North Dorset by-election, 1905

The North Dorset by-election was a Parliamentary by-election. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy

John Kenelm Digby Wingfield-Digby had been Conservative MP for the seat of North Dorset since the 1892 General Election. He died on 25 December 1904 at the age of 46.[1]

Electoral history

The seat had been Conservative since they gained it in 1892. They easily held the seat at the last election, with an increased majority;

General Election January 1900[2]

Electorate 8,318

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Kenelm Digby Wingfield-Digby 3,705 53.9
Liberal Hon. George Arthur Maurice Hamilton-Gordon 3,165 46.1
Majority 540 7.8
Turnout 82.6
Conservative hold Swing

Candidates

The Conservatives selected 26-year-old Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker to defend the seat.[3]

The local Liberal Association selected 37-year-old Arthur Walters Wills as their candidate. He took honours in law in 1890. As a Barrister-at-law, he was called to Bar in 1894 and joined the Western Circuit. He was standing for parliament for the first time.[4]

Campaign

Polling Day was fixed for 26 January 1905, 32 days after the death of the previous MP.

Result

The Liberals gained the seat from the Conservatives;

North Dorset by-election, 1905[5]

Electorate 8,338

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Walters Wills 4,239 56.0 +9.9
Conservative Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker 3,330 44.0 -9.9
Majority 12.0 19.8
Turnout 90.8
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +9.9

Aftermath

At the following General Election the result was;

General Election January 1906[6]

Electorate 8,490

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Walters Wills 4,153 54.2
Conservative Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker 3,508 45.8
Majority 8.4 -3.6
Turnout 90.2 -0.6
Liberal hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ Who Was Who
  2. ↑ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
  3. ↑ Who Was Who
  4. ↑ Who Was Who
  5. ↑ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
  6. ↑ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
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