Wigtown (UK Parliament constituency)

UK former constituency infobox
Name = Wigtown Burghs
Type = Burgh
Year = 1708
Abolition = 1885

Wigtown Burghs, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by one Member of Parliament.

The first election in Wigtown Burghs was in 1708. In 1707-08, members of the 1702-1707 Parliament of Scotland were co-opted to serve in the 1st Parliament of Great Britain. See Scottish representatives to the 1st Parliament of Great Britain, for further details.

Boundaries

The constituency was a district of burghs created to represent the Royal burghs of New Galloway, Stranraer, Whithorn and Wigtown, which had all been separately represented with one commissioner each in the former Parliament of Scotland.

In 1885 the district was abolished. New Galloway became part of the Kirkcudbrightshire constituency and the other three burghs were included in the Wigtownshire seat.

Political history

The politics of this constituency in the mid-18th century were relatively simple. The Stewart family, led by the Earl of Galloway, normally controlled the burghs of Wigtown and Whithorn. The Dalrymple family, supporting the Earl of Stair, controlled Stranraer. The predominant interest in New Galloway was held by the Gordons of Kenmure.

Thus when Wigtown or Whithorn were the returning burgh, with a casting vote in the event of a tie, the candidate backed by the Stewart's won. At other elections the Dalrymple supported candidate had a chance. This state of affairs continued until 1784 when the Dalrymple interest gained control of the Whithorn Council.

In the 1754 election the Duke of Argyll attempted to support James Abercrombie for the Wigtown Burghs seat. The Earl of Galloway agreed with John Hamilton, a member of the Dalrymple family who was supposedly backing his relative Captain John Dalrymple of Stair, to support Hamilton in the Burghs seat in exchange for the Dalrymple interest backing Lord Galloway's brother (James Stewart) for the county seat. This coalition worked and John Hamilton was elected unopposed.

In 1761, with Wigtown as the returning burgh, the Earl of Galloway could name the MP. He hoped to return his Naval officer son, the Honourable Keith Stewart. As Stewart was away at sea in the West Indies, the Earl decided to support Archibald Montgomerie until his son returned. Montgomerie was also a candidate for Ayrshire in the same general election. After he was elected for both seats he decided to retain Ayrshire. Stewart was elected at a by-election but soon gave up the seat, as a result of negotiations about the Wigtownshire seat. The energetic intriguer John Hamilton was again elected for the Burghs seat in the third election there in less than a year.

In 1768, with Whithorn as the returning burgh, the Earl of Galloway could again decide the MP. For this election the Earl was trying to get a seat in England for his son, Lord Garlies, who was ineligible to represent a Scottish constituency as the eldest son of a Scottish peer. The Earl entered into an agreement with an English MP, George Augustus Selwyn, who controlled both seats in the borough of Ludgershall. Selwyn, who himself represented Gloucester, feared defeat there and wanted a safe alternative seat. In exchange for supporting Lord Garlies in Ludgershall, Selwyn was elected in the Wigtown Burghs. He was the first Englishman to be elected for a Scottish constituency after the Union. However, as Selwyn was also elected in Gloucester and preferred to represent that Borough, a new candidate was required in Scotland. The government was able to offer a Treasury nominee, Chauncy Townsend. After Townsend's death a junior branch of the Stewart family provided the new MP.

In 1774, with New Galloway as the returning burgh, an alliance of the Dalrymple and Gordon families hoped to triumph. National politics again influenced the situation, as Sir Lawrence Dundas suggested William Norton as a candidate. The Earl of Stair was trying to get his son a seat in England so he accepted the proposal of the governments electoral manager in Scotland. The Stewart interest supported the 7th Earl of Galloway's brother in law, Henry Watkin Dashwood. This was the first time two Englishmen contested a Parliamentary seat in Scotland. Norton was returned, but the seat was awarded to Dashwood after an election petition.

For the 1780 election the Earl of Stair, despite being a pro-American admirer of the Earl of Chatham, offered the nomination for the seat to Lord North in exchange for a diplomatic post for his son Lord Dalrymple. Lord North suggested William Adam.

In 1784 the change in Whithorn enabled the Dalrymple candidate (William Dalrymple) to defeat the Earl of Galloway's nominee (George Johnstone).

Members of Parliament

*26 May 1708 George Lockhart
*14 December 1708 William Cochrane
*17 September 1713 Sir Alexander Maxwell, Bt
*17 February 1715 Sir Patrick Vanse
*13 April 1722 William Dalrymple (1678-1744)
*16 March 1728 John Dalrymple
*18 May 1734 James Stewart "1st term"
*28 May 1741 William Stewart (c 1706-1748)
*22 July 1747 James Stewart "2nd term"
*9 May 1754 John Hamilton "1st term"
*20 April 1761 Hon. Archibald Montgomerie, later 11th Earl of Eglinton
*19 February 1762 Hon. Keith Stewart
*15 April 1762 John Hamilton "2nd term"
*11 April 1768 George Augustus Selwyn
*23 December 1768 Chauncy Townsend
*7 May 1770 William Stewart (1737-1797)
*31 October 1774 William Norton, later 2nd Lord Grantley
*23 March 1775 Sir Henry Watkin Dashwood, Bt
*2 October 1780 William Adam
*26 April 1784 William Dalrymple (1736-1807)
*12 July 1790 Nisbet Balfour
*20 June 1796 John Spalding
*29 July 1803 Hon. William Stewart (1774-1827)
*9 August 1805 James Graham
*24 November 1806 Hon. Edward Richard Stewart
*27 February 1809 Lyndon Evelyn (Tory)
*30 October 1812 Hon. James Henry Keith Stewart (Tory)
*21 March 1821 Sir John Osborn, Bt (Tory)
*4 March 1824 Nicholas Conyngham Tindal (Tory)
*3 July 1826 John Henry Lowther (Tory)
*23 May 1831 Edward Stewart (Whig then Liberal)
*19 January 1835 Sir John McTaggart, Bt (Liberal)
*1 April 1857 Sir William Dunbar, Bt (Liberal)
*15 April 1865 George Young (Liberal)
*15 June 1874 Mark John Stewart (Conservative) "1st term"
*8 April 1880 John McLaren (Liberal)
*20 May 1880 Mark John Stewart (Conservative) "2nd term"
*2 August 1880 Rt Hon. Sir John Charles Dalrymple Hay, Bt (Conservative)

Elections

The constituency had only four voters (the commissioners elected by the Burgh Councils) in 1708-1832. The place of election rotated between the Burghs and the commissioner for the returning Burgh had a casting vote if there was a tie. It was possible for the Court of Session to suspend a Burgh's rights for a Parliament, as a punishment for corruption. This procedure could disrupt the rotation

From 1832 the franchise was extended and the votes from all the burghs were added together.

*1708 (26 May) general election (election at Wigtown)
*George Lockhart: Unopposed

*"Chose to sit for Edinburghshire"
*1708 (14 December) by-election (election at Wigtown)
*William Cochrane: Unopposed

*1710 general election
*William Cochrane: Unopposed

*1713 (17 September) general election
*Sir Alexander Maxwell, Bt: Unopposed

*1715 (17 February) general election
*Col. Patrick Vanse: Unopposed

*1722 (13 April) general election
*William Dalrymple: Unopposed

*1727 general election
*William Dalrymple: Unopposed

*"Chose to sit for Wigtownshire"
*1728 (16 March) by-election
*John Dalrymple: Unopposed

*1734 (18 May) general election
*John Stewart defeated John Dalrymple, vote totals unknown

*1741 (28 May) general election
*William Stewart: Unopposed

*1747 (22 July) general election
*John Stewart: Unopposed

*1754 (9 May) general election (election at Stranraer)
*John Hamilton: Unopposed

*1761 (20 April) general election (election at Wigtown)
*Hon. Archibald Montgomerie: 2 votes (Whithorn, Wigtown)
*Hutchison Mure: 2 votes (New Galloway, Stranraer)
*"Montgomerie elected by Wigtown's casting vote"

*"Chose to sit for Ayrshire"
*1762 (19 February) by-election (election at Wigtown)
*Hon. Keith Stewart: Unopposed

*"Resigned"
*1762 (15 April) by-election (election at Wigtown)
*John Hamilton: Unopposed

*1768 (11 April) general election (election at Whithorn)
*George Augustus Selwyn: Unopposed

*"Chose to sit for Gloucester"
*1768 (23 December) by-election (election at Whithorn)
*Chauncy Townsend: Unopposed

*"Died"
*1770 (7 May) by-election (election at Whithorn)
*William Stewart: Unopposed

*1774 (31 October) general election (election at New Galloway)
*William Norton: 2 votes (New Galloway, Stranraer)
*Henry Watkin Dashwood: 2 votes (Whithorn, Wigtown)
*"Norton elected by New Galloway's casting vote"

*1775 (23 March) last election declared void
*Henry Watkin Dashwood: Awarded the seat

*1780 (2 October) general election (election at Stranraer)
*William Adam: Unopposed

*"Appointed Treasurer of the Ordnance"
*1783 (9 May) by-election (election at Stranraer)
*William Adam: Unopposed

*1784 (26 April) general election (election at Wigtown)
*William Dalrymple: 3 votes (New Gallowat, Stranraer, Whithorn)
*George Johnstone: 1 vote (Wigtown)

*1790 (12 July) general election (election at Whithorn)
*Nisbet Balfour: 2 votes
*Lord Daer: 2 votes
*"Balfour elected by Whithorn's casting vote"

*1796 (20 June) general election (election at New Galloway)
*John Spalding: Unopposed

*1802 general election (election at Stranraer)
*John Spalding: 3 votes
*Robert Vans Agnew: 1 vote

*"Resigned"
*1803 (29 July) by-election (election at Stranraer)
*Hon. William Stewart: Unopposed

*"Resigned"
*1805 (9 August) by-election (election at Stranraer)
*James Graham: Unopposed

*1806 (24 November) general election (election at Wigtown)
*Hon. Edward Richard Stewart: Unopposed

*1807 general election (election at Whithorn)
*Hon. Edward Richard Stewart: Unopposed

*"Appointed a Commissioner for victualling the Navy"
*1809 (27 February) by-election (election at Whithorn)
*Lyndon Evelyn (Tory): Unopposed

*1812 (30 October) general election (election at New Galloway)
*Hon. James Henry Keith Stewart (Tory): Unopposed

*1818 general election (election at Stranraer)
*Hon. James Henry Keith Stewart (Tory): Unopposed

*1820 general election (election at Wigtown)
*Hon. James Henry Keith Stewart (Tory): Unopposed

*"Resigned"
*1821 (21 March) by-election (election at Wigtown)
*Sir John Osborn, Bt (Tory): Unopposed

*"Appointed a Commissioner for Auditing Public Accounts"
*1824 (4 March) by-election (election at Wigtown)
*Nicholas Conyngham Tindal (Tory): Unopposed

*1826 (3 July) general election (election at Whithorn)
*John Henry Lowther (Tory): Unopposed

*1830 general election (election at New Galloway)
*John Henry Lowther (Tory): Unopposed

*1831 (23 May) general election (election at Stranraer)
*Edward Stewart (Whig): Unopposed

*1832 general election
*316 electors, 296 voted, turnout 93.67%
*Edward Stewart (Liberal) 159 (53.72%)
*John McTaggart (Liberal) 137 (46.29%)
*"majority 22 (7.43%)"

*1835 (19 January) general election
*362 electors, 306 voted, turnout 84.53%
*John McTaggart (Liberal) 224 (73.20%)
*John Douglas (Liberal) 82 (26.80%)
*"majority 142 (46.41%)"

*1837 general election
*380 electors, 267 voted, turnout 70.26%
*John McTaggart (Liberal) 151 (56.55%)
*Sir Andrew Agnew, Bt (Liberal) 116 (43.45%)
*"majority 35 (13.11%)"

*1841 general election
*393 electors, 286 voted, turnout 72.77%
*John McTaggart (Liberal) 157 (54.90%)
*P. Vans Agnew (Conservative) 129 (45.10%)
*"majority 28 (9.79%)"

*1847 general election
*382 electors
*Sir John McTaggart, Bt (Liberal): Unopposed

*1852 general election
*400 electors, 279 voted, turnout 69.75%
*Sir John McTaggart, Bt (Liberal) 140 (50.18%)
*J. Caird (Conservative) 139 (49.82%)
*"majority 1 (0.36%)"

*1857 (1 April) general election
*694 electors
*Sir William Dunbar, Bt (Liberal): Unopposed

*1859 general election
*505 electors
*Sir William Dunbar, Bt (Liberal): Unopposed

*"Appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury"
*1859 (27 June) by-election
*Sir William Dunbar, Bt (Liberal): Unopposed

*"Resigned on appointment as a Commissioner for Auditing the Public Accounts"
*1865 (15 April) by-election
*George Young (Liberal): Unopposed

*1865 general election
*518 electors
*George Young (Liberal): Unopposed

*1868 general election
*966 electors, 848 voted, turnout 87.78%
*George Young (Liberal) 484 (57.08%)
*R.V. Agnew (Conservative) 364 (42.92%)
*"majority 120 (14.15%)"

*"Appointed Solicitor General for Scotland"
*1869 (4 January) by-election
*George Young (Liberal): Unopposed

*1874 general election
*1,176 electors, 1,042 voted, turnout 88.61%
*Mark John Stewart (Conservative) 522 (50.10%)
*George Young (Liberal) 520 (49.90%)
*"majority 2 (0.19%)"

*"Last election declared void and a new result declared after scrutiny (Young 515, Stewart 514), but as Young had been appointed a Senator of the College of Justice (with the judicial title of Lord Young) the seat was vacant"
*1874 (15 June) by-election
*1,176 electors, 1,042 voted, turnout 88.61%
*Mark John Stewart (Conservative) 525 (50.38%)
*A. Smith (Liberal) 517 (49.62%)
*"majority 8 (0.77%)"

*1880 (8 April) general election
*1,391 electors, 1,288 voted, turnout 92.60%
*John McLaren (Liberal) 650 (50.47%)
*Mark John Stewart (Conservative) 638 (49.53%)
*"majority 12 (0.93%)"

*"Appointed Lord Advocate"
*1880 (20 May) by-election
*1,391 electors, 1,289 voted, turnout 92.67%
*Mark John Stewart (Conservative) 656 (50.89%)
*John McLaren (Liberal) 633 (49.11%)
*"majority 23 (1.78%)"

*"Election declared void on petition"
*1880 (2 August) by-election
*1,391 electors, 1,256 voted, turnout 90.29%
*Rt Hon. Sir John Charles Dalrymple Hay, Bt (Conservative) 636 (50.64%)
*G. McMicking (Liberal) 620 (49.36%)
*"majority 16 (1.27%)"

ee also

References

*"The Parliaments of England" by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844-50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
*"History of Parliament: House of Commons 1754-1790", by Sir Lewis Namier and James Brooke (Sidgwick & Jackson 1964)
*"British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885", compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
*rayment