Rutland (UK Parliament constituency)

Rutland
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
County Rutland
Major settlements Oakham and Uppingham
1290–1918
Number of members 1290–1885: Two
1885–1918: One
Replaced by Rutland & Stamford

Rutland was a parliamentary constituency covering the county of Rutland. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1918, when it became part of the Rutland and Stamford constituency, along with Stamford in Lincolnshire. Since 1983, Rutland has formed part of the Rutland and Melton constituency along with Melton Mowbray from Leicestershire.

The constituency elected two Members of Parliament (MPs), traditionally known as Knights of the Shire, until 1885, when it was reduced to one Member.

Boundaries

The constituency comprised the whole of the historic county of Rutland, in the East Midlands. Rutland, the smallest of the historic counties of England, never had any Parliamentary borough constituencies within its borders.

The place of election for the county was at Oakham. This was where the hustings were held; at which candidates were nominated (before the Ballot Act 1872), polling took place (before the introduction of multiple polling places in county constituencies) and where the result was announced.

Pelling in his Social Geography of British Elections 1885–1910 describes most of the people in this county as "engaged in or dependent upon agriculture". The constituency was a safe Conservative one and was rarely contested in the period covered by the book. G. H. Finch MP had personally owned almost one tenth of the county he represented.

Members of Parliament

1295-1640

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ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1295 (Nov) Robert de Flixthorpe[1] Simon de Bokminster[1]
1297 (Sep) William Murdak[1] Adam de Jernemuta[1]
1298 (May) John Folville[1] William de Berck[1]
1301 (Jan) William Blount[1] John Folville[1]
1302 (Oct) John de Seyton[1] Robert de Flixthorpe[1]
1310 Ralf de Beaufoy
1312 William de St Liz
1313 (Mar) William de Hellewell[1] Alan de Frankton[1]
1318 John de Beaufoy
1328 Richard de St Liz
1330 Richard de St Liz
1335 Richard de St Liz
1336 Richard de St Liz
1337 John de Seyton
1340 (Jan) Robert de Hellewell[1] no 2nd member[1]
1363 William Beaufoy
1365 William Beaufoy
1368 Walter Scarle [2]
1369 William Beaufoy
1372 John Wittlebury[3]
1377 Thomas de Burton
1378 Walter Scarle [2]
1380 (Jan) Walter Scarle [2]
1380 (Nov) John Wittlebury [3]
1380 Thomas de Burton
1381 John Wittlebury [3]
1382 Thomas de Burton
1383 John Calveley
1383 (Oct) John Wittlebury [3]
1384Robert Harrington[4]
1385 Hugh Calveley Walter Scarle
1386 John Wittlebury Walter Scarle [5]
1388 (Feb) Sir Hugh Browe Sir Oliver Mauleverer [5]
1388 (Sep) Sir John Daneys[5] Walter Scarle[2]
1390 (Jan) Hugh Calveley Sir Oliver Mauleverer [5]
1390 (Nov) Sir Hugh Browe Sir John Calveley [5]
1391 Sir John Bussy Sir Hugh Greenham [5]
1393 Sir Walter Scarle Sir John Elme [5]
1394 Sir John Daneys Sir John Elme [5]
1395 John Wittlebury Sir Walter Scarle[5]
1397 (Jan) Sir Robert Plesington Roger Flore [5]
1397 (Sep) Sir Oliver Mauleverer Sir Thomas Oudeby [5]
1399 John Durant Roger Flore [5]|- [5]
1401 John Durant William Oudeby [5]
1402 Sir Thomas Oudeby Roger Flore [5]
1404 (Jan) Thomas Thorpe John Pensax [5]
1404 (Oct) Sir Thomas Oudeby Roger Flore [5]
1406 John Pensax Robert Scarle [5]
1407 Robert Browe William Sheffield [5]
1410
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) John Pensax John Burgh [5]
1414 (Apr) Roger Flore Robert Browe [5]
1414 (Nov) Roger Flore John Newbold [5]
1415 Roger Flore John Burgh [5]
1416 (Mar) Roger Flore Geoffrey Paynell [5]
1416 (Oct) Roger Flore [5]
1417 Roger Flore ? [5]
1419 Roger Flore Robert Browe [5]
1420 Sir Thomas Burton Sir Henry Pleasington [5]
1421 (May) John Pensax William Sheffield [5]
1421 (Dec) John Culpepper Thomas Greenham [5]
1422 Roger Flore Sir Henry Pleasington
1423 Robert Browe
1425 Sir Thomas Burton Sir Henry Pleasington
1427 Sir Thomas Burton
1429 Robert Browe
1431 Robert Browe
1432 Thomas Flore
1433 William Beaufoy
1434 William Beaufoy
1439-40 Robert Browne Hugh Boivyle[6]
1445 Thomas Flore
1447 Hugh Boyvyle Everard Dygby[7]
1449 Everard Digby John Browe
1450 Thomas Palmer Everard Digby
1510–1523 No names known[8]
1529 Sir Everard Digby John Harington [8]
1536
1539 John Harington Edward Sapcote [8]
1542 John Harington Simon Digby [8]
1545 Kenelm Digby Anthony Colly [8]
1547 Kenelm Digby Anthony Colly [8]
1553 (Mar) Kenelm Digby Anthony Colly [8]
1553 (Oct) Andrew Nowell Kenelm Digby [8]
1554 (Apr) Anthony Colly John Hunt [8]
1554 (Nov) James Harington Anthony Colly [8]
1555 James Harington Kenelm Digby [8]
1558 Kenelm Digby James Harington [8]
1558–1559 James Harington Kenelm Digby[9]
1562–1563 Anthony Colly John Flower [9]
1571 Kenelm Digby John Harington [9]
1572 (Apr) Sir James Harington Kenelm Digby [9]
1584 Kenelm Digby (Sir) Andrew Noel [9]
1586 (Oct) Sir James Harington (Sir) Andrew Noel [9]
1588 Sir James Harington (Sir) Andrew Noel [9]
1593 Sir John Harington (Sir) Andrew Noel [9]
1597 William Cecil Sir James Harington [9]
1601 (Oct) Sir John Harington (Sir) Andrew Noel, declared void, Nov 1601
[10] replaced by Edward Noel [9][11]
1604-1611 Sir James Harington Sir William Bulstrode
1614 Sir Guy Palmes Basil Fielding
1621-1622 Sir Guy PalmesSir William Bulstrode
1624 Sir Guy PalmesSir William Bulstrode
1625 Sir Guy PalmesSir William Bulstrode
1626 Sir William Bulstrode Sir Francis Bodenham
1628 Sir Guy PalmesSir William Bulstrode
1629–1640No Parliaments convened

1640-1885

YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
November 1640 Hon. Baptist NoelRoyalist Sir Guy PalmesRoyalist
1643 Noel succeeded to peerage, August 1643 - seat vacant Palmes disabled from sitting, September 1643 - seat vacant
1646 James Harington Thomas Waite
1653 Edward Horseman Rutland had only one representative in the Barebones Parliament
1654 William Shield
1656 Abel Barker
January 1659 Edward Horseman
May 1659 Sir James Harington Thomas Waite not recorded as participating in the restored Rump
April 1660 Philip Sherard Samuel Browne
1661 Edward Noel
February 1679 Sir Thomas Mackworth
August 1679 Sir Abel Barker
1680 Sir Thomas Mackworth
1681 Edward Fawkener
1685 Baptist Noel Tory Sir Thomas Mackworth
1689 Bennet Sherard
1694 Sir Thomas Mackworth
1695 Lord Burghley
1698 Richard Halford
1701 Sir Thomas Mackworth
1708 Philip Sherard
1710 Lord Finch John Noel [12]
1711 Richard Halford
1713 The Lord Sherard
1715 John Noel
1719 Marquess of Granby Whig
1721 Sir Thomas Mackworth
1727 John Noel
1728 Thomas Noel
1730 William Burton
1734 James Noel
1741 John Finch
1747 Lord Burghley
1753 Thomas Noel
1754 George Bridges Brudenell
1761 Hon. Thomas Chambers Cecil
1768 George Bridges Brudenell
1788 Gerard Edwardes [13] Whig
1790 John Heathcote
1795 Lord Sherard
1796 Sir William Lowther, Bt
1802 The Lord Carbery
1805 The Lord Henniker
1808 Charles Noel
1812 Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bt Whig
1814 Sir Gerard Noel, Bt Tory
1838 Hon. William Noel Conservative
1840 Hon. Charles Noel Whig
1841 Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bt Whig Hon. William Dawnay Conservative
1846 George Finch Conservative
1847 Protectionist Hon. Gerard Noel Conservative
1852 Whig
1856 Hon. Gilbert Heathcote Liberal
1867 George Finch Conservative
1883 James Lowther Conservative
1885 Representation reduced to one member

1885-1918

YearMember of ParliamentParty
1885 George Finch Conservative
1907 John Gretton Conservative
1918 Constituency abolished: see Rutland and Stamford

Elections

Population in 1831: 19,380

General Election 1832 (December 14)
 Registered Electors: 1,296
Sir G N Noel, Bart. Conservative
Sir G Heathcote Whig

General Election 1835 (January 10)
 Sir G N Noel, Bart. Conservative
Sir G Heathcote Whig

General Election 1837 (July 29)
 Sir G N Noel, Bart. Conservative
Sir G Heathcote Whig

Following the death of Sir G N Noel:

By-Election 1838 (March 13)
 Hon W M Noel Conservative

Noel accepted the Chiltern Hundreds (a procedural device to allow resignation from the House of Commons).

By-Election 1840 (January 28)
 Hon C G Noel Whig

General Election 1841 (July 12)
 G J Heathcote Whig (767 votes)
Hon W H Dawnay Conservative (676 votes)
- Hon C G Noel Whig (664 votes - unsuccessful candidate)

Dawnay accepts Chiltern Hundreds.

By-Election 1846 (February 14)
 Geo Finch Protectionist

General Election 1847 (August 7)
 Sir G J Heathcote Protectionist
Hon G J Noel Protectionist

General Election 1852 (July 13)
 Sir G J Heathcote Whig
Hon G J Noel Conservative

Sir G J Heathcote created 1st Lord Aveland

By-Election 1856 (March 4)
 Hon G H Heathcote Whig

General Election 1857 (March 30)
 Hon G J Noel Conservative
Hon G H Heathcote Whig

General Election 1859 (May 3)
 Hon G J Noel Conservative
Hon G H Heathcote Whig

Population in 1861: 21,861

General Election 1865 (July 18)
 Hon G J Noel Conservative
Hon G H Heathcote Whig

Noel appointed Lord of the Treasury. Members of some parliaments were required to seek re-election upon being appointed to a ministerial post. The subsequent by-elections were termed ministerial by-elections

Ministerial By-Election 1866 (July 14)
 Hon G J Noel Conservative

Heathcote succeeded to Peerage (Lord Aveland). Peers are not eligible to sit in the House of Commons.

By-Election 1867 (November 23)
 Geo H Finch Conservative

General Election 1868 (November 19)
 Registered Electors: 2,200
Hon G J Noel Conservative
Geo H Finch Conservative

Population in 1871: 22,073

General Election 1874 (February 5)
 Registered Electors: 1,840
Hon G J Noel Conservative
G H Finch Conservative

Hon G J Noel appointed First Commander of Works

Ministerial By-Election 1876 (August 17)
 Rt Hon G J Noel Conservative

General Election 1880 (April )
 Rt Hon G J Noel Conservative
G H Finch Conservative

Population in 1881: 21,434

Noel accepts Chiltern Hundreds.

By-Election 1883 (August )
 J W Lowther Conservative (860 votes)
- J W Davenport Handley Liberal Party (194 votes - unsuccessful candidate)

Rutland reduced to one Member of Parliament

Elections in the 1880s

Buszard
General Election 1885: Rutland [14][15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative George Henry Finch 2,366 68.1
Liberal Marston Clarke Buszard 1,110 31.9
Majority 1,256 36.2
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing
Finch
General Election 1886: Rutland [14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative George Henry Finch unopposed n/a n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a

Elections in the 1890s

General Election 1892: Rutland [14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative George Henry Finch unopposed n/a n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a
General Election 1895: Rutland [14][15][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative George Henry Finch unopposed n/a n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a

Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1900: Rutland [14][15][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Rt Hon. George Henry Finch unopposed n/a n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a
Pearson
General Election 1906: Rutland [14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Rt Hon. George Henry Finch 2,047 56.7 n/a
Liberal Weetman Harold Miller Pearson 1,564 43.3 n/a
Majority 483 13.4 n/a
Turnout 89.3 n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a
John Gretton
Rutland by-election, 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Gretton 2,213 61.9 +5.2
Liberal W F H Lyon 1,362 38.1 -5.2
Majority 851 23.8 +10.4
Turnout 3,575 87.6
Conservative hold Swing +5.2

Elections in the 1910s

General Election January 1910: Rutland [14][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Gretton 2,235 59.3
Liberal Joseph Nathaniel Emery 1,531 40.7
Majority 704 18.6
Turnout 91.2
Conservative hold Swing
General Election December 1910: Rutland [14][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Gretton 2,169
Liberal Joseph Nathaniel Emery 1,367
Majority
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

General Election 1914/15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Members of Parliament 1213-1702. London: House of Commons. 1878.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "SCARLE, Walter (d.c.1401), of Uppingham, Rutland.". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "WITTLEBURY, John (1333-1400), of Whissendine, Rutland and Milton and Marholm, Northants.". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/harrington-sir-robert-1399
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  6. ↑ History of Parliament: Register of the Ministers and of the Members of Both Houses 1439-1509. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office. 1938. p. 17.
  7. ↑ History of Parliament: Register of the Ministers and of the Members of Both Houses 1439-1509. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office. 1938. p. 82.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  10. ↑ Sir Andrew Noel was elected despite being ineligible, being Sheriff of Rutland|| the Commons annulled his election and issued a new writ
  11. ↑ Edward Noel was returned despite being ineligible to sit|| he was underage, and owned no freeholds in the county. The controversial election, conducted by the candidate's father in his capacity as Sheriff, led to a suit in the Court of Star Chamber
  12. ↑ On petition, Noel was declared not to have been duly elected
  13. ↑ Adopted the surname Noel on succeeding to his uncle's estates in 1798
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  16. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  17. 1 2 3 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  18. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
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