List of United Kingdom by-elections (1868–1885)

This is a list of parliamentary by-elections in the United Kingdom held between 1868 and 1885, with the names of the previous incumbent and the victor in the by-election and their respective parties. Where seats changed political party at the election, the result is highlighted: light blue for a Conservative gain, orange for a Liberal (including Liberal-Labour and Liberal/Crofter) gain, light green for a Home Government Association (1870–1873), Home Rule League (1873–1882) or Irish Parliamentary Party (from 1882) gain and grey for any other gain.

Resignations
See Resignation from the British House of Commons for more details.

Where the cause of by-election is given as "resignation" or "seeks re-election", this indicates that the incumbent was appointed on his own request to an "office of profit under the Crown", either the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Steward of the Manor of Northstead. These appointments are made as a constitutional device for leaving the House of Commons, whose Members are not permitted to resign.

By-elections

22nd Parliament (1880–1885)

By-electionDateFormer incumbentPartyWinnerPartyCause
Horsham 16 July 1885[22 1] Sir Henry Fletcher Conservative Sir Henry Fletcher Conservative Groom in Waiting[22 2]
Aylesbury 16 July 1885 Sir Nathan Rothschild Liberal Ferdinand James de Rothschild Liberal Elevation to a peerage
Chatham 11 July 1885[22 1] John Eldon Gorst Conservative Sir John Eldon Gorst Conservative Solicitor General for England and Wales[22 2]
North Lincolnshire 10 July 1885 Rowland Winn Conservative Henry Atkinson Conservative Resignation and Elevation to a peerage
Brighton 10 July 1885[22 1] William Thackeray Marriott Conservative William Thackeray Marriott Conservative Judge Advocate General[22 2]
Down 8 July 1885 Lord Arthur Hill Conservative Lord Arthur Hill Conservative Comptroller of the Household[22 2]
West Kent 6 July 1885[22 1] Viscount Lewisham Conservative Viscount Lewisham Conservative Vice-Chamberlain of the Household[22 2]
East Devon 4 July 1885[22 1] William Hood Walrond Conservative William Hood Walrond Conservative Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[22 2]
Bute 3 July 1885[22 1] Charles Dalrymple Conservative Charles Dalrymple Conservative Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[22 2]
South Wiltshire 3 July 1885[22 1] Viscount Folkestone Conservative Viscount Folkestone Conservative Treasurer of the Household[22 2]
Middlesex 3 July 1885[22 1] Lord George Hamilton Conservative Lord George Hamilton Conservative First Lord of the Admiralty[22 2]
Woodstock 3 July 1885 Lord Randolph Churchill Conservative Lord Randolph Churchill Conservative Secretary of State for India[22 2]
North Leicestershire 2 July 1885[22 1] Lord John Manners Conservative Lord John Manners Conservative Postmaster General[22 2]
North Lancashire 2 July 1885[22 1] Frederick Stanley Conservative Frederick Stanley Conservative Secretary of State for the Colonies[22 2]
Mid Kent 2 July 1885[22 1] Sir William Hart Dyke Conservative Sir William Hart Dyke Conservative Chief Secretary for Ireland[22 2]
North Devon 2 July 1885[22 1] Sir Stafford Northcote Conservative John Moore-Stevens Conservative First Lord of the Treasury[22 2] and elevation to a peerage
Wilton 2 July 1885[22 1] Sidney Herbert Conservative Sidney Herbert Conservative Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[22 2]
Wakefield 2 July 1885[22 3] Robert Bownas Mackie Liberal Edward Green Conservative Death
Dublin University 1 July 1885[22 1] David Plunket Conservative David Plunket Conservative First Commissioner of Works[22 2]
Edward Gibson Conservative Hugh Holmes Conservative Lord Chancellor of Ireland[22 2]
Mid Lincolnshire 1 July 1885[22 1] Henry Chaplin Conservative Henry Chaplin Conservative Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[22 2]
Edward Stanhope Conservative Edward Stanhope Conservative President of the Board of Trade[22 2]
South West Lancashire 1 July 1885[22 1] Richard Assheton Cross Conservative Richard Assheton Cross Conservative Home Secretary[22 2]
East Gloucestershire 1 July 1885[22 1] Sir Michael Hicks-Beach Conservative Sir Michael Hicks-Beach Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer[22 2]
Launceston 1 July 1885 Sir Hardinge Giffard Conservative Richard Everard Webster Conservative Hereditary Peerage on appointment as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain[22 2]
Eye 1 July 1885 Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett Conservative Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett Conservative Civil Lord of the Admiralty[22 2]
Hertford 30 June 1885[22 1] Arthur James Balfour Conservative Arthur James Balfour Conservative President of the Local Government Board[22 2]
Westminster 29 June 1885[22 1] William Henry Smith Conservative William Henry Smith Conservative Secretary of State for War[22 2]
Denbighshire 27 May 1885[22 1] Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Conservative Sir Herbert Williams-Wynn Conservative Death
Antrim 21 May 1885[22 4] James Chaine Conservative William Pirrie Sinclair Liberal Death
Glasgow 12 March 1885[22 1] George Anderson Liberal Thomas Russell Liberal Resignation
West Gloucestershire 10 March 1885[22 4] Robert Kingscote Liberal Benjamin St John Ackers Conservative Resignation (Commissioners of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues)
Mid Somerset 4 March 1885[22 1] William Gore-Langton Conservative John Wingfield-Digby Conservative Resignation
Tipperary 12 January 1885[22 1] Patrick James Smyth Irish Parliamentary John O'Connor Irish Parliamentary Resignation (Secretary to the Irish Loan Fund Board)
Knaresborough 9 December 1884 Thomas Collins Conservative Robert Gunter Conservative Death
Down 27 November 1884 Viscount Castlereagh Conservative Richard William Blackwood Ker Conservative Succession to a peerage
Greenock 26 November 1884 James Stewart Liberal Thomas Sutherland Liberal Resignation
Scarborough 26 November 1884 William Sproston Caine Liberal William Sproston Caine Liberal Civil Lord of the Admiralty[22 2]
Hackney 19 November 1884 Henry Fawcett Liberal James Stuart Liberal Death
South Warwickshire 7 November 1884[22 4] Gilbert Leigh Liberal Sampson Samuel Lloyd Conservative Death
Scarborough 3 November 1884 John George Dodson Liberal Richard Fell Steble Liberal Resignation and Elevation to a peerage
Stirling Burghs 31 October 1884[22 1] Henry Campbell-Bannerman Liberal Henry Campbell-Bannerman Liberal Chief Secretary for Ireland[22 2]
Radnor Boroughs 30 October 1884[22 1] Samuel Williams Liberal Charles Rogers Liberal Resignation
Waterford County 25 August 1884[22 1] John Aloysius Blake Irish Parliamentary Patrick Joseph Power Irish Parliamentary Resignation
Ross and Cromarty 19 August 1884 Sir Alexander Matheson Liberal Ronald Munro Ferguson Liberal Reignation
South Devon 14 August 1884[22 1] John Carpenter Garnier Conservative John Tremayne Conservative Resignation
North Warwickshire 30 June 1884 William Bromley-Davenport Conservative Philip Alfred Muntz Conservative Death
Leicester 27 June 1884[22 1] Peter Alfred Taylor Liberal James Allanson Picton Liberal Resignation
Mid Surrey 20 June 1884 Sir Henry Peek Conservative Sir John Ellis Conservative Resignation
South Hampshire 20 June 1884 Lord Henry Scott Conservative Sir Frederick Fitzwygram Conservative Resignation
Athlone 14 June 1884[22 1][22 4] Sir John James Ennis Liberal Justin Huntly McCarthy Irish Parliamentary Death
Lincoln 14 June 1884 John Hinde Palmer Liberal Joseph Ruston Liberal Death
Mid Kent 15 May 1884[22 1] Sir Edmund Filmer Conservative John Gathorne-Hardy Conservative Resignation
Poole 17 April 1884 Charles Schreiber Conservative William James Harris Conservative Death
Huntingdon 21 March 1884 Viscount Hichingbrooke Conservative Sir Robert Peel Conservative Succession to a peerage
Cambridgeshire 20 March 1884[22 4] Henry Brand Liberal Arthur Thornhill Conservative Elevation to a peerage
Brighton 1 March 1884[22 3] William Thackeray Marriott Liberal William Thackeray Marriott Conservative Resignation to seek re-election for new party
South Lincolnshire 21 February 1884[22 1] Sir William Welby-Gregory Conservative Murray Finch-Hatton Conservative Resignation
Meath 23 February 1884[22 1] Robert Henry Metge Irish Parliamentary William Meagher Irish Parliamentary Resignation
Cork City 23 February 1884 John Daly Irish Parliamentary John Deasy Irish Parliamentary Resignation
West Norfolk 21 February 1884[22 1] George Bentinck Conservative Clare Sewell Read Conservative Resignation
Northampton 19 February 1884 Charles Bradlaugh Liberal Charles Bradlaugh Liberal Resignation to seek re-election
Paisley 15 February 1884 William Holms Liberal Stewart Clark Liberal Resignation
West Somerset 15 February 1884 Mordaunt Bisset Conservative Charles Isaac Elton Conservative Resignation
Londonderry County 12 January 1884[22 1] Andrew Marshall Porter Liberal Samuel Walker Liberal Resignation (Master of the Rolls in Ireland)
Wigan 21 December 1883[22 1] Thomas Knowles Conservative Nathaniel Eckersley Conservative Death
Ipswich 12 December 1883[22 3] Thomas Clement Cobbold Conservative Henry Wyndham West Liberal Death
York 22 November 1883[22 5] Joseph Johnson Leeman Liberal Sir Frederick Milner Conservative Death
Limerick City 16 November 1883 Richard O'Shaughnessy Irish Parliamentary Edward McMahon Irish Parliamentary Resignation (Registrar of Petty Sessions Clerks in Ireland)
Manchester 4 October 1883 Hugh Birley Conservative William Houldsworth Conservative Death
Rutland 31 August 1883 Gerard Noel Conservative James Lowther Conservative Resignation
East Essex 25 August 1883[22 1] Samuel Ruggles-Brise Conservative Charles Hedley Strutt Conservative Resignation
Sligo County 18 August 1883 Denis Maurice O'Conor Irish Parliamentary Nicholas Lynch Irish Parliamentary Death
Wexford Borough 17 July 1883[22 1] Timothy Michael Healy Irish Parliamentary Willie Redmond Irish Parliamentary Resignation to contest Monaghan
Monaghan 30 June 1883[22 4] John Givan Liberal Timothy Michael Healy Irish Parliamentary Resignation (Crown Solicitor for the counties of Meath and Kildare)
Hastings 29 June 1883[22 3] Charles James Murray Conservative Henry Bret Ince Liberal Resignation
Peterborough 22 June 1883 Hampden Whalley Liberal Sir Sydney Buxton Liberal Resignation
North Leicestershire 18 June 1883[22 1] Edwyn Sherard Burnaby Conservative Montagu Curzon Conservative Death
Wexford County 15 June 1883[22 1] Garrett Michael Byrne Irish Parliamentary John Francis Small Irish Parliamentary Resignation
Derby 12 June 1883[22 1] Michael Thomas Bass Liberal Thomas Roe Liberal Resignation
Southampton 7 April 1883[22 1][22 3] Charles Parker Butt Liberal Alfred Giles Conservative Resignation (Judge of High Court)
Tipperary 23 March 1883[22 1] John Dillon Irish Parliamentary Thomas Mayne Irish Parliamentary Resignation
Mid Cheshire 14 March 1883 Wilbraham Egerton Conservative Alan Egerton Conservative Succession to a peerage
Wycombe 10 March 1883 William Carington Liberal Gerard Smith Liberal Resignation
Portarlington 28 February 1883 Bernard FitzPatrick Conservative Robert French-Brewster Conservative Succession to a peerage
Westmeath 27 February 1883[22 1] Henry Joseph Gill Irish Parliamentary Timothy Charles Harrington Irish Parliamentary Resignation
Dublin County 27 February 1883 Thomas Edward Taylor Conservative Edward King-Harman Conservative Death
Newcastle upon Tyne 24 February 1883 Ashton Wentworth Dilke Liberal John Morley Liberal Resignation
Haddingtonshire 5 February 1883 Francis, Lord Elcho Conservative Hugo, Lord Elcho Conservative Succession to a peerage
Mallow 24 January 1883[22 4] William Moore Johnson Liberal William O'Brien Irish Parliamentary Resignation (Judge of High Court in Ireland)
Chelsea 11 January 1883[22 1] Sir Charles Dilke Liberal Sir Charles Dilke Liberal President of the Local Government Board[22 2]
Liverpool 8 December 1882[22 4] Viscount Sandon Conservative Samuel Smith Liberal Succession to a peerage
Wigan 2 December 1882 Francis Powell Conservative Algernon Egerton Conservative Void election
Cambridge University 23–28 November 1882 Spencer Horatio Walpole Conservative Henry Cecil Raikes Conservative Resignation
Preston 23 November 1882 Henry Cecil Raikes Conservative William Tomlinson Conservative Resignation to contest Cambridge University
Salisbury 20 November 1882[22 5] William Grenfell Liberal Coleridge John Kennard Conservative Groom in Waiting[22 2]
Ennis 14 November 1882 James Lysaght Finegan Irish Parliamentary Matthew Joseph Kenny Irish Parliamentary Resignation
Edinburgh 3 November 1882 James Cowan Liberal Samuel Danks Waddy Liberal Resignation
Haddington Burghs 22 August 1882 Sir David Wedderburn Liberal Alexander Craig Sellar Liberal Resignation
Halifax 21 August 1882[22 1] John Dyson Hutchinson Liberal Thomas Shaw Liberal Resignation
Banffshire 19 June 1882[22 1] Robert William Duff Liberal Robert William Duff Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[22 2]
Hawick Burghs 18 May 1882[22 1] George Otto Trevelyan Liberal George Otto Trevelyan Liberal Chief Secretary for Ireland[22 2]
Northern West Riding of Yorkshire 18 May 1882 Lord Frederick Cavendish Liberal Isaac Holden Liberal Chief Secretary for Ireland[22 2][22 6]
West Somerset 26 April 1882[22 1] Vaughan Lee Conservative Edward James Stanley Conservative Resignation
Meath 17 April 1882[22 1] Michael Davitt Home Rule Edward Sheil Home Rule Disqualification
East Cornwall 31 March 1882 Thomas Agar-Robartes Liberal Thomas Dyke Acland Liberal Succession to a peerage
Caernarvon Boroughs 28 March 1882 William Bulkeley Hughes Liberal Love Jones-Parry Liberal Death
Malmesbury 7 March 1882 Walter Powell Conservative Charles William Miles Conservative Presumed death[1]
Northampton 2 March 1882 Charles Bradlaugh Liberal Charles Bradlaugh Liberal Expulsion
Meath 24 February 1882[22 1] Alexander Martin Sullivan Home Rule Michael Davitt Home Rule Resignation
Taunton 16 February 1882 Sir William Palliser Conservative Samuel Charles Allsopp Conservative Death
Westminster 10 February 1882[22 1] Sir Charles Russell Conservative Lord Algernon Percy Conservative Resignation
Preston 2 February 1882 Sir John Holker Conservative Henry Cecil Raikes Conservative Resignation
North Riding of Yorkshire 24 January 1882 Viscount Helmsley Conservative Guy Cuthbert Dawnay Conservative Death
Carmarthen Boroughs 7 January 1882[22 1] Benjamin Thomas Williams Liberal John Jones Jenkins Liberal Resignation (county court Judge)
Londonderry County 6 December 1881 Hugh Law Liberal Andrew Marshall Porter Liberal Lord Chancellor of Ireland[22 2]
Stafford 19 November 1881[22 5] Alexander Macdonald Lib-Lab Thomas Salt Conservative Died
Tiverton 14 November 1881 William Nathaniel Massey Liberal Viscount Ebrington Liberal Died
Berwick-upon-Tweed 26 October 1881 Sir Dudley Marjoribanks Liberal Hubert Jerningham Liberal Elevation to a peerage
Tyrone 7 September 1881 Edward Falconer Litton Liberal Thomas Alexander Dickson Liberal Resignation (Land Commissioner)
Cambridgeshire 7 September 1881[22 1] Benjamin Rodwell Conservative James Redfoord Bulwer Conservative Resignation
North Durham 2 September 1881[22 4] John Joicey Liberal Sir George Elliot Conservative Died
North Lincolnshire 1 September 1881[22 4] Robert Laycock Liberal James Lowther Conservative Died
Elgin Burghs 27 August 1881[22 1] Alexander Asher Liberal Alexander Asher Liberal Solicitor General for Scotland[22 2]
Edinburgh 24 August 1881[22 1] John McLaren Liberal Thomas Buchanan Liberal Resignation (Judge of the Court of Session)
Leeds 24 August 1881[22 1] Herbert John Gladstone Liberal Herbert John Gladstone Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[22 2]
Elgin Burghs 15 July 1881[22 1] M. E. Grant Duff Liberal Alexander Asher Liberal Resignation (Governor of Madras
Preston 20 May 1881 Edward Hermon Conservative William Farrer Ecroyd Conservative Death
Knaresborough 12 May 1881[22 4] Sir Henry Meysey-Thompson Liberal Thomas Collins Conservative Void election
West Cheshire 22 April 1881 Sir Philip Grey Egerton Conservative Henry James Tollemache Conservative Death
Sunderland 12 April 1881[22 1] Sir Henry Havelock-Allan Liberal Samuel Storey Liberal Resignation
St Ives 11 April 1881[22 7] Sir Charles Reed Liberal Charles Campbell Ross Conservative Died
Northampton 9 April 1881 Charles Bradlaugh Liberal Charles Bradlaugh Liberal Voted before taking Oath
Coventry 12 March 1881[22 3] Sir Henry Jackson Liberal Henry Eaton Conservative Resignation
East Cumberland 26 February 1881[22 4] Sir Richard Musgrave Conservative George Howard Liberal Death
South Northamptonshire 15 February 1881[22 1] Fairfax Cartwright Conservative Pickering Phipps Conservative Death
New Ross 31 January 1881[22 1] Joseph William Foley Home Rule John Edward Redmond Home Rule Resignation
Edinburgh 27 January 1881 Duncan McLaren Liberal John McLaren Liberal Resignation
Wigan 18 January 1881[22 8] Lord Lindsay Conservative Francis Powell Conservative Succession to a peerage
Kendal 16 December 1880 John Whitwell Liberal James Cropper Liberal Death
Reading 15 December 1880[22 1] George John Shaw-Lefevre Liberal George John Shaw-Lefevre Liberal First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings[22 2]
Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire 1 December 1880[22 1] William Patrick Adam Liberal John Balfour Liberal Resignation (Governor of Madras)
Renfrewshire 30 November 1880[22 1] William Mure Liberal Alexander Crum Liberal Death
Caernarvonshire 30 November 1880 Charles James Watkin Williams Liberal William Rathbone Liberal Resignation (Judge of Queen's Bench Division of High Court)
Wexford Borough 26 November 1880[22 1] William Archer Redmond Home Rule Timothy Michael Healy Home Rule Death
Liverpool 6 August 1880[22 4] Lord Ramsay Liberal Lord Claud Hamilton Conservative Succession to a peerage
Wigtown Burghs 30 July 1880 Mark John Stewart Conservative Sir John Dalrymple-Hay Conservative Void election
Scarborough 30 July 1880 Sir Harcourt Johnstone Liberal John George Dodson Liberal Resignation
Berwick-upon-Tweed 19 July 1880[22 7] Henry Strutt Liberal David Milne Home Conservative Succession to a peerage
Lichfield 15 July 1880 Richard Dyott Conservative Theophilus John Levett Conservative Void election
Bewdley 12 July 1880 Charles Harrison Liberal Enoch Baldwin Liberal Void election
Tewkesbury 9 July 1880 William Edwin Price Liberal Richard Biddulph Martin Liberal Void election
Plymouth 8 July 1880 Edward Bates Conservative Edward George Clarke Conservative Void election
Evesham 8 July 1880[22 9] Daniel Rowlinson Ratcliff Liberal Frederick Lehmann Liberal Void election
Liberal Frederick Dixon-Hartland Conservative By-election result reversed on petition (1881)
Bute 3 July 1880[22 3] Thomas Russell Liberal Charles Dalrymple Conservative Void election
Gravesend 1 July 1880 Thomas Bevan Liberal Sir Sydney Waterlow Liberal Void election
Wallingford 30 June 1880 Walter Wren Liberal Pandeli Ralli Liberal Void election
Bandon 25 June 1880[22 4] Percy Bernard Conservative Richard Lane Allman Liberal Resignation in exchange for withdrawal of election petition
Dungannon 25 June 1880 Thomas Alexander Dickson Liberal James Dickson Liberal Void election
London University 3 June 1880[22 1] Robert Lowe Liberal Sir John Lubbock Liberal Elevation to the peerage
Mayo 31 May 1880[22 1] Charles Stewart Parnell Home Rule Isaac Nelson Home Rule Chose to sit for Cork
Louth 31 May 1880[22 1] Alexander Martin Sullivan Home Rule Henry Bellingham Home Rule Resignation to contest Meath
Derby 26 May 1880[22 1] Samuel Plimsoll Liberal William Vernon Harcourt Liberal Resignation
Wycombe 26 May 1880[22 1] William Carington Liberal William Carington Liberal Groom in Waiting[22 2]
Meath 22 May 1880[22 1] Charles Stewart Parnell Home Rule Alexander Martin Sullivan Home Rule Chose to sit for Cork
Londonderry County 21 May 1880[22 1] Hugh Law Liberal Hugh Law Liberal Attorney General for Ireland[22 2]
Sandwich 18 May 1880[22 10] Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen Liberal Charles Henry Compton Roberts Conservative Resignation and Elevation to the peerage
Wigtown Burghs 18 May 1880[22 4] John McLaren Liberal Mark John Stewart Conservative Lord Advocate[22 2]
Mallow 17 May 1880 William Moore Johnson Liberal William Moore Johnson Liberal Solicitor General for Ireland[22 2]
North East Lancashire 17 May 1880[22 1] Marquess of Hartington Liberal Marquess of Hartington Liberal Secretary of State for India[22 2]
Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire 14 May 1880[22 1] William Patrick Adam Liberal William Patrick Adam Liberal First Commissioner of Works[22 2]
Denbighshire 14 May 1880[22 1] George Osborne Morgan Liberal George Osborne Morgan Liberal Judge Advocate General[22 2]
Radnor Boroughs 14 May 1880 Marquess of Hartington Liberal Samuel Williams Liberal Double Election, Chose to sit for North East Lancashire
Haverfordwest Boroughs 12 May 1880[22 1] The Lord Kensington Liberal The Lord Kensington Liberal Comptroller of the Household[22 2]
Midlothian 10 May 1880[22 1] William Ewart Gladstone Liberal William Ewart Gladstone Liberal Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer[22 2]
Shrewsbury 10 May 1880[22 1] Charles Cecil Cotes Liberal Charles Cecil Cotes Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[22 2]
Leeds 10 May 1880[22 1] William Ewart Gladstone Liberal Herbert Gladstone Liberal Double Election, chose to sit for Midlothian
Hastings 10 May 1880[22 1] Thomas Brassey Liberal Thomas Brassey Liberal Civil Lord of the Admiralty[22 2]
Durham City 10 May 1880[22 1] Farrer Herschell Liberal Farrer Herschell Liberal Solicitor General for England and Wales[22 2]
Taunton 8 May 1880[22 1] Sir Henry James Liberal Sir Henry James Liberal Attorney General for England and Wales[22 2]
Sheffield 8 May 1880[22 1] Anthony John Mundella Liberal Anthony John Mundella Liberal Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education[22 2]
Pontefract 8 May 1880[22 1] Hugh Childers Liberal Hugh Childers Liberal Secretary of State for War[22 2]
Oxford 8 May 1880[22 8] William Vernon Harcourt Liberal Alexander William Hall Conservative Home Secretary[22 2]
Nottingham 8 May 1880[22 1] John Skirrow Wright Liberal Arnold Morley Liberal Death
Marlborough 8 May 1880[22 1] Lord Charles Bruce Liberal Lord Charles Bruce Liberal Vice-Chamberlain of the Household[22 2]
Kidderminster 8 May 1880[22 1] John Brinton Liberal John Brinton Liberal Sought re-election to preempt election petition
Chester 8 May 1880[22 1][22 8] John George Dodson Liberal John George Dodson Liberal President of the Local Government Board[22 2]
Bradford 8 May 1880[22 1] William Edward Forster Liberal William Edward Forster Liberal Chief Secretary for Ireland[22 2]
Birmingham 8 May 1880[22 1] John Bright Liberal John Bright Liberal Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[22 2]
Joseph Chamberlain Liberal Joseph Chamberlain Liberal President of the Board of Trade[22 2]
Bath 8 May 1880[22 1] Sir Arthur Divett Hayter Liberal Sir Arthur Divett Hayter Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[22 2]
Hackney 7 May 1880[22 1] Henry Fawcett Liberal Henry Fawcett Liberal Postmaster General[22 2]
John Holms Liberal John Holms Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[22 2]
  1. An uncontested by-election.
  2. Seat vacated on appointment to the office noted.
  3. Gain retained at the 1885 general election.
  4. Constituency abolished November 1885, so gain was not retained.
  5. Gain not retained at the 1885 general election.
  6. Former MP assassinated after the writ was moved.
  7. Borough constituency abolished November 1885. Gain not retained, in the county constituency of the same name, at the 1885 general election.
  8. By-election voided and writ suspended
  9. Borough constituency abolished November 1885. Gain retained, in the county constituency of the same name, at the 1885 general election.
  10. By-election voided and writ suspended. Constituency abolished in June 1885

21st Parliament (1874–1880)

By-electionDateFormer IncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCause
West Norfolk 8 March 1880[21 1] Sir William Bagge Conservative William Tyssen-Amherst Conservative Death
Drogheda 2 March 1880 William Hagarty O'Leary Home Rule Benjamin Whitworth Home Rule Death
Kilkenny City 27 February 1880[21 1] Benjamin Whitworth Home Rule John Francis Smithwick Home Rule Resignation in order to contest Drogheda
Southwark 13 February 1880[21 2] John Locke Liberal Edward George Clarke Conservative Death
Barnstaple 12 February 1880 Samuel Danks Waddy Liberal Viscount Lymington Liberal Resignation in order to contest Sheffield
Liverpool 6 February 1880 John Torr Conservative Edward Whitley Conservative Death
Sheffield 22 December 1879 John Arthur Roebuck Liberal Samuel Danks Waddy Liberal Death
Donegal 15 December 1879[21 3] William Wilson Conservative Thomas Lea Liberal Death
Elginshire and Nairnshire 17 September 1879 Viscount Macduff Liberal Sir George Macpherson-Grant Liberal Succession to a peerage
Ennis 26 July 1879 William Stacpoole Home Rule James Lysaght Finegan Home Rule Death
Glasgow 16 July 1879[21 1][21 3] Alexander Whitelaw Conservative Charles Clow Tennant Liberal Death
Limerick City 23 May 1879 Isaac Butt Home Rule Daniel Fitzgerald Gabbett Home Rule Death
Clare 15 May 1879 Bryan O'Loghlen Home Rule James Patrick Mahon Home Rule Resignation (Attorney General of the Colony of Victoria)
Canterbury 8 May 1879 Lewis Majendie Conservative Robert Peter Laurie Conservative Resignation
East Cumberland 25 April 1879[21 1] Charles Howard Liberal George Howard Liberal Death
Cockermouth 16 April 1879 Isaac Fletcher Liberal William Fletcher Liberal Death
Longford 5 April 1879[21 1] Myles William O'Reilly Home Rule Justin McCarthy Home Rule Resignation (Assistant Commissioner of Intermediate Education in Ireland)
East Somerset 19 March 1879[21 1] Ralph Shuttleworth Allen Conservative Lord Brooke Conservative Resignation
Haddington Burghs 25 February 1879 Lord William Hay Liberal Sir David Wedderburn Liberal Succession to a peerage
South Warwickshire 21 February 1879[21 1] Earl of Yarmouth Conservative Earl of Yarmouth Conservative Comptroller of the Household[21 4]
Cork County 17 February 1879 McCarthy Downing Home Rule David la Touche Colthurst Home Rule Death
Cambridgeshire 30 January 1879[21 1] Elliot Yorke Conservative Edward Hicks Conservative Death
North Norfolk 21 January 1879 James Duff Conservative Edward Birkbeck Conservative Death
Londonderry County 18 December 1878 Richard Smyth Liberal Sir Thomas McClure Liberal Death
New Ross 17 December 1878[21 2] John Dunbar Home Rule Charles George Tottenham Conservative Death
Bristol 14 December 1878 Kirkman Daniel Hodgson Liberal Lewis Fry Liberal Resignation
Maldon 11 December 1878[21 3] George Sandford Conservative George Courtauld Liberal Resignation
Peterborough 29 October 1878 George Hammond Whalley Liberal John Wentworth-FitzWilliam Liberal Death
Truro 26 September 1878 Sir Frederick Williams Conservative Arthur Tremayne Conservative Death
Argyllshire 27 August 1878 Marquess of Lorne Liberal Lord Colin Campbell Liberal Resignation
Newcastle-under-Lyme 23 August 1878[21 2] Sir Edmund Buckley Conservative Samuel Rathbone Edge Liberal Resignation
Boston 12 August 1878[21 1] John Malcolm Conservative Thomas Garfit Conservative Resignation in order to contest Argyllshire
Haddington Burghs 3 August 1878 Sir Henry Ferguson Davie Liberal Lord William Hay Liberal Resignation
Flint Boroughs 5 July 1878 Peter Ellis Eyton Liberal John Roberts Liberal Death
Middlesbrough 4 July 1878 Henry Bolckow Liberal Isaac Wilson Liberal Death
Rochester 14 June 1878 Philip Wykeham Martin Liberal Arthur Otway Liberal Death
Southampton 14 June 1878 Russell Gurney Conservative Alfred Giles Conservative Death
Down 17 May 1878[21 3] James Sharman Crawford Liberal Viscount Castlereagh Conservative Death
Reading 17 May 1878 Sir Francis Goldsmid Liberal George Palmer Liberal Death
West Kent 15 May 1878[21 1] John Gilbert Talbot Conservative Viscount Lewisham Conservative Resignation in order to contest Oxford University
Oxford University 13–17 May 1878 Gathorne Hardy Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Conservative Elevation to the peerage
Carmarthen Boroughs 11 May 1878[21 1] Sir Arthur Cowell-Stepney Liberal Benjamin Thomas Williams Liberal Resignation
North Staffordshire 24 April 1878[21 1] Charles Adderley Conservative Robert William Hanbury Conservative Elevation to the peerage
Tamworth 24 April 1878[21 3] Robert William Hanbury Conservative Hamar Alfred Bass Liberal Resignation in order to contest North Staffordshire
South Northumberland 17 April 1878[21 5] Lord Eslington Conservative Edward Ridley Conservative Succession to a peerage
Conservative Albert Grey Liberal
Middlesex 12 April 1878[21 1] Lord George Hamilton Conservative Lord George Hamilton Conservative Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education[21 4]
North Lancashire 8 April 1878[21 1] Frederick Stanley Conservative Frederick Stanley Conservative Secretary of State for War[21 4]
Belfast 2 April 1878 William Johnston Conservative William Ewart Conservative Resignation (Inspector of Fisheries in Ireland)
Worcester 28 March 1878[21 2] Alexander Clunes Sheriff Liberal John Derby Allcroft Conservative Death
East Somerset 20 March 1878[21 1] Richard Bright Conservative Sir Philip Miles Conservative Death
Mid Somerset 19 March 1878[21 1] Ralph Neville-Grenville Conservative William Gore-Langton Conservative Resignation
Hereford 14 March 1878 Evan Pateshall Conservative George Arbuthnot Conservative Resignation
Cirencester 12 March 1878 Allen Bathurst Conservative Thomas William Chester-Master Conservative Succession to a peerage
Canterbury 2 March 1878[21 1] Henry Munro-Butler-Johnstone Conservative Alfred Gathorne-Hardy Conservative Resignation
York 20 February 1878[21 1] James Lowther Conservative James Lowther Conservative Chief Secretary for Ireland[21 4]
Oxfordshire 5 February 1878[21 1] Joseph Warner Henley Conservative Edward William Harcourt Conservative Resignation
Perthshire 2 February 1878 Sir William Stirling-Maxwell Conservative Henry Edward Home-Drummond-Moray Conservative Death
Marlborough 31 January 1878[21 1] Lord Ernest Brudenell-Bruce Liberal Lord Charles Brudenell-Bruce Liberal Succession to a peerage
Perth 29 January 1878 Arthur Kinnaird Liberal Charles Stuart Parker Liberal Succession to a peerage
Leith Burghs 29 January 1878 Donald Robert Macgregor Liberal Andrew Grant Liberal Resignation
Greenock 25 January 1878 James Johnston Grieve Liberal James Stewart Liberal Resignation
Clare 13 August 1877 Sir Colman O'Loghlen Home Rule Sir Bryan O'Loghlen Home Rule Death
North Northamptonshire 13 August 1877 George Ward Hunt Conservative Sackville Stopford-Sackville Conservative Death
Westminster 11 August 1877[21 1] William Henry Smith Conservative William Henry Smith Conservative First Lord of the Admiralty[21 4]
South Shropshire 10 August 1877[21 1] Edward Corbett Conservative Sir Baldwyn Leighton Conservative Resignation
Great Grimsby 1 August 1877[21 3] John Chapman Conservative Alfred Watkin Liberal Death
Huntingdonshire 29 June 1877 Henry Carstairs Pelly Conservative Viscount Mandeville Conservative Death
Dungarvan 23 June 1877 John O'Keeffe Home Rule Frank Hugh O'Donnell Home Rule Death
Tipperary 15 May 1877 William Frederick Ormond O'Callaghan Home Rule Edmund Dwyer Gray Home Rule Death
Montgomery Boroughs 15 May 1877 Hon. Charles Hanbury-Tracy Liberal Hon. Frederick Hanbury-Tracy Liberal Succession to a peerage
Salford 19 April 1877 Charles Edward Cawley Conservative Oliver Ormerod Walker Conservative Death
Launceston 3 March 1877 James Henry Deakin (junior) Conservative Sir Hardinge Stanley Giffard Conservative Resignation
Oldham 1 March 1877[21 3] John Morgan Cobbett Conservative John Tomlinson Hibbert Liberal Death
Halifax 20 February 1877 John Crossley Liberal John Dyson Hutchinson Liberal Resignation
Wilton 19 February 1877[21 3] Sir Edmund Antrobus Liberal Hon. Sidney Herbert Conservative Resignation
Dublin University 13 February 1877[21 1] Edward Gibson Conservative Edward Gibson Conservative Attorney-General for Ireland[21 4]
Waterford County 20 January 1877 Sir John Esmonde Home Rule James Delahunty Home Rule Death
Sligo County 12 January 1877[21 1] Sir Robert Gore-Booth Conservative Edward Robert King-Harman Conservative Death
Liskeard 22 December 1876 Edward Horsman Liberal Leonard Courtney Liberal Death
Frome 23 November 1876[21 3] Henry Lopes Conservative Henry Samuelson Liberal Resignation (Judge of the High Court of Justice)
Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities 6–10 November 1876 Edward Strathearn Gordon Conservative William Watson Conservative Resignation (Lords of Appeal in Ordinary)
South Shropshire 3 November 1876[21 1] Percy Egerton Herbert Conservative John Edmund Severne Conservative Death
Buckinghamshire 21 September 1876 Benjamin Disraeli Conservative Thomas Fremantle Conservative Elevation to the peerage
Donegal 26 August 1876 Thomas Conolly Conservative William Wilson Conservative Death
Rutlandshire 17 August 1876[21 1] Gerard Noel Conservative Gerard Noel Conservative First Commissioner of Works[21 4]
Leeds 15 August 1876 Robert Meek Carter Liberal John Barran Liberal Resignation
Carmarthen Boroughs 14 August 1876[21 1][21 3] Charles William Nevill Conservative Arthur Cowell-Stepney Liberal Resignation
New Shoreham 4 August 1876 Percy Burrell Conservative Walter Burrell Conservative Death
East Kent 26 July 1876[21 1] Wyndham Knatchbull Conservative William Deedes Conservative Resignation
Mid Cheshire 18 July 1876[21 1] Egerton Leigh Conservative Piers Egerton-Warburton Conservative Death
Leitrim 14 July 1876[21 2] William Ormsby-Gore Conservative Francis O'Beirne Home Rule Succession to a peerage
West Worcestershire 8 July 1876[21 1] William Edward Dowdeswell Conservative Sir Edmund Lechmere Conservative Resignation
Birmingham 27 June 1876[21 1] George Dixon Liberal Joseph Chamberlain Liberal Resignation
Pembrokeshire 26 June 1876 John Scourfield Conservative James Bevan Bowen Conservative Death
Cork City 25 May 1876[21 2] Joseph Philip Ronayne Home Rule William Goulding Conservative Death
West Aberdeenshire 10 May 1876 William McCombie Liberal Lord Douglas Gordon Liberal Resignation
East Cumberland 26 April 1876[21 3] William Nicholson Hodgson Conservative Stafford Howard Liberal Death
North Norfolk 21 April 1876 Frederick Walpole Conservative James Duff Conservative Death
Horsham 29 February 1876 Robert Henry Hurst (junior) Liberal James Clifton Brown Liberal Void election
East Retford 24 February 1876 The Viscount Galway Conservative William Beckett-Denison Conservative Death
Berkshire 23 February 1876 Richard Fellowes Benyon Conservative Philip Wroughton Conservative Resignation
East Suffolk 22 February 1876 Viscount Mahon Conservative Frederick Barne Conservative Succession to a peerage
Manchester 17 February 1876[21 3] William Romaine Callender Conservative Jacob Bright Liberal Death
Huntingdon 16 February 1876[21 1] John Burgess Karslake Conservative Viscount Hinchingbrooke Conservative Resignation
Leominster 15 February 1876[21 2] Richard Arkwright Conservative Thomas Blake Liberal Resignation
Enniskillen 15 February 1876[21 1] Viscount Crichton Conservative Viscount Crichton Conservative Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[21 4]
Burnley 12 February 1876 Richard Shaw Liberal Peter Rylands Liberal Death
North Shropshire 3 February 1876 John Ormsby-Gore Conservative Stanley Leighton Conservative Elevation to the peerage
Dorset 3 February 1876 Henry Sturt Conservative Edward Digby Conservative Elevation to the peerage
South Wiltshire 4 January 1876[21 1] Lord Henry Thynne Conservative Lord Henry Thynne Conservative Treasurer of the Household[21 4]
Ipswich 1 January 1876 John Patteson Cobbold Conservative Thomas Clement Cobbold Conservative Death
East Aberdeenshire 22 December 1875 William Dingwall Fordyce Liberal Alexander Hamilton-Gordon Liberal Death
Horsham 17 December 1875[21 2] William Vesey-FitzGerald Conservative Robert Henry Hurst (junior) Liberal Resignation (Chief Charity Commissioner for England and Wales)
Whitehaven 16 December 1875 George Cavendish-Bentinck Conservative George Cavendish-Bentinck Conservative Judge Advocate General[21 4]
Mid Surrey 24 November 1875[21 1] Richard Baggallay Conservative Sir Trevor Lawrence Conservative Resignation (Justice of the Court of Appeal)
South West Lancashire 6 November 1875[21 1] Charles Turner Conservative John Ireland Blackburne Conservative Death
Armagh City 18 October 1875 John Vance Conservative George Beresford Conservative Death
West Suffolk 4 October 1875[21 1] Fuller Maitland Wilson Conservative Thomas Thornhill Conservative Death
Blackburn 30 September 1875 Henry Master Feilden Conservative Daniel Thwaites Conservative Death
Hartlepool 29 July 1875 Thomas Richardson Liberal Lowthian Bell Liberal Resignation
West Suffolk 16 June 1875 Lord Augustus Hervey Conservative Fuller Maitland Wilson Conservative Death
Breconshire 20 May 1875[21 3] Godfrey Morgan Conservative William Fuller-Maitland Liberal Succession to a peerage
Kilkenny City 28 April 1875 John Gray Home Rule Benjamin Whitworth Home Rule Death
Bedfordshire 28 April 1875[21 1] Francis Bassett Liberal Marquess of Tavistock Liberal Resignation
Kirkcaldy Burghs 20 April 1875 Robert Reid Liberal George Campbell Liberal Death
Meath 17 April 1875 John Martin Home Rule Charles Stewart Parnell Home Rule Death
Bridport 31 March 1875 Thomas Alexander Mitchell Liberal Pandeli Ralli Liberal Death
Tipperary 11 March 1875 John Mitchel Independent Nationalist John Mitchel Independent Nationalist Disqualification (Convicted Felon)
Independent Nationalist Stephen Moore Conservative By-election result reversed on petition
St Ives 5 March 1875 Charles Tyringham Praed Conservative Charles Tyringham Praed Conservative Void election
Norwich 5 March 1875[21 6] John Walter Huddleston Conservative Jacob Henry Tillett Liberal Resignation (Justice of the Court of Common Pleas)
Stroud 19 February 1875 Henry Brand Liberal Samuel Marling Liberal Void election
Stoke-upon-Trent 16 February 1875[21 2] George Milles Liberal Edward Vaughan Hyde Kenealy Independent Resignation
Tipperary 13 February 1875[21 1][21 7] Charles William White Home Rule John Mitchel Independent Nationalist Resignation
Chatham 13 February 1875 George Elliot Conservative John Eldon Gorst Conservative Resignation
Dublin University 11 February 1875[21 1] David Robert Plunket Conservative David Robert Plunket Conservative Solicitor General for Ireland[21 4]
East Kent 27 January 1875[21 1] George Milles Conservative Wyndham Knatchbull Conservative Succession to a peerage
Dublin University 18–22 January 1875 John Thomas Ball Conservative Edward Gibson Conservative Resignation (Lord Chancellor of Ireland)
St Ives 28 December 1874 Edward Gershour Davenport Conservative Charles Tyringham Praed Conservative Death
Birkenhead 24 November 1874 John Laird Conservative David MacIver Conservative Death
Wenlock 12 November 1874 George Weld-Forester Conservative Cecil Weld-Forester Conservative Succession to a peerage
Northampton 6 October 1874[21 2] Charles Gilpin Liberal Charles George Merewether Conservative Death
Cambridgeshire 5 October 1874[21 1] Lord George Manners Conservative Benjamin Rodwell Conservative Death
Midhurst 23 September 1874[21 1] Charles Perceval Conservative Sir Henry Holland Conservative Succession to a peerage
Kidderminster 31 July 1874 Albert Grant Conservative Sir William Fraser Conservative Void Election
Stroud 24 July 1874 John Edward Dorington Conservative Henry Brand Liberal Void Election
Launceston 3 July 1874 James Henry Deakin (senior) Conservative James Henry Deakin (junior) Conservative Void Election
Galway 29 June 1874 Frank Hugh O'Donnell Home Rule Michael Francis Ward Home Rule Void Election
North Durham 19 June 1874[21 2] Charles Palmer Liberal Charles Palmer Liberal Void Election
Lowthian Bell Liberal Sir George Elliot Conservative Void Election
Oxford 12 June 1874[21 2] George Young Liberal Mark John Stewart Conservative Resignation (Judge of the Court of Session)
Haverfordwest 12 June 1874[21 1] The Lord Kensington Liberal The Lord Kensington Liberal Void Election
City of Durham 11 June 1874 Thomas Charles Thompson Liberal Farrer Herschell Liberal Void Election
John Henderson Liberal Sir Arthur Middleton Liberal Void Election
Mayo 29 May 1874 George Ekins Browne Home Rule George Ekins Browne Home Rule Void Election
Thomas Tighe Home Rule John O'Connor Power Home Rule Void Election
Poole 26 May 1874 Charles Waring Liberal Evelyn Ashley Liberal Void Election
Dudley 18 May 1874 Henry Brinsley Sheridan Liberal Henry Brinsley Sheridan Liberal Void Election
Stroud 15 May 1874[21 8] Sebastian Stewart Dickinson Liberal Alfred Stanton Liberal Void Election
Walter John Stanton Liberal John Edward Dorington Conservative Void Election
Wakefield 4 May 1874 Edward Green Conservative Thomas Kemp Sanderson Conservative Void Election
Preston 24 April 1874[21 1] John Holker Conservative John Holker Conservative Solicitor General for England and Wales[21 4]
Hackney 24 April 1874 John Holms Liberal John Holms Liberal Void Election
Charles Reed Liberal Henry Fawcett Liberal Void Election
Louth 8 April 1874 Philip Callan Home Rule George Harley Kirk Home Rule Double Election, chose to sit for Dundalk
North Lancashire 26 March 1874[21 1] John Wilson-Patten Conservative Thomas Henry Clifton Conservative Elevation to the peerage
Falkirk Burghs 26 March 1874[21 1] John Ramsay Liberal John Ramsay Liberal Disqualification (Held Government Contract)
North Staffordshire 23 March 1874[21 1] Charles Adderley Conservative Charles Adderley Conservative President of the Board of Trade[21 4]
Galway 20 March 1874 Viscount St Lawrence Home Rule Frank Hugh O'Donnell Home Rule Succession to a peerage
East Suffolk 20 March 1874[21 1] The Lord Rendlesham Conservative The Lord Rendlesham Conservative Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[21 4]
North Leicestershire 20 March 1874[21 1] Lord John Manners Conservative Lord John Manners Conservative Postmaster General[21 4]
Invernesshire 19 March 1874[21 1] Donald Cameron Conservative Donald Cameron Conservative Parliamentary Groom in Waiting[21 4]
South West Lancashire 19 March 1874[21 1] Richard Assheton Cross Conservative Richard Assheton Cross Conservative Home Secretary[21 4]
South Devonshire 19 March 1874[21 1] Sir Massey Lopes Conservative Sir Massey Lopes Conservative Civil Lord of the Admiralty[21 4]
Dublin County 18 March 1874 Thomas Edward Taylor Conservative Thomas Edward Taylor Conservative Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[21 4]
North Devonshire 18 March 1874[21 1] Sir Stafford Northcote Conservative Sir Stafford Northcote Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer[21 4]
North Northamptonshire 18 March 1874[21 1] George Ward Hunt Conservative George Ward Hunt Conservative First Lord of the Admiralty[21 4]
North Northumberland 17 March 1874[21 1] Earl Percy Conservative Earl Percy Conservative Treasurer of the Household[21 4]
Monmouthshire 17 March 1874[21 1] Lord Henry Somerset Conservative Lord Henry Somerset Conservative Comptroller of the Household[21 4]
East Gloucestershire 17 March 1874[21 1] Michael Hicks Beach Conservative Michael Hicks Beach Conservative Chief Secretary for Ireland[21 4]
Buckinghamshire 17 March 1874[21 1] Benjamin Disraeli Conservative Benjamin Disraeli Conservative Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury[21 4]
Eye 17 March 1874 The Viscount Barrington Conservative The Viscount Barrington Conservative Vice-Chamberlain of the Household[21 4]
Dublin University 16 March 1874[21 1] John Thomas Ball Conservative John Thomas Ball Conservative Attorney General for Ireland[21 4]
Mid Surrey 16 March 1874[21 1] Richard Baggallay Conservative Richard Baggallay Conservative Solicitor General for England and Wales[21 4]
Portsmouth 16 March 1874[21 1] James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone Conservative James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone Conservative Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[21 4]
North Lincolnshire 16 March 1874[21 1] Rowland Winn Conservative Rowland Winn Conservative Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[21 4]
Oxford 16 March 1874[21 2] Edward Cardwell Liberal Alexander William Hall Conservative Elevation to the peerage
Huntingdon 16 March 1874[21 1] John Burgess Karslake Conservative John Burgess Karslake Conservative Attorney General for England and Wales[21 4]
Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities 14 March 1874[21 1] Edward Strathearn Gordon Conservative Edward Strathearn Gordon Conservative Lord Advocate[21 4]
North Hampshire 14 March 1874[21 1] George Sclater-Booth Conservative George Sclater-Booth Conservative President of the Local Government Board[21 4]
Liverpool 14 March 1874[21 1] Viscount Sandon Conservative Viscount Sandon Conservative Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education[21 4]
Oxford University 14 March 1874[21 1] Gathorne Hardy Conservative Gathorne Hardy Conservative Secretary of State for War[21 4]
New Shoreham 13 March 1874[21 1] Stephen Cave Conservative Stephen Cave Conservative Judge Advocate General[21 4]
Chicester 13 March 1874[21 1] Lord Henry Lennox Conservative Lord Henry Lennox Conservative First Commissioner of Works[21 4]
  1. An uncontested by-election.
  2. Gain not retained at the 1880 general election
  3. Gain retained at the 1880 general election
  4. Seat vacated on appointment to the office noted.
  5. Double Return. Two candidates declared elected due to a tie. On recount Ridley was elected. Grey would gain the seat in the 1880 general election
  6. By-Election voided and writ suspended. Seat was vacant until the 1880 general election where Tillett was elected
  7. Mitchell was disqualified for being a convicted felon and was re-elected at the ensuing by-election. He died before his re-election was adjudged to a Conservative who would be defeated in the 1880 general election
  8. Dorington's election was voided on petition and the subsequent by-election was won by the Liberals who held it in the 1880 general election.

20th Parliament (1868–1874)

By-electionDateFormer IncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCause
Newcastle upon Tyne 14 January 1874 Joseph Cowen Liberal Joseph Cowen Liberal Death
West Somerset 12 January 1874[20 1] William Gore-Langton Conservative Vaughan Lee Conservative Death
Stroud 6 January 1874[20 2] Henry Selfe Page Winterbotham Liberal John Edward Dorington Conservative Death
Cambridgeshire 3 January 1874[20 1] Viscount Royston Conservative Elliot Yorke Conservative Succession to a peerage
Huntington 17 December 1873 Thomas Baring Conservative John Burgess Karslake Conservative Death
Exeter 9 December 1873[20 3] John Coleridge Liberal Arthur Mills Conservative Resignation (Chief Justice of the Common Pleas)
Oxford 6 December 1873[20 1] William Vernon Harcourt Liberal William Vernon Harcourt Liberal Solicitor General for England and Wales[20 4]
Edinburgh and St. Andrews Universities 4 December 1873[20 1] Lyon Playfair Liberal Lyon Playfair Liberal Postmaster General[20 4]
Haverfordwest Boroughs 24 November 1873 The Lord Kensington Liberal The Lord Kensington Liberal Parliamentary Groom in Waiting[20 4]
Kingston-upon-Hull 22 October 1873[20 2] James Clay Liberal Joseph Walker Pease Conservative Death
Birmingham 20 October 1873[20 1] John Bright Liberal John Bright Liberal Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[20 4]
Taunton 13 October 1873 Henry James Liberal Henry James Liberal Solicitor General for England and Wales[20 4]
Bath 8 October 1873 Donald Dalrymple Liberal Arthur Hayter Liberal Death
Dover 22 September 1873[20 3] Sir George Jessel Liberal Edward William Barnett Conservative Resignation (Master of the Rolls)
Renfrewshire 10 September 1873[20 2] Henry Bruce Liberal Archibald Campbell Conservative Elevation to a peerage
Shaftsbury 30 August 1873[20 3] George Glyn Liberal Vere Fane Benett-Stanford Conservative Succession to a peerage
Northern West Riding of Yorkshire 27 August 1873[20 1] Lord Frederick Cavendish Liberal Lord Frederick Cavendish Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[20 4]
East Staffordshire 6 August 1873[20 3] John Robinson McClean Liberal Samuel Allsopp, 2nd Baron Hindlip Conservative Death
Dundee 5 August 1873 George Armitstead Liberal James Yeaman Liberal Resignation
Greenwich 2 August 1873[20 3] David Salomons Liberal Thomas Boord Conservative Death
County Waterford 5 July 1873[20 1] Edmond de la Poer Liberal Henry Villiers-Stuart Liberal Resignation
Berwickshire 27 June 1873 David Robertson Liberal William Miller Liberal Elevation to the peerage
Bath 27 June 1873 Viscount Chelsea Conservative Viscount Grey de Wilton Conservative Succession to a peerage
Roscommon 24 June 1873[20 1] Fitzstephen French Liberal Charles French Liberal Death
Southern Devonshire 17 June 1873[20 1] Samuel Trehawke Kekewich Conservative John Carpenter Garnier Conservative Death
Richmonds (Yorks.) 27 May 1873[20 1] Lawrence Dundas Liberal John Dundas Liberal Succession to a peerage
Gloucester 8 May 1873[20 3] William Philip Price Liberal William Killigrew Wait Conservative Resignation
Bath 6 May 1873[20 3] Sir William Tite Liberal Viscount Chelsea Conservative Death
Tyrone 7 April 1873 Henry Thomas Lowry-Corry Conservative Henry William Lowry-Corry Conservative Death
Cheshire Mid 7 March 1873 George Legh Conservative Egerton Leigh Conservative Resignation
Wigtownshire 21 February 1873 Lord Garlies Conservative Robert Vans-Agnew Conservative Succession to a peerage
Lisburn 19 February 1873[20 1] Edward Wingfield Verner Conservative Sir Richard Wallace Conservative Resignation in order to contest County Armagh
County Armagh 15 February 1873[20 1] Sir William Verner Conservative Edward Wingfield Verner Conservative Death
Liverpool 7 February 1873 Samuel Robert Graves Conservative John Torr Conservative Death
Orkney and Shetland 6–7 January 1873 Frederick Dundas Liberal Samuel Lang Liberal Death
Forfarshire 13 December 1872 Charles Carnegie Liberal James William Barclay Liberal Resignation (Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland)
Kincardineshire 10 December 1872[20 1] James Dyce Nicol Liberal George Balfour Liberal Death
Cork City 6 December 1872[20 3] John Francis Maguire Liberal Joseph Philip Ronayne Home Rule Death
Londonderry City 23 November 1872[20 3] Richard Dowse Liberal Charles Edward Lewis Conservative Resignation (Baron of the Court of the Exchequer)
Richmond (Yorks) 4 November 1872 Sir Roundell Palmer Liberal Lawrence Dundas Liberal Hereditary Peerage on appointment as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
Tiverton 4 November 1872 George Denman Liberal William Massey Liberal Resignation (Justice of the Court of Common Pleas)
Flint Boroughs 16 October 1872[20 1] Sir John Hanmer Liberal Robert Cunliffe Liberal Elevation to the peerage
Preston 13 September 1872 Edward Hermon Conservative William Farrer Ecroyd Conservative Death
Pontefract 15 August 1872[20 5] Hugh Childers Liberal Hugh Childers Liberal Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Paymaster General[20 4]
Southern West Riding of Yorkshire 8 July 1872[20 3][20 1] Viscount Milton Liberal Walter Spencer-Stanhope Conservative Resignation
Aberdeen 29 June 1872 William Henry Sykes Liberal John Farley Leith Liberal Death
Bedfordshire 27 June 1872 Francis Russell Liberal Francis Bassett Liberal Succession to a peerage
Mallow 7 June 1872 George Waters Liberal William Felix Munster Liberal Resignation (Chairman of the Quarter Sessions of the County of Waterford)
Oldham 5 June 1872[20 3] John Platt Liberal John Morgan Cobbett Conservative Death
Wexford Borough 26 April 1872[20 3] Richard Joseph Devereux Liberal William Archer Redmond Home Rule Resignation
Tamworth 16 April 1872[20 3] John Peel Liberal Robert William Hanbury Conservative Death
West Cumberland 26 March 1872[20 1] Henry Lowther Conservative The Lord Muncaster Conservative Succession to a peerage
East Gloucestershire 11 March 1872[20 1] Robert Stayner Holford Conservative John Reginald Yorke Conservative Resignation
Wallingford 9 March 1872[20 1] Stanley Vickers Conservative Edward Wells Conservative Death
Flintshire 2 March 1872[20 1] Lord Richard Grosvenor Liberal Lord Richard Grosvenor Liberal Vice-Chamberlain of the Household[20 4]
Wick Burghs 28 February 1872 George Loch Liberal John Pender Liberal Resignation
North Nottinghamshire 26 February 1872[20 3] Evelyn Denison Liberal George Monckton-Arundell Conservative Elevation to the peerage
West Cheshire 17 February 1872[20 1] John Tollemache Conservative Wilbraham Tollemache Conservative Resignation
County Galway 8 February 1872[20 6] William Henry Gregory Liberal John Philip Nolan Home Rule Resignation (Governor of Ceylon)
Home Rule William Le Poer Trench Conservative By-election result reversed on petition
Kerry 6 February 1872[20 3] Viscount Castlerosse Liberal Rowland Blennerhassett Home Rule Succession to a peerage
Northern West Riding of Yorkshire 3 February 1872[20 2] Sir Francis Crossley Liberal Francis Sharp Powell Conservative Death
Dover 25 November 1871 George Jessel Liberal George Jessel Liberal Solicitor General for England and Wales[20 4]
Plymouth 22 November 1871[20 3] Robert Collier Liberal Edward Bates Conservative Resignation (Justice of the Court of Common Pleas)
Limerick City 20 September 1871[20 3][20 1] Francis William Russell Liberal Isaac Butt Home Rule Death
Truro 13 September 1871[20 3] John Cranch Walker Vivian Liberal James McGarel-Hogg Conservative Resignation (Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War)
East Surrey 26 August 1871[20 3] Charles Buxton Liberal James Watney, Jr. Conservative Death
Monaghan 22 July 1871 Charles Powell Leslie III Conservative John Leslie Conservative Death
Westmeath 17 June 1871[20 3][20 1] William Pollard-Urquhart Liberal Patrick James Smyth Home Rule Death
West Staffordshire 13 June 1871[20 1] Hugo Francis Meynell Ingram Conservative Francis Monckton Conservative Death
Durham City 28 April 1871[20 2] John Robert Davison Liberal John Lloyd Wharton Conservative Death
South Norfolk 17 April 1871 Edward Howes Conservative Sir Robert Jacob Buxton Conservative Death
Tamworth 28 March 1871[20 1] Henry Bulwer Liberal John Peel Liberal Elevation to the peerage
Halifax 13 March 1871[20 1] James Stansfeld Liberal James Stansfeld Liberal President of the Poor Law Board[20 4]
Monmouthshire 4 March 1871[20 1] Poulett Somerset Conservative Lord Henry Somerset Conservative Resignation
Stalybridge 1 March 1871[20 2] James Sidebottom Conservative Nathaniel Buckley Liberal Death
Hereford 28 February 1871[20 3] Edward Henry Clive Liberal George Arbuthnot Conservative Resignation
Norwich 22 February 1871 Jacob Henry Tillett Liberal Jeremiah James Colman Liberal Void election
County Galway 21 February 1871[20 3][20 1] Viscount Burke Liberal Mitchell Henry Home Rule Resignation
Westmorland 21 February 1871[20 1] Earl of Bective Conservative Earl of Bective Conservative Succession to a peerage
Ripon 15 February 1871 Lord John Hay Liberal Sir Henry Knight Storks Liberal Resignation
York 14 February 1871[20 1] Joshua Proctor Brown Westhead Liberal George Leeman Liberal Resignation
West Norfolk 8 February 1871[20 1] Thomas de Grey Conservative George Bentinck Conservative Succession to a peerage
County Limerick 28 January 1871[20 1] William Monsell Liberal William Monsell Liberal Postmaster General[20 4]
Newry 23 January 1871[20 1][20 2] William Kirk Liberal Viscount Newry and Morne Conservative Death
Meath 17 January 1871[20 3] Matthew Corbally Liberal John Martin Home Rule Death
Durham City 14 January 1871[20 1] John Robert Davison Liberal John Robert Davison Liberal Judge Advocate General[20 4]
Newport (Isle of Wight) 23 November 1870 Charles Wykeham Martin Liberal Charles Cavendish Clifford Liberal Death
Colchester 3 November 1870[20 3] John Gurdon Rebow Liberal Alexander Learmonth Conservative Death
Mid Surrey 17 October 1870[20 1] William Brodrick Conservative Richard Baggallay Conservative Succession to a peerage
Shrewsbury 21 September 1870[20 2] William James Clement Liberal Douglas Straight Conservative Death
West Surrey 8 September 1870[20 1][20 3] John Ivatt Briscoe Liberal Lee Steere Conservative Death
Dublin City 18 August 1870[20 2] Sir Arthur Edward Guinness Conservative Sir Dominic John Corrigan Liberal Void election
Plymouth 15 August 1870[20 1] Sir Robert Porrett Collier Liberal Sir Robert Porrett Collier Liberal Recorder of Bristol[20 4]
Rochester 19 July 1870 John Alexander Kinglake Liberal Julian Goldsmid Liberal Death
Norwich 13 July 1870[20 3] Sir Henry Stracey Conservative Jacob Henry Tillett Liberal Void election
Bristol 27 June 1870 Elisha Smith Robinson Liberal Kirkman Daniel Hodgson Liberal Void election
South Leicestershire 13 June 1870 Viscount Curzon Conservative William Unwin Heygate Conservative Succession to a peerage
Isle of Wight 13 June 1870[20 3] Sir John Simeon Liberal Alexander Baillie-Cochrane Conservative Death
Brecon 13 June 1870[20 3] Lord Hyde Liberal James Gwynne-Holford Conservative Succession to a peerage
East Suffolk 1 June 1870 John Henniker-Major Conservative Viscount Mahon Conservative Succession to a peerage
Longford 16 May 1870 Reginald Greville-Nugent Liberal George Greville-Nugent Liberal Void election
Mayo 12 May 1870[20 1] George Henry Moore Liberal George Ekins Browne Liberal Death
Mallow 10 May 1870 Henry Munster Liberal George Waters Liberal Void election
East Devon 9 April 1870[20 1] Lord Courtenay Conservative John Henry Kennaway Conservative Resignation
Newark-on-Trent 1 April 1870 Edward Denison Liberal Samuel Boteler Bristowe Liberal Death
Bristol 29 March 1870 Francis Henry Fitzhardinge Berkeley Liberal Elisha Smith Robinson Liberal Death
Roxburghshire 2 March 1870[20 1] Sir William Scott Liberal Marquess of Bowmont Liberal Resignation
Tipperary 28 February 1870[20 2] Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa Independent Nationalist Denis Caulfield Heron Liberal Disqualification (convicted felon)
Waterford City 25 February 1870 Sir Henry Winston Barron Liberal Ralph Bernal Osborne Liberal Void election
Maidstone 25 February 1870 William Lee Liberal Sir John Lubbock Liberal Resignation
Nottingham 24 February 1870[20 2] Charles Ichabod Wright Conservative Auberon Herbert Liberal Resignation
Southwark 17 February 1870[20 3] Austen Henry Layard Liberal Marcus Beresford Conservative Resignation (Ambassador to Spain)
Bridgnorth 16 February 1870[20 1][20 3] Henry Whitmore Conservative William Henry Foster Liberal Resignation
Londonderry City 15 February 1870 Richard Dowse Liberal Richard Dowse Liberal Solicitor General for Ireland[20 4]
Dublin University 14 February 1870[20 1] Anthony Lefroy Conservative David Robert Plunket Conservative Resignation
Mallow 3 February 1870 Edward Sullivan Liberal Henry Munster Liberal Resignation (Irish Master of the Rolls)
Merionethshire 17 January 1870 David Williams Liberal Samuel Holland Liberal Death
Queen's County 4 January 1870[20 1] John Wilson FitzPatrick Liberal Edmund Dease Liberal Elevation to the peerage
Longford 31 December 1869 Fulke Greville-Nugent Liberal Reginald Greville-Nugent Liberal Elevation to the peerage
King's Lynn 9 December 1869 Lord Stanley Conservative Lord Claud Hamilton Conservative Succession to a peerage
Chester 4 December 1869[20 1] Earl Grosvenor Liberal Norman de L'Aigle Grosvenor Liberal Succession to a peerage
Tipperary 27 November 1869[20 2] Charles Moore Liberal Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa Independent Nationalist Death
Waterford City 22 November 1869 John Aloysius Blake Liberal Sir Henry Winston Barron Liberal Resignation (Inspector of Irish Fisheries)
Glasgow and Aberdeen
Universities		 22 November 1869[20 3] James Moncreiff Liberal Edward Strathearn Gordon Conservative Resignation (Lord Justice Clerk)
Whitby 18 November 1869 William Henry Gladstone Liberal William Henry Gladstone Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[20 4]
Hastings 18 November 1869 Frederick North Liberal Ughtred James Kay-Shuttleworth Liberal Death
Tower Hamlets 8 November 1869[20 1] Acton Smee Ayrton Liberal Acton Smee Ayrton Liberal First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings[20 4]
East Cheshire 6 October 1869 Edward Christopher Egerton Conservative William Cunliffe Brooks Conservative Death
Caithness 26 August 1869 George Traill Liberal Sir John George Tollemache Sinclair Liberal Resignation
Antrim 21 August 1869 George Henry Seymour Conservative Hugh de Grey Seymour Conservative Death
Salisbury 5 August 1869 Edward William Terreck Hamilton Liberal Alfred Seymour Liberal Resignation
Nottingham 16 June 1869 Sir Robert Juckes Clifton Liberal Charles Seely Liberal Death
Stafford 7 June 1869[20 2] Walter Meller Conservative Thomas Salt Conservative Void election
Henry Davis Pochin Liberal Reginald Talbot Conservative Void election
Youghal 11 May 1869 Christopher Weguelin Liberal Montague John Guest Liberal Void election
Liskeard 11 May 1869 Sir Arthur Buller Liberal Edward Horsman Liberal Death
Brecon 24 April 1869[20 2] Howel Gwyn Conservative Lord Hyde Liberal Void election
West Sussex 17 April 1869[20 1] Henry Wyndham Conservative Earl of March Conservative Succession to a peerage
Dumfriesshire 31 March 1869[20 3] Sydney Waterlow Liberal George Gustavus Walker Conservative Disqualification (government contractor)
Hereford 30 March 1869 George Clive Liberal Edward Henry Clive Liberal Void election
John Wyllie Liberal Chandos Wren-Hoskyns Liberal Void election
Blackburn 30 March 1869 William Henry Hornby Conservative Edward Kenworthy Hornby Conservative Void election
Joseph Feilden Conservative Henry Master Feilden Conservative Void election
Drogheda 15 March 1869[20 1] Benjamin Whitworth Liberal Thomas Whitworth Liberal Void election
Scarborough 12 March 1869[20 1] Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone Liberal Sir Harcourt Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone Liberal Death
Bradford 12 March 1869 Henry William Ripley Liberal Edward Miall Liberal Void election
Bewdley 11 March 1869[20 7] Richard Atwood Glass Conservative John Cunliffe Conservative Void election
Conservative Augustus Anson Liberal By-election result reversed on petition
Westbury 27 February 1869 John Lewis Phipps Conservative Charles Paul Phipps Conservative Void election
Wexford Borough 26 February 1869[20 1] Richard Joseph Devereux Liberal Richard Joseph Devereux Liberal Void election
Radnor Boroughs 25 February 1869 Richard Green-Price Liberal Marquess of Hartington Liberal Resignation
City of London 22 February 1869[20 1][20 2] Charles Bell Conservative Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild Liberal Death
Renfrewshire 25 January 1869[20 1] Archibald Alexander Speirs Liberal Henry Bruce Liberal Death
South Derbyshire 16 January 1869 Sir Thomas Gresley Conservative Henry Wilmot Conservative Death
County Louth 11 January 1869[20 1] Chichester Fortescue Liberal Chichester Fortescue Liberal Chief Secretary for Ireland[20 4]
Kildare 11 January 1869[20 1] Lord Otho Fitzgerald Liberal Lord Otho Fitzgerald Liberal Comptroller of the Household[20 4]
Westmeath 7 January 1869[20 1] Algernon Fulke Greville Liberal Algernon Fulke Greville Liberal Parliamentary Groom in Waiting[20 4]
Kerry 7 January 1869[20 1] Viscount Castlerosse Liberal Viscount Castlerosse Liberal Vice-Chamberlain of the Household[20 4]
Clackmannanshire
and Kinross-shire		 6 January 1869[20 1] William Patrick Adam Liberal William Patrick Adam Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[20 4]
Clare 5 January 1869[20 1] Sir Colman O'Loghlen Liberal Sir Colman O'Loghlen Liberal Judge Advocate General[20 4]
Mallow 4 January 1869[20 1] Edward Sullivan Liberal Edward Sullivan Liberal Attorney General for Ireland[20 4]
Wigtown Burghs 4 January 1869[20 1] George Young Liberal George Young Liberal Solicitor General for Scotland[20 4]
Hawick Burghs 4 January 1869[20 1] George Otto Trevelyan Liberal George Otto Trevelyan Liberal Civil Lord of the Admiralty[20 4]
Wareham 23 December 1868[20 3] John Calcraft Liberal John Erle-Drax Conservative Death
Oxford 22 December 1868[20 1] Edward Cardwell Liberal Edward Cardwell Liberal Secretary of State for War[20 4]
London University 21 December 1868[20 1] Robert Lowe Liberal Robert Lowe Liberal Chancellor of the Exchequer[20 4]
Truro 21 December 1868[20 1] John Cranch Walker Vivian Liberal John Cranch Walker Vivian Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[20 4]
Ripon 21 December 1868[20 1] Lord John Hay Liberal Lord John Hay Liberal Junior Naval Lord[20 4]
Pontefract 21 December 1868[20 1] Hugh Childers Liberal Hugh Childers Liberal First Lord of the Admiralty[20 4]
Plymouth 21 December 1868[20 1] Sir Robert Porrett Collier Liberal Sir Robert Porrett Collier Liberal Attorney General for England and Wales[20 4]
Halifax 21 December 1868[20 1] James Stansfeld Liberal James Stansfeld Liberal Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[20 4]
Exeter 21 December 1868[20 1] John Coleridge Liberal Sir John Coleridge Liberal Solicitor General for England and Wales[20 4]
Bradford 21 December 1868[20 1] William Edward Forster Liberal William Edward Forster Liberal Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education[20 4]
Birmingham 21 December 1868[20 1] John Bright Liberal John Bright Liberal President of the Board of Trade[20 4]
Southwark 21 December 1868[20 1] Austen Henry Layard Liberal Austen Henry Layard Liberal First Commissioner of Works[20 4]
Greenwich 21 December 1868[20 1] William Ewart Gladstone Liberal William Ewart Gladstone Liberal Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury[20 4]
City of London 21 December 1868[20 1] George Joachim Goschen Liberal George Joachim Goschen Liberal President of the Poor Law Board[20 4]
  1. An uncontested by-election.
  2. Gain not retained at the 1874 general election
  3. Gain retained at the 1874 general election
  4. Seat vacated on appointment to the office noted.
  5. First election using the secret ballot.
  6. On petition Nolan was unseated and William Le Poer Trench (Conservative) was declared elected. Trench was defeated in the 1874 general election by Nolan.
  7. On petition Cunliffe was unseated and Augustus Henry Archibald Anson (Liberal) was declared elected. He was re-elected in the 1874 general election.

References
  1. Powell was lost riding a balloon that accidentally drifted out to sea from England in December 1881.
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