- Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)
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Oxford University Former University constituency for the House of Commons 1603–1950 Number of members two Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950.
Boundaries, Electorate and Electoral System
This university constituency was created by a Royal Charter of 1603. It was abolished in 1950 by the Representation of the People Act 1948.
The constituency was not a physical area. Its electorate consisted of the graduates of the University of Oxford. Before 1918 the franchise was restricted to male graduates with a Doctorate or MA degree. Namier and Brooke estimated the number of electors as about 500 in the 1754-1790 period.
The constituency returned two Members of Parliament. From 1918, the MPs were elected by the Single Transferable Vote method of Proportional Representation.
History
The university strongly supported the old Tory cause in the 18th century. The original party system endured long after it had become meaningless in almost every other constituency.
After the Hanoverian succession to the British throne the Whigs became dominant in the politics of Cambridge University, the other university represented in Parliament, by using a royal prerogative power to confer Doctorates. That power did not exist at Oxford, so the major part of the university electorate remained Tory (and in the first half of the 18th century sometimes Jacobite) in sympathy.
The university also valued its independence from government. In a rare contested general election in 1768 the two candidates with administration ties were defeated.
In the 19th century the university continued to support the right, almost always returning Tory, Conservative or Liberal Unionist candidates. The only exception was William Ewart Gladstone, formerly "the rising hope of the stern unbending Tories". He first represented the university as a Peelite, supporting a former member for the constituency - the sometime Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. Gladstone retained his seat as a Liberal, for a time after 1859. Following Gladstone's defeat, in 1865, subsequent Liberal candidates were rare and they were never successful in winning a seat.
Even after the introduction of proportional representation, in 1918, both members continued to be Conservatives until 1935. Independent members were elected in the last phase of university elections to Parliament, before the constituency was abolished in 1950.
Members of Parliament
The politician Rayment names as Sir William Whitelocke is named by Sedgwick as Sir William Whitlock.
The roman numerals in brackets after the names of the two members called William Bromley (who were father and son) are included to distinguish them. It is not a method which would have been used by the men themselves.
- Constituency created (1603)
Parliament of England 1604-1707
As there were sometimes significant gaps between Parliaments held in this period, the dates of first assembly and dissolution are given. Where the name of the member has not yet been ascertained, the entry unknown is entered in the table.
Elected Assembled Dissolved First Member Second Member 1604 19 March 1604 9 February 1611 Sir Thomas Crompton Sir Daniel Donne or Dun[1] 1614 5 April 1614 7 June 1614 Sir John Bennet 1620 or 1621 16 January 1621 8 February 1622 Sir Clement Edmondes 1623 or 1624 12 February 1624 27 March 1625 Sir Isaac Wake Sir George Calvert 1625 17 May 1625 12 August 1625 Sir Thomas Edmonds Sir John Danvers 1626 6 February 1626 15 June 1626 Sir Thomas Edmonds[2] 1628 17 March 1628 10 March 1629 Sir Henry Marten 1640 13 April 1640 5 May 1640 Sir Francis Windebanke Sir John Danvers[3] 1640 3 November 1640 5 December 1648 John Selden Sir Thomas Roe 6 December 1648 a 20 April 1653 b unknown 1653 c 4 July 1653 12 December 1653 unrepresented in Barebones Parliament 1654 d 3 September 1654 22 January 1655 John Owen DD 1656 e 17 September 1656 4 February 1658 Nathaniel Fiennes 1658 or 1659 27 January 1659 22 April 1659 Matthew Hale John Mylles N/A f 7 May 1659 20 February 1660 unknown unknown 21 February 1660 16 March 1660 12 April 1660 25 April 1660 29 December 1660 Thomas Clayton John Mylles 1 April 1661 8 May 1661 24 January 1679 Laurence Hyde Sir Heneage Finch, Bt 16 January 1674 Thomas Thynne 27 February 1679 6 March 1679 12 July 1679 Heneage Finch John Eddisbury 19 August 1679 21 October 1680 18 January 1681 Sir Leoline Jenkins Charles Perrot 1681 21 March 1681 28 March 1681 1685 19 May 1685 2 June 1687 23 November 1685 George Clarke 7 January 1689 22 January 1689 6 February 1690 Heneage Finch Sir Thomas Clargesg 1690 20 March 1690 11 October 1695 21 October 1695 22 November 1695 6 July 1698 Sir William Trumbull 23 July 1698 24 August 1698 19 December 1700 Sir Christopher Musgrave, Bt Sir William Glynne, Bt 3 January 1701 6 February 1701 11 November 1701 Heneage Finch 21 March 1701 William Bromley (I) 1701 30 December 1701 2 July 1702 1702 20 August 1702 5 April 1705 22 November 1703 Sir William Whitelocke 1705 14 June 1705 1707 h Notes:-
- a Date of Pride's Purge, which converted the Long Parliament into the Rump Parliament.
- b Date when Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament by force.
- c Date when the members of the nominated or Barebones Parliament were selected. The university was not represented in this body.
- d Date when the members of the First Protectorate Parliament were elected. The university was represented by one member in this body.
- e Date when the members of the Second Protectorate Parliament were elected. The university was represented by one member in this body.
- f The Rump Parliament was recalled and subsequently Pride's Purge was reversed, allowing the full Long Parliament to meet until it agreed to dissolve itself.
- g Clarges died on 4 October 1695, so the seat was vacant at the dissolution of 11 October 1695.
- h The MPs of the last Parliament of England and 45 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Scotland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of Great Britain which assembled on 23 October 1707 (see below for the members in that Parliament).
Parliaments of Great Britain 1707-1800 and of the United Kingdom 1801-1950
Year First member First party Second member Second party 1707 Sir William Whitlock Tory William Bromley [I] 1 Tory 1717 George Clarke Tory 1732 Viscount Cornbury Tory 1737 William Bromley (II) Tory 1737 Edward Butler Tory 1745 Peregrine Palmer Tory 1751 Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt Tory 1762 Sir Walter Bagot, Bt Tory 1768 Sir William Dolben, Bt Tory 1768 Francis Page Tory 1780 Sir William Dolben, Bt Tory 1801 Sir William Scott Tory 1806 Charles Abbot 2 Tory 1817 Robert Peel Tory 1821 Richard Heber Tory 1826 Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt 3 Tory 1829 Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt 3 Tory 1835 Conservative Conservative 1847 William Ewart Gladstone 4 Peelite 1854 Sir William Heathcote, Bt Conservative 1859 Liberal 1865 Gathorne Hardy Conservative 1868 Sir John Robert Mowbray, Bt Conservative 1878 John Gilbert Talbot Conservative 1899 Sir William Reynell Anson, Bt 5 Liberal Unionist 1910 Lord Hugh Cecil 6 Conservative 1912 Conservative 1914 Rowland Prothero Conservative 1918 Coalition Conservative Coalition Conservative 1919 Sir Charles Oman Coalition Conservative 1922 Conservative Conservative 1935 Sir Alan Patrick Herbert Independent 1937 Sir Arthur Salter Independent - Constituency abolished (1950)
Notes:-
- 1 Bromley had represented the university since a by-election in March 1701. He was Speaker of the House of Commons 1710-1713.
- 2 Abbot was Speaker of the House of Commons 1802-1817.
- 3 Estcourt and Inglis are regarded as Conservative MPs from 1835, as this was the approximate date when the Tory Party became known as the Conservative Party.
- 4 Gladstone accepted office in a Liberal ministry in 1859, thus vacating the seat he had held (as a Peelite MP - more formally a Liberal Conservative). He was re-elected as a Liberal candidate.
- 5 Anson became a Conservative MP when the Liberal Unionists formally merged with the Conservatives in 1912.
- 6 Cecil joined the non-Coalition wing of his party at some point during the 1918-1922 Parliament.
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Elections
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1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s – 1890s – 1900s – 1910s – 1920s – 1930s – 1940s
Elections in the 1710s
General Election 24 January 1715: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Whitlock Unopposed N/A N/A Tory William Bromley (I) Unopposed N/A N/A - Note (1715): Bromley had been Speaker of the House of Commons 1710-1713.
- Death of Whitlock
By-Election 4 December 1717: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A Elections in the 1720s
General Election 22 March 1722: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory William Bromley (I) 337 43.54 N/A Tory George Clarke 278 35.92 N/A Tory William King 159 20.54 N/A Turnout 774 N/A N/A - Note (1722): Stooks Smith records the votes as Bromley 278, Clarke 213 and King 142.
General Election 18 August 1727: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory William Bromley (I) Unopposed N/A N/A Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1730s
- Death of Bromley
By-Election 26 February 1732: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Viscount Cornbury Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A General Election 26 April 1734: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Viscount Cornbury Unopposed N/A N/A Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A - Death of Clarke
By-Election 9 February 1737: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory William Bromley (II) 329 73.11 N/A Whig Robert Trevor 121 26.89 N/A Majority 208 46.22 N/A Turnout 450 N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A - Death of Bromley
By-Election 31 March 1737: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Edward Butler 214 76.98 N/A Tory Peregrine Palmer 64 23.02 N/A Majority 150 53.96 +7.74 Turnout 278 N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A Elections in the 1740s
General Election 26 April 1741: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Viscount Cornbury Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Edward Butler Unopposed N/A N/A - Death of Butler
By-Election 12 November 1745: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Peregrine Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A General Election 27 June 1747: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Viscount Cornbury Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Peregrine Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1750s
- Summons to the House of Lords of Cornbury, by writ in acceleration for his father's subsidiary title of Lord Hyde
By-Election 31 January 1751: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt 184 48.81 N/A Tory Robert Harley 126 33.42 N/A Tory Sir Edward Turner, Bt 67 17.77 N/A Majority 58 15.38 N/A Turnout 377 N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A - Note (1751): Stooks Smith records Turner's vote as 47.
General Election 15 April 1754: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Peregrine Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1760s
General Election 27 March 1761: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Peregrine Palmer Unopposed N/A N/A - Death of Palmer
By-Election 16 December 1762: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir Walter Bagot, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A - Death of Bagot
By-Election 3 February 1768: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Dolben, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A General Election 23 March 1768: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt 352 38.77 N/A Tory Francis Page 296 32.80 N/A Non Partisan Charles Jenkinson 198 21.81 N/A Non Partisan George Hay 62 6.83 N/A Turnout 908 (493 voted) N/A N/A Elections in the 1770s
General Election 11 October 1774: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1780s
General Election 11 September 1780: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Dolben, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1 April 1784: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Dolben, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1790s
General Election 1790: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Dolben, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1796: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Dolben, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1800s
- Resignation of Page
By-Election March 1801: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A General Election 1802: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Dolben, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Sir William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1806: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Scott 651 48.95 N/A Tory Charles Abbot 404 30.38 N/A Tory Richard Heber 275 20.68 N/A Turnout 1,330 N/A N/A General Election 1807: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Charles Abbot Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1810s
General Election 1812: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Charles Abbot Unopposed N/A N/A - Creation of Abbot as the 1st Lord Colchester
By-Election June 1817: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A General Election 1818: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1820s
General Election 1820: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A - Creation of Scott as the 1st Lord Stowell
By-Election August 1821: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Richard Heber 612 54.11 N/A Tory Sir J. Nicholl, Bt 519 45.89 N/A Majority 93 8.22 N/A Turnout 1,131 N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A - Seat vacated on the appointment of Peel as Secretary of State for the Home Department
By-Election February 1822: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Rt Hon. Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A - Resignation of Heber
By-Election February 1826: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A General Election 1826: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Rt Hon. Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A - Seat vacated on the appointment of Peel as Secretary of State for the Home Department
By-Election February 1828: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Rt Hon. Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A - Resignation of Peel
By-Election February 1829: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt 755 55.35 N/A Tory Rt Hon. Robert Peel 609 44.65 N/A Majority 146 10.70 N/A Turnout 1,354 N/A N/A Tory hold Swing N/A - Note (1829): Stooks Smith records that the polls were open for three days.
Elections in the 1830s
General Election 1830: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1831: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 12 December 1832: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Tory Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A Tory Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Registered electors 2,496 General Election 8 January 1835: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 25 July 1837: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1840s
General Election 29 June 1841: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A - Note (1841): McCalmont classifies Inglis as a Peelite candidate, at this election.
General Election August 1847: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt 1,700 48.28 N/A Peelite Rt Hon. William Ewart Gladstone 997 28.32 N/A Conservative Charles Gray Round 824 23.40 N/A Turnout 3,521 (1,851 voted) 56.09 N/A Registered electors 3,300 - Note (1847): Poll 5 days. (Source for this note and the number of voters: Stooks Smith). McCalmont classifies Inglis as a Peelite and Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.
Elections in the 1850s
General Election July 1852: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bt 1,369 42.32 -5.96 Peelite Rt Hon. William Ewart Gladstone 1,108 34.25 +5.93 Conservative R B Marsham 758 23.43 N/A Turnout 3,235 46.56 -9.53 Registered electors 3,474 - Note (1852): Minimum possible turnout estimated by dividing votes by 2. To the extent that electors did not use both their votes, the figure will be an underestimate. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.
- Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer
By-Election 20 January 1853: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Peelite Rt Hon. William Ewart Gladstone 1,022 53.23 N/A Conservative D.M. Perceval 898 46.77 N/A Majority 124 6.46 N/A Turnout 1,920 57.19 N/A Registered electors 3,357 Peelite hold Swing N/A - Resignation of Inglis. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.
By-Election 7 February 1854: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Sir William Heathcote, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative hold Swing N/A General Election 27 March 1857: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Peelite Rt Hon. William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative Sir William Heathcote, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Registered electors 3,538 - Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Lord High Commissioner to the Ionian Islands. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.
By-Election 12 February 1859: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Peelite Rt Hon. William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed N/A N/A Peelite hold Swing N/A General Election 29 April 1859: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Peelite Rt Hon. William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative Sir William Heathcote, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Registered electors 3,623 - Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal candidate, at this election.
By-Election 1 July 1859: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Rt Hon. William Ewart Gladstone 1,050 55.00 N/A Conservative Marquess of Chandos 859 45.00 N/A Majority 191 10.01 N/A Turnout 1,909 52.69 N/A Registered electors 3,623 Liberal hold Swing N/A Elections in the 1860s
General Election 18 July 1865: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Sir William Heathcote, Bt 3,236 47.14 N/A Conservative Gathorne Hardy 1,904 27.74 N/A Liberal Rt Hon. William Ewart Gladstone 1,724 25.12 N/A Turnout 6,864 91.40 N/A Registered electors 3,755 - Note (1865): Turnout estimated in the same way as for the 1852 election.
- Seat vacated on the appointment of Hardy as President of the Poor Law Board
By-Election 12 July 1866: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Gathorne Hardy Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative hold Swing N/A - Seat vacated on the appointment of Hardy as Secretary of State for the Home Department
By-Election 20 May 1867: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Gathorne Hardy Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative hold Swing N/A General Election 18 November 1868: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Gathorne Hardy Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative John Robert Mowbray Unopposed N/A N/A Registered electors 4,190 Elections in the 1870s
General Election 31 January 1874: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Gathorne Hardy Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative John Robert Mowbray Unopposed N/A N/A Registered electors 4,659 - Seat vacated on the appointment of Hardy as Secretary of State for War
By-Election 14 March 1874: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Gathorne Hardy Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative hold Swing N/A - Creation of Hardy as the 1st Viscount Cranbrook
By-Election 17 May 1878: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative John Gilbert Talbot 2,687 73.10 N/A Liberal H.J.S. Smith 989 26.90 N/A Majority 1,698 46.19 N/A Turnout 3,676 73.14 N/A Registered electors 5,026 Conservative hold Swing N/A Elections in the 1880s
General Election April 1880: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative John Robert Mowbray Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed N/A N/A Registered electors 5,033 General Election 24 November 1885: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Sir John Robert Mowbray, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 2 July 1886: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Sir John Robert Mowbray, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1890s
General Election July 1892: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Sir John Robert Mowbray, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 13 July 1895: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Sir John Robert Mowbray, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed N/A N/A - Death of Mowbray
By-Election 11 May 1899: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Unionist Sir William Reynell Anson, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Liberal Unionist gain from Conservative Swing N/A Elections in the 1900s
General Election 1 October 1900: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed N/A N/A Liberal Unionist Sir William Reynell Anson, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 13 January 1906: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed N/A N/A Liberal Unionist Sir William Reynell Anson, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Elections in the 1910s
General Election 15 January 1910: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Unionist Sir William Reynell Anson, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative Lord Hugh Cecil Unopposed N/A N/A General Election December 1910: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Unionist Sir William Reynell Anson, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative Lord Hugh Cecil Unopposed N/A N/A - Anson became a Conservative MP in 1912 when the Liberal Unionist Party formally merged with the Conservative Party.
- Death of Anson
By-Election 30 June 1914: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rowland Edmund Prothero Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative hold Swing N/A - Electorate expanded and elections using the bloc vote replaced by those using the single transferable vote, by the Representation of the People Act 1918, from the United Kingdom general election, 1918.
General Election 1918: Oxford University (2 seats) - 1st Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Coalition Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 2,771 49.80 N/A Coalition Conservative Rt Hon. Rowland Edmund Prothero 1,716 30.84 N/A Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 742 13.34 N/A Labour H.S. Furniss 335 6.02 N/A Turnout 5,564 70.37 N/A Registered electors 7,907 Quota 1,855 - Distribution of Cecil's surplus
General Election 1918: Oxford University (2 seats) - 2nd Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Coalition Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 1,855 N/A -916 Coalition Conservative Rt Hon. Rowland Edmund Prothero 2,546 N/A +830 Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 812 N/A +70 Labour H.S. Furniss 351 N/A +16 Total Votes 5,564 Quota 1,855 - Creation of Prothero as 1st Lord Ernle
By-Election 19–24 March 1919: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Coalition Conservative Prof. Charles Oman 2,613 52.52 N/A Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 1,330 26.73 N/A Independent J.A.L. Riley 1,032 20.74 N/A Majority 1,283 25.79 N/A Turnout 4,975 62.92 N/A Registered electors 7,907 Coalition Conservative hold Swing N/A Elections in the 1920s
General Election 1922: Oxford University (2 seats) - 1st Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 3,185 56.40 +6.60 Conservative Sir Charles Oman 1,018 18.03 N/A Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 1,444 25.57 +12.23 Turnout 5,647 60.24 -10.13 Registered electors 9,374 Quota 1,883 - Distribution of Cecil's surplus
General Election 1922: Oxford University (2 seats) - 2nd Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 1,883 N/A -1,302 Conservative Sir Charles Oman 2,170 N/A +1,152 Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 1,594 N/A +150 Total Votes 5,647 Quota 1,883 General Election 1923: Oxford University (2 seats) - 1st Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 3,560 43.77 -12.63 Conservative Sir Charles Oman 2,206 27.12 +9.09 Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 2,368 29.11 +3.54 Turnout 8,134 75.22 +14.98 Registered electors 10,814 Quota 2,712 - Distribution of Cecil's surplus
General Election 1923: Oxford University (2 seats) - 2nd Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 2,712 N/A -848 Conservative Sir Charles Oman 2,950 N/A +744 Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 2,472 N/A +104 Total Votes 8,134 Quota 2,712 General Election 1924: Oxford University (2 seats) - 1st Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 4,320 49.65 +5.88 Conservative Sir Charles Oman 1,738 19.97 -7.15 Independent Prof. Gilbert Murray 2,643 30.38 +1.27 Turnout 8,701 80.77 +5.55 Registered electors 10,773 Quota 2,901 - Distribution of Cecil's surplus
General Election 1924: Oxford University (2 seats) - 2nd Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 2,901 N/A -1,419 Conservative Sir Charles Oman 2,968 N/A +1,230 Independent Prof. Gilbert Murray 2,832 N/A +189 Total Votes 8,701 Quota 2,901 General Election 1929: Oxford University (2 seats) - 1st Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 6,012 52.45 +2.80 Conservative Sir Charles Oman 2,174 18.97 -1.00 Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 3,277 28.59 -1.79 Turnout 11,463 72.69 -8.08 Registered electors 15,770 Quota 3,822 - Distribution of Cecil's surplus
General Election 1929: Oxford University (2 seats) - 2nd Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 3,822 N/A -2,190 Conservative Sir Charles Oman 4,112 N/A +1,938 Liberal Prof. Gilbert Murray 3,529 N/A +252 Total Votes 11,463 Quota 3,822 Elections in the 1930s
General Election 1931: Oxford University (2 seats) Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil Unopposed N/A N/A Conservative Sir Charles Oman Unopposed N/A N/A General Election 1935: Oxford University (2 seats) - 1st Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 7,365 48.32 N/A Independent Alan Patrick Herbert 3,390 22.24 N/A Conservative C.R.M.F. Cruttwell 1,803 11.83 N/A Labour Prof. J.L. Stocks 2,683 17.60 N/A Turnout 15,241 68.00 N/A Registered electors 22,413 Quota 5,081 - Distribution of Cecil's surplus
General Election 1935: Oxford University (2 seats) - 2nd Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 5,081 N/A -2,284 Independent Alan Patrick Herbert 3,864 N/A +474 Conservative C.R.M.F. Cruttwell 3,520 N/A +1,717 Labour Prof. J.L. Stocks 2,776 N/A +93 Total Votes 15,241 Quota 5,081 - Distribution of Stocks' votes
General Election 1935: Oxford University (2 seats) - 3rd Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Rt Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil 5,081 N/A 0 Independent Alan Patrick Herbert 5,206 N/A +1,342 Conservative C.R.M.F. Cruttwell 3,697 N/A +177 Labour Prof. J.L. Stocks 0 N/A -2,766 non transferable 1,257 N/A +1,257 Total Votes 15,241 Quota 5,081 - Resignation of Cecil
By-Election 23–27 February 1937: Oxford University Party Candidate Votes % ±% Independent Sir Arthur Salter 7,580 50.18 N/A Conservative Sir (Edward) Farquhar Buzzard, Bt 3,917 25.93 N/A Independent Conservative Prof. Frederick Alan Lindemann 3,608 23.89 N/A Majority 3,663 24.25 N/A Turnout 15,105 62.68 N/A Registered electors 24,021 Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A Elections in the 1940s
General Election 1945: Oxford University (2 seats) - Only Count Party Candidate Votes % ±% Independent Rt Hon. Sir Arthur Salter 6,771 44.19 N/A Independent Alan Patrick Herbert 5,136 33.52 +11.28 Labour G.D.H. Cole 3,414 22.28 +4.68 Turnout 15,321 53.08 -14.92 Registered electors 28,865 Quota 5,108 - Constituency abolished (1950)
References
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ^ J. Palmer, A Biographical History of England (1824), 86.
- ^ s:Danvers, John (DNB00)
Bibliography
- Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)
- McCalmont's Parliamentary Poll Book: British Election Results 1832-1918 (8th edition, The Harvester Press 1971)
- The House of Commons 1715-1754, by Romney Sedgwick (HMSO 1970)
- The House of Commons 1754-1790, by Sir Lewis Namier and John Brooke (HMSO 1964)
- The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844-50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973))
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832-1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886-1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945-1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"
University constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Cambridge University (1603–1950) • Combined English Universities (1918–1950) • Combined Scottish Universities (1918–1950) • Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities (1918–1950) • Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities (1868–1918) • London University (1868–1950) • National University of Ireland (1918–1922) • Oxford University (1603–1950) • Queen's University of Belfast (1918–1950) • University of Dublin (1801–1922) • University of Wales (1918–1950)
Categories:- University constituencies in the United Kingdom
- Historic parliamentary constituencies in England
- United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies established in 1603
- United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies disestablished in 1950
- History of the University of Oxford
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