Oxfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Oxfordshire
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
County Oxfordshire
1290–1885
Number of members 1290–1832: Two
1832–1885: Three
Replaced by Banbury, Woodstock and Henley

Oxfordshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament. In 1832 this was increased to three Members of Parliament. The constituency was abolished in 1885, being split into three single member divisions.

The bitterly contested Oxfordshire election of 1754 was the main inspiration for Hogarth's famous series of paintings and engravings, The Election.

Hogarth's painting The Polling (1755), one of a series depicting the Oxfordshire election of 1754

Boundaries

The constituency comprised the whole of the historic county of Oxfordshire, in the northern part of South East England. (Although Oxfordshire contained three parliamentary boroughs for part of this period – Oxford (from 1295), Woodstock (or New Woodstock) (1302–1555 and from 1571) and Banbury (from 1554) – each of which elected MPs in their own right, these were not excluded from the county constituency, and owning property within the borough could confer a vote at the county election. The Oxford University constituency was also often listed as an Oxfordshire constituency, but was non-territorial and had no effect on the right to vote in the county.)

There were minor boundary changes at the time of the Great Reform Act in 1832, when five parishes or parts of parishes were transferred to other counties while six parishes or parts of parishes were added.

In 1885 the representation of the county was changed from one three member constituency to three single member divisions. Banbury and Woodstock ceased to be parliamentary boroughs but the same names were used for two county divisions. The three new county constituencies were Banbury (or the North division); Woodstock (or the Mid division) and Henley (or the South division).

Members of Parliament

MPs 1290–1640

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1316 Richard de la Bere
1325 Richard de la Bere
1372 Sir Gilbert Wace
1373 Sir Richard Abberbury
1377–1378 Robert Simeon
1377 (Jan) Sir Gilbert Wace
1380 John Harrowden
1381 Sir Thomas Blount
1382 (Oct) Sir Gilbert Wace
1383 (Feb) Sir Gilbert WaceJohn Harrowden
1383 (Oct) Sir Gilbert WaceJohn Harrowden
1384 (Apr) Sir Gilbert Wace
1384 (Nov) Sir Gilbert Wace
1385 Sir Gilbert Wace
1386 Sir Richard Abberbury Sir Gilbert Wace [1]
1388 (Feb) William Wilcotes Thomas Barantyn [1]
1388 (Sep) Sir Thomas de la Poyle John Rede [1]
1390 (Jan) William Wilcotes Thomas Barantyn [1]
1390 (Nov) Sir Thomas de la Poyle Thomas Barantyn [1]
1391 William Wilcotes John Rede [1]
1393 Sir Thomas Paynell Thomas Barantyn [1]
1394 William Wilcotes John Abberbury [1]
1395 William Wilcotes William Bruley [1]
1397 (Jan) John Abberbury Thomas Barantyn [1]
1397 (Sep) William Wilcotes John Golafre [1]
1399 John Wilcotes Thomas Barantyn [1]
1401 John Wilcotes Thomas Chaucer [1]
1402 Thomas Chaucer Thomas Wykeham [1]
1404 (Jan) Sir Peter Bessels William Mackney [1]
1404 (Oct) Sir John Drayton John Wilcotes [1]
1406 Thomas Chaucer John Wilcotes [1]
1407 Thomas Chaucer John Wilcotes [1]
1410 Thomas Chaucer William Wilcotes [1]
1411 Thomas Chaucer ? [1]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) Thomas Chaucer John Wilcotes [1]
1414 (Apr) Sir William Lisle John Wilcotes [1]
1414 (Nov) Thomas Chaucer John Wilcotes [1]
1415
1416 (Mar) Thomas Stonor Sir Thomas Wykeham [1]
1416 (Oct)
1417 Sir William Lisle John Wilcotes [1]
1419 Thomas Stonor John Wilcotes [1]
1420 John Danvers Richard Greville [1]
1421 (May) Thomas Chaucer John Wilcotes [1]
1421 (Dec) John Danvers Peter Fettiplace [1]
1422 Sir Thomas Wykeham
1423 John DanversPeter Fettiplace
1425 John DanversThomas Stonor
1425 Thomas Stonor
1427 Thomas Stonor
1431 Thomas Stonor
1432 Richard Quatremain [2]
1433 Richard Quatremain [2]
1435 Peter Fettiplace
1510–1523 No names known [3]
1529 Sir John Dauntesey Sir William Barentyne [3]
1536
1539 William Fermor John Welsborne[3]
1542 Sir John Williams Edward __? [3]
1545
1547 Sir John Williams Richard Fiennes [3]
1553 (Mar) Sir Andrew Dudley Sir John Williams [3]
1553 (Oct) Sir John Williams John Pollard[4][3]
1554 (Apr) Sir Leonard Chamberlain John Pollard[4][3]
1554 (Nov) Sir Leonard Chamberlain John Pollard[4][3]
1555 Sir Thomas Wenman Edmund Powell [3]
1558 George Owen Thomas Denton [3]
1559 (Jan) Thomas Brydges Edmund Ashfield[5]
1562 (Dec) Sir Francis Knollys Sir Richard Blount, died
and replaced 1566 by Edward Unton [5]
1571 Sir Francis Knollys Henry Norris[5]
1572 (Apr) Sir Francis Knollys Henry Knollys[5]
1584 (Nov) Sir Francis Knollys William Knollys[5]
1586 (Oct) Sir Francis Knollys Richard Fiennes[5]
1588 Sir Francis Knollys Sir John Norreys[5]
1593 Sir Francis Knollys Sir William Knollys[5]
1597 (Sep) Sir William Knollys Sir Richard Wenman[5]
1601 (Sep) Sir William Knollys Ralph Warcoppe[5]
1604 Lawrence Tanfield John Doyley
1614 Sir Anthony Cope, 1st Baronet Sir John Croke
1621 Sir Richard Wenman Sir William Cope
1624 Sir William Cope Sir Henry Poole
1625 Edward Wray Sir Richard Wenman
1626 Hon. James Fiennes Sir Thomas Wenman
1628 Hon. James Fiennes Sir Francis Wenman
1629–1640No Parliament

MPs 1640–1832

YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
April 1640 Hon. James Fiennes Parliamentarian The Viscount WenmanParliamentarian
November 1640
December 1648 Fiennes and Wenman excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant
Oxfordshire had 3 representatives in the nominated Barebones Parliament
1653 Sir Charles Wolseley, William Draper, Dr Jonathan Goddard
Oxfordshire had 5 MPs in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1654 Robert Jenkinson, Charles Fleetwood, Colonel James Whitelocke, Nathaniel Fiennes, William Lenthall
1656 Robert Jenkinson, Lord Deputy Charles Fleetwood, William Lenthall, Miles Fleetwood, Sir Francis Norreys
Representation reverted to two MPs in the Third Protectorate Parliament
January 1659 Robert Jenkinson The Viscount Falkland
May 1659 Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 The Viscount Wenman Hon. James Fiennes
1661 The Viscount Falkland Sir Anthony Cope
1663 William Knollys
1664 Sir Francis Wenman
1675 Sir Edward Norreys
February 1679 Sir John Cope
August 1679 Thomas Horde
1681 Sir Philip Harcourt
1685 The Viscount Falkland Thomas Tipping
1689 Sir Robert Jenkinson Sir John Cope
1690 Lord Norreys
1699 Sir Robert Dashwood
1701 Sir Edward Norreys
1708 Viscount Rialton
February 1710 Sir Robert Jenkinson
October 1710 Francis Clerke
1715 James Herbert
1717 Sir Banks Jenkinson
1721 Henry Perrot
1727 Sir William Stapleton
January 1740 Sir James Dashwood
February 1740 Viscount Quarendon
1743 Norreys Bertie
1754 Viscount Parker Whig Sir Edward Turner Whig
1761 Lord Charles Spencer Whig Sir James Dashwood Tory
1768 The Viscount Wenman
1790 Marquess of Blandford Whig
1796 Lord Charles Spencer Whig John Fane Tory
1801 Lord Francis Spencer Whig
1815 William Henry Ashhurst Tory
1824 by-election John Fane Tory
1830 Lord Norreys Tory
1831 George Granville Harcourt Whig Richard Weyland Whig
1832 Representation increased to three members

MPs 1832–1885

ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond partyThird memberThird party
1832 Lord Norreys Conservative George Granville Harcourt Whig Richard Weyland Whig
1835 Conservative
1837 Thomas Parker Conservative
1841 Joseph Warner Henley Conservative
1852 John Sidney North Conservative
1857 Whig
1859 Liberal
1862 by-election John Fane Conservative
1868 William Cornwallis Cartwright Liberal
1878 by-election Edward William Harcourt Conservative
1885 Constituency abolished

Elections

The county franchise, from 1430, was held by the adult male owners of freehold land valued at 40 shillings or more. The bloc vote electoral system was used in two seat elections and first past the post for single member by-elections. Each elector had as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings, which took place in Oxford. The expense and difficulty of voting at only one location in the county, together with the lack of a secret ballot contributed to the corruption and intimidation of electors, which was widespread in the unreformed British political system.

The expense, to candidates and their supporters, of contested elections encouraged the leading families of the county to agree on the candidates to be returned unopposed whenever possible. Contested county elections were therefore unusual. The Tory Dukes of Marlborough, dominated the county from their seat at Blenheim Palace. One seat was usually held by a Spencer, the other by a local family acceptable to the Duke. Between 1700 and 1826 there was only one contest.

Election results

Note on percentage change calculations: Where there was only one candidate of a party in successive elections, for the same number of seats, change is calculated on the party percentage vote. Where there was more than one candidate, in one or both successive elections for the same number of seats, then change is calculated on the individual percentage vote.

Note on sources: The information for the election results given below is taken from Stooks Smith 1715–1754, Namier and Brooke 1754–1790 and Stooks Smith 1790–1832. From 1832 the principal source was Craig, with additional or different information from Stooks Smith included.

Election results 1715–1800

1710s –

1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s

Elections in the 1710s

General Election 1715: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Francis Clerke Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Sir Robert Jenkinson, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election May 1715: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan James Herbert Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
By-Election November 1717: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir Banks Jenkinson, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1720s

By-Election May 1722: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Henry Perrot Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General Election 1722: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir Banks Jenkinson, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Henry Perrot Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 1727: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Henry Perrot Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Sir William Stapleton, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1730s

General Election 1734: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Henry Perrot Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Sir William Stapleton, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election January 1739: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir James Dashwood, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
By-Election February 1739: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Viscount Quarendon Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1740s

General Election 1741: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir James Dashwood, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Viscount Quarendon Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election February 1742: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Norris Bertie Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General Election 1747: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir James Dashwood, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Norris Bertie Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1750s

General Election 17 April 1754: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory The 3rd Viscount Wenman 2,033 25.88 N/A
Tory Sir James Dashwood, Bt 2,014 25.64 N/A
Whig Viscount Parker 1,919 24.43 N/A
Whig Sir Edward Turner 1,890 24.06 N/A
Turnout 7,856 N/A N/A

Elections in the 1760s

General Election 8 April 1761: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Sir James Dashwood, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 12 January 1763: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
By-Election April 1763: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
General Election 30 March 1768: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan The 4th Viscount Wenman Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1770s

General Election 19 October 1774: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan The 4th Viscount Wenman Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 22 December 1779: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1780s

General Election 27 September 1780: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan The 4th Viscount Wenman Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 18 December 1782: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General Election 7 April 1784: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan The 4th Viscount Wenman Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1790s

General Election 1790: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan The 4th Viscount Wenman Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Marquess of Blandford Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 1796: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Charles Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A

Election results 1801–1885

1800s –

1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s

Elections in the 1800s

By-Election February 1801: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Lord Francis Almaric Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General Election 1802: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Lord Francis Almaric Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 1806: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Lord Francis Almaric Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 1807: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Lord Francis Almaric Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1810s

General Election 1812: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Lord Francis Almaric Spencer Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election February 1816: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Henry Ashurst Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General Election 1818: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory William Henry Ashurst Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1820s

General Election 1820: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory William Henry Ashurst Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election February 1824: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General Election 1826: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Henry Ashurst 1,329 36.36 N/A
Tory John Fane 1,268 34.69 N/A
Whig G.F. Stratton 1,058 28.95 N/A
Turnout 3,655 (2,295 voted) N/A N/A

Note (1826): Stooks Smith records that the polls were open for three days

Elections in the 1830s

General Election 1830: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Fane 1,904 39.93 +5.24
Tory Lord Norreys 1,618 33.93 N/A
Whig Sir G. Dashwood 1,246 26.13 -2.82
Turnout 4,768 (2,762 voted) N/A N/A
General Election 1831: Oxfordshire (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig George Harcourt 1,782 37.23 N/A
Whig Richard Weyland 1,688 35.27 N/A
Tory Lord Norreys 1,316 27.50 -6.43
Turnout 4,786 (2,934 voted) N/A N/A
General Election 1832: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Granville Vernon Harcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Lord Norreys Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal Richard Weyland Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 4,721
General Election 1835: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Harcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Lord Norreys Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal Richard Weyland Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 4,716
General Election 1837: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lord Norreys 3,002 29.69 N/A
Conservative George Granville Vernon Harcourt 2,885 28.53 N/A
Conservative Thomas Parker 2,767 27.36 N/A
Liberal Thomas Stonor 1,458 14.42 N/A
Turnout 10,112 (4,125 voted) 78.53 N/A
Registered electors 5,253

Note (1837): Stooks Smith was the source for the number of electors voting. He classified Norreys, Harcourt and Parker as Tories, with Stonor as a Whig.

Elections in the 1840s

General Election 1841: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Harcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Lord Norreys Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 5,809
General Election 1847: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Harcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Lord Norreys Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 5,384

Elections in the 1850s

By-Election 10 March 1852: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rt Hon. Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General Election 1852: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rt Hon. Joseph Warner Henley 2,328 35.60 N/A
Conservative John North 2,218 33.91 N/A
Conservative George Harcourt 1,313 20.08 N/A
Conservative Lord Norreys 681 10.41 N/A
Turnout 6,540 41.94 N/A
Registered electors 5,198

Note (1852): The minimum possible turnout is estimated by dividing the number of votes cast by three. To the extent that electors did not use all their three possible votes the figure given will be an underestimate of the true turnout

General Election 1857: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Harcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Rt Hon. Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative John North Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 5,119
By-Election 6 March 1858: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rt Hon. Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General Election 1859: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Harcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Rt Hon. Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative John North Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 5,123

Elections in the 1860s

By-Election 3 February 1862: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Fane 1,909 52.58 N/A
Liberal Sir Henry Dashwood, 5th Baronet 1,722 47.42 N/A
Majority 187 5.15 N/A
Turnout 3,631 72.48 N/A
Registered electors 5,010
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
General Election 1865: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Fane Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Rt Hon. Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative John North Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 5,798
General Election 1868: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Cornwallis Cartwright Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Rt Hon. Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative John North Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 7,663

Elections in the 1870s

General Election 1874: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Cornwallis Cartwright Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Rt Hon. Joseph Warner Henley Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative John North Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 7,554
By-Election 5 February 1878: Oxfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward William Harcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General Election 1880: Oxfordshire (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Cornwallis Cartwright Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Edward William Harcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative John North Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 7,495

See also

Sources

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  2. 1 2 "A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 7: Dorchester and Thame hundreds". British History Online. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  4. 1 2 3  "Pollard, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-09-10.
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