Aberdeen (UK Parliament constituency)

For the 1708–1832 constituency, see Aberdeen Burghs (UK Parliament constituency).
For other uses of "Aberdeen", see Aberdeen (disambiguation).

Aberdeen
Former burgh constituency
for the House of Commons
Subdivisions of ScotlandAberdeenshire
Major settlementsAberdeen
1832–1885
SeatsOne
Created fromAberdeen Burghs
Replaced byAberdeen North
Aberdeen South

Aberdeen was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1885. It was represented by one Member of Parliament (MP), elected by the first past the post voting system.

Boundaries

As created in 1832, the constituency covered the burgh of Aberdeen, which was previously within the Aberdeen Burghs constituency. Together with Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen was one of two constituencies covering the county of Aberdeen.

The boundaries of the constituency, as set out in the 1832 Act, were-

"From the Point, on the North-west of the Town, at which the Scatter Burn joins the River Don, down the River Don to the Point at which the same joins the Sea; thence along the Sea Shore to the Point at which the River Dee joins the Sea; thence up the River Dee to a Point which is distant One hundred Yards (measured along the River Dee) above the Bridge of Dee; thence in a straight Line to the Point at which the March between the Parishes of Old Machar and Banchory Davenick crosses the Old-Dee-side Road; thence, Northward, along the March between the Parishes of Old Machar and Banchory Davenick, and Old Machar and Newhills, to the Point first described."[1]

In 1885, the Aberdeen constituency was divided between Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South.

Members of Parliament

Election Member Party
1832 Alexander Bannerman Whig[2][3]
1847 Alexander Fordyce Whig[4][5]
1852 George Thompson Radical[6][7]
1857 William Henry Sykes Whig[4][8]
1859 Liberal
1872 by-election John Farley Leith Liberal
1880 John Webster Liberal
1885 Redistribution of Seats Act: constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Aberdeen [9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Webster 7,505 70.5 +11.6
Conservative James Shaw[11] 3,139 29.5 −11.6
Majority 4,366 41.0 +23.2
Turnout 10,644 75.0 +29.5
Registered electors 14,184
Liberal hold Swing +11.6

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Aberdeen[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Farley Leith 3,910 58.9 N/A
Conservative James Shaw[12] 2,724 41.1 N/A
Majority 1,186 17.8 N/A
Turnout 6,634 45.5 N/A
Registered electors 14,585
Liberal hold
By-election, 29 June 1872: Aberdeen[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Farley Leith 4,392 57.0 N/A
Liberal James William Barclay 2,615 33.9 N/A
Conservative James Shaw[12] 704 9.1 New
Majority 1,777 23.1 N/A
Turnout 7,711 55.1 N/A
Registered electors 13,996
Liberal hold
  • Caused by Sykes' death.

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Aberdeen[13][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Henry Sykes Unopposed
Registered electors 8,312
Liberal hold
General election 1865: Aberdeen[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Henry Sykes Unopposed
Registered electors 3,996
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Aberdeen[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Henry Sykes Unopposed
Registered electors 3,442
Liberal hold
General election 1857: Aberdeen[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Henry Sykes 1,035 54.9 N/A
Whig John Farley Leith[14] 849 45.1 N/A
Majority 186 9.8 N/A
Turnout 1,884 80.3 +54.8
Registered electors 2,346
Whig gain from Radical Swing N/A
General election 1852: Aberdeen[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical George Thompson 682 58.8 N/A
Whig Andrew Leith Hay[2] 478 41.2 N/A
Majority 204 17.6 N/A
Turnout 1,160 25.5 −14.3
Registered electors 4,547
Radical gain from Whig Swing N/A

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Aberdeen[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Alexander Fordyce 918 68.5 N/A
Whig William Henry Sykes 422 31.5 N/A
Majority 496 37.0 +16.8
Turnout 1,340 39.8 −20.6
Registered electors 3,364
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1841: Aberdeen[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Alexander Bannerman 780 59.0 N/A
Conservative William Innes 513 38.8 New
Chartist Robert Lowery[15] 30 2.3 New
Majority 267 20.2 N/A
Turnout 1,323 60.4 N/A
Registered electors 2,189
Whig hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Aberdeen[10][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Alexander Bannerman Unopposed
Registered electors 2,110
Whig hold
General election 1835: Aberdeen[10][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Alexander Bannerman 938 71.6
Conservative Arthur Farquhar 372 28.4
Majority 566 43.2
Turnout 1,310 62.4
Registered electors 2,098
Whig hold
General election 1832: Aberdeen[10][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Alexander Bannerman Unopposed
Registered electors 2,024
Whig win (new seat)

References

  1. ^ Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1832, Schedule (M).
  2. ^ a b Smith, Henry Stooks (1841). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. pp. 195–196, 201.
  3. ^ Churton, Edward (1836). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1836. p. 22.
  4. ^ a b "Aberdeen Press and Journal". 28 July 1847. p. 5. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ Forbes, Alexander (1965). Memorials of the Family of Forbes of Forbesfield, with Notes on Connected Morgans, Duneans and Fergusons (PDF). Aberdeen: The King's Printers. p. 23. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  6. ^ Fraser, W. Hamish (2000). "Politics Before 1918". In Fraser, W. Hamish; Lee, Clive H. (eds.). Aberdeen 1800–2000: A New History (Illustrated ed.). Dundurn. p. 184. ISBN 1-86232-175-2 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "The Elections. Polls on Wednesday". Edinburgh Evening Courant. 8 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Dundee, Perth, and Cupar Advertiser". 13 March 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ The Times, 29 April 1880
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  11. ^ "Representation of Aberdeen". Aberdeen Free Press. 29 March 1880. p. 5. Retrieved 18 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ a b "Mr James Shaw". Western Times. 25 June 1872. p. 6. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ Debrett's House of Commons, 1870
  14. ^ "Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser". 28 March 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Election News". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 15. Retrieved 14 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ a b c Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The register of parliamentary contested elections. Containing the uncontested elections since 1830. p. 195.