The constituency was not a geographical area. Its electorate consisted of the graduates of the University of Cambridge. Before 1918 the franchise was restricted to male graduates with a Doctorate or Master of Arts degree. Sedgwick records that there were 377 electors in 1727. For the 1754–1790 period, Namier and Brooke estimated the electorate at about 500.
In the early 18th century, the electors of both English universities were mostly Tories, but the Whig ministers of King George I were able to persuade him to use his royal prerogative to confer Cambridge doctorates on a large number of Whigs, so that from 1727 the university largely returned Whig representatives. At Oxford, the King did not enjoy the same prerogative power, so that the University of Oxford constituency remained Tory, and indeed often Jacobite, in its preferences.
The leading 18th-century Whig politician Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, was Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1748 to 1768 and recommended to the electors suitable candidates to represent them in Parliament. This practice continued under his successor, another Whig Duke and Prime Minister, Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, Chancellor of the university from 1768 to 1811. However, Grafton was less influential as a politician than Newcastle had been and also less attentive towards the university, and as a result some of his nominations came in for criticism, notably that of his friend Richard Croftes.
Croftes was far from typical of a university member of parliament: he was neither the son of a peer, like the Hon. John Townshend, the Marquess of Granby, and Grafton's own son the Earl of Euston, nor a distinguished lawyer-politician, such as William de Grey, James Mansfield, and Sir Vicary Gibbs, nor a prominent political figure like William Pitt the Younger and Lord Henry Petty. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Pittite and Tory candidates began to be elected. At the appearance of this political development, some of the Pittite members, including the younger William Pitt himself, one of the members for the university from 1784 to 1806, described themselves as Whigs. As time passed, the division between the 19th century Tory and Whig parties became clearer.
The future Prime Minister, Viscount Palmerston, retained his university seat as a Whig after he left the Tory ranks, but in 1831 he was defeated. After Palmerston ceased to represent the university he was elected by a territorial constituency. From then until the 1920s, all of the university's members were Tories and/or Conservatives.
Even after the introduction of the single transferable vote in 1918, most of the members continued to be elected as Conservatives.
1 Pitt called himself a Whig, but is usually retrospectively regarded as a Tory since most of his followers (whether their background was in the Whig or Tory tradition) came to call themselves the Tory Party in the decade after Pitt's death.
2 Jebb died on 10 December 1905 – seat vacant at dissolution.
3 Co. is an abbreviation for Coalition.
4 Ind. is an abbreviation for Independent.
5 Sir Geoffrey G. Butler died on 2 May 1929 – seat vacant at dissolution.
Elections before 1715
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)
Note (1727): Unusually, for a pre-1832 election, Stooks Smith records the total number of electors for the constituency as well as the number who voted; so a turnout figure can be calculated.
The 1784 election was broadly a contest between the new government of Pitt and the ousted Fox-North Coalition, in which both Townshend and Mansfield had held office.
Note (1790): Party labels in the 1790–1832 period follow Stooks Smith, who classifies Pitt and his Pittite supporters as Tories without regard to what they would have actually called themselves.
Note (1827): Unusually for a pre-1832 election Stooks Smith provides a total electorate figure, so a turnout percentage can be calculated. See the 1727 result above for another instance.
Note 1 (1847): 3,800 registered electors; 4,682 votes cast; minimum possible turnout estimated by dividing votes by 2. To the extent that electors did not use both their votes, the figure will be an underestimate.
Note 2 (1847): McCalmont's Parliamentary Poll Book classifies Goulburn as a Liberal Conservative and Law as a Peelite for this election.
Elections in the 1850s
Death of Law.
By-election, 4 October 1850: Cambridge University[3]
General Elections, from 1918 when most constituencies polled on the same day, were on different polling days than for territorial constituencies. The polls for university constituencies were open for five days. The elections were also conducted by Single Transferable Vote.
Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)
McCalmont's Parliamentary Poll Book: British Election Results 1832–1918 (8th edition, The Harvester Press 1971)
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 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)
Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886–1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945–1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)
cambridge, university, parliament, constituency, cambridge, university, university, constituency, electing, members, british, house, commons, from, 1603, 1950, cambridge, universityformer, university, constituencyfor, house, commons1603, 1950seats2replaced, by. Cambridge University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons from 1603 to 1950 Cambridge UniversityFormer University constituencyfor the House of Commons1603 1950Seats2Replaced byCambridge Contents 1 Franchise and method of election 2 History 3 Members of Parliament 3 1 1603 to 1660 3 2 1660 to 1784 3 3 1784 to 1950 4 Elections before 1715 5 Election by Block Vote 1715 1918 5 1 Elections in the 1710s 5 2 Elections in the 1720s 5 3 Elections in the 1730s 5 4 Elections in the 1740s 5 5 Elections in the 1750s 5 6 Elections in the 1760s 5 7 Elections in the 1770s 5 8 Elections in the 1780s 5 9 Elections in the 1790s 5 10 Elections in the 1800s 5 11 Elections in the 1810s 5 12 Elections in the 1820s 5 13 Elections in the 1830s 5 14 Elections in the 1840s 5 15 Elections in the 1850s 5 16 Elections in the 1860s 5 17 Elections in the 1870s 5 18 Elections in the 1880s 5 19 Elections in the 1890s 5 20 Elections in the 1900s 5 21 Elections in the 1910s 6 Elections 1918 1950 6 1 Elections in the 1910s 6 2 Elections in the 1920s 6 3 Elections in the 1930s 6 4 Elections in the 1940s 7 See also 8 ReferencesFranchise and method of election EditThis university constituency was created by a Royal Charter of 1603 It was abolished in 1950 by the Representation of the People Act 1948 The constituency was not a geographical area Its electorate consisted of the graduates of the University of Cambridge Before 1918 the franchise was restricted to male graduates with a Doctorate or Master of Arts degree Sedgwick records that there were 377 electors in 1727 For the 1754 1790 period Namier and Brooke estimated the electorate at about 500 The constituency returned two Members of Parliament Before 1918 they were elected by plurality at large voting but from 1918 onwards the two members were elected by the Single Transferable Vote method History EditIn the early 18th century the electors of both English universities were mostly Tories but the Whig ministers of King George I were able to persuade him to use his royal prerogative to confer Cambridge doctorates on a large number of Whigs so that from 1727 the university largely returned Whig representatives At Oxford the King did not enjoy the same prerogative power so that the University of Oxford constituency remained Tory and indeed often Jacobite in its preferences The leading 18th century Whig politician Thomas Pelham Holles 1st Duke of Newcastle was Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1748 to 1768 and recommended to the electors suitable candidates to represent them in Parliament This practice continued under his successor another Whig Duke and Prime Minister Augustus FitzRoy 3rd Duke of Grafton Chancellor of the university from 1768 to 1811 However Grafton was less influential as a politician than Newcastle had been and also less attentive towards the university and as a result some of his nominations came in for criticism notably that of his friend Richard Croftes Croftes was far from typical of a university member of parliament he was neither the son of a peer like the Hon John Townshend the Marquess of Granby and Grafton s own son the Earl of Euston nor a distinguished lawyer politician such as William de Grey James Mansfield and Sir Vicary Gibbs nor a prominent political figure like William Pitt the Younger and Lord Henry Petty In the late 18th and early 19th centuries Pittite and Tory candidates began to be elected At the appearance of this political development some of the Pittite members including the younger William Pitt himself one of the members for the university from 1784 to 1806 described themselves as Whigs As time passed the division between the 19th century Tory and Whig parties became clearer The future Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston retained his university seat as a Whig after he left the Tory ranks but in 1831 he was defeated After Palmerston ceased to represent the university he was elected by a territorial constituency From then until the 1920s all of the university s members were Tories and or Conservatives Even after the introduction of the single transferable vote in 1918 most of the members continued to be elected as Conservatives Members of Parliament EditThis is a list of people who have been elected to represent this university in the Parliament of the United Kingdom 1603 to 1660 Edit This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items January 2011 Constituency created 1603Year First member Second member1604 Nicholas Steward Henry Mountlow1614 Sir Miles Sandys Sir Francis Bacon1621 Robert Naunton Barnaby Gough1624 Sir Robert Naunton Barnaby Gough1625 Sir Robert Naunton Sir Albert Morton1626 Thomas Eden Sir John Coke1628 1629 Thomas Eden Sir John Coke1629 1640 No Parliaments summonedApr 1640 Thomas Eden Henry LucasNov 1640 Thomas Eden Henry LucasEden died 1644 replaced by Nathaniel Bacon1648 Lucas secluded in Pride s Purge1654 Henry Cromwell one seat only 1656 Richard Cromwell one seat only 1659 John Thurloe Thomas Sclater1660 to 1784 Edit Year Member Party Member Party1660 Apr George Monck Thomas Crouch1660 Jun William Montagu1661 Sir Richard Fanshawe1667 Sir Charles Wheler 2nd Baronet1679 Sir Thomas Exton James Vernon1681 Robert Brady1689 Sir Robert Sawyer Isaac Newton Whig1690 Edward Finch1692 Henry Boyle Whig1695 George Oxenden1698 Anthony Hammond1701 Isaac Newton Court Whig1702 Arthur Annesley Tory1705 Dixie Windsor Tory1710 Thomas Paske Tory1720 Thomas Willoughby Tory1727 Edward Finch Whig Thomas Townshend Whig1768 Charles Yorke Rockingham Whig1770 William de Grey1771 Richard Croftes1774 Charles Manners Marquess of Granby1779 James Mansfield1780 Lord John Townshend Whig1784 to 1950 Edit Year Member Party Member Party1784 William Pitt the Younger Tory1 1 Earl of Euston Whig 1 1806 Lord Henry Petty Whig 1 1807 Sir Vicary Gibbs Tory 1 1811 Henry Temple Tory 1 1812 John Henry Smyth Whig 1 1822 William John Bankes Tory 1 1826 Sir John Copley Tory 1 1827 Sir Nicholas Conyngham Tindal Tory 1 1829 William Cavendish Whig 1 1830 Whig 1 1831 Henry Goulburn Tory 1 William Yates Peel Tory 1 1832 Charles Manners Sutton Tory 1 1834 Conservative 1 Conservative 1 1835 Hon Charles Law Conservative 1 1850 Loftus Wigram Conservative1856 Spencer Horatio Walpole Conservative1859 Charles Jasper Selwyn Conservative1868 Alexander Beresford Hope Conservative1882 Henry Cecil Raikes Conservative1887 Sir George Stokes Bt Conservative1891 Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb 2 Conservative1892 Sir John Eldon Gorst Conservative1906 Samuel Butcher Conservative John Rawlinson Conservative1911 Sir Joseph Larmor Conservative1918 Co Conservative 3 Co Conservative31922 J R M Butler Ind Liberal4 Conservative1923 Sir Geoffrey G Butler 5 Conservative1926 Sir John Withers Conservative1929 Godfrey Wilson Conservative1935 Sir Kenneth Pickthorn Conservative1940 Dr Archibald Hill Ind Conservative41945 Wilson Harris IndependentNotes 1 Pitt called himself a Whig but is usually retrospectively regarded as a Tory since most of his followers whether their background was in the Whig or Tory tradition came to call themselves the Tory Party in the decade after Pitt s death 2 Jebb died on 10 December 1905 seat vacant at dissolution 3 Co is an abbreviation for Coalition 4 Ind is an abbreviation for Independent 5 Sir Geoffrey G Butler died on 2 May 1929 seat vacant at dissolution Elections before 1715 EditThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items August 2008 Election by Block Vote 1715 1918 Edit1710s 1720s 1730s 1740s 1750s 1760s 1770s 1780s 1790s 1800s 1810s 1820s 1830s 1840s 1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910sElections in the 1710s Edit General election 26 January 1715 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory Dixie Windsor Unopposed N A N ATory Thomas Paske Unopposed N A N AElections in the 1720s Edit Death of PaskeBy Election 19 December 1720 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Tory Thomas Willoughby 176 55 17 N AWhig Henry Finch 143 44 83 N AMajority 33 10 34 N ATurnout 319 N A N ATory hold Swing N ANote 1722 Stooks Smith gives Willoughby 319 votes General election 22 March 1722 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory Dixie Windsor Unopposed N A N ATory Thomas Willoughby Unopposed N A N AGeneral election 22 August 1727 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Finch 221 37 14 N AWhig Thomas Townshend 198 33 28 N ATory Dixie Windsor 176 29 58 N ATurnout 595 377 voted 79 70 N ARegistered electors 473Note 1727 Unusually for a pre 1832 election Stooks Smith records the total number of electors for the constituency as well as the number who voted so a turnout figure can be calculated Elections in the 1730s Edit General election 29 April 1734 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Whig Thomas Townshend 222 30 33 2 95Whig Edward Finch 209 28 55 8 59Whig Goodrick 174 23 77 N ATory Dixie Windsor 137 17 35 12 23Turnout 732 N A N ANote 1734 Goodrick was an Opposition WhigElections in the 1740s Edit General election 6 May 1741 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Finch Unopposed N A N AWhig Thomas Townshend Unopposed N A N ASeat vacated when Finch was appointed a Groom of the BedchamberBy Election 23 July 1742 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Finch Unopposed N A N AWhig hold Swing N AGeneral election 26 June 1747 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Finch Unopposed N A N AWhig Thomas Townshend Unopposed N A N AElections in the 1750s Edit General election 17 April 1754 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Finch Unopposed N A N AWhig Thomas Townshend Unopposed N A N ASeat vacated when Finch was appointed to an officeBy Election 14 June 1757 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Finch Unopposed N A N AWhig hold Swing N AElections in the 1760s Edit Seat vacated when Finch was appointed to an officeBy Election 14 January 1761 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Finch Unopposed N A N AWhig hold Swing N AGeneral election 27 March 1761 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Finch Unopposed N A N AWhig Thomas Townshend Unopposed N A N AGeneral election 19 March 1768 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan Charles Yorke Unopposed N A N AWhig Thomas Townshend Unopposed N A N AElections in the 1770s Edit Seat vacated on the appointment of Yorke as Lord ChancellorBy Election 1 February 1770 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan William de Grey Unopposed N A N ANon Partisan hold Swing N ASeat vacated on the appointment of de Grey as Chief Justice of the Court of Common PleasBy Election 4 February 1771 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan Richard Croftes 76 62 81 N ANon Partisan William Wynne 45 37 19 N AMajority 31 25 62 N ATurnout 121 N A N ANon Partisan hold Swing N AGeneral election 10 October 1774 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan Charles Manners Unopposed N A N ANon Partisan Richard Croftes Unopposed N A N ASuccession of Granby as the 4th Duke of RutlandBy Election 10 June 1779 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan James Mansfield 157 35 68 N ANon Partisan John Townshend 145 32 95 N ANon Partisan Thomas Villiers 138 31 36 N AMajority 12 2 73 N ATurnout 440 N A N ANon Partisan hold Swing N AElections in the 1780s Edit General election 9 September 1780 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan James Mansfield 277 27 10 N ANon Partisan John Townshend 247 24 17 N ANon Partisan Thomas Villiers 206 20 16 N ANon Partisan Richard Croftes 150 14 68 N ANon Partisan William Pitt 142 13 89 N ATurnout 1 022 546 voters N A N ANote 1780 Stooks Smith records Townshend as getting 237 votes Seat vacated on Townshend being appointed to an officeBy Election 3 April 1782 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan John Townshend Unopposed N A N ANon Partisan hold Swing N ASeat vacated on Townshend being appointed to an officeBy Election 11 April 1783 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan John Townshend Unopposed N A N ANon Partisan hold Swing N ASeat vacated on Mansfield being appointed as Solicitor General for England and WalesBy Election 26 November 1783 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan James Mansfield Unopposed N A N ANon Partisan hold Swing N AGeneral election 3 April 1784 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Non Partisan William Pitt 351 31 65 17 76Non Partisan George FitzRoy 299 26 96 N ANon Partisan John Townshend 278 25 07 0 90Non Partisan James Mansfield 181 16 32 10 78Turnout 1 109 588 voters N A N AThe 1784 election was broadly a contest between the new government of Pitt and the ousted Fox North Coalition in which both Townshend and Mansfield had held office Elections in the 1790s Edit General election 1790 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory William Pitt 510 42 50 10 85Whig George FitzRoy 483 40 25 13 29Whig Lawrence Dundas 207 17 25 N ATurnout 1 200 684 voters N A N ANote 1790 Party labels in the 1790 1832 period follow Stooks Smith who classifies Pitt and his Pittite supporters as Tories without regard to what they would have actually called themselves Seat vacated on Pitt being appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque PortsBy Election 1792 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Tory William Pitt Unopposed N A N ATory hold Swing N ASeat vacated on Euston being appointed to an officeBy Election 1794 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Whig George FitzRoy Unopposed N A N AWhig hold Swing N AGeneral election 1796 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory William Pitt Unopposed N A N AWhig George FitzRoy Unopposed N A N AElections in the 1800s Edit General election 1802 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory William Pitt Unopposed N A N AWhig George FitzRoy Unopposed N A N ASeat vacated on Pitt being appointed Chancellor of the ExchequerBy Election 1804 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Tory William Pitt Unopposed N A N ATory hold Swing N ADeath of PittBy Election February 1806 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Whig Henry Petty 331 54 80 N AWhig John Spencer 145 24 01 N ATory Henry Temple 128 21 19 N AMajority 186 30 79 N ATurnout 604 N A N AWhig gain from Tory Swing N APalmerston was a Peer of IrelandGeneral election 1806 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Whig Henry Petty Unopposed N A N AWhig George FitzRoy Unopposed N A N AGeneral election 1807 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Whig George FitzRoy 324 26 75 N ATory Vicary Gibbs 312 25 76 NewTory Henry Temple 310 25 60 NewWhig Henry Petty 265 21 88 N ATurnout 1 211 631 voters N A N AElections in the 1810s Edit Succession of Euston as the 4th Duke of GraftonBy Election March 1811 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Tory Henry Temple 451 56 66 N AWhig John Henry Smyth 345 43 34 N AMajority 106 13 32 N ATurnout 796 N A N ATory gain from Whig Swing N ASeat vacated on Gibbs being appointed a Judge of the Court of Common PleasBy Election 1812 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Whig John Henry Smyth Unopposed N A N AWhig gain from Tory Swing N AGeneral election 1812 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory Henry Temple Unopposed N A N AWhig John Henry Smyth Unopposed N A N AGeneral election 1818 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory Henry Temple Unopposed N A N AWhig John Henry Smyth Unopposed N A N AElections in the 1820s Edit General election 1820 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory Henry Temple Unopposed N A N AWhig John Henry Smyth Unopposed N A N ADeath of SmythBy Election 1822 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Tory William John Bankes 419 45 59 N ATory Lord Harvey 281 30 58 N AWhig James Scarlett 219 23 83 N AMajority 138 15 02 N ATurnout 919 N A N ATory gain from Whig Swing N AGeneral election 1826 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Tory John Copley 772 32 88 N AWhig Henry Temple 631 26 87 N ATory William John Bankes 508 21 64 N ATory Henry Goulburn 437 18 61 N AMajority 123 5 23Turnout 2 348 1 293 voters N A N ASeat vacated on the appointment of Copley as Lord Chancellor and creation as 1st Baron LyndhurstBy Election May 1827 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Tory Nicholas Conyngham Tindal 479 55 89 N ATory William John Bankes 378 44 11 N AMajority 101 11 78 N ATurnout 857 43 93 N ARegistered electors 1 951Tory hold Swing N ANote 1827 Unusually for a pre 1832 election Stooks Smith provides a total electorate figure so a turnout percentage can be calculated See the 1727 result above for another instance Seat vacated on the appointment of Tindal as Chief Justice of the Court of Common PleasBy Election June 1829 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Whig William Cavendish 609 56 86 N ATory George Bankes 462 43 14 0 97Majority 147 13 72 N ATurnout 1 071 N A N AWhig gain from Tory Swing N AElections in the 1830s Edit General election 1830 Cambridge University 2 seats 1 2 Party Candidate Votes Whig Henry Temple UnopposedWhig William Cavendish UnopposedWhig gain from ToryWhig gain from TorySeat vacated on the appointment of Palmerston as Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsBy election 30 November 1830 Cambridge University 1 2 Party Candidate Votes Whig Henry Temple UnopposedWhig holdGeneral election 1831 Cambridge University 2 seats 1 2 Party Candidate Votes Tory Henry Goulburn 805 28 3Tory William Yates Peel 804 28 2Whig William Cavendish 630 22 1Whig Henry Temple 610 21 4Majority 174 6 1Turnout 1 450 65 5Registered electors 2 215Tory gain from WhigTory gain from WhigGeneral election 12 December 1832 Cambridge University 2 seats 1 Party Candidate Votes Tory Henry Goulburn UnopposedSpeaker Charles Manners Sutton UnopposedRegistered electors 2 319Tory holdSpeaker gain from ToryGeneral election 12 December 1835 Cambridge University 2 seats 1 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Henry Goulburn UnopposedSpeaker Charles Manners Sutton UnopposedRegistered electors 2 319Conservative holdSpeaker holdManners Sutton created The 1st Viscount Canterbury By election 21 March 1835 Cambridge University 1 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Charles Law UnopposedConservative gain from SpeakerGeneral election 25 July 1837 Cambridge University 2 seats 1 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Henry Goulburn UnopposedConservative Charles Law UnopposedRegistered electors 2 613Conservative holdConservative gain from SpeakerNote 1837 McCalmont s Parliamentary Poll Book classifies Law as a Peelite between this election and that of 1847 Elections in the 1840s Edit General election 30 June 1841 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Conservative Henry Goulburn UnopposedConservative Charles Law UnopposedRegistered electors 2 873Conservative holdConservative holdNote 1841 McCalmont s Parliamentary Poll Book classifies Goulburn as a Liberal Conservative and Law as a Peelite for this election Goulburn appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer By election 15 September 1841 Cambridge University Party Candidate Votes Conservative Henry Goulburn UnopposedConservative holdGeneral election 3 August 1847 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Conservative Charles Law 1 486 31 7 N AConservative Henry Goulburn 1 189 25 4 N AConservative Rudolph Feilding 1 147 24 5 N AWhig John Shaw Lefevre 860 18 4 NewMajority 42 0 9 N ATurnout 2 341 est 61 6 N ARegistered electors 3 800Conservative hold Swing N AConservative hold Swing N ANote 1 1847 3 800 registered electors 4 682 votes cast minimum possible turnout estimated by dividing votes by 2 To the extent that electors did not use both their votes the figure will be an underestimate Note 2 1847 McCalmont s Parliamentary Poll Book classifies Goulburn as a Liberal Conservative and Law as a Peelite for this election Elections in the 1850s Edit Death of Law By election 4 October 1850 Cambridge University 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Loftus Wigram UnopposedConservative holdGeneral election 10 July 1852 Cambridge University 2 seats 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Henry Goulburn UnopposedConservative Loftus Wigram UnopposedRegistered electors 4 063Conservative holdConservative holdNote 1852 McCalmont s Parliamentary Poll Book classifies Goulburn as a Liberal Conservative for this election Death of Goulburn By election 11 February 1856 Cambridge University 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Spencer Horatio Walpole 886 67 9 N AWhig George Denman 4 419 32 1 NewMajority 467 35 8 N ATurnout 1 305 28 7 N ARegistered electors 4 552Conservative hold Swing N AGeneral election 28 March 1857 Cambridge University 2 seats 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Spencer Horatio Walpole UnopposedConservative Loftus Wigram UnopposedRegistered electors 4 552Conservative holdConservative holdAppointment of Walpole as Secretary of State for the Home Department By election 4 March 1858 Cambridge University 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Spencer Horatio Walpole UnopposedConservative holdGeneral election 29 April 1859 Cambridge University 2 seats 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Charles Jasper Selwyn UnopposedConservative Spencer Horatio Walpole UnopposedRegistered electors 4 566Conservative holdConservative holdElections in the 1860s Edit General election 11 July 1865 Cambridge University 2 seats 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Charles Jasper Selwyn UnopposedConservative Spencer Horatio Walpole UnopposedRegistered electors 5 184Conservative holdConservative holdAppointment of Walpole as Secretary of State for the Home Department By Election 11 July 1866 Cambridge University 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Spencer Horatio Walpole UnopposedConservative holdAppointment of Selwyn as Solicitor General By Election 22 July 1867 Cambridge University 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Charles Jasper Selwyn UnopposedConservative holdAppointment of Selwyn as Judge of the Court of Appeal in Chancery By Election 24 February 1868 Cambridge University 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Alexander Beresford Hope 1 931 58 0 N AConservative Anthony Cleasby 5 1 400 42 0 N AMajority 531 16 0 N ATurnout 3 331 64 3 N ARegistered electors 5 184Conservative holdGeneral election 16 November 1868 Cambridge University 2 seats 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Alexander Beresford Hope UnopposedConservative Spencer Horatio Walpole UnopposedRegistered electors 5 435Conservative holdConservative holdElections in the 1870s Edit General election 2 February 1874 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Conservative Alexander Beresford Hope UnopposedConservative Spencer Horatio Walpole UnopposedRegistered electors 5 855Conservative holdConservative holdElections in the 1880s Edit General election April 1880 Cambridge University 2 seats 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Alexander Beresford Hope UnopposedConservative Spencer Horatio Walpole UnopposedRegistered electors 6 161Conservative holdConservative holdWalpole s resignation caused a by election By Election 23 28 Nov 1882 Cambridge University 3 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Henry Cecil Raikes 3 491 72 9 N ALiberal James Stuart 1 301 27 2 NewMajority 2 190 45 7 N ATurnout 4 792 75 2 N ARegistered electors 6 371Conservative hold Swing N A HopeGeneral election 1885 Cambridge University 2 seats 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Alexander Beresford Hope UnopposedConservative Henry Cecil Raikes UnopposedConservative holdConservative holdGeneral election 1886 Cambridge University 2 seats 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Alexander Beresford Hope UnopposedConservative Henry Cecil Raikes UnopposedConservative holdConservative holdRaikes was appointed Postmaster General requiring a by election By election 13 Aug 1886 Cambridge University 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Henry Cecil Raikes UnopposedConservative hold StokesBeresford Hope s death caused a by election By election 17 Nov 1887 Cambridge University 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative George Stokes UnopposedConservative holdElections in the 1890s Edit Jebb1891 Cambridge University by election 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Richard Claverhouse Jebb UnopposedConservative holdGeneral election 1892 Cambridge University 2 seats 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative John Eldon Gorst UnopposedConservative Richard Claverhouse Jebb UnopposedConservative holdConservative holdGeneral election 1895 Cambridge University 2 seats 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative John Eldon Gorst UnopposedConservative Richard Claverhouse Jebb UnopposedConservative holdConservative holdElections in the 1900s Edit General election 1900 Cambridge University 2 seats 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative John Eldon Gorst UnopposedConservative Richard Claverhouse Jebb UnopposedConservative holdConservative holdGeneral election 1906 Cambridge University 2 seats 6 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Samuel Butcher 3 050 39 72 N AConservative John Rawlinson 2 976 38 76 N AFree Trader John Eldon Gorst 1 653 21 53 NewMajority 1 323 17 23 N ATurnout 4 063 65 8 N ARegistered electors 6 972Conservative hold Swing N AConservative hold Swing N AElections in the 1910s Edit General election January 1910 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Conservative Samuel Butcher UnopposedConservative John Rawlinson UnopposedConservative holdConservative holdGeneral election December 1910 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Conservative Samuel Butcher UnopposedConservative John Rawlinson UnopposedConservative holdConservative hold Cox1911 Cambridge University by election Party Candidate Votes Conservative Joseph Larmor 2 308 50 24 N AFree Trade Harold Cox 1 954 42 53 NewInd Conservative Thomas Ethelbert Page 332 7 23 NewMajority 354 7 71 N ATurnout 7 129 64 44 N AConservative hold Swing N AElections 1918 1950 EditGeneral Elections from 1918 when most constituencies polled on the same day were on different polling days than for territorial constituencies The polls for university constituencies were open for five days The elections were also conducted by Single Transferable Vote Elections in the 1910s Edit General Election 1918 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate FPv Count1 2C Coalition Unionist John Rawlinson 35 16 2 034 C Coalition Unionist Joseph Larmor 32 69 1 891 1 986Independent William Cecil Dampier 21 09 1 220 1 229Labour J C Squire 11 06 640 641Electorate 9 282 Valid 5 785 Quota 1 929 Turnout 62 32 C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government Elections in the 1920s Edit General election 1922 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Unionist John Rawlinson 4 192 49 39 14 23Independent Liberal J R M Butler 3 453 39 86 NewUnionist William Ritchie Sorley 1 018 11 75 NewMajority 2 435 28 11 N AQuota 2 888Registered electors 13 592Turnout 8 663 63 74Independent Liberal gain from Unionist Swing N AAs two candidates achieved the quota only one count was necessaryGeneral Election 1923 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate FPv Count1 2Unionist John Rawlinson 40 85 4 207 Unionist Geoffrey G Butler 27 61 2 844 3 560Independent Liberal J R M Butler 31 54 3 248 3 283Electorate 14 974 Valid 10 229 Quota 3 434 Turnout 68 78 General election 1924 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Unionist John Rawlinson 4 569 38 60 2 25Unionist Geoffrey G Butler 4 026 34 01 6 40Independent Liberal J R M Butler 3 241 27 38 4 16Majority 785 6 63Quota 3 946Registered electors 16 621Turnout 11 836 71 21 2 43Unionist hold SwingAs two candidates achieved the quota only one count was necessary1926 Cambridge University by election Party Candidate Votes Unionist John Withers Unopposed N A N AUnionist hold Swing N AGeneral Election 1929 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate FPv Count1 2Unionist John Withers 39 76 6 356 Unionist Godfrey Wilson 31 71 5 069 6 046Liberal Hubert Henderson 19 38 3 099 3 131Labour Alexander Wood 9 15 1 463 1 480Electorate 23 978 Valid 15 987 Quota 5 330 Turnout 66 67 Elections in the 1930s Edit General election 1931 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Conservative Godfrey Wilson Unopposed N A N AConservative John Withers Unopposed N A N AConservative hold Swing1935 Cambridge University by election Party Candidate Votes Conservative Kenneth Pickthorn Unopposed N A N AConservative hold Swing N AGeneral election 1935 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate Votes Conservative John Withers 7 602 42 30 N AConservative Kenneth Pickthorn 6 917 38 49 N ALabour Lionel Elvin 3 453 19 21 NewMajority 3 464 19 28Quota 5 991Registered electors 33 617Turnout 17 972 53 46 N AConservative hold SwingAs two candidates achieved the quota only one count was necessaryElections in the 1940s Edit 1940 Cambridge University by election Party Candidate Votes Ind Conservative Archibald Hill 9 840 64 62 NewIndependent Progressive John Ryle 5 387 35 38 NewMajority 4 453 29 24 N ATurnout 39 171 38 87 N AInd Conservative gain from Conservative Swing N AGeneral Election 1945 Cambridge University 2 seats Party Candidate FPv Count1 2 3 4Conservative Kenneth Pickthorn 46 18 10 202 Independent Wilson Harris 16 18 3 574 4 709 5 185 6 556Independent Progressive J B Priestley 22 82 5 041 5 128 5 238 5 745Independent Charles Hill 10 13 2 238 3 092 3 595 eliminatedNational Ernest Leslie Howard Williams 4 69 1 036 1 798 eliminated Electorate 42 012 Valid 22 091 Quota 7 364 Turnout 52 58 See also EditList of former United Kingdom Parliament constituenciesReferences EditBoundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885 1972 compiled and edited by F W S Craig Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972 British Parliamentary Election Results 1832 1885 compiled and edited by F W S Craig Macmillan Press 1977 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885 1918 compiled and edited by F W S Craig Macmillan Press 1974 British Parliamentary Election Results 1918 1949 compiled and edited by F W S Craig Macmillan Press revised edition 1977 McCalmont s Parliamentary Poll Book British Election Results 1832 1918 8th edition The Harvester Press 1971 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 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 Who s Who of British Members of Parliament Volume II 1886 1918 edited by M Stenton and S Lees Harvester Press 1978 Who s Who of British Members of Parliament Volume III 1919 1945 edited by M Stenton and S Lees Harvester Press 1979 Who s Who of British Members of Parliament Volume IV 1945 1979 edited by M Stenton and S Lees Harvester Press 1981 Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPs Constituencies beginning with C part 1 Specific a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Stooks Smith Henry 1973 1844 1850 Craig F W S ed The Parliaments of England 2nd ed Chichester Parliamentary Research Services pp 28 31 ISBN 0 900178 13 2 a b c Fisher David R Cambridge University The History of Parliament Retrieved 9 May 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Craig F W S ed 1977 British Parliamentary Election Results 1832 1885 e book 1st ed London Macmillan Press ISBN 978 1 349 02349 3 Cambridge University Election Yorkshire Gazette 9 February 1856 p 3 Retrieved 14 September 2018 via British Newspaper Archive Cambridge University Election Cambridge Independent Press 29 February 1868 p 5 Retrieved 1 February 2018 via British Newspaper Archive a b c d e f g h i Craig FWS ed 1974 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885 1918 London Macmillan Press ISBN 9781349022984 Parliament of the United KingdomPreceded byAppleby Constituency represented by the prime minister1784 1801 Succeeded byDevizesPreceded byDevizes Constituency represented by the prime minister1804 1806 Vacantuntil 1809Title next held byNorthamptonPreceded byScarborough Constituency represented by the speaker1832 1835 Succeeded byEdinburgh Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cambridge University UK Parliament constituency amp oldid 1164826878, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
