Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)

Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950. The last two members to represent Oxford University when it was abolished were A. P. Herbert and Arthur Salter.

Oxford University
Former University constituency
for the House of Commons
1603–1950
Number of memberstwo

Boundaries, electorate and electoral system

This university constituency was created by a Royal Charter of 1603. It was abolished in 1950 by the Representation of the People Act 1948.

The constituency was not a physical area. Its electorate consisted of the graduates of the University of Oxford. Before 1918 the franchise was restricted to male graduates with a Doctorate or MA degree. Namier and Brooke estimated the number of electors as about 500 in the 1754–1790 period; by 1910, it had risen to 6,500. Following the reforms of 1918, the franchise encompassed all graduates who paid a fee of £1 to join the register. This included around 400 women who had passed examinations which would have entitled them to a degree if they were male.[1]

The constituency returned two Members of Parliament. From 1918, the MPs were elected by the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.

History

The university strongly supported the old Tory cause in the 18th century. The original party system endured long after it had become meaningless in almost every other constituency.

After the Hanoverian succession to the British throne the Whigs became dominant in the politics of Cambridge University, the other university represented in Parliament, by using a royal prerogative power to confer doctorates. That power did not exist at Oxford, so the major part of the university electorate remained Tory (and in the first half of the 18th century sometimes Jacobite) in sympathy.

The university also valued its independence from government. In a rare contested general election in 1768 the two candidates with administration ties were defeated.

In the 19th century the university continued to support the right, almost always returning Tory, Conservative or Liberal Unionist candidates. The only exception was William Ewart Gladstone, formerly "the rising hope of the stern unbending Tories". He first represented the university as a Peelite, supporting a former member for the constituency – the sometime Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. Gladstone retained his seat as a Liberal, for a time after 1859. Following Gladstone's defeat, in 1865, subsequent Liberal candidates were rare and they were never successful in winning a seat.

Even after the introduction of proportional representation, in 1918, both members continued to be Conservatives until 1935. Independent members were elected in the last phase of university elections to Parliament, before the constituency was abolished in 1950.

Members of Parliament

Sir William Whitelock is named by Rayment as "Sir William Whitelocke" and by Sedgwick as "Sir William Whitlock".

The Roman numerals in brackets after the names of the two members called William Bromley (who were father and son) are included to distinguish them. It is not a method which would have been used by the men themselves.

  • Constituency created (1603)

Parliament of England 1604–1707

As there were sometimes significant gaps between Parliaments held in this period, the dates of first assembly and dissolution are given. Where the name of the member has not yet been ascertained, the entry unknown is entered in the table.

Elected Assembled Dissolved First Member Second Member
160419 March 16049 February 1611Sir Thomas CromptonSir Daniel Donne or Dun[2]
16145 April 16147 June 1614Sir John Bennet
1620 or 162116 January 16218 February 1622Sir Clement Edmondes
1623 or 162412 February 162427 March 1625Sir Isaac WakeSir George Calvert
162517 May 162512 August 1625Sir Thomas EdmondsSir John Danvers
16266 February 162615 June 1626Sir Thomas Edmonds[3]
162817 March 162810 March 1629Sir Henry Marten
164013 April 16405 May 1640Sir Francis WindebankeSir John Danvers[4]
16403 November 16405 December 1648John SeldenSir Thomas Roe
6 December 1648 a20 April 1653 bunknown
1653 c4 July 165312 December 1653unrepresented in Barebones Parliament
1654 d3 September 165422 January 1655Dr John Owen
1656 e17 September 16564 February 1658Nathaniel Fiennes
1658 or 165927 January 165922 April 1659Matthew HaleJohn Mylles
N/A f7 May 165920 February 1660unknownunknown
21 February 166016 March 1660
12 April 166025 April 166029 December 1660Thomas ClaytonJohn Mylles
1 April 16618 May 166124 January 1679Laurence HydeSir Heneage Finch, Bt
16 January 1674Thomas Thynne
27 February 16796 March 167912 July 1679Heneage FinchJohn Eddisbury
19 August 167921 October 168018 January 1681Sir Leoline JenkinsCharles Perrot
168121 March 168128 March 1681
168519 May 16852 June 1687
23 November 1685George Clarke
7 January 168922 January 16896 February 1690Heneage FinchSir Thomas Clargesg
169020 March 169011 October 1695
21 October 169522 November 16956 July 1698Sir William Trumbull
23 July 169824 August 169819 December 1700Sir Christopher Musgrave, BtSir William Glynne, Bt
3 January 17016 February 170111 November 1701Heneage Finch
21 March 1701William Bromley (I)
170130 December 17012 July 1702
170220 August 17025 April 1705
22 November 1703Sir William Whitelock
170514 June 17051707 h

Notes:-

  • a Date of Pride's Purge, which converted the Long Parliament into the Rump Parliament.
  • b Date when Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament by force.
  • c Date when the members of the nominated or Barebones Parliament were selected. The university was not represented in this body.
  • d Date when the members of the First Protectorate Parliament were elected. The university was represented by one member in this body.
  • e Date when the members of the Second Protectorate Parliament were elected. The university was represented by one member in this body.
  • f The Rump Parliament was recalled and subsequently Pride's Purge was reversed, allowing the full Long Parliament to meet until it agreed to dissolve itself.
  • g Clarges died on 4 October 1695, so the seat was vacant at the dissolution of 11 October 1695.
  • h The MPs of the last Parliament of England and 45 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Scotland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of Great Britain which assembled on 23 October 1707 (see below for the members in that Parliament).

Parliaments of Great Britain 1707–1800 and of the United Kingdom 1801–1950
YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
1707 Sir William WhitelockTory William Bromley [I] 1Tory
1717 George ClarkeTory
1732 Viscount CornburyTory
1737 William Bromley (II)Tory
1737 Edward ButlerTory
1745 Peregrine PalmerTory
1751 Sir Roger Newdigate, BtTory
1762 Sir Walter Bagot, BtTory
1768 Sir William Dolben, BtTory
1768 Francis PageTory[5]
1780 Sir William Dolben, BtTory[5]
1801 Sir William ScottTory[5]
1806 Charles Abbot 2Tory[5]
1817 Robert PeelTory[5]
1821 Richard HeberTory[5]
1826 Thomas Grimston Estcourt 3Tory[5]
1829 Sir Robert Inglis, Bt 3Tory[5]
1834 Conservative[5] Conservative[5]
1847 William Ewart Gladstone 4Peelite
1854 Sir William Heathcote, BtConservative
1859Liberal
1865 Gathorne HardyConservative
1868 Sir John Mowbray, BtConservative
1878 John Gilbert TalbotConservative
1899 Sir William Anson 5Liberal Unionist
1910 Lord Hugh Cecil 6Conservative
1912 Conservative
1914 Rowland ProtheroConservative
1918 Coalition ConservativeCoalition Conservative
1919 Sir Charles OmanCoalition Conservative
1922 ConservativeConservative
1935 Sir A. P. HerbertIndependent
1937 Sir Arthur SalterIndependent
  • Constituency abolished (1950)

Notes:-

  • 1 Bromley had represented the university since a by-election in March 1701. He was Speaker of the House of Commons 1710–1713.
  • 2 Abbot was Speaker of the House of Commons 1802–1817.
  • 3 Estcourt and Inglis are regarded as Conservative MPs from 1835, as this was the approximate date when the Tory Party became known as the Conservative Party.
  • 4 Gladstone accepted office in a Liberal ministry in 1859, thus vacating the seat he had held (as a Peelite MP – more formally a Liberal Conservative). He was re-elected as a Liberal candidate.
  • 5 Anson became a Conservative MP when the Liberal Unionists formally merged with the Conservatives in 1912.
  • 6 Cecil joined the non-Coalition wing of his party at some point during the 1918–1922 Parliament.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Elections
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s – 1890s – 1900s – 1910s – 1920s – 1930s – 1940s

Elections in the 1710s
General election 24 January 1715: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Whitelock Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory William Bromley (I) Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 4 December 1717: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1720s
General election 22 March 1722: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Bromley (I) 337 43.54 N/A
Tory George Clarke 278 35.92 N/A
Tory William King 159 20.54 N/A
Turnout 774 N/A N/A
  • Note (1722): Stooks Smith records the votes as Bromley 278, Clarke 213 and King 142.
General election 18 August 1727: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Bromley (I) Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1730s
  • Death of Bromley
By-Election 26 February 1732: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Henry Hyde Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 26 April 1734: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Henry Hyde Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Clarke
By-Election 9 February 1737: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Bromley (II) 329 73.11 N/A
Whig Robert Trevor 121 26.89 N/A
Majority 208 46.22 N/A
Turnout 450 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Bromley
By-Election 31 March 1737: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Edward Butler 214 76.98 N/A
Tory Peregrine Palmer 64 23.02 N/A
Majority 150 53.96 +7.74
Turnout 278 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1740s
General election 26 April 1741: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Henry Hyde Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Edward Butler Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Butler
By-Election 12 November 1745: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Peregrine Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 27 June 1747: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Henry Hyde Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Peregrine Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1750s
By-Election 31 January 1751: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate 184 48.81 N/A
Tory Robert Harley 126 33.42 N/A
Tory Edward Turner 67 17.77 N/A
Majority 58 15.38 N/A
Turnout 377 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1751): Stooks Smith records Turner's vote as 47.
General election 15 April 1754: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Peregrine Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1760s
General election 27 March 1761: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Peregrine Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Palmer
By-Election 16 December 1762: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Walter Bagot Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Bagot
By-Election 3 February 1768: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 23 March 1768: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate 352 38.77 N/A
Tory Francis Page 296 32.80 N/A
Non Partisan Charles Jenkinson 198 21.81 N/A
Non Partisan George Hay 62 6.83 N/A
Turnout 908 (493 voted) N/A N/A

Elections in the 1770s
General election 11 October 1774: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1780s
General election 11 September 1780: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1 April 1784: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1790s
General election 1790: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1796: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1800s
  • Resignation of Page
By-Election March 1801: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 1802: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1806: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott 651 48.95 N/A
Tory Charles Abbot 404 30.38 N/A
Tory Richard Heber 275 20.68 N/A
Turnout 1,330 N/A N/A
General election 1807: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Charles Abbot Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1810s
General election 1812: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Charles Abbot Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election June 1817: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 1818: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1820s
General election 1820: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election August 1821: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Heber 612 54.11 N/A
Tory J. Nicholl 519 45.89 N/A
Majority 93 8.22 N/A
Turnout 1,131 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
By-Election February 1822: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Resignation of Heber
By-Election February 1826: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 1826: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election February 1828: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Resignation of Peel
By-Election February 1829: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Inglis 755 55.35 N/A
Tory Robert Peel 609 44.65 N/A
Majority 146 10.70 N/A
Turnout 1,354 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1829): Stooks Smith records that the polls were open for three days.

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Tory Robert Inglis Unopposed
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1831: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Tory Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,524
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 12 December 1832: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Tory Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,496
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 8 January 1835: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Conservative Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,496
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 25 July 1837: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Conservative Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,496
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s
General election 29 June 1841: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Conservative Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,496
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
  • Note (1841): McCalmont classifies Inglis as a Peelite candidate, at this election.
General election August 1847: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Inglis 1,700 48.3 N/A
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone 997 28.3 New
Conservative Charles Gray Round 824 23.4 N/A
Turnout 1,851 56.1 N/A
Registered electors 3,300
Majority 703 20.0 N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Majority 173 4.9 N/A
Peelite gain from Conservative Swing N/A
  • Note (1847): Poll 5 days. (Source for this note and the number of voters: Stooks Smith). McCalmont classifies Inglis as a Peelite and Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.

Elections in the 1850s
General election July 1852: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Inglis 1,369 42.3 −6.0
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone 1,108 34.3 +6.0
Conservative Robert Bullock Marsham[8] 758 23.4 —
Turnout 1,618 (est) 46.6 (est) −9.5
Registered electors 3,474
Majority 261 8.1 −11.9
Conservative hold Swing −6.0
Majority 350 10.8 +5.9
Peelite hold Swing +6.0
  • Note (1852): Minimum possible turnout estimated by dividing votes by 2. To the extent that electors did not use both their votes, the figure will be an underestimate. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.
  • Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer
By-election, 20 January 1853: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone 1,022 53.2 +18.9
Conservative Dudley Montagu Perceval[9] 898 46.8 −18.9
Majority 124 6.4 −4.4
Turnout 1,920 57.2 +10.6
Registered electors 3,357
Peelite hold Swing +18.9
  • Resignation of Inglis.
By-election, 7 February 1854: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Heathcote Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 27 March 1857: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed
Conservative William Heathcote Unopposed
Registered electors 3,538
Peelite hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 12 February 1859: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed
Peelite hold
General election 29 April 1859: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed
Conservative William Heathcote Unopposed
Registered electors 3,623
Liberal hold
Conservative hold
  • Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal candidate, at this election.
By-Election 1 July 1859: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ewart Gladstone 1,050 55.0 N/A
Conservative Richard Temple-Grenville 859 45.0 N/A
Majority 191 10.0 N/A
Turnout 1,909 52.7 N/A
Registered electors 3,623
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1860s
General election 18 July 1865: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Heathcote 3,236 47.1 N/A
Conservative Gathorne Hardy 1,904 27.7 N/A
Liberal William Ewart Gladstone 1,724 25.1 N/A
Majority 180 2.6 N/A
Turnout 3,432 (est) 91.4 (est) N/A
Registered electors 3,755
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
By-Election 12 July 1866: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative hold
By-Election 20 May 1867: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 18 November 1868: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Registered electors 4,190
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1870s
General election 31 January 1874: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Registered electors 4,659
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-Election 14 March 1874: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative hold
1878 Oxford University by-election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot 2,687 73.1 N/A
Liberal Henry John Stephen Smith[10] 989 26.9 New
Majority 1,698 46.2 N/A
Turnout 3,676 73.1 N/A
Registered electors 5,026
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s
General election April 1880: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Registered electors 5,033
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 24 November 1885: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 2 July 1886: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s
General election July 1892: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 13 July 1895: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
  • Death of Mowbray
By-Election 11 May 1899: Oxford University[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1 October 1900: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Conservative hold
Liberal Unionist hold
General election 13 January 1906: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Conservative hold
Liberal Unionist hold

Elections in the 1910s
General election 15 January 1910: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Conservative Hugh Cecil Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold
Conservative hold
General election December 1910: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Conservative Hugh Cecil Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold
Conservative hold
  • Anson became a Conservative MP in 1912 when the Liberal Unionist Party formally merged with the Conservative Party.
  • Death of Anson
By-Election 30 June 1914: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rowland Prothero Unopposed
Unionist hold
General Election 1918: Oxford University (2 seats)
PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2
C Unionist Hugh Cecil 49.80 2,771  
C Unionist Rowland Prothero 30.84 1,716 2,546
Liberal Gilbert Murray 13.34 742 812
Labour Henry Sanderson Furniss 6.02 335 351
Electorate: 7,907   Valid: 5,564   Quota: 1,855   Turnout: 70.37%
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
By-Election 19–24 March 1919: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Charles Oman 2,613 52.52 -28.08
Liberal Gilbert Murray 1,330 26.73 +13.39
Independent J. A. L. Riley 1,032 20.74 New
Majority 1,283 25.79 N/A
Turnout 4,975 62.92 N/A
Registered electors 7,907
Unionist hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s
General Election 1922: Oxford University (2 seats)
PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2
Unionist Hugh Cecil 56.40 3,185  
Unionist Charles Oman 18.03 1,018 2,170
Liberal Gilbert Murray 25.57 1,444 1,594
Electorate: 9,374   Valid: 5,647   Quota: 1,883   Turnout: 60.24%
    General Election 1923: Oxford University (2 seats)
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2
    Unionist Hugh Cecil 43.77 3,560  
    Unionist Charles Oman 27.12 2,206 2,950
    Liberal Gilbert Murray 29.11 2,368 2,472
    Electorate: 10,814   Valid: 8,134   Quota: 2,712   Turnout: 75.22%
      General Election 1924: Oxford University (2 seats)
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2
      Unionist Hugh Cecil 49.65 4,320  
      Unionist Charles Oman 19.97 1,738 2,968
      Liberal Gilbert Murray 30.38 2,643 2,832
      Electorate: 10,773   Valid: 8,701   Quota: 2,901   Turnout: 80.77%
        General Election 1929: Oxford University (2 seats)
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2
        Unionist Hugh Cecil 52.45 6,012  
        Unionist Charles Oman 18.97 2,174 4,112
        Liberal Gilbert Murray 28.59 3,277 3,529
        Electorate: 15,770   Valid: 11,463   Quota: 3,822   Turnout: 72.69%

          Elections in the 1930s
          General election 1931: Oxford University (2 seats)
          Party Candidate Votes % ±%
          Conservative Hugh Cecil Unopposed N/A N/A
          Conservative Charles Oman Unopposed N/A N/A
          General Election 1935: Oxford University (2 seats)
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2Count 3
          Conservative Hugh Cecil 48.32 7,365    
          Independent A. P. Herbert 22.24 3,390 3,864 5,206
          Conservative C. R. M. F. Cruttwell 11.83 1,803 3,520 3,697
          Labour J. L. Stocks 17.60 2,683 2,776 eliminated
          Electorate: 22,413   Valid: 15,241   Quota: 5,081   Turnout: 68.00
            • Resignation of Cecil
            By-Election 23≠27 February 1937: Oxford University
            Party Candidate Votes % ±%
            Independent Arthur Salter 7,580 50.18 New
            Conservative Farquhar Buzzard 3,917 25.93 N/A
            Ind. Conservative Frederick Lindemann 3,608 23.89 New
            Majority 3,663 24.25 N/A
            Turnout 15,105 62.68 N/A
            Registered electors 24,021
            Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

            Elections in the 1940s
            General election 1945: Oxford University (2 seats)
            Party Candidate Votes % ±%
            Independent Arthur Salter 6,771 44.19 N/A
            Independent A. P. Herbert 5,136 33.52 +11.28
            Labour G. D. H. Cole 3,414 22.28 +4.68
            Majority 1,722 5.24
            Turnout 15,321 53.08 −14.92
            Registered electors 28,865
            Quota 5,108
            • As two candidates achieved the quota only one count was necessary
            • Constituency abolished (1950)

            References
            1. "The Universities and Labour", Manchester Guardian, 6 December 1918
            2. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
            3. J. Palmer, A Biographical History of England (1824), 86.
            4. s:Danvers, John (DNB00)
            5. Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 7–9.
            6. Fisher, David R. "Oxford University". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
            7. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) |format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
            8. "Oxford". Berkshire Chronicle. 17 July 1852. p. 4. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
            9. "Mr. Dudley Perceval". Morning Chronicle. 29 January 1853. p. 3. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
            10. "Representation of Oxford University". Bury and Norwich Post. 14 May 1878. p. 8. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
            11. Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.

            Bibliography
            • Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
            • British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
            • British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
            • British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)
            • McCalmont's Parliamentary Poll Book: British Election Results 1832–1918 (8th edition, The Harvester Press 1971)
            • The House of Commons 1715–1754, by Romney Sedgwick (HMSO 1970)
            • The House of Commons 1754–1790, by Sir Lewis Namier and John Brooke (HMSO 1964)
            • 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))
            • 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 II 1886–1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
            • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
            • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945–1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)
            • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"
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