLeicester Viney VernonConservative
1857Sir Frederick SmithConservative
1865Arthur OtwayLiberal
1874George ElliotConservative
1875 by-electionSir John Eldon GorstConservative
1892Lewis Vivian LoydConservative
1895Sir Horatio DaviesConservative
1906John JenkinsLabour
1910Gerald HohlerConservative
1918John Moore-BrabazonConservative
1929 Frank Markham Labour
1931 National Labour
1931Sir Park GoffConservative
1935Leonard PluggeConservative
1945Arthur BottomleyLabour
1950 constituency abolished: see Rochester and Chatham

Elections

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1832: Chatham [7][1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Leader Maberly 363 59.4
Radical Thomas Erskine Perry 248 40.6
Majority 115 18.8
Turnout 611 90.3
Registered electors 677
Whig win (new seat)

Maberly resigned on appointment as a Commissioner of Customs, causing a by-election.

By-election, 26 June 1834: Chatham [7][1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Byng 262 57.7 −1.7
Tory William Ching 192 42.3 New
Majority 70 15.4 −3.4
Turnout 454 67.2 −23.1
Registered electors 676
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1835: Chatham [7][1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Beresford 323 52.0 N/A
Whig George Byng 298 48.0 −11.4
Majority 25 4.0 N/A
Turnout 621 92.4 +2.1
Registered electors 672
Conservative gain from Whig Swing N/A
General election 1837: Chatham [7][1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Byng Unopposed
Registered electors 785
Whig gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1840s
General election 1841: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Byng 457 66.1 N/A
Conservative Price Blackwood 234 33.9 New
Majority 223 32.2 N/A
Turnout 691 80.2 N/A
Registered electors 862
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1847: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Byng Unopposed
Registered electors 1,145
Whig hold

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Smith 636 56.9 New
Whig James Stirling[8][9] 482 43.1 N/A
Majority 154 13.8 N/A
Turnout 1,118 81.5 N/A
Registered electors 1,371
Conservative gain from Whig Swing

The election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, causing a by-election.[10]

By-election, 23 June 1853: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leicester Viney Vernon 610 50.5 −6.4
Whig James Stirling[9] 598 49.5 +6.4
Majority 12 1.0 −12.8
Turnout 1,208 90.2 +8.7
Registered electors 1,339
Conservative hold Swing −6.4
General election 1857: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Smith 672 51.1 −5.8
Whig William Govett Romaine[11] 643 48.9 +5.8
Majority 29 2.2 −11.6
Turnout 1,315 89.9 +8.4
Registered electors 1,463
Conservative hold Swing −5.8
General election 1859: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Smith 713 52.2 +1.1
Liberal Arthur Otway 652 47.8 −1.1
Majority 61 4.4 +2.2
Turnout 1,365 88.4 −1.5
Registered electors 1,544
Conservative hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 1860s
General election 1865: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Otway 986 58.3 +10.5
Conservative George Elliot 704 41.7 −10.5
Majority 282 16.6 N/A
Turnout 1,690 80.3 −8.1
Registered electors 2,104
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +10.5
General election 1868: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Otway 2,042 52.4 −5.9
Conservative George Elliot 1,858 47.6 +5.9
Majority 184 4.8 −11.8
Turnout 3,900 86.3 +6.0
Registered electors 4,518
Liberal hold Swing −5.9

Elections in the 1870s
General election 1874: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Elliot 2,132 59.1 +11.5
Liberal Arthur Otway 1,476 40.9 −11.5
Majority 656 18.2 N/A
Turnout 3,608 80.8 −5.5
Registered electors 4,468
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +11.5

Elliot resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 16 Feb 1875: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst 2,173 52.6 −6.5
Liberal William Henry Stone[12] 1,958 47.4 +6.5
Majority 215 5.2 −13.0
Turnout 4,131 83.7 +2.9
Registered electors 4,935
Conservative hold Swing −6.5

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst 2,499 51.0 −8.1
Liberal Henry Carr Glyn[13] 2,398 49.0 +8.1
Majority 101 2.0 −16.2
Turnout 4,897 88.3 +7.5
Registered electors 5,548
Conservative hold Swing −8.1

Gorst was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 11 Jul 1885: Chatham [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst Unopposed
Conservative hold
Collier
General election 1885: Chatham [14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst 3,396 56.5 +5.5
Liberal Robert Collier 2,610 43.5 −5.5
Majority 786 13.0 +11.0
Turnout 6,006 85.9 +2.4
Registered electors 6,988
Conservative hold Swing +5.5
Clarke
General election 1886: Chatham [14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Eldon Gorst 3,187 56.8 +0.3
Liberal Andrew Clarke 2,422 43.2 −0.3
Majority 765 13.6 +0.6
Turnout 5,609 80.3 −5.6
Registered electors 6,988
Conservative hold Swing +0.3

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1892: Chatham [14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lewis Vivian Loyd 3,777 52.6 −4.2
Liberal Andrew Clarke 3,400 47.4 +4.2
Majority 377 5.2 −8.4
Turnout 7,177 83.2 +2.9
Registered electors 8,629
Conservative hold Swing −4.2
Davies
General election 1895: Chatham [14][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Horatio Davies 4,082 53.8 +1.2
Liberal Robert Hippisley Cox 3,499 46.2 −1.2
Majority 583 7.6 +2.4
Turnout 7,581 82.4 −0.8
Registered electors 9,199
Conservative hold Swing +1.2

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1900: Chatham [14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Horatio Davies Unopposed
Conservative hold
Jenkins
General election 1906: Chatham [14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Repr. Cmte. John Jenkins 6,692 62.5 New
Conservative John Eustace Jameson 4,020 37.5 N/A
Majority 2,672 25.0 N/A
Turnout 10,712 79.7 N/A
Registered electors 13,432
Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1910s
General election, January 1910: Chatham [14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Hohler 7,411 54.7 +17.2
Labour John Jenkins 6,130 45.3 −17.2
Majority 1,281 9.4 N/A
Turnout 13,541 85.7 +6.0
Registered electors 15,799
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +17.2
Bernacchi
Smith
General election, December 1910: Chatham [14][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Hohler 6,989 56.4 +1.7
Liberal Louis Bernacchi 4,302 34.7 New
Labour Frank Smith 1,103 8.9 −36.4
Majority 2,687 21.7 +12.3
Turnout 12,394 78.4 −7.3
Registered electors 15,799
Conservative hold
Woodcock
General election 1918: Chatham [18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 11,454 62.4 +6.0
Labour Dansy Hubbard 4,134 22.5 +13.6
Liberal H. B. D. Woodcock 2,778 15.1 −19.6
Majority 7,320 39.9 +18.2
Turnout 18,366 59.2 −19.2
Registered electors 31,000
Unionist hold Swing -3.8

Elections in the 1920s
General election 1922: Chatham [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 11,335 51.5 −10.9
Liberal Alfred John Callaghan 10,682 48.5 +33.4
Majority 653 3.0 −36.9
Turnout 22,017 69.8 +10.6
Registered electors 31,525
Unionist hold Swing −22.1
Hamilton
General election 1923: Chatham [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 9,994 41.6 −9.9
Liberal Alfred John Callaghan 8,227 34.3 −14.2
Labour Mary Hamilton 5,794 24.1 New
Majority 1,767 7.3 +4.3
Turnout 24,015 74.6 +4.8
Registered electors 32,212
Unionist hold Swing +2.2
Dallow
General election 1924: Chatham [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 13,184 52.2 +10.6
Labour William Harvey Moore 9,276 36.7 +12.6
Liberal Cyril Berkeley Dallow 2,806 11.1 −23.2
Majority 3,908 15.5 +8.2
Turnout 25,266 77.8 +3.2
Registered electors 32,481
Unionist hold Swing +10.6
General election 1929: Chatham [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Markham 13,007 42.6 +5.9
Unionist John Moore-Brabazon 12,231 40.1 −12.1
Liberal George H Bryans 5,284 17.3 +6.2
Majority 776 2.5 N/A
Turnout 30,522 74.5 −3.3
Registered electors 40,980
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +9.0

Elections in the 1930s
General election 1931: Chatham [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Park Goff 19,991 62.5 +22.4
Labour Oliver Baldwin 10,837 33.9 −8.7
New Party Martin Woodroffe 1,135 3.6 New
Majority 9,154 28.6 New
Turnout 31,963 75.5 +1.0
Registered electors 42,356
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +15.6

The sitting MP Sydney Frank Markham sought re-election as a National Labour candidate. However, the Conservatives refused to withdraw in his favour. As a result, he was forced to withdraw. Communist candidate Walter Hannington was also adopted[20] but subsequently withdrew.[21]

General election 1935: Chatham [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leonard Plugge 19,212 59.1 −3.4
Labour Hugh Gaitskell 13,315 40.9 +7.0
Majority 5,897 18.2 −10.4
Turnout 32,527 74.6 −0.9
Registered electors 43,573
Conservative hold Swing −5.3

Elections in the 1940s
General election 1945: Chatham [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur Bottomley 19,250 55.3 +14.4
Conservative Leonard Plugge 15,534 44.7 −14.4
Majority 3,716 10.6 N/A
Turnout 34,784 72.1 −2.5
Registered electors 48,270
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +14.4

References
  1. Stooks Smith, Henry (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 378. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  2. Gash, Norman (2013). Politics in the Age of Peel: A Study in the Technique of Parliamentary Representation, 1830–1850. Faber & Faber. p. 330. ISBN 9780571302901. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  3. Parliament Commons, Lists (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 46.
  4. Hall, Catherine; Draper, Nicholas; McClelland, Keith; Donington, Katie; Lang, Rachel (2014). "Appendix 4: MPs 1832–80 in the compensation records". Legacies of British Slave-ownership: Colonial Slavery and the Formation of Victorian Britain. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 290. ISBN 978-1-107-04005-2. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  5. Dod, Charles Roger (1843). "House of Commons". The Parliamentary Companion, Volume 11. London: Whitaker & Company. p. 133. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  6. Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). "House of Commons". The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 148. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  7. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  8. "Chatham". South Eastern Gazette. 13 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 22 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. Harries-Jenkins, Gwyn (2007). "Chapter 7". The Army in Victorian Society. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 243. ISBN 978-0-415-41274-2. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  10. "Controverted Elections". Morning Post. 8 June 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 22 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. Williams, William Rees (1897). "Romaine, William Govett" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 49. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  12. "Election News". The Scotsman. 11 February 1875. p. 6. Retrieved 28 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Election News". Sheffield Independent. 27 November 1882. p. 2. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  14. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 94. ISBN 9781349022984.
  15. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  16. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  17. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  18. Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 225. ISBN 0-900178-01-9.
  19. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1922
  20. OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. "Kent." Times [London, England] 14 Oct. 1931: 6. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 July 2016.
  21. "General Election: List Of Nominations." Times [London, England] 17 Oct. 1931: 6. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 July 2016.

Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 3)

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