Berkshire (UK Parliament constituency)

UK former constituency infobox
Name = Berkshire
Type = County
Year = 1265
Abolition = 1885

Berkshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. The county returned two knights of the shire until 1832 and three between 1832 and 1885.

Boundaries and boundary changes

This county constituency consisted of the historic county of Berkshire, in south-eastern England to the west of the modern Greater London region. Its northern boundary was the River Thames. See Historic counties of England for a map and other details. The Great Reform Act made some minor changes to the parliamentary boundaries of the county, transferring parts of five parishes to neighbouring counties while annexing parts of four other parishes which had previously been in Wiltshire.

The county, up to 1885, also contained the borough constituencies of Abingdon (1 seat from 1558), New Windsor (2 seats 1302-1868, 1 seat from 1868), Reading (2 seats from 1295) and Wallingford (2 seats 1295-1832, 1 seat from 1832). (Although these boroughs elected MPs in their own right, they was not excluded from the county constituency, and owning property within the borough could confer a vote at the county election.)

History

As in other county constituencies the franchise between 1430 and 1832 was defined by the Forty Shilling Freeholder Act, which gave the right to vote to every man who possessed freehold property within the county valued at £2 or more per year for the purposes of land tax; it was not necessary for the freeholder to occupy his land, nor even in later years to be resident in the county at all.

At the time of the Great Reform Act in 1832, Berkshire had a population of approximately 145,000, but only 3,726 votes were cast at the election of 1818, the highest recorded vote in the county before 1832, even though each voter could cast two votes. Although local landowners could never control a county the size of Berkshire in the way they could own a pocket borough, titled magnates still exercised considerable influence over deferential county voters; in the early 19th century Lord Craven and Lord Braybrooke were considered the "patrons" of the Berkshire constituency and could usually persuade the voters to support their favoured candidates.

The place of election for the county was at the then county town of Abingdon. In 1880, according to the report in "The Times" (of London), the ballot boxes were taken to Reading for the count and declaration of the result, instead of this being done at Abingdon as had happened previously. Before the Reform Act it was normal for voters to expect the candidates for whom they voted to meet their expenses in travelling to the poll and to provide food, liquor and lodgings when they arrived, making the cost of a contested election in some counties prohibitive, but this was less of a factor in a comparatively small county like Berkshire, and contested elections were not uncommon. Nevertheless, potential candidates preferred to canvass support beforehand and usually did not insist on a vote being taken unless they were confident of winning.(There were contests in Berkshire at 11 of the 29 general elections between 1701 and 1832, but the other 18 the candidates were returned unopposed.)

Under the terms of the Great Reform Act of 1832, the county franchise was extended to occupiers of land worth £50 or more, as well as the forty-shilling freeholders, and Berkshire was given a third MP. Under the new rules, 5,582 electors were registered and entitled to vote at the general election of 1832.

The constituency was abolished in 1885, the county being divided into five single-member constituencies. These were the one surviving borough, Reading, and four county divisions - Abingdon, Newbury, Windsor and Wokingham. (The other three parliamentary boroughs in the county, Abingdon, New Windsor and Wallingford were also abolished and absorbed into the county constituencies.)

Members of Parliament

* "Constituency created" (1265): See Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester and De Montfort's Parliament for further details. Knights of the shire are known to have been summoned to most Parliaments from 1290 (19th Parliament of King Edward I of England) and to every one from 1320 (19th Parliament of King Edward II of England).

Knights of the shire 1265-1660

"Some of the members elected during this period have been identified, but this list does not include Parliaments where no member has been identified. The year given is for the first meeting of the Parliament, with the month added where there was more than one Parliament in the year. If a second year is given this is a date of dissolution. Early Parliaments usually only existed for a few days or weeks, so dissolutions in the same year as the first meeting are not recorded in this list If a specific date of election is known this is recorded in italic brackets. The roman numerals in brackets, following somne names, are those used to distinguish different politicians of the same name in 'The House of Commons' 1509-1558 and 1558-1603."

*1510: Sir Thomas Englefield; ?
*1529-1536: Sir William Essex; Sir Richard Weston
*1539-1540: Sir Thomas Pope; Richard Brydges
*1542-1544: Sir William Essex; Thomas Weldon
*1547-1552: Henry Norris; Thomas Denton
*1553 March: Sir Henry Neville; Sir William Fitzwilliam
*1553 October: Rt Hon. Sir Francis Englefield; William Hyde
*1554 April: Sir Richard Brydges; William Hyde
*1554 November-1555: Rt Hon. Sir Francis Englefield; Sir Richard Brydges
*1555: Rt Hon. Sir Francis Englefield; William Hyde
*1558: Rt Hon. Sir Francis Englefield; John Fettiplace
*1559: Sir William Fitzwilliam (I); Sir Henry Neville (I)
*1563-1567: Sir Henry Neville (I); John Cheyney
*1571: Sir Henry Neville (I) elected; Richard Ward elected; Sir Edward Unton "defeated"
*1572-1583 "(elected 14 April 1572)": Sir Edward Unton; William Forster "Changes" 3 February 1576 William Norris vice Forster deceased; 2 June 1580 Edward Hoby vice Norris deceased
*1584-1585 "(elected 9 November 1584)": Sir Henry Neville (I); Edward Unton
*1586-1587 "(elected 10 October 1586)": Edward Unton; Thomas Parry
*1589 "(elected October 1588)": Sir Henry Norris (II); Sir Edward Hoby
*1593: Sir Henry Unton; Sir Humphrey Forster
*1597-1598 "(elected 26 September 1597)": Sir Henry Norris (II); Francis Knollys
*1601: Sir Richard Lovelace; George Hyde
* 1621-1622: Richard Lovelace; ?

Knights of the shire 1660-1885

Elections in the 1660s

Election box begin
title=General Election 19 April 1660: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Sir Robert Pye
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Richard Powle
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = John Southby
votes = Defeated
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1660): Vote totals not available"

Election box begin
title=General Election 14 April 1661: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Hon. John Lovelace
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Richard Powle
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1670s

* "Succession of Lovelace as 3rd Baron Lovelace 25 November 1670"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 12 December 1670: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Richard Neville (the elder)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"
* "Death of Neville 7 October 1676"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 5 March 1677: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt.
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"
* "Death of Powle 12 July 1678"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 19 August 1678: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = "The Earl of Stirling"
votes = Returned
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = "William Barker"
votes = Returned
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"
* "Note (1678): The vote totals are unknown but must have been close as the Returning Officer made a double return, which had not been resolved by the House of Commons when Parliament was dissolved on 24 January 1679"

Election box begin
title=General Election 3 March 1679: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt.
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = William Barker
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 18 August 1679: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = William Barker
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Richard Southby
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1680s

Election box begin
title=General Election 28 February 1681: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = William Barker
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Richard Southby
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 23 March 1685: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt.
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Richard Southby
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = The Earl of Stirling
votes = Defeated
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1685): Vote totals not available"

Election box begin
title=General Election 14 January 1689: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Lord Norreys
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Sir Henry Winchcombe, Bt
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1690s

Election box begin
title=General Election 24 February 1690: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Sir Henry Winchcombe, Bt
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt
votes = 822
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = 793
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Lord Norreys
votes = Defeated
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Sir Robert Pye
votes = Defeated
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 1,615+
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 28 October 1695: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 3 August 1698: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1700s

Election box begin
title=General Election 22 January 1701: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 26 November 1701: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, Bt
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 5 August 1702: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, Bt
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt
votes = Defeated
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 9 May 1705: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, Bt
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir Humphrey Forster, Bt
votes = Defeated
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 5 May 1708: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, Bt
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1710s

Election box begin
title=General Election 18 October 1710: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, Bt
votes = 1,977
percentage =
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Henry St John
votes = 1,877
percentage =
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Richard Neville (the younger)
votes = 1,032
percentage =
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 4,886
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Creation of St John as the 1st Viscount Bolingbroke"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 23 July 1712: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Robert Packer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Tory Party
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 2 September 1713: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, Bt.
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Robert Packer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 2 February 1715: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, Bt.
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Robert Packer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1720s

Election box begin
title=General Election 21 March 1722: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, Bt.
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Robert Packer
votes = Elected
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Henry Grey
votes = Defeated
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1722): Vote totals not available. Sedgwick states that the majority was over 400 and that 2,177 electors voted."

* "Note (1727-1768): Namier and Brook observe that there were no contested elections and that the county was represented by a succession of Tory country gentlemen. Sedgwick however identified a contested election in 1727."

Election box begin
title=General Election 1727: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Robert Packer
votes = 1,620
percentage = 36.02
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Sir John Stonhouse, 3rd Bt.
votes = 1,558
percentage = 34.65
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Rt Hon. The Viscount Fane PC(I)
votes = 1,319
percentage = 29.33
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1730s

* "Death of Packer 4 April 1731"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 5 May 1731: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Winchcombe Howard Packer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box gain with party link
winner = Non Partisan
loser = Tory Party
swing = "N/A"
* "Death of Stonhouse 10 October 1733"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 5 May 1731: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = William Archer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box gain with party link
winner = Non Partisan
loser = Tory Party
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1 May 1734: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Winchcombe Howard Packer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = William Archer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Death of Archer 30 June 1739"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 5 December 1739: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Peniston Powney
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"

Elections in the 1740s

Election box begin
title=General Election 20 May 1741: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Winchcombe Howard Packer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Peniston Powney
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Death of Packer 21 August 1746"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 26 November 1746: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Henry Pye
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 8 July 1747: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Peniston Powney
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Henry Pye
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1750s

Election box begin
title=General Election 17 April 1754: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Peniston Powney
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Henry Pye
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Death of Powney 8 March 1757"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 13 Aoril 1757: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Arthur Vansittart
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"

Elections in the 1760s

Election box begin
title=General Election 8 April 1761: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Henry Pye
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Arthur Vansittart
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Death of Pye 2 March 1766"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 2 April 1766: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Hon. Thomas Craven
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 30 March 1768: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Arthur Vansittart
votes = 1,519
percentage = 42.89
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Hon. Thomas Craven
votes = 1,389
percentage = 39.22
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = John Stone
votes = 634
percentage = 17.90
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1770s

* "Death of Craven 14 December 1772"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 30 December 1772: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = John Elwes (politician)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 20 October 1774: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = John Elwes (politician)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Christopher Griffith
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Death of Griffith 12 January 1776"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 21 February 1776: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Winchcombe Henry Hartley
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Non Partisan
swing = "N/A"

Elections in the 1780s

Election box begin
title=General Election 27 September 1780: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = John Elwes (politician)
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Winchcombe Henry Hartley
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 7 April 1784: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = George Vansittart
votes = 678
percentage = 40.94
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Henry James Pye
votes = 677
percentage = 40.88
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = Winchcombe Henry Hartley
votes = 301
percentage = 18.18
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1790s

Election box begin
title=General Election 24 June 1790: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Non Partisan
candidate = George Vansittart
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Winchcombe Henry Hartley
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Death of Hartley 12 August 1794"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 16 September 1794: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = British Whig Party
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1 June 1796: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = George Vansittart
votes = 1,332
percentage = 37.95
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = 1,322
percentage = 37.95
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Edward Loveden Loveden
votes = 846
percentage = 24.10
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1796): Party labels; poll 5 days (Source: Stooks Smith)"

Elections in the 1800s

Election box begin
title=General Election 12 July 1802: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = George Vansittart
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 6 November 1806: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = George Vansittart
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 11 May 1807: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = George Vansittart
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1810s

Election box begin
title=General Election 12 October 1812: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = 1,717
percentage = 44.99
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Hon. Richard Griffin
votes = 1,574
percentage = 41.25
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Radical Party (UK)
candidate = William Hallett
votes = 525
percentage = 13.76
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1812): Poll 15 days; 1,992 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith). Stooks Smith and Thorn refer to the Hon. Richard Griffin as the Hon. R. Neville, a name he used before 1797 - see Baron Braybrooke for more details."

Election box begin
title=General Election 25 June 1818: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Hon. Richard Griffin
votes = 1,224
percentage = 40.56
change = -0.69Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = 1,154
percentage = 38.24
change = -6.75Election box candidate with party link
party = Radical Party (UK)
candidate = William Hallett
votes = 640
percentage = 21.21
change = +7.45
* "Note (1818): Poll 15 days. (Source: Stooks Smith). Stooks Smith and Thorn refer to the Hon. Richard Griffin as the Hon. R. Neville, see note (1812)."

Elections in the 1820s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1820: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = 1,084
percentage = 47.73
change = +9.49Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Hon. Richard Griffin
votes = 1,055
percentage = 46.46
change = +5.90Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = William Hallett
votes = 132
percentage = 5.81
change = -15.40
* "Note (1820): Poll 15 days; 1,258 voted. Stooks Smith refers to the Hon. Richard Griffin as the Hon. R. Neville, see note (1812). Stooks Smith commented that "this was the third election at which Mr Hallett, without any chance of success, kept the poll open for 15 days"."

Election box begin
title=General Election 1826: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1830s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1830: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1831: Berkshire (2 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Charles Dundas
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = Robert George Throckmorton
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Creation of Dundas as Baron Amesbury"

Election box begin
title=By-Election June 1832: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Tory Party
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = 1,210
percentage = 55.15
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = British Whig Party
candidate = William Hallett
votes = 984
percentage = 44.85
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 226
percentage = 10.30
change = "N/A"Election box gain with party link
winner = Tory Party
loser = British Whig Party
swing = "N/A"
* "Poll 7 days"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1832: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = 2,942
percentage = 27.66
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Robert George Throckmorton
votes = 2,774
percentage = 26.08
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Walter
votes = 2,479
percentage = 23.31
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Pusey
votes = 2,440
percentage = 22.94
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 5,582
percentage = 87.12
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1832): 5,582 registered electors; 4,863 electors cast 10,635 votes. (Source: Stooks Smith)"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1835: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Pusey
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Walter
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1837: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = 2,556
percentage = 29.96
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = The Viscount Barrington
votes = 2,360
percentage = 27.67
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Pusey
votes = 2,312
percentage = 27.10
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = E.C.G. East
votes = 1,302
percentage = 15.26
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 5,599
percentage = 66.21
change = "N/A"
* "Note (1837): 5,599 registered electors; 3,707 electors cast 8,530 votes. (Source: Stooks Smith)"

Elections in the 1840s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1841: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = The Viscount Barrington
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Pusey
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1847: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = The Viscount Barrington
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Pusey
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1850s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1852: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = George Henry Vansittart
votes = 1,741
percentage = 33.24
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = 1,705
percentage = 32.56
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = The Viscount Barrington
votes = 1,636
percentage = 31.24
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Walter
votes = 155
percentage = 2.96
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 5,129
percentage = 34.04
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1857: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Palmer
votes = 1,802
percentage = 29.16
change = -3.40Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Hon. Philip Pleydell-Bouverie
votes = 1,524
percentage = 24.66
change = +21.70Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = George Henry Vansittart
votes = 1,494
percentage = 24.17
change = -9.07Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Leicester Viney Vernon
votes = 1,360
percentage = 22.01
change = +22.01Election box turnout
votes = 4,884
percentage = 42.18
change = +8.14

Election box begin
title=General Election 1859: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Hon. Philip Pleydell-Bouverie
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Leicester Viney Vernon
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Walter
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"

Elections in the 1860s

* "Death of Vernon"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 2 May 1860: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Benyon
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1865: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert James Loyd-Lindsay
votes = 2,227
percentage = 18.97
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Benyon
votes = 2,192
percentage = 18.67
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Sir Charles Russell, Bt
votes = 2,117
percentage = 18.03
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Walter
votes = 1,813
percentage = 15.44
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Viscount Uffington
votes = 1,809
percentage = 15.41
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Hon. Edward Pleydell-Bouverie
votes = 1,573
percentage = 13.48
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 5,066
percentage = 77.25
change = "N/A"

Election box begin
title=General Election 1868: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert James Loyd-Lindsay
votes = 3,231
percentage = 27.86
change = +8.89Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Benyon
votes = 3,171
percentage = 27.34
change = +8.67Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Walter
votes = 2,747
percentage = 23.68
change = +8.24Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Hon. Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert
votes = 2,450
percentage = 21.12
change = +21.12Election box turnout
votes = 7,647
percentage = 75.84
change = -1.41

Elections in the 1870s

Election box begin
title=General Election 1874: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Richard Benyon
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert James Loyd-Lindsay
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Walter
votes = Unopposed
percentage = "N/A"
change = "N/A"
* "Resignation of Benyon"

Election box begin
title=By-Election 24 February 1876: BerkshireElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Wroughton
votes = 3,454
percentage = 75.04
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Christopher Darby Griffith
votes = 1,149
percentage = 24.96
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 2,305
percentage = 50.08
change = "N/A"Election box turnout
votes = 7,721
percentage = 59.62
change = "N/A"Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = "N/A"

Elections in the 1880s

Election box begin
title=General Election 10 April 1880: Berkshire (3 seats)Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert James Loyd-Lindsay
votes = 3,294
percentage = 32.76
change = +32.76Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Philip Wroughton
votes = 3,272
percentage = 32.54
change = -42.50Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = John Walter
votes = 1,794
percentage = 17.84
change = +17.84Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = T. Rogers
votes = 1,696
percentage = 16.87
change = +16.87Election box turnout
votes = 8,061
percentage = 62.37
change = +2.75
* "Constituency divided in the 1885 redistribution

ee also

*List of former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies
*Unreformed House of Commons

References

* "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885", compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1977)
*"Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803" (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [http://www2.odl.ox.ac.uk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=p-000-00---0modhis06--00-0-0-0prompt-10---4------0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---00001-001-1-1isoZz-8859Zz-1-0&a=d&cl=CL1]
* "The House of Commons 1509-1558", by S.T. Bindoff (Secker & Warburg 1982)
* "The House of Commons 1558-1603", by P.W. Hasler (HMSO 1981)
* "The House of Commons 1660-1690", by Basil Duke Henning (Secker & Warburg 1983)
* "The House of Commons 1690-1715", by Eveline Cruickshanks, Stuart Handley and D.W. Hayton (Cambridge University Press 2002)
* "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 House of Commons 1790-1820", by R.G. Thorne (Secker & Warburg 1986)
* "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)
*John Cannon, "Parliamentary Representation 1832 - England and Wales" (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1973)
* J Holladay Philbin, "Parliamentary Reform 1640-1832" (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
* Edward Porritt and Annie G Porritt, "The Unreformed House of Commons" (Cambridge University Press, 1903)