Belfast (UK Parliament constituency)

Belfast was an Irish Borough constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Comprising the city of Belfast, it elected one Member of Parliament (MP) from 1801 to 1832, and then two MPs from 1832 until the constituency was divided for the 1885 general election.

For the pre-1801 constituency, see Belfast (Parliament of Ireland constituency).

Belfast
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
1801–1885
Replaced byBelfast East, Belfast North, Belfast South and Belfast West

Summary
From To Chamber Members
1801 1832 House of Commons of the United Kingdom 1
1832 1885 House of Commons of the United Kingdom 2

Representation

Under the Act of Union 1800 the Parliament of Ireland was merged with the Parliament of Great Britain to form the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The 300 members of the Irish House of Commons were reduced to 100 Irish members of the United Kingdom House of Commons. As part of that process Belfast lost one of its seats.

There was no new election for the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom. In Irish constituencies, where the number of seats were reduced from two to one, the MP to go to Westminster was selected by drawing lots.

Boundaries and boundary changes

The details relate to the modern area of Belfast, but are included in this article to give a general idea of the location of the historic constituency.

This constituency was the Parliamentary borough of Belfast in County Antrim. In 1832 and 1868 the boundaries of that borough were extended.

1832 boundaries

The boundaries in 1832 were defined as follows:

"From the Point on the South-east of the Town at which the Blackstaff River joins the River Lagan, up the Blackstaff River, to the Point at which the same is joined by a small Stream which washes the Wall of Mr Campbell's Cotton Works [near where Divis Street joins the Westlink]; thence up the said small Stream to the Point at which the same would be cut by a straight Line to be drawn from the Chimney of Mr Campbell's Cotton Works to an old Fort on the West of the Town, in a field belonging to Mr Elliott, near a Brickfield on the Left of the old Lodge Road [near Denmark Street]; thence in a straight Line to the said old Fort; thence in a straight Line to the South-western Angle of the Graveyard which is to the West of the Infantry Barracks; thence along the Southern Wall of the said Graveyard to the Point at which the same makes an Angle; thence in a straight Line to the South-western Angle of the Enclosure of the Infantry Barracks; thence along the Western Enclosure Wall of the Infantry Barracks to the Northern Extremity thereof; thence along a Ditch which is the Boundary of the Ordnance Land to the Point at which the same reaches the South-western Angle of the Enclosure of the Artillery Barracks; thence along the Western Enclosure Wall of the Artillery Barracks; and along a Ditch in continuation of the Direction thereof, to the Point at which such Ditch meets a Road [the New Lodge Road] which leads from the Ballynure Road into the old Carrickfergus Road; thence along the Road so leading into the old Carrickfergus Road to the Point at which the same joins the old Carrickfergus Road; thence, Northward, along the old Carrickfergus Road to the Point at which the same meets the Mile Water [near Mountcollyer Street]; thence down the Mile Water to the Point at which the same joins the River Lagan; thence along the River Lagan to the Point first described; also beyond the Lagan, the Townland of Ballymacarrett."[1]

1868 boundaries

The Representation of the People (Ireland) Act 1868, provided that all that part of the Borough situate beyond the limits of the Parliamentary Borough as defined in 1832, but within the Municipal Limits, should form part of the Borough for all Purposes connected with the Election of a Member or Members to serve in Parliament for the Borough.[2] See Belfast Borough Extension Act 1853 (16 & 17 Vict.) c. 129, which defined the boundaries of the borough as follows:

"From the Northern Lighthouse on the Eastern Twin Island [near East Twin Road], Southward, in a straight Line to the Centre of the Bridge over Conn's Water on the Hollywood Railway [Connswater Bridge, near the junction of Connsbank Road with the Sydenham Bypass], thence Southward along the Boundary of the Townland of Ballymacarret to the Point at which the same meets the Boundary of the Townland of Ballynafoy [near Hillsborough Drive], thence Southward and Westward along the said Boundary of Ballynafoy to the Point at which the same meets the River Lagan [at the southern end of the Annadale Embankment], thence Westward along the River Lagan to the Centre of the Weir adjoining the Canal [near the eastern end of Laganvale Manor], thence Northward along the Canal to the First Lock [near the eastern end of Prince Edward Park, across Lockview Road], thence North-westward along the Road at the West Side of the River Lagan to the Point at which the same is crossed by the Old Belfast Watercourse, thence South- ward and Westward along the said Watercourse to a Brick Wall belonging to the Water Commissioners, thence Southward along the Fence which divides Mr. Batt's from Mr. Ward's Property, thence Westward along the Fence which divides Mr. Ward’s Property from Mr. Gilmore's and Mr. Batt’s Property to the Old Lisburn Road [the Malone Road], thence Northward about Fifty Yards on the Old Lisburn Road to the Fence of Mr. McQuiston's Property, thence Westward along the said Fence which divides Mr. McQuiston's Property from Mr. Honey's and Mr. Owden's Property to the Point at which the same meets the Blackstaff River [near the Boucher Road], thence North-westward in a straight Line to the Point at which the Old White Rock Road [now the Whiterock Road] meets the Falls Road, thence Westward along the Old White Rock Road to the Point at which the same meets the Cross Road [now Brittons Parade] close to the Fort, thence Northward along the said Cross Road to the Point at which the same meets the Boundary of the Townland of Ballymurphy [near Davitts GAC], thence North-westward along the said Boundary to the North-east Point of the said Boundary [near Lyndhurst Meadows], thence Northward in a straight line to the Centre of the Fort immediately behind the House of Mr. Moses Staunton [now Glencairn Clinic], thence North- eastward in a straight Line to the Point at which the Boundary of Ballysillan Lower meets the Forth River [near Forthriver Way], thence North-east- ward along the said Boundary to the North-east Point of the said Boundary at which the same meets a Stream [near Etna Drive], thence Eastward and Northward along the said Stream to the Point at which the said Stream crosses the [Oldpark] Road at Old Park Mills [now Cliftonville Circus], thence Northward and Eastward along the [Westland] Road to the South End of the House of Mr. John Beatty [on Old Westland Road], thence Eastward in a straight Line to the Eastern Angle of the Boundary of the Townland of Old Park [on Hughenden Avenue], thence Eastward in a straight line to the Point at which Buttermilk Lane [now Skegoneill Avenue] meets the Antrim Road, thence Eastward along Buttermilk Lane to the Point at which the same meets the Carrickfergus Road [York Road/Shore Road], thence Eastward in a straight Line to the Point first described."

The boundary is shown as 'Municipal Boundary' on the second edition of the Ordnance Survey maps of Ireland.

1885 division

In the redistribution of 1885 Belfast was further expanded (including parts of County Down as well as County Antrim) and split into four single member divisions; Belfast East, Belfast North, Belfast South and Belfast West.

Electoral system and electorate

The parliamentary representatives of the borough were elected using the bloc vote for two-member elections and first past the post for single-member ones.

Until 1832 the electorate were the members of Belfast Corporation (the local Council). This had long been resented by reformers as it made the constituency a pocket borough of the Marquess of Donegall.

In 1784 a petition was sent to the Parliament of Ireland.

"Your petitioners in the most humble and respectful manner, take leave to represent to your Hon House,

That Belfast is a large and populous town, containing above 15,000 inhabitants, carrying on a very extensive foreign commerce, as well as inland trade, and paying annually upwards of £80,000 towards the public revenue.

That this numerous body of people not being represented in your Hon House, are, contrary to the fundamental principle of the constitution, governed by laws to which they give no assent; for although the borough of Belfast sends two Members to parliament, yet those members are returned (under the immediate direction of a noble peer) by five or six Burgesses, in the appointment of whom your Petitioners have no share, and therefore the members so returned cannot in any sense, be deemed the Representatives of your Petitioners."

In such circumstances it is hardly surprising that there were no contested elections, for the United Kingdom Parliament, in the constituency until reform took place.

In 1832 the electorate was considerably extended by the Irish part of the Reform Act 1832. Boroughs in Ireland were given a uniform franchise for the first time. The vote was given to occupiers of land valued at least £10 and resident freemen by birth or servitude (descent from or apprenticeship to an existing freeman of the borough) or who were admitted before March 1831.

Members of Parliament
Election1st member1st party2nd member2nd party
1801 Sir (James) Edward May, Bt Tory
1802
1806
1807
1812
1814 by-election Stephen Edward May Tory
1816 by-election John Michel Tory
1818 Arthur Chichester Tory
1820 George Chichester Tory[3]
1826
1830 Sir Arthur Chichester, Bt Whig[4]
1831
1832 Lord Arthur Chichester Tory[4][5][6] James Emerson Tennent Whig[5][7]
1834 Conservative[4][5][6]
1835 John McCance Whig[4] Conservative[4][7]
1835 by-election George Dunbar Conservative[4]
1837 James Gibson Whig[4][8][9] George Chichester Whig[4][9]
1838 by-election George Dunbar Conservative [4] James Emerson Tennent Conservative[4][10]
1841 William Gillilan Johnson Conservative[4]
1842 by-election David Robert Ross Whig[4][10]
1845 by-election Lord John Chichester Conservative
1847 Robert James Tennent Whig[11][12] Peelite[11][12][13]
1852 Richard Davison Conservative Sir Hugh Cairns Conservative
1859
1860 by-election Samuel Gibson Getty Conservative
1865
1866 by-election Sir Charles Lanyon Conservative
1868 Thomas McClure Liberal William Johnston Conservative
1874 James Corry Conservative
1878 by-election William Ewart Conservative
1880
1885 constituency divided: see North, East, South and West divisions

Notes:

  • (1) Lord Arthur Chichester and James Emerson Tennent changed party allegiance in 1834 (from Liberal to Conservative).
  • (2) Lord John Ludford Chichester changed party allegiance by 1847 (part of Peelite faction).

Elections

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 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 1800s
Co-option 1 January 1801: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory James May Co-opted N/A N/A
Tory gain from new seat Swing N/A
General election 12 July 1802: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory James May Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 17 November 1806: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory James May Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 15 May 1807: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory James May Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1810s
General election 23 October 1812: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory James May Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Death of May
By-election 16 September 1814: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory James May Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Appointment of May as Collector of Customs in Belfast Port
By-election 3 May 1816: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Michel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 8 July 1818: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Arthur Chichester Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1820s
General election 16 March 1820: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Chichester Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 15 June 1826: Belfast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Chichester Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1830s
General election 6 August 1830: Belfast[4][13][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Arthur Chichester Unopposed
Registered electors 13
Whig gain from Tory
General election 20 May 1831: Belfast[4][13][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Arthur Chichester Unopposed
Registered electors 13
Whig hold
General election 21 December 1832: Belfast (2 seats)[4][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Arthur Chichester 834 29.8
Whig James Emerson Tennent 723 25.8
Whig Robert James Tennent 625 22.3
Radical William Sharman Crawford 616 22.0
Turnout 1,420 85.6
Registered electors 1,659
Majority 111 4.0
Tory win (new seat)
Majority 98 3.5
Whig hold

J. Emerson Tennent ceased to support Lord Grey in 1834 (see Emerson Tennent's article in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography).

General election 17 January 1835: Belfast (2 seats)[4][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Emerson Tennent 773 35.0 +9.2
Whig John McCance 719 32.6 +10.3
Conservative Arthur Chichester 713 32.3 +2.5
Radical John French 3 0.1 −21.9
Turnout 1,407 65.8 −19.8
Registered electors 2,137
Majority 54 2.4 −1.6
Conservative hold Swing +2.0
Majority 6 0.3 −3.2
Whig hold Swing −11.0

Note: Stooks Smith suggests there were 1,451 registered electors. Walker gives the electorate figure as above.

  • Death of McCance
By-election, 27 August 1835: Belfast[4][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Dunbar (MP) 162 66.4 −0.9
Whig Robert James Tennent 82 33.6 +1.0
Majority 80 32.8 +30.4
Turnout 244 9.9 −55.9
Registered electors 2,458
Conservative gain from Whig Swing −1.0

Note: Stooks Smith suggests there were 1,508 registered electors. Walker gives the electorate figure as above. Stooks Smith also indicates that 'Mr Tennent resigned in consequence of a decision of the Assessors'.

General election 5 August 1837: Belfast (2 seats)[4][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Gibson 941 25.9 +9.6
Whig George Chichester 922 25.4 +9.1
Conservative James Emerson Tennent 901 24.8 −10.2
Conservative George Dunbar (MP) 869 23.9 −8.4
Majority 21 0.6 +0.3
Turnout 1,836 50.4 −15.4
Registered electors 3,641
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +9.5
Whig hold Swing +9.2

Stooks Smith suggests there were 1,926 registered electors. Walker gives the electorate figure as above.

  • 8 March 1838: On petition Gibson and the Earl of Belfast were unseated and Emerson Tennent and Dunbar declared elected

Elections in the 1840s
General election 10 July 1841: Belfast (2 seats)[13][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Emerson Tennent 927 26.8 +2.0
Conservative William Gillilan Johnson 913 26.4 +2.5
Whig George Chichester 821 23.8 −1.6
Whig David Robert Ross 792 22.9 −3.0
Majority 92 2.6 N/A
Turnout 1,748 29.6 −20.8
Registered electors 5,907
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +2.2
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +2.4

Note: 1,740 electors voted. Stooks Smith suggests there were 1,937 registered electors. Walker gives the electorate figure as above.

  • On petition Emerson Tennent and Johnson unseated and new writ issued
By-election, 19 August 1842: Belfast (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig David Robert Ross 886 39.5 −7.2
Conservative James Emerson Tennent 859 38.3 +11.5
Conservative Hamilton Francis Chichester 500 22.3 −4.1
Turnout 1,123 (est) 26.5 (est) −3.1
Registered electors 4,234
Majority 27 1.2 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing −7.3
Majority 359 16.0 +13.4
Conservative hold Swing +7.6

Note: Stooks Smith comments that 'a compromise was entered into by which one of each party was to be returned'.

  • Resignation of Emerson Tennent
By-election, 20 August 1845: Belfast[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Chichester Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 9 August 1847: Belfast (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert James Tennent 929 39.3 −7.4
Peelite John Chichester 747 31.6 New
Conservative George Suffern 689 29.1 −24.1
Turnout 1,183 (est) 12.2 (est) −17.4
Registered electors 9,672
Majority 182 7.7 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +2.3
Majority 58 2.5 N/A
Peelite gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Elections in the 1850s
General election 13 July 1852: Belfast (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Davison 1,259 37.5 N/A
Conservative Hugh Cairns 1,193 35.5 N/A
Whig Robert James Tennent 904 26.9 −12.4
Majority 289 8.6 N/A
Turnout 2,130 (est.) 79.0 (est.) +66.8
Registered electors 2,697
Conservative gain from Peelite Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing N/A
General election 3 April 1857: Belfast (2 seats)[13][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Cairns 1,479 28.5 −7.0
Conservative Richard Davison 1,410 27.2 −10.3
Whig John Robinson McClean 995 19.2 N/A
Whig John Francis Ferguson 733 14.1 N/A
Whig Thomas McClure 566 10.9 N/A
Majority 415 8.0 −0.6
Turnout 2,592 (est.) 73.7 −5.3
Registered electors 3,518
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
By-election, 5 March 1858: Belfast[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Cairns Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 2 May 1859: Belfast (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Cairns Unopposed
Conservative Richard Davison Unopposed
Registered electors 3,303
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1860s
  • Resignation of Davison
By-election 15 June 1860: Belfast[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Samuel Gibson Getty Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 15 July 1865: Belfast (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Cairns 1,822 40.1 N/A
Conservative Samuel Gibson Getty 1,728 38.1 N/A
Liberal John Hay 991 21.8 New
Majority 737 16.3 N/A
Turnout 2,766 (est.) 81.0 (est.) N/A
Registered electors 3,415
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
By-election 13 July 1866: Belfast[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Cairns Unopposed
Registered electors 3,615
Conservative hold
  • Appointment of Cairns as Lord Justice of Appeal in Chancery (of England and Wales)
By-election 2 November 1866: Belfast[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Lanyon 1,263 99.0 N/A
Conservative William McMeechan 13 1.0 N/A
Majority 1,250 98.0 N/A
Turnout 1,276 35.3 −45.7
Registered electors 3,615
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 21 November 1868: Belfast (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Johnston 5,975 39.1 −1.0
Liberal Thomas McClure 4,202 27.5 −10.7
Conservative Charles Lanyon 3,540 23.1 +1.3
Conservative John Mulholland 1,580 10.3 N/A
Turnout 9,750 (est.) 80.1 (est.) −0.9
Registered electors 12,168
Majority 1,773 11.6 −4.7
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
Majority 662 4.4 N/A
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing −3.3

Elections in the 1870s
General election 5 February 1874: Belfast (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Corry 8,412 39.7 +16.6
Conservative William Johnston 8,176 38.6 −0.5
Liberal Thomas McClure 4,096 19.3 −8.2
Ind. Conservative John Rea (Irish politician) 506 2.4 New
Majority 4,080 19.3 +7.7
Turnout 12,896 (est.) 80.7 (est.) +0.6
Registered electors 15,979
Conservative hold Swing +10.4
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +1.8
  • Appointment of Johnston as Inspector of Fisheries
By-election 2 April 1878: Belfast[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Ewart 8,241 62.7 −15.6
Ind. Conservative Robert Seeds[17] 4,895 37.3 +34.9
Majority 3,346 25.4 +6.1
Turnout 13,136 65.7 −15.0
Registered electors 20,005
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1 April 1880: Belfast (2 seats)[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Ewart 8,132 30.1 −8.6
Conservative James Corry 7,683 28.4 −11.2
Ind. Conservative Robert Seeds[18] 6,119 22.6 +20.2
Liberal John Shaw Brown 5,122 18.9 −0.4
Majority 2,561 5.8 -13.5
Turnout 19,149 (est.) 90.4 (est.) +9.7
Registered electors 21,188
Conservative hold Swing −9.9
Conservative hold Swing −11.3
  • Constituency divided in the 1885 redistribution

See also

References
  1. Parliamentary Boundaries (Ireland) Act, 1832, Schedule, paragraph 4
  2. Section 9
  3. Farrell, Stephen. "CHICHESTER, George Hamilton, earl of Belfast (1797-1883), of Cowes, I.o.W. and 23 Arlington Street, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  4. Stooks Smith, Henry (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 216. Retrieved 19 August 2019 – via Google Books.
  5. "Mayo Constitution". 10 January 1833. p. 3. Retrieved 19 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Leeds Intelligencer". 27 December 1832. p. 2. Retrieved 19 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. Boase, George Clement (1898). "Tennent, James Emerson" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 56. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  8. Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer. pp. 98, 99. Retrieved 19 August 2019 – via Google Books.
  9. "Belfast Election". Drogheda Journal, or Meath & Louth Advertiser. 8 August 1837. p. 4. Retrieved 19 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Belfast Election". Sussex Advertiser. 23 August 1842. p. 1. Retrieved 19 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Irish Members Returned". Tipperary Vindicator. 14 August 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "The Irish Members". Dublin Weekly Nation. 14 August 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. Walker, B. M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.
  14. Farrell, Stephen. "Belfast". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  15. Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons, Volume 50. 1843. Retrieved 25 August 2019 – via Google Books.
  16. "Irish Elections". Freeman's Journal. 21 March 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Belfast Election". Falkirk Herald. 4 April 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. "Dr Seeds". Northern Whig. 20 March 1880. p. 4. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  • The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844-50), 2nd 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)
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