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Wigtown Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)

January 29, 2023

Wigtown Burghs, also known as Wigton Burghs,.[1] was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by one Member of Parliament (MP).

Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland burgh constituencies of Wigtown, New Galloway, Stranraer and Whithorn which had all been separately represented with one commissioner each.

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

Boundaries

The constituency was a district of burghs created to represent the Royal burghs of New Galloway, Stranraer, Whithorn and Wigtown.

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

Political history

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished for the 1885 general election.[2][3][4][5][6]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Members of Parliament

Election Member Party
26 May 1708 George Lockhart (chose to sit for Midlothian)
14 December 1708 by-election William Cochrane
17 September 1713 Sir Alexander Maxwell, Bt
17 February 1715 Sir Patrick Vanse
13 April 1722 William Dalrymple (1678-1744)
16 March 1728 by-election John Dalrymple
18 May 1734 James Stewart 1st term
28 May 1741 William Stewart (c 1706–1748)
22 July 1747 James Stewart 2nd term
9 May 1754 John Hamilton 1st term
20 April 1761 Hon. Archibald Montgomerie, later 11th Earl of Eglinton
19 February 1762 by-election Hon. Keith Stewart
15 April 1762 by-election John Hamilton 2nd term
11 April 1768 George Augustus Selwyn
23 December 1768 by-election Chauncy Townsend
7 May 1770 by-election William Stewart (1737-1797)
31 October 1774 William Norton, later 2nd Lord Grantley
23 March 1775 by-election Sir Henry Dashwood, Bt
2 October 1780 William Adam
26 April 1784 William Dalrymple (1736-1807)
12 July 1790 Nisbet Balfour
20 June 1796 John Spalding
29 July 1803 by-election Hon. William Stewart (1774–1827)
9 August 1805 by-election James Graham
24 November 1806 Hon. Edward Richard Stewart
27 February 1809 by-election Lyndon Evelyn Tory
30 October 1812 Hon. James Henry Keith Stewart Tory
21 March 1821 by-election Sir John Osborn, Bt Tory
4 March 1824 by-election Nicholas Conyngham Tindal Tory
3 July 1826 John Lowther Tory
23 May 1831 Edward Stewart Whig[7]
19 January 1835 Sir John McTaggart, Bt Whig[7][8][9]
1 April 1857 Sir William Dunbar, Bt Whig[10]
1859 Liberal
15 April 1865 by-election George Young Liberal
12 Feb 1874 Mark John Stewart 1st term Conservative
28 May 1874 petition George Young Liberal
15 June 1874 by-election Mark John Stewart 1st term Conservative
8 April 1880 John McLaren Liberal
20 May 1880 by-election Mark John Stewart 2nd term Conservative
2 August 1880 by-election Rt Hon. Sir John Dalrymple Hay, Bt Conservative
1885 constituency abolished

Elections

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

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

  • 1708 (26 May) general election (election at Wigtown)
  • George Lockhart: Unopposed
  • Chose to sit for Edinburghshire
  • 1708 (14 December) by-election (election at Wigtown)
  • William Cochrane: Unopposed
  • 1710 general election
  • William Cochrane: Unopposed
  • 1713 (17 September) general election
  • Alexander Maxwell: Unopposed
  • 1715 (17 February) general election
  • Patrick Vanse: Unopposed
  • 1722 (13 April) general election
  • William Dalrymple: Unopposed
  • 1727 general election
  • William Dalrymple: Unopposed
  • Chose to sit for Wigtownshire
  • 1728 (16 March) by-election
  • John Dalrymple: Unopposed
  • 1734 (18 May) general election
  • John Stewart defeated John Dalrymple, vote totals unknown
  • 1741 (28 May) general election
  • William Stewart: Unopposed
  • 1747 (22 July) general election
  • John Stewart: Unopposed
  • 1754 (9 May) general election (election at Stranraer)
  • John Hamilton: Unopposed
  • 1761 (20 April) general election (election at Wigtown)
  • Archibald Montgomerie: 2 votes (Whithorn, Wigtown)
  • Hutchison Mure: 2 votes (New Galloway, Stranraer)
  • Montgomerie elected by Wigtown's casting vote
  • Chose to sit for Ayrshire
  • 1762 (19 February) by-election (election at Wigtown)
  • Keith Stewart: Unopposed
  • Resigned
  • 1762 (15 April) by-election (election at Wigtown)
  • John Hamilton: Unopposed
  • 1768 (11 April) general election (election at Whithorn)
  • George Augustus Selwyn: Unopposed
  • Chose to sit for Gloucester
  • 1768 (23 December) by-election (election at Whithorn)
  • Chauncy Townsend: Unopposed
  • Died
  • 1770 (7 May) by-election (election at Whithorn)
  • William Stewart: Unopposed
  • 1774 (31 October) general election (election at New Galloway)
  • William Norton: 2 votes (New Galloway, Stranraer)
  • Henry Watkin Dashwood: 2 votes (Whithorn, Wigtown)
  • Norton elected by New Galloway's casting vote
  • 1775 (23 March) last election declared void
  • Henry Watkin Dashwood: Awarded the seat
  • 1780 (2 October) general election (election at Stranraer)
  • William Adam: Unopposed
  • Appointed Treasurer of the Ordnance
  • 1783 (9 May) by-election (election at Stranraer)
  • William Adam: Unopposed
  • 1784 (26 April) general election (election at Wigtown)
  • William Dalrymple: 3 votes (New Gallowat, Stranraer, Whithorn)
  • George Johnstone: 1 vote (Wigtown)
  • 1790 (12 July) general election (election at Whithorn)
  • Nisbet Balfour: 2 votes
  • Lord Daer: 2 votes
  • Balfour elected by Whithorn's casting vote
  • 1796 (20 June) general election (election at New Galloway)
  • John Spalding: Unopposed
  • 1802 general election (election at Stranraer)
  • John Spalding: 3 votes
  • Robert Vans Agnew: 1 vote
  • Resigned
  • 1803 (29 July) by-election (election at Stranraer)
  • William Stewart: Unopposed
  • Resigned
  • 1805 (9 August) by-election (election at Stranraer)
  • James Graham: Unopposed
  • 1806 (24 November) general election (election at Wigtown)
  • Edward Richard Stewart: Unopposed
  • 1807 general election (election at Whithorn)
  • Edward Richard Stewart: Unopposed
  • Appointed a Commissioner for victualling the Navy
  • 1809 (27 February) by-election (election at Whithorn)
  • Lyndon Evelyn (Tory): Unopposed
  • 1812 (30 October) general election (election at New Galloway)
  • James Henry Keith Stewart (Tory): Unopposed
  • 1818 general election (election at Stranraer)
  • James Henry Keith Stewart (Tory): Unopposed
  • 1820 general election (election at Wigtown)
  • James Henry Keith Stewart (Tory): Unopposed
  • Resigned
  • 1821 (21 March) by-election (election at Wigtown)
  • John Osborn (Tory): Unopposed
  • Appointed a Commissioner for Auditing Public Accounts
  • 1824 (4 March) by-election (election at Wigtown)
  • Nicholas Conyngham Tindal (Tory): Unopposed
  • 1826 (3 July) general election (election at Whithorn)
  • John Henry Lowther (Tory): Unopposed
  • 1830 general election (election at New Galloway)
  • John Henry Lowther (Tory): Unopposed
  • 1831 (23 May) general election (election at Stranraer)
  • Edward Stewart (Whig): Unopposed
  • 1832 general election
  • 316 electors, 296 voted, turnout 93.67%
  • Edward Stewart (Liberal) 159 (53.72%)
  • John McTaggart (Liberal) 137 (46.29%)
  • majority 22 (7.43%)
  • 1835 (19 January) general election
  • 362 electors, 306 voted, turnout 84.53%
  • John McTaggart (Liberal) 224 (73.20%)
  • John Douglas (Liberal) 82 (26.80%)
  • majority 142 (46.41%)
  • 1837 general election
  • 380 electors, 267 voted, turnout 70.26%
  • John McTaggart (Liberal) 151 (56.55%)
  • Andrew Agnew (Liberal) 116 (43.45%)
  • majority 35 (13.11%)

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Wigtown Burghs[11][7][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory John Lowther Unopposed
Registered electors c. 75
Tory hold
General election 1831: Wigtown Burghs[11][7][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Edward Stewart Unopposed
Registered electors c. 75
Whig gain from Tory
General election 1832: Wigtown Burghs[7][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Edward Stewart 159 53.7
Whig John McTaggart 137 46.3
Majority 22 7.4
Turnout 296 93.7
Registered electors 316
Whig hold
General election 1835: Wigtown Burghs[7][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John McTaggart 224 73.2 +26.9
Radical John Douglas 82 26.8 N/A
Majority 142 46.4 +39.0
Turnout 306 84.5 −9.2
Registered electors 362
Whig hold Swing +26.9
General election 1837: Wigtown Burghs[7][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John McTaggart 151 56.6 −16.6
Whig Andrew Agnew 116 43.4 N/A
Majority 35 13.2 -33.2
Turnout 267 70.3 −14.2
Registered electors 380
Whig hold Swing −16.6

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John McTaggart 157 54.9 −1.7
Conservative Patrick Vans Agnew 129 45.1 New
Majority 28 9.8 -3.4
Turnout 286 72.8 +2.5
Registered electors 393
Whig hold Swing −1.7
General election 1847: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John McTaggart Unopposed
Registered electors 382
Whig hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John McTaggart 140 50.2 N/A
Conservative James Caird[14] 139 49.8 New
Majority 1 0.4 N/A
Turnout 279 69.8 N/A
Registered electors 400
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1857: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Dunbar Unopposed
Registered electors 694
Whig hold
General election 1859: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Dunbar Unopposed
Registered electors 505
Liberal hold

Dunbar was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 27 June 1859: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Dunbar Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

Dunbar resigned after being appointed Commissioner for Auditing the Public Accounts, causing a by-election.

By-election, 15 April 1865: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Young Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1865: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Young Unopposed
Registered electors 518
Liberal hold
General election 1868: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Young 484 57.1 N/A
Conservative Robert Vans-Agnew 364 42.9 New
Majority 120 14.2 N/A
Turnout 848 87.8 N/A
Registered electors 966
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Young was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 4 January 1869: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Young Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Young 515 50.0 −7.1
Conservative Mark Stewart 514 50.0 +7.1
Majority 1 0.0 −14.2
Turnout 1,029 87.5 −0.3
Registered electors 1,176
Liberal hold Swing −7.1

On the initial count, Stewart had received 525 votes compared to Young's 517. However, on petition, his election was declared void and the above results were given after scrutiny. Nevertheless, by the time the petition was heard, Young had been appointed Senator of the College of Justice, and a by-election was necessitated.

By-election, 15 Jun 1874: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Stewart 525 50.4 +0.4
Liberal Augustus Smith[15] 517 49.6 −0.4
Majority 8 0.8 N/A
Turnout 1,042 88.6 +1.1
Registered electors 1,176
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +0.4

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John McLaren 650 50.5 +0.5
Conservative Mark Stewart 638 49.5 −0.5
Majority 12 1.0 +1.0
Turnout 1,288 92.6 +5.1
Registered electors 1,391
Liberal hold Swing +0.5

McLaren was appointed Lord Advocate, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 20 May 1880: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Stewart 656 50.9 +1.4
Liberal John McLaren 633 49.1 −1.4
Majority 23 1.8 N/A
Turnout 1,289 92.7 +0.1
Registered electors 1,391
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +1.4

The by-election was declared void on petition, causing a second by-election.

By-election, 2 August 1880: Wigtown Burghs[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Dalrymple-Hay 636 50.6 +1.1
Liberal Gilbert McMicking[16] 620 49.4 −1.1
Majority 16 1.2 N/A
Turnout 1,256 90.3 −2.3
Registered electors 1,391
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +1.1

References

  1. ^ "No. 19008". The London Gazette. 28 December 1832. p. 2838.
  2. ^ "Wigtown Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Wigtown Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Wigtown Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1754-1790). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Wigtown Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1790-1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Wigtown Burghs". History of Parliament Online (1820-1832). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 213. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  8. ^ Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 152. Retrieved 5 September 2018 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "The Scotsman". 4 February 1835. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Bucks Herald". 18 April 1857. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 5 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ a b Fisher, David R. "Wigtown Burghs". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  12. ^ a b Cook, Chris; Stevenson, John (1980). British Historical Facts 1760-1830. Basingstoke: Palgrave. p. 58. doi:10.1007/978-1-137-06465-3. ISBN 978-1-137-06465-3. Retrieved 7 May 2020 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 563–564. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  14. ^ "Scotch Elections". Glasgow Herald. 19 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Election Intelligence". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 29 June 1874. p. 8. Retrieved 23 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "Election Intelligence". Staffordshire Sentinel. 27 July 1880. p. 3. Retrieved 23 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

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

January 29, 2023
wigtown, burghs, parliament, constituency, wigtown, burghs, also, known, wigton, burghs, constituency, house, commons, parliament, great, britain, from, 1708, 1800, house, commons, parliament, united, kingdom, from, 1801, 1885, represented, member, parliament,. Wigtown Burghs also known as Wigton Burghs 1 was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885 It was represented by one Member of Parliament MP Wigtown BurghsFormer District of Burghs constituencyfor the House of CommonsMajor settlementsNew Galloway Stranraer Whithorn and Wigtown1708 1885SeatsOneCreated fromNew GallowayStranraerWhithornWigtownReplaced byKirkcudbright StewartryWigtownshire Contents 1 Creation 2 Boundaries 3 Political history 4 Members of Parliament 5 Elections 5 1 Elections in the 1830s 5 2 Elections in the 1840s 5 3 Elections in the 1850s 5 4 Elections in the 1860s 5 5 Elections in the 1870s 5 6 Elections in the 1880s 6 References 7 SourcesCreation EditThe British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland burgh constituencies of Wigtown New Galloway Stranraer and Whithorn which had all been separately represented with one commissioner each The first election in Wigtown Burghs was in 1708 In 1707 08 members of the 1702 1707 Parliament of Scotland were co opted to serve in the 1st Parliament of Great Britain See Scottish representatives to the 1st Parliament of Great Britain for further details Boundaries EditThe constituency was a district of burghs created to represent the Royal burghs of New Galloway Stranraer Whithorn and Wigtown In 1885 the district was abolished New Galloway became part of the Kirkcudbrightshire constituency and the other three burghs were included in the Wigtownshire seat Political history EditThe constituency elected one Member of Parliament MP by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished for the 1885 general election 2 3 4 5 6 The politics of this constituency in the mid 18th century were relatively simple The Stewart family led by the Earl of Galloway normally controlled the burghs of Wigtown and Whithorn The Dalrymple family supporting the Earl of Stair controlled Stranraer The predominant interest in New Galloway was held by the Gordons of Kenmure Thus when Wigtown or Whithorn were the returning burgh with a casting vote in the event of a tie the candidate backed by the Stewarts won At other elections the Dalrymple supported candidate had a chance This state of affairs continued until 1784 when the Dalrymple interest gained control of the Whithorn Council In the 1754 election the Duke of Argyll attempted to support James Abercrombie for the Wigtown Burghs seat The Earl of Galloway agreed with John Hamilton a member of the Dalrymple family who was supposedly backing his relative Captain John Dalrymple of Stair to support Hamilton in the Burghs seat in exchange for the Dalrymple interest backing Lord Galloway s brother James Stewart for the county seat This coalition worked and John Hamilton was elected unopposed In 1761 with Wigtown as the returning burgh the Earl of Galloway could name the MP He hoped to return his Naval officer son the Honourable Keith Stewart As Stewart was away at sea in the West Indies the Earl decided to support Archibald Montgomerie until his son returned Montgomerie was also a candidate for Ayrshire in the same general election After he was elected for both seats he decided to retain Ayrshire Stewart was elected at a by election but soon gave up the seat as a result of negotiations about the Wigtownshire seat The energetic intriguer John Hamilton was again elected for the Burghs seat in the third election there in less than a year In 1768 with Whithorn as the returning burgh the Earl of Galloway could again decide the MP For this election the Earl was trying to get a seat in England for his son Lord Garlies who was ineligible to represent a Scottish constituency as the eldest son of a Scottish peer The Earl entered into an agreement with an English MP George Augustus Selwyn who controlled both seats in the borough of Ludgershall Selwyn who himself represented Gloucester feared defeat there and wanted a safe alternative seat In exchange for supporting Lord Garlies in Ludgershall Selwyn was elected in the Wigtown Burghs He was the first Englishman to be elected for a Scottish constituency after the Union However as Selwyn was also elected in Gloucester and preferred to represent that Borough a new candidate was required in Scotland The government was able to offer a Treasury nominee Chauncy Townsend After Townsend s death a junior branch of the Stewart family provided the new MP In 1774 with New Galloway as the returning burgh an alliance of the Dalrymple and Gordon families hoped to triumph National politics again influenced the situation as Sir Lawrence Dundas suggested William Norton as a candidate The Earl of Stair was trying to get his son a seat in England so he accepted the proposal of the governments electoral manager in Scotland The Stewart interest supported the 7th Earl of Galloway s brother in law Henry Watkin Dashwood This was the first time two Englishmen contested a Parliamentary seat in Scotland Norton was returned but the seat was awarded to Dashwood after an election petition For the 1780 election the Earl of Stair despite being a pro American admirer of the Earl of Chatham offered the nomination for the seat to Lord North in exchange for a diplomatic post for his son Lord Dalrymple Lord North suggested William Adam In 1784 the change in Whithorn enabled the Dalrymple candidate William Dalrymple to defeat the Earl of Galloway s nominee George Johnstone Members of Parliament EditElection Member Party26 May 1708 George Lockhart chose to sit for Midlothian 14 December 1708 by election William Cochrane17 September 1713 Sir Alexander Maxwell Bt17 February 1715 Sir Patrick Vanse13 April 1722 William Dalrymple 1678 1744 16 March 1728 by election John Dalrymple18 May 1734 James Stewart 1st term28 May 1741 William Stewart c 1706 1748 22 July 1747 James Stewart 2nd term9 May 1754 John Hamilton 1st term20 April 1761 Hon Archibald Montgomerie later 11th Earl of Eglinton19 February 1762 by election Hon Keith Stewart15 April 1762 by election John Hamilton 2nd term11 April 1768 George Augustus Selwyn23 December 1768 by election Chauncy Townsend7 May 1770 by election William Stewart 1737 1797 31 October 1774 William Norton later 2nd Lord Grantley23 March 1775 by election Sir Henry Dashwood Bt2 October 1780 William Adam26 April 1784 William Dalrymple 1736 1807 12 July 1790 Nisbet Balfour20 June 1796 John Spalding29 July 1803 by election Hon William Stewart 1774 1827 9 August 1805 by election James Graham24 November 1806 Hon Edward Richard Stewart27 February 1809 by election Lyndon Evelyn Tory30 October 1812 Hon James Henry Keith Stewart Tory21 March 1821 by election Sir John Osborn Bt Tory4 March 1824 by election Nicholas Conyngham Tindal Tory3 July 1826 John Lowther Tory23 May 1831 Edward Stewart Whig 7 19 January 1835 Sir John McTaggart Bt Whig 7 8 9 1 April 1857 Sir William Dunbar Bt Whig 10 1859 Liberal15 April 1865 by election George Young Liberal12 Feb 1874 Mark John Stewart 1st term Conservative28 May 1874 petition George Young Liberal15 June 1874 by election Mark John Stewart 1st term Conservative8 April 1880 John McLaren Liberal20 May 1880 by election Mark John Stewart 2nd term Conservative2 August 1880 by election Rt Hon Sir John Dalrymple Hay Bt Conservative1885 constituency abolishedElections EditThe constituency had only four voters the commissioners elected by the Burgh Councils in 1708 1832 The place of election rotated between the Burghs and the commissioner for the returning Burgh had a casting vote if there was a tie It was possible for the Court of Session to suspend a Burgh s rights for a Parliament as a punishment for corruption This procedure could disrupt the rotationFrom 1832 the franchise was extended and the votes from all the burghs were added together 1708 26 May general election election at Wigtown George Lockhart Unopposed Chose to sit for Edinburghshire 1708 14 December by election election at Wigtown William Cochrane Unopposed 1710 general election William Cochrane Unopposed 1713 17 September general election Alexander Maxwell Unopposed 1715 17 February general election Patrick Vanse Unopposed 1722 13 April general election William Dalrymple Unopposed 1727 general election William Dalrymple Unopposed Chose to sit for Wigtownshire 1728 16 March by election John Dalrymple Unopposed 1734 18 May general election John Stewart defeated John Dalrymple vote totals unknown 1741 28 May general election William Stewart Unopposed 1747 22 July general election John Stewart Unopposed 1754 9 May general election election at Stranraer John Hamilton Unopposed 1761 20 April general election election at Wigtown Archibald Montgomerie 2 votes Whithorn Wigtown Hutchison Mure 2 votes New Galloway Stranraer Montgomerie elected by Wigtown s casting vote Chose to sit for Ayrshire 1762 19 February by election election at Wigtown Keith Stewart Unopposed Resigned 1762 15 April by election election at Wigtown John Hamilton Unopposed 1768 11 April general election election at Whithorn George Augustus Selwyn Unopposed Chose to sit for Gloucester 1768 23 December by election election at Whithorn Chauncy Townsend Unopposed Died 1770 7 May by election election at Whithorn William Stewart Unopposed 1774 31 October general election election at New Galloway William Norton 2 votes New Galloway Stranraer Henry Watkin Dashwood 2 votes Whithorn Wigtown Norton elected by New Galloway s casting vote 1775 23 March last election declared void Henry Watkin Dashwood Awarded the seat 1780 2 October general election election at Stranraer William Adam Unopposed Appointed Treasurer of the Ordnance 1783 9 May by election election at Stranraer William Adam Unopposed 1784 26 April general election election at Wigtown William Dalrymple 3 votes New Gallowat Stranraer Whithorn George Johnstone 1 vote Wigtown 1790 12 July general election election at Whithorn Nisbet Balfour 2 votes Lord Daer 2 votes Balfour elected by Whithorn s casting vote 1796 20 June general election election at New Galloway John Spalding Unopposed 1802 general election election at Stranraer John Spalding 3 votes Robert Vans Agnew 1 vote Resigned 1803 29 July by election election at Stranraer William Stewart Unopposed Resigned 1805 9 August by election election at Stranraer James Graham Unopposed 1806 24 November general election election at Wigtown Edward Richard Stewart Unopposed 1807 general election election at Whithorn Edward Richard Stewart Unopposed Appointed a Commissioner for victualling the Navy 1809 27 February by election election at Whithorn Lyndon Evelyn Tory Unopposed 1812 30 October general election election at New Galloway James Henry Keith Stewart Tory Unopposed 1818 general election election at Stranraer James Henry Keith Stewart Tory Unopposed 1820 general election election at Wigtown James Henry Keith Stewart Tory Unopposed Resigned 1821 21 March by election election at Wigtown John Osborn Tory Unopposed Appointed a Commissioner for Auditing Public Accounts 1824 4 March by election election at Wigtown Nicholas Conyngham Tindal Tory Unopposed 1826 3 July general election election at Whithorn John Henry Lowther Tory Unopposed 1830 general election election at New Galloway John Henry Lowther Tory Unopposed 1831 23 May general election election at Stranraer Edward Stewart Whig Unopposed 1832 general election 316 electors 296 voted turnout 93 67 Edward Stewart Liberal 159 53 72 John McTaggart Liberal 137 46 29 majority 22 7 43 1835 19 January general election 362 electors 306 voted turnout 84 53 John McTaggart Liberal 224 73 20 John Douglas Liberal 82 26 80 majority 142 46 41 1837 general election 380 electors 267 voted turnout 70 26 John McTaggart Liberal 151 56 55 Andrew Agnew Liberal 116 43 45 majority 35 13 11 Elections in the 1830s Edit General election 1830 Wigtown Burghs 11 7 12 Party Candidate Votes Tory John Lowther UnopposedRegistered electors c 75Tory holdGeneral election 1831 Wigtown Burghs 11 7 12 Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Stewart UnopposedRegistered electors c 75Whig gain from ToryGeneral election 1832 Wigtown Burghs 7 13 Party Candidate Votes Whig Edward Stewart 159 53 7Whig John McTaggart 137 46 3Majority 22 7 4Turnout 296 93 7Registered electors 316Whig holdGeneral election 1835 Wigtown Burghs 7 13 Party Candidate Votes Whig John McTaggart 224 73 2 26 9Radical John Douglas 82 26 8 N AMajority 142 46 4 39 0Turnout 306 84 5 9 2Registered electors 362Whig hold Swing 26 9General election 1837 Wigtown Burghs 7 13 Party Candidate Votes Whig John McTaggart 151 56 6 16 6Whig Andrew Agnew 116 43 4 N AMajority 35 13 2 33 2Turnout 267 70 3 14 2Registered electors 380Whig hold Swing 16 6Elections in the 1840s Edit General election 1841 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Whig John McTaggart 157 54 9 1 7Conservative Patrick Vans Agnew 129 45 1 NewMajority 28 9 8 3 4Turnout 286 72 8 2 5Registered electors 393Whig hold Swing 1 7General election 1847 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Whig John McTaggart UnopposedRegistered electors 382Whig holdElections in the 1850s Edit General election 1852 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Whig John McTaggart 140 50 2 N AConservative James Caird 14 139 49 8 NewMajority 1 0 4 N ATurnout 279 69 8 N ARegistered electors 400Whig hold Swing N AGeneral election 1857 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Whig William Dunbar UnopposedRegistered electors 694Whig holdGeneral election 1859 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Liberal William Dunbar UnopposedRegistered electors 505Liberal holdDunbar was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury requiring a by election By election 27 June 1859 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Liberal William Dunbar UnopposedLiberal holdElections in the 1860s Edit Dunbar resigned after being appointed Commissioner for Auditing the Public Accounts causing a by election By election 15 April 1865 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Liberal George Young UnopposedLiberal holdGeneral election 1865 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Liberal George Young UnopposedRegistered electors 518Liberal holdGeneral election 1868 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Liberal George Young 484 57 1 N AConservative Robert Vans Agnew 364 42 9 NewMajority 120 14 2 N ATurnout 848 87 8 N ARegistered electors 966Liberal hold Swing N AYoung was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland requiring a by election By election 4 January 1869 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Liberal George Young UnopposedLiberal holdElections in the 1870s Edit General election 1874 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Liberal George Young 515 50 0 7 1Conservative Mark Stewart 514 50 0 7 1Majority 1 0 0 14 2Turnout 1 029 87 5 0 3Registered electors 1 176Liberal hold Swing 7 1On the initial count Stewart had received 525 votes compared to Young s 517 However on petition his election was declared void and the above results were given after scrutiny Nevertheless by the time the petition was heard Young had been appointed Senator of the College of Justice and a by election was necessitated By election 15 Jun 1874 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Mark Stewart 525 50 4 0 4Liberal Augustus Smith 15 517 49 6 0 4Majority 8 0 8 N ATurnout 1 042 88 6 1 1Registered electors 1 176Conservative gain from Liberal Swing 0 4Elections in the 1880s Edit General election 1880 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Liberal John McLaren 650 50 5 0 5Conservative Mark Stewart 638 49 5 0 5Majority 12 1 0 1 0Turnout 1 288 92 6 5 1Registered electors 1 391Liberal hold Swing 0 5McLaren was appointed Lord Advocate requiring a by election By election 20 May 1880 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Conservative Mark Stewart 656 50 9 1 4Liberal John McLaren 633 49 1 1 4Majority 23 1 8 N ATurnout 1 289 92 7 0 1Registered electors 1 391Conservative gain from Liberal Swing 1 4The by election was declared void on petition causing a second by election By election 2 August 1880 Wigtown Burghs 13 Party Candidate Votes Conservative John Dalrymple Hay 636 50 6 1 1Liberal Gilbert McMicking 16 620 49 4 1 1Majority 16 1 2 N ATurnout 1 256 90 3 2 3Registered electors 1 391Conservative gain from Liberal Swing 1 1References Edit No 19008 The London Gazette 28 December 1832 p 2838 Wigtown Burghs History of Parliament Online 1690 1715 Retrieved 27 March 2019 Wigtown Burghs History of Parliament Online 1715 1754 Retrieved 27 March 2019 Wigtown Burghs History of Parliament Online 1754 1790 Retrieved 27 March 2019 Wigtown Burghs History of Parliament Online 1790 1820 Retrieved 27 March 2019 Wigtown Burghs History of Parliament Online 1820 1832 Retrieved 27 March 2019 a b c d e f g Smith Henry Stooks 1842 The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections Second ed Simpkin Marshall amp Company p 213 Retrieved 5 September 2018 Churton Edward 1838 The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer 1838 p 152 Retrieved 5 September 2018 via Google Books The Scotsman 4 February 1835 p 2 Retrieved 5 September 2018 via British Newspaper Archive Bucks Herald 18 April 1857 pp 4 5 Retrieved 5 September 2018 via British Newspaper Archive a b Fisher David R Wigtown Burghs The History of Parliament Retrieved 7 May 2020 a b Cook Chris Stevenson John 1980 British Historical Facts 1760 1830 Basingstoke Palgrave p 58 doi 10 1007 978 1 137 06465 3 ISBN 978 1 137 06465 3 Retrieved 7 May 2020 via Google Books a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Craig F W S ed 1977 British Parliamentary Election Results 1832 1885 e book 1st ed London Macmillan Press pp 563 564 ISBN 978 1 349 02349 3 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a format requires url help Scotch Elections Glasgow Herald 19 July 1852 p 2 Retrieved 5 September 2018 via British Newspaper Archive Election Intelligence Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 29 June 1874 p 8 Retrieved 23 January 2018 via British Newspaper Archive Election Intelligence Staffordshire Sentinel 27 July 1880 p 3 Retrieved 23 December 2017 via British Newspaper Archive Sources EditThe Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith 1st edition published in three volumes 1844 50 2nd edition edited in one volume by F W S Craig Political Reference Publications 1973 History of Parliament House of Commons 1754 1790 by Sir Lewis Namier and James Brooke Sidgwick amp Jackson 1964 British Parliamentary Election Results 1832 1885 compiled and edited by F W S Craig The Macmillan Press 1977 Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPs Constituencies beginning with W part 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wigtown Burghs UK Parliament constituency amp oldid 1113688972, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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