Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)

Antrim is a former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two-member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801–1885 and 1922-1950.

Boundaries

Map showing the UK Parliament constituency of County Antrim (1801-1885) within Ireland.

From 1801 until 1885, the constituency consisted of the whole of County Antrim, excluding the parts in the Parliamentary borough constituencies of Belfast, Carrickfergus and Lisburn. From 1885 - 1922, the constituency was split between the divisions of East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim.

From 1922 until 1950, the constituency consisted of the Administrative county of Antrim, that is the whole of County Antrim excluding the part in the City of Belfast. In 1950 the county was split, between the divisions of Antrim North and Antrim South.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1801–1885

Key to parties: C Conservative, L Liberal, NP no party identified, T Tory, U Unionist, W Whig. Changes of party name in 1832 are indicated i.e. (T,C) and (W,L).

Notes:

• (1) Earl of Yarmouth (1800–1870) was known as Viscount Beauchamp until 17 June 1822.
• (2) Earl of Belfast became W by 1831 and is categorised as L from 1832.
• (3) Earl of Yarmouth (1843–1912) was known as Hugh de Grey Seymour until 25 August 1870.

MPs 1922–1950

Elections

In two-member elections the bloc voting system was used. Voters could cast a vote for one or two candidates, as they chose. The two candidates with the largest number of votes were elected. In by-elections, to fill a single seat, the first past the post system applied.

There was no election in 1801. The representatives of the county in the former Parliament of Ireland became members of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom.

After 1832, when registration of voters was introduced, a turnout figure is given for contested elections. In two-member elections, when the exact number of participating voters is unknown, this is calculated by dividing the number of votes by two. To the extent that voters did not use both their votes this will be an underestimate of turnout. If the electorate figure is unknown the last known electorate figure is used to provide an estimate of turnout.

Where a party had more than one candidate in one or both of a pair of successive elections change is calculated for each individual candidate, otherwise change is based on the party vote.

Elections in the 1940s

• Seat vacant at dissolution (Death of Campbell)

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1880s

Elections in the 1870s

Elections in the 1860s

• Note: Hugh de Grey Seymour was known as the Earl of Yarmouth from 25 August 1870.

Elections in the 1850s

Elections in the 1840s

Elections in the 1830s

• Note: 3,026 voters cast 5,957 votes.

Elections in the 1820s

Elections in the 1810s

Elections in the 19th century

References

• 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)
• Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B. M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
• 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 III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1979)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 2 )