1903 Argyllshire by-election
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;
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/28/Sir_John_Ainsworth%2C_1st_Baronet.jpg/220px-Sir_John_Ainsworth%2C_1st_Baronet.jpg)
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;
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;
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[]
- 1903 in Scotland
- 1900s elections in Scotland
- 1903 elections in the United Kingdom
- By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Scottish constituencies
- Politics of Argyll and Bute