Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)

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Oxford University
Former University constituency
for the House of Commons
1603–1950
Number of memberstwo

Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950. The last two members to represent Oxford University when it was abolished were A. P. Herbert and Arthur Salter.

Boundaries, electorate and electoral system[]

This 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 physical area. Its electorate consisted of the graduates of the University of Oxford. Before 1918 the franchise was restricted to male graduates with a Doctorate or MA degree. Namier and Brooke estimated the number of electors as about 500 in the 1754–1790 period; by 1910, it had risen to 6,500. Following the reforms of 1918, the franchise encompassed all graduates who paid a fee of £1 to join the register. This included around 400 women who had passed examinations which would have entitled them to a degree if they were male.[1]

The constituency returned two Members of Parliament. From 1918, the MPs were elected by the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.

History[]

The university strongly supported the old Tory cause in the 18th century. The original party system endured long after it had become meaningless in almost every other constituency.

After the Hanoverian succession to the British throne the Whigs became dominant in the politics of Cambridge University, the other university represented in Parliament, by using a royal prerogative power to confer doctorates. That power did not exist at Oxford, so the major part of the university electorate remained Tory (and in the first half of the 18th century sometimes Jacobite) in sympathy.

The university also valued its independence from government. In a rare contested general election in 1768 the two candidates with administration ties were defeated.

In the 19th century the university continued to support the right, almost always returning Tory, Conservative or Liberal Unionist candidates. The only exception was William Ewart Gladstone, formerly "the rising hope of the stern unbending Tories". He first represented the university as a Peelite, supporting a former member for the constituency – the sometime Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. Gladstone retained his seat as a Liberal, for a time after 1859. Following Gladstone's defeat, in 1865, subsequent Liberal candidates were rare and they were never successful in winning a seat.

Even after the introduction of proportional representation, in 1918, both members continued to be Conservatives until 1935. Independent members were elected in the last phase of university elections to Parliament, before the constituency was abolished in 1950.

Members of Parliament[]

Sir William Whitelock is named by Rayment as "Sir William Whitelocke" and by Sedgwick as "Sir William Whitlock".

The Roman numerals in brackets after the names of the two members called William Bromley (who were father and son) are included to distinguish them. It is not a method which would have been used by the men themselves.

  • Constituency created (1603)

Parliament of England 1604–1707[]

As there were sometimes significant gaps between Parliaments held in this period, the dates of first assembly and dissolution are given. Where the name of the member has not yet been ascertained, the entry unknown is entered in the table.

Elected Assembled Dissolved First Member Second Member
1604 19 March 1604 9 February 1611 Sir Thomas Crompton Sir Daniel Donne or Dun[2]
1614 5 April 1614 7 June 1614 Sir John Bennet
1620 or 1621 16 January 1621 8 February 1622 Sir Clement Edmondes
1623 or 1624 12 February 1624 27 March 1625 Sir Isaac Wake Sir George Calvert
1625 17 May 1625 12 August 1625 Sir Thomas Edmonds Sir John Danvers
1626 6 February 1626 15 June 1626 Sir Thomas Edmonds[3]
1628 17 March 1628 10 March 1629 Sir Henry Marten
1640 13 April 1640 5 May 1640 Sir Francis Windebanke Sir John Danvers[4]
1640 3 November 1640 5 December 1648 John Selden Sir Thomas Roe
6 December 1648 a 20 April 1653 b unknown
1653 c 4 July 1653 12 December 1653 unrepresented in Barebones Parliament
1654 d 3 September 1654 22 January 1655 Dr John Owen
1656 e 17 September 1656 4 February 1658 Nathaniel Fiennes
1658 or 1659 27 January 1659 22 April 1659 Matthew Hale John Mylles
N/A f 7 May 1659 20 February 1660 unknown unknown
21 February 1660 16 March 1660
12 April 1660 25 April 1660 29 December 1660 Thomas Clayton John Mylles
1 April 1661 8 May 1661 24 January 1679 Laurence Hyde Sir Heneage Finch, Bt
16 January 1674 Thomas Thynne
27 February 1679 6 March 1679 12 July 1679 Heneage Finch
19 August 1679 21 October 1680 18 January 1681 Sir Leoline Jenkins Charles Perrot
1681 21 March 1681 28 March 1681
1685 19 May 1685 2 June 1687
23 November 1685 George Clarke
7 January 1689 22 January 1689 6 February 1690 Heneage Finch Sir Thomas Clargesg
1690 20 March 1690 11 October 1695
21 October 1695 22 November 1695 6 July 1698 Sir William Trumbull
23 July 1698 24 August 1698 19 December 1700 Sir Christopher Musgrave, Bt Sir William Glynne, Bt
3 January 1701 6 February 1701 11 November 1701 Heneage Finch
21 March 1701 William Bromley (I)
1701 30 December 1701 2 July 1702
1702 20 August 1702 5 April 1705
22 November 1703 Sir William Whitelock
1705 14 June 1705 1707 h

Notes:-

  • a Date of Pride's Purge, which converted the Long Parliament into the Rump Parliament.
  • b Date when Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament by force.
  • c Date when the members of the nominated or Barebones Parliament were selected. The university was not represented in this body.
  • d Date when the members of the First Protectorate Parliament were elected. The university was represented by one member in this body.
  • e Date when the members of the Second Protectorate Parliament were elected. The university was represented by one member in this body.
  • f The Rump Parliament was recalled and subsequently Pride's Purge was reversed, allowing the full Long Parliament to meet until it agreed to dissolve itself.
  • g Clarges died on 4 October 1695, so the seat was vacant at the dissolution of 11 October 1695.
  • h The MPs of the last Parliament of England and 45 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Scotland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of Great Britain which assembled on 23 October 1707 (see below for the members in that Parliament).

Parliaments of Great Britain 1707–1800 and of the United Kingdom 1801–1950[]

Year First member First party Second member Second party
1707 Sir William Whitelock Tory William Bromley [I] 1 Tory
1717 George Clarke Tory
Viscount Cornbury Tory
William Bromley (II) Tory
Tory
Tory
Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt Tory
Sir Walter Bagot, Bt Tory
Sir William Dolben, Bt Tory
1768 Francis Page Tory[5]
1780 Sir William Dolben, Bt Tory[5]
Sir William Scott Tory[5]
1806 Charles Abbot 2 Tory[5]
Robert Peel Tory[5]
Richard Heber Tory[5]
Thomas Grimston Estcourt 3 Tory[5]
Sir Robert Inglis, Bt 3 Tory[5]
1834 Conservative[5] Conservative[5]
1847 William Ewart Gladstone 4 Peelite
Sir William Heathcote, Bt Conservative
Liberal
1865 Gathorne Hardy Conservative
1868 Sir John Mowbray, Bt Conservative
1878 John Gilbert Talbot Conservative
Sir William Anson 5 Liberal Unionist
1910 Lord Hugh Cecil 6 Conservative
1912 Conservative
1914 Rowland Prothero Conservative
1918 Coalition Conservative Coalition Conservative
1919 Sir Charles Oman Coalition Conservative
1922 Conservative Conservative
1935 Sir A. P. Herbert Independent
1937 Sir Arthur Salter Independent
  • Constituency abolished (1950)

Notes:-

  • 1 Bromley had represented the university since a by-election in March 1701. He was Speaker of the House of Commons 1710–1713.
  • 2 Abbot was Speaker of the House of Commons 1802–1817.
  • 3 Estcourt and Inglis are regarded as Conservative MPs from 1835, as this was the approximate date when the Tory Party became known as the Conservative Party.
  • 4 Gladstone accepted office in a Liberal ministry in 1859, thus vacating the seat he had held (as a Peelite MP – more formally a Liberal Conservative). He was re-elected as a Liberal candidate.
  • 5 Anson became a Conservative MP when the Liberal Unionists formally merged with the Conservatives in 1912.
  • 6 Cecil joined the non-Coalition wing of his party at some point during the 1918–1922 Parliament.

Elections[]

1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s – 1890s – 1900s – 1910s – 1920s – 1930s – 1940s

Elections in the 1710s[]

General election 24 January 1715: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Whitelock Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory William Bromley (I) Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 4 December 1717: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1720s[]

General election 22 March 1722: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Bromley (I) 337 43.54 N/A
Tory George Clarke 278 35.92 N/A
Tory William King 159 20.54 N/A
Turnout 774 N/A N/A
  • Note (1722): Stooks Smith records the votes as Bromley 278, Clarke 213 and King 142.
General election 18 August 1727: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Bromley (I) Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1730s[]

  • Death of Bromley
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Henry Hyde Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 26 April 1734: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Henry Hyde Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory George Clarke Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Clarke
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Bromley (II) 329 73.11 N/A
Whig 121 26.89 N/A
Majority 208 46.22 N/A
Turnout 450 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Bromley
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory 214 76.98 N/A
Tory 64 23.02 N/A
Majority 150 53.96 +7.74
Turnout 278 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1740s[]

General election 26 April 1741: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Henry Hyde Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Butler
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 27 June 1747: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Henry Hyde Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1750s[]

: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate 184 48.81 N/A
Tory 126 33.42 N/A
Tory 67 17.77 N/A
Majority 58 15.38 N/A
Turnout 377 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1751): Stooks Smith records Turner's vote as 47.
General election 15 April 1754: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1760s[]

General election 27 March 1761: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Palmer
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Walter Bagot Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Bagot
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 23 March 1768: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate 352 38.77 N/A
Tory Francis Page 296 32.80 N/A
Non Partisan Charles Jenkinson 198 21.81 N/A
Non Partisan George Hay 62 6.83 N/A
Turnout 908 (493 voted) N/A N/A

Elections in the 1770s[]

General election 11 October 1774: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Roger Newdigate Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1780s[]

General election 11 September 1780: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1 April 1784: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1790s[]

General election 1790: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1796: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Francis Page Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1800s[]

  • Resignation of Page
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 1802: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Dolben Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1806: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott 651 48.95 N/A
Tory Charles Abbot 404 30.38 N/A
Tory Richard Heber 275 20.68 N/A
Turnout 1,330 N/A N/A
General election 1807: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Charles Abbot Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1810s[]

General election 1812: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Charles Abbot Unopposed N/A N/A
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 1818: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1820s[]

General election 1820: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Scott Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Creation of Scott as the 1st Lord Stowell
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Heber 612 54.11 N/A
Tory J. Nicholl 519 45.89 N/A
Majority 93 8.22 N/A
Turnout 1,131 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Seat vacated on the appointment of Peel as Secretary of State for the Home Department
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Resignation of Heber
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
General election 1826: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Seat vacated on the appointment of Peel as Secretary of State for the Home Department
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Peel Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Resignation of Peel
: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Robert Inglis 755 55.35 N/A
Tory Robert Peel 609 44.65 N/A
Majority 146 10.70 N/A
Turnout 1,354 N/A N/A
Tory hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1829): Stooks Smith records that the polls were open for three days.

Elections in the 1830s[]

General election 1830: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Tory Robert Inglis Unopposed
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1831: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Tory Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,524
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 12 December 1832: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Tory Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,496
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 8 January 1835: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Conservative Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,496
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 25 July 1837: Oxford University (2 seats)[5][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Conservative Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,496
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1840s[]

General election 29 June 1841: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Grimston Estcourt Unopposed
Conservative Robert Inglis Unopposed
Registered electors 2,496
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
  • Note (1841): McCalmont classifies Inglis as a Peelite candidate, at this election.
General election August 1847: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Inglis 1,700 48.3 N/A
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone 997 28.3 New
Conservative Charles Gray Round 824 23.4 N/A
Turnout 1,851 56.1 N/A
Registered electors 3,300
Majority 703 20.0 N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Majority 173 4.9 N/A
Peelite gain from Conservative Swing N/A
  • Note (1847): Poll 5 days. (Source for this note and the number of voters: Stooks Smith). McCalmont classifies Inglis as a Peelite and Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.

Elections in the 1850s[]

General election July 1852: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Inglis 1,369 42.3 −6.0
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone 1,108 34.3 +6.0
Conservative Robert Bullock Marsham[8] 758 23.4 —
Turnout 1,618 (est) 46.6 (est) −9.5
Registered electors 3,474
Majority 261 8.1 −11.9
Conservative hold Swing −6.0
Majority 350 10.8 +5.9
Peelite hold Swing +6.0
  • Note (1852): 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. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.
  • Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer
: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone 1,022 53.2 +18.9
Conservative Dudley Montagu Perceval[9] 898 46.8 −18.9
Majority 124 6.4 −4.4
Turnout 1,920 57.2 +10.6
Registered electors 3,357
Peelite hold Swing +18.9
  • Resignation of Inglis.
: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Heathcote Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 27 March 1857: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed
Conservative William Heathcote Unopposed
Registered electors 3,538
Peelite hold
Conservative hold
: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed
Peelite hold
General election 29 April 1859: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ewart Gladstone Unopposed
Conservative William Heathcote Unopposed
Registered electors 3,623
Liberal hold
Conservative hold
  • Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal candidate, at this election.
: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ewart Gladstone 1,050 55.0 N/A
Conservative Richard Temple-Grenville 859 45.0 N/A
Majority 191 10.0 N/A
Turnout 1,909 52.7 N/A
Registered electors 3,623
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1860s[]

General election 18 July 1865: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Heathcote 3,236 47.1 N/A
Conservative Gathorne Hardy 1,904 27.7 N/A
Liberal William Ewart Gladstone 1,724 25.1 N/A
Majority 180 2.6 N/A
Turnout 3,432 (est) 91.4 (est) N/A
Registered electors 3,755
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
  • Note (1865): Turnout estimated in the same way as for the 1852 election.
  • Seat vacated on the appointment of Hardy as President of the Poor Law Board
: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative hold
  • Seat vacated on the appointment of Hardy as Secretary of State for the Home Department
: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 18 November 1868: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Registered electors 4,190
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1870s[]

General election 31 January 1874: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Registered electors 4,659
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
By-Election 14 March 1874: Oxford University[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gathorne Hardy Unopposed
Conservative hold
1878 Oxford University by-election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot 2,687 73.1 N/A
Liberal Henry John Stephen Smith[10] 989 26.9 New
Majority 1,698 46.2 N/A
Turnout 3,676 73.1 N/A
Registered electors 5,026
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s[]

General election April 1880: Oxford University (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Registered electors 5,033
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 24 November 1885: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 2 July 1886: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s[]

General election July 1892: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 13 July 1895: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mowbray Unopposed
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
  • Death of Mowbray
: Oxford University[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold

Elections in the 1900s[]

General election 1 October 1900: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Conservative hold
Liberal Unionist hold
General election 13 January 1906: Oxford University (2 seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Gilbert Talbot Unopposed
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Conservative hold
Liberal Unionist hold

Elections in the 1910s[]

General election 15 January 1910: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Conservative Hugh Cecil Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold
Conservative hold
General election December 1910: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist William Anson Unopposed
Conservative Hugh Cecil Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold
Conservative hold
  • Anson became a Conservative MP in 1912 when the Liberal Unionist Party formally merged with the Conservative Party.
  • Death of Anson
By-Election 30 June 1914: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rowland Prothero Unopposed
Unionist hold
General Election 1918: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
C Unionist Hugh Cecil 49.80 2,771  
C Unionist Rowland Prothero 30.84 1,716 2,546
Liberal Gilbert Murray 13.34 742 812
Labour Henry Sanderson Furniss 6.02 335 351
Electorate: 7,907   Valid: 5,564   Quota: 1,855   Turnout: 70.37%
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
  • Creation of Prothero as 1st Lord Ernle
By-Election 19–24 March 1919: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Charles Oman 2,613 52.52 -28.08
Liberal Gilbert Murray 1,330 26.73 +13.39
Independent J. A. L. Riley 1,032 20.74 New
Majority 1,283 25.79 N/A
Turnout 4,975 62.92 N/A
Registered electors 7,907
Unionist hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s[]

General Election 1922: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Unionist Hugh Cecil 56.40 3,185  
Unionist Charles Oman 18.03 1,018 2,170
Liberal Gilbert Murray 25.57 1,444 1,594
Electorate: 9,374   Valid: 5,647   Quota: 1,883   Turnout: 60.24%
General Election 1923: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Unionist Hugh Cecil 43.77 3,560  
Unionist Charles Oman 27.12 2,206 2,950
Liberal Gilbert Murray 29.11 2,368 2,472
Electorate: 10,814   Valid: 8,134   Quota: 2,712   Turnout: 75.22%
General Election 1924: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Unionist Hugh Cecil 49.65 4,320  
Unionist Charles Oman 19.97 1,738 2,968
Liberal Gilbert Murray 30.38 2,643 2,832
Electorate: 10,773   Valid: 8,701   Quota: 2,901   Turnout: 80.77%
General Election 1929: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Unionist Hugh Cecil 52.45 6,012  
Unionist Charles Oman 18.97 2,174 4,112
Liberal Gilbert Murray 28.59 3,277 3,529
Electorate: 15,770   Valid: 11,463   Quota: 3,822   Turnout: 72.69%

Elections in the 1930s[]

General election 1931: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Cecil Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative Charles Oman Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 1935: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Conservative Hugh Cecil 48.32 7,365    
Independent A. P. Herbert 22.24 3,390 3,864 5,206
Conservative C. R. M. F. Cruttwell 11.83 1,803 3,520 3,697
Labour J. L. Stocks 17.60 2,683 2,776 eliminated
Electorate: 22,413   Valid: 15,241   Quota: 5,081   Turnout: 68.00
  • Resignation of Cecil
By-Election 23≠27 February 1937: Oxford University
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Arthur Salter 7,580 50.18 New
Conservative Farquhar Buzzard 3,917 25.93 N/A
Ind. Conservative Frederick Lindemann 3,608 23.89 New
Majority 3,663 24.25 N/A
Turnout 15,105 62.68 N/A
Registered electors 24,021
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Elections in the 1940s[]

General election 1945: Oxford University (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Arthur Salter 6,771 44.19 N/A
Independent A. P. Herbert 5,136 33.52 +11.28
Labour G. D. H. Cole 3,414 22.28 +4.68
Majority 1,722 5.23
Turnout 15,321 53.08 −14.92
Registered electors 28,865
Quota 5,108
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
  • As two candidates achieved the quota only one count was necessary
  • Constituency abolished (1950)

References[]

  1. ^ "The Universities and Labour", Manchester Guardian, 6 December 1918
  2. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  3. ^ J. Palmer, A Biographical History of England (1824), 86.
  4. ^ s:Danvers, John (DNB00)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 7–9.
  6. ^ a b Fisher, David R. "Oxford University". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) |format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  8. ^ "Oxford". Berkshire Chronicle. 17 July 1852. p. 4. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Mr. Dudley Perceval". Morning Chronicle. 29 January 1853. p. 3. Retrieved 14 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Representation of Oxford University". Bury and Norwich Post. 14 May 1878. p. 8. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.

Bibliography[]

  • 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)
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"
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