1903 Argyllshire by-election

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The Argyllshire by-election was a Parliamentary by-election. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy[]

Donald Ninian Nicol had been Conservative MP for the seat of Argyllshire since the 1895 general election. He died on 27 July 1903 at the age of 60.[1]

Electoral history[]

The seat had been Conservative since they gained it in 1895. They easily held the seat at the last election, with an increased majority;

John Ainsworth
General election January 1900[2] Electorate 10,405
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donald Nicol (MP) 3,834 54.2
Liberal John Stirling Ainsworth 3,234 45.8
Majority 600 8.4
Turnout 7,068
Conservative hold Swing

Candidates[]

The local Conservative Association selected 63-year-old Charles Stewart as their candidate to defend the seat. He was a solicitor.[3]

The local Liberal Association selected 59-year-old John Stirling Ainsworth as their candidate to gain the seat. Ainsworth contested the Barrow-in-Furness constituency at the 1886 general election and Argyllshire in 1900. He commanded the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, the Border Regiment from 1898-1902.[4]

Campaign[]

Polling Day was fixed for the 26 August 1903, just 30 days after the previous MP died.

Result[]

The Liberals gained the seat from the Conservatives;

1903 Argyllshire by-election[5] Electorate 10,643
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Stirling Ainsworth 4,326 61.2
Conservative Charles Stewart 2,740 38.8
Majority 1,586 22.4 N/A
Turnout 7,066 66.4
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing

Aftermath[]

At the following General Election the result was;

General election January 1906[6] Electorate 11,216
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Stirling Ainsworth 4,507 59.9
Conservative George Hutchison 3,012 40.1
Majority 1,495 19.8
Turnout 7,519 67.0
Liberal hold Swing

References[]

  1. ^ Who Was Who
  2. ^ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
  3. ^ Who Was Who
  4. ^ Who Was Who
  5. ^ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
  6. ^ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
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