1834 Dudley by-election

1834 Dudley by-election
← 1832 27 February 1834 1835 →
Constituency of Dudley
Registered670
Turnout81.6%
  First party Second party
 
Con
Candidate Thomas Hawkes Sir John Campbell
Party Conservative Whig
Popular vote 322 254
Percentage 55.9% 44.1%
MP before election

Sir John Campbell
Whig

Elected MP

Thomas Hawkes
Conservative

The 1834 Dudley by-election was fought on 27 February 1834 after the sitting MP, Sir John Campbell, was appointed as Attorney General, triggering a by-election. Campbell's opponent was Thomas Hawkes, a local industrialist who owned a glass factory.[1] The two men had previously contested the constituency of Stafford in 1830 and 1831.

The writ for the election arrived at Dudley on Sunday, 23 February and on the following day, the Returning Officer, Mr. Jenkins, announced that nominations would take place on Thursday 27 February.[2] On the Monday and Wednesday before the election, disorder broke out in the town, with injuries inflicted and windows broken. At the hustings on election day, the candidacy of Campbell was proposed by Mr J. Twamley and seconded by James Foster. Hawkes was proposed and seconded respectively by Mr C. Cartwight and Mr. W. Fellows.[2] After election addresses, the Returning Officer asked for a show of hands in support of the rival candidates and Campbell was adjudged to have won this. The Hawkes' camp then requested a poll and at about 3pm voting ended and the result revealed that Thomas Hawkes had won the Dudley seat with a majority of 68.[2] The result provoked considerable further disorder in the town[3] resulting in a request for the military to intervene.[4] Two troops of the 3rd Dragoon Guards arrived from Birmingham to clear the streets of rioters.[4]

By-election, 27 February 1834: Dudley[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Hawkes (MP) 322 55.9 +14.0
Whig Sir John Campbell 254 44.1 −14.0
Majority 68 11.8 N/A
Turnout 576 80.6 −1.0
Registered electors 715
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +14.0

References

  1. ^ Tuberville, T.C. (1852). Worcestershire in the nineteenth century. A complete digest of facts occurring in the county since the commencement of the year 1800. London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longman. pp. 53–54. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Dudley Election". Worcester Journal. The British Newspaper Archive. 6 March 1834. p. 4. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  3. ^ Clarke, C.F.G. (1881). The Curiosities of Dudley and the Black Country. Birmingham: Buckler Brothers. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Dudley Election". Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser. 5 March 1834. p. 4. Retrieved 14 October 2018 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ Vincent, J (1971). McCalmont's Parliamentary Poll Book (8th ed.). Brighton, UK: The Harvester Press. p. 93 (Section I). ISBN 0855270004.


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