Coventry was a borough constituency which was represented in the House of Commons of England and its successors, the House of Commons of Great Britain and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
Centred on the City of Coventry in Warwickshire, it returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) from 1295 until the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, when its representation was reduced to one. The Coventry constituency was abolished for the 1945 general election, when it was split into two new constituencies: Coventry East and Coventry West.
Elections were held using the bloc vote system when electing two MPs (until 1885), and then first-past-the-post to elect one MP thereafter.
Boundaries
1832–1868: The City of Coventry and the suburbs thereof.[1]
1868–1918: The existing parliamentary borough and the Parish of Stoke.[2]
The constituency was unchanged by the Representation of the People Act 1884.[3] By the time its boundaries were revised in 1918, it was defined as consisting of the city of Coventry, the parishes of St. Michael Without and Holy Trinity Without, the parish of Stoke, and part of the parish of Wyken.[4]
1918–1945: The county borough of Coventry.[5]
History
In the eighteenth century Coventry was, despite its size, known as a corrupt borough.[6]
Members of Parliament
MPs before 1660
MPs 1660–1885
| Year |
1st Member |
1st Party |
2nd Member |
2nd Party
|
| 1660, March
|
|
Richard Hopkins
|
|
|
Robert Beake
|
|
| 1660, August
|
|
William Jesson
|
|
| 1661
|
|
Sir Clement Fisher, Bt
|
|
|
Thomas Flynt
|
|
| 1670
|
|
Richard Hopkins
|
|
| 1679, Feb
|
|
Robert Beake
|
|
| 1679, August
|
|
John Stratford
|
|
| 1685
|
|
Sir Roger Cave, Bt
|
|
|
Sir Thomas Norton
|
|
| 1689
|
|
John Stratford
|
|
| 1690
|
|
Richard Hopkins
|
|
| 1695
|
|
George Bohun
|
|
|
Thomas Gery
|
|
| 1698
|
|
Sir Christopher Hales, Bt
|
|
|
Richard Hopkins
|
|
| 1701, Jan
|
|
Thomas Hopkins
|
|
| 1701, Dec
|
|
Edward Hopkins
|
|
| 1702
|
|
Thomas Gery
|
|
| 1707
|
|
Sir Orlando Bridgeman, Bt
|
Whig
|
|
Edward Hopkins
|
|
| 1710, Oct
|
|
Robert Craven
|
|
|
Thomas Gery
|
|
| 1710, Dec
|
|
Clobery Bromley
|
|
| 1711
|
|
Sir Christopher Hales, Bt
|
|
| 1713
|
|
Sir Fulwar Skipwith, Bt
|
|
| 1715
|
|
(Sir) Adolphus Oughton[10]
|
|
|
Sir Thomas Samwell, Bt
|
|
| 1722[11]
|
|
John Neale
|
|
| 1734
|
|
John Bird
|
|
| 1737, Feb
|
|
John Neale
|
|
| 1737, Apr
|
|
Earl of Euston
|
|
| 1741
|
|
William Grove
|
|
| 1747, Jun
|
|
Viscount Petersham
|
|
| 1747, Dec
|
|
Samuel Greatheed
|
|
| 1761
|
|
James Hewitt
|
|
|
Hon. Andrew Archer
|
|
| 1766
|
|
Hon. Henry Seymour-Conway
|
|
| 1768
|
|
Sir Richard Glyn, Bt
|
|
| 1773
|
|
Walter Waring
|
|
| 1774
|
|
Edward Roe Yeo
|
Tory[12]
|
| 1780, Feb
|
|
John Baker Holroyd
|
Tory[12]
|
| 1780, Oct
|
Election abandoned due to rioting; both seats vacant[12]
|
| 1780, Dec[13]
|
|
Sir Thomas Hallifax
|
Whig[12]
|
|
Thomas Rogers
|
Whig[12]
|
| 1781
|
|
Edward Roe Yeo
|
Tory
|
|
The Lord Sheffield
|
Tory[12]
|
| 1783
|
|
Hon. William Seymour-Conway
|
|
| 1784
|
|
Sir Sampson Gideon, Bt[14]
|
|
|
John Eardley Wilmot
|
|
| 1796
|
|
William Wilberforce Bird
|
Whig[12]
|
|
Nathaniel Jefferys
|
Tory[12]
|
| 1802
|
|
Francis William Barlow
|
Tory[12]
|
| 1803
|
|
Peter Moore
|
Whig[12]
|
| 1805
|
|
William Mills
|
Whig[12]
|
| 1812
|
|
Joseph Butterworth
|
Whig[12]
|
| 1818
|
|
Edward Ellice
|
Whig[15][16][17][18][19][12][20]
|
| 1826
|
|
Richard Edensor Heathcote
|
Tory[12]
|
|
Thomas Bilcliffe Fyler
|
Tory[12]
|
| 1830
|
|
Edward Ellice
|
Whig[15][16][17][18][19][12][20]
|
| 1831
|
|
Henry Bulwer
|
Whig[12]
|
| 1835
|
|
William Williams
|
Radical[20][21][22]
|
| 1847
|
|
George James Turner
|
Conservative
|
| 1851
|
|
Charles Geach
|
Radical[23][24][25][26]
|
| 1854
|
|
Sir Joseph Paxton
|
Whig[27]
|
| 1859
|
|
Liberal
|
|
Liberal
|
| 1863
|
|
Morgan Treherne
|
Conservative
|
| 1865
|
|
Henry Eaton
|
Conservative
|
| 1867
|
|
Henry Jackson
|
Liberal
|
| 1868, March
|
|
Samuel Carter
|
Liberal
|
| 1868, November
|
|
Alexander Staveley Hill
|
Conservative
|
| 1874
|
|
Sir Henry Jackson, Bt
|
Liberal
|
| 1880
|
|
William Wills
|
Liberal
|
| 1881
|
|
Henry Eaton
|
Conservative
|
| 1885
|
representation reduced to one member
|
MPs 1885–1945
Election results
Elections in the 1830s
Ellice was appointed Secretary at War, requiring a by-election.
Elections in the 1840s
Elections in the 1850s
Turner resigned after being appointed Vice-Chancellor of the High Court, causing a by-election.
Geach's death caused a by-election.
- Phillimore retired from the contest two hours into polling.[35]
Elections in the 1860s
Ellice's death caused a by-election.
Paxton's death caused a by-election.
Treherne's death caused a by-election.
The by-election was declared void on petition due to bribery by Jackson's agent.[38]
Elections in the 1870s
Elections in the 1880s
Jackson resigned after being appointed a judge on the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, causing a by-election.
Eaton was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Cheylesmore, causing a by-election.
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1910s
Mason had opposed the war and was replaced as Liberal candidate by Mansel who supported the Coalition Government. Bannington was the candidate of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers.[43]
Elections in the 1920s
Elections in the 1930s
References & Notes
- ^ "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV: An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 300–383.
- ^ "A Collection of the Public General Statutes: 1867/68. Cap. XLVI. An Act to settle and describe the Limits of certain Boroughs and the Divisions of certain Counties in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1868. pp. 119–166.
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
- ^ Hesilrige, Arthur G. M., ed. (1918). Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1918. London: Dean & Son, Limited. p. 206.
- ^ Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the People Act, 1918: with explanatory notes. London: Sweet and Maxwell.
- ^ Pages 102 to 105,Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition - London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "British History Online". Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "History of Parliament". Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ Created a baronet, August 1718
- ^ The election of 1722 was declared void because of the "notorious and outrageous Riots, Tumults and Seditions ... in Defiance of the Civil Authority, and in Violation of the Freedom of Elections", and a new writ was issued, but the original victors (Oughton and Neale) were returned once more at the by-election.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 98–100. Retrieved 1 November 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ On petition, the election of Hallifax and Rogers was declared void, and their opponents, Yeo and Seymour-Conway, were declared to have been duly elected and seated in their place
- ^ Changed his surname to Eardley, July 1789; created The Lord Eardley (in the Peerage of Ireland, September 1789
- ^ a b Colthart, James M. (1976). "Edward Ellice". Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. IX. Toronto. ISBN 0-8020-3319-9.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- ^ a b "Rt. Hon. Edward Ellice". Legacies of British Slave-ownership. University College London. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b Bloy, Marjorie. "Edward Ellice, the elder (1781–1863)". A Web of English History. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b Escott, Margaret. "ELLICE, Edward (1783–1863), of Wyke House, nr. Brentford, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b Miller, Henry (2015). Politics Personified: Portraiture, Caricature and Visual Culture in Britain, c. 1830–80. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7190-9084-4. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 82, 238. Retrieved 21 August 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Latest Intelligence". Gloucester Journal. 10 August 1850. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Imperial Parliament". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 August 1850. p. 8. Retrieved 22 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Election Intelligence". Norfolk News. 12 April 1851. p. 2. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Wednesday & Thursday's Posts". Stamford Mercury. 11 April 1851. p. 2. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Local & General Intelligence". Newcastle Journal. 12 April 1851. p. 5. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Local News". Derby Mercury. 9 April 1851. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Commercial". Dundalk Democrat, and People's Journal. 25 November 1854. p. 2. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b Escott, Margaret. "Coventry". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
- ^ "Coventry Election". Coventry Herald. 21 July 1837. p. 4. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Coventry Standard. 13 March 1857. p. 4 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000683/18570313/105/0004. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Local Election Movements". Aris's Birmingham Gazette. 23 March 1857. p. 1. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Coventry". Evening Mail. 27 March 1857. p. 7. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Election Movements". Coventry Standard. 20 March 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Coventry Election". Coventry Standard. 3 April 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Coventry". Aris's Birmingham Gazette. 3 October 1863. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Coventry". Leamington Spa Courier. 24 June 1865. p. 9. Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Coventry". Cumberland and Westmorland Advertiser, and Penrith Literary Chronicle. 24 March 1868. p. 4. Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Latest Election News". Edinburgh Evening News. 2 February 1874. p. 3. Retrieved 29 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
- ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
- ^ a b c d e f British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
References
- Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
- Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
- F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885" (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
- Lewis Namier & John Brooke, The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1754-1790 (London: HMSO, 1964)
- "The Constitutional Yearbook, 1913" (London: National Unionist Association, 1913)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 6)