Waterford City (UK Parliament constituency)

In this article, we will explore the fascinating history of Waterford City (UK Parliament constituency), a topic that has captured the attention of countless people over the years. Waterford City (UK Parliament constituency) has been the subject of debate, study and speculation, and its impact on society has been profound and lasting. From the earliest historical records to the present day, Waterford City (UK Parliament constituency) has played a critical role in shaping culture, politics, and the way we understand the world around us. Throughout these pages, we will delve into the rich and diverse history of Waterford City (UK Parliament constituency), exploring its origins, evolution, and its relevance in the modern world.

Waterford City
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyCounty Waterford
BoroughWaterford
1801–1922
Seats
  • 1 (1801–1832)
  • 2 (1832–1885)
  • 1 (1885–1922)
Created fromWaterford City (IHC)
Replaced byWaterford–Tipperary East

Waterford City was a United Kingdom parliamentary constituency, in southeast Ireland.[1]

Boundaries and boundary changes

As the constituency for the parliamentary borough of Waterford in County Waterford, it returned one MP from 1801 to 1832, two from 1832 to 1885 and one from 1885 to 1922.[2] It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801.[3]

In 1918, the boundary was redefined to exclude the Kilculliheen area which had been transferred to County Kilkenny[4] under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 (61 & 62 Vict. c. 37).[5] It was defined as consisting of the county borough of Waterford and the district electoral divisions of Ballynakill, Kilbarry, Killoteran and Waterford Rural in the rural district of Waterford.

Following the dissolution of parliament in 1922 the area was no longer represented in the United Kingdom House of Commons.[6]

Politics

The constituency was a predominantly Nationalist area in 1918.[7] The seat was contested by William Redmond, the son of the IPP leader John Redmond whom he replaced in the Waterford City constituency in a by-election held in March 1918.[8] In the general election of December 1918, it was the only Irish seat the IPP won outside Ulster.[9]

The First Dáil

Sinn Féin contested the general election of 1918 on the platform that instead of taking up any seats they won in the United Kingdom Parliament, they would establish a revolutionary assembly in Dublin.[10] In republican theory every MP elected in Ireland was a potential Deputy to this assembly. In practice only the Sinn Féin members accepted the offer.

The revolutionary First Dáil assembled on 21 January 1919 and last met on 10 May 1921.[11] The First Dáil, according to a resolution passed on 10 May 1921, was formally dissolved on the assembling of the Second Dáil. This took place on 16 August 1921.

In 1921 Sinn Féin used the UK authorised elections for the Northern Ireland House of Commons and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland as a poll for the Irish Republic's Second Dáil. This area was part of the five-seat Dáil constituency of Waterford–Tipperary East.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1801–32

Election Member Party Life
1801 William Congreve Alcock Tory[12] c. 1771–1813
1803 Sir John Newport, Bt.[13] Whig[12] 1756–1843

MPs 1832–85

Representation increased to two members

Election 1st Member 1st Party 2nd Member 2nd Party
1832 Henry Barron Repeal Association[14] William Christmas Tory[12][14]
1834 Conservative[12][14]
1835 Thomas Wyse Whig[12][15][16]
1841 William Christmas Conservative[12][14] William Morris Reade Conservative[12][14]
1841 Henry Barron Whig[12][15][16] Thomas Wyse Whig[12][15][16]
1847 Thomas Meagher Repeal Association[14] Daniel O'Connell Jnr Repeal Association[14]
1848 by-election Henry Barron Whig[12][15][16]
1852 Ind. Irish[14] Robert Keating Ind. Irish[14]
1857 John Aloysius Blake Ind. Irish[14] Michael D. Hassard Conservative[14]
1859 Liberal[14]
1865 Henry Barron Liberal[14]
1868 James Delahunty Liberal[14]
1869 Henry Barron Liberal[14]
1870 by-election Ralph Bernal Osborne Liberal[14]
1874 Richard Power Home Rule League[14] Purcell O'Gorman Home Rule League[14]
1880 Edmund Leamy Parnellite Home Rule League[14]
1882 Irish Parliamentary Party[14] Irish Parliamentary Party[14]
1885 Reduced to 1 seat

MPs 1885–1918

Representation reduced to one member

Election Member Party
1885 Richard Power Nationalist
1890 Parnellite
1892 by-election John Redmond Parnellite
1900 Nationalist
1918 by-election William Redmond Nationalist
1922 UK constituency abolished

Elections

The single-member elections in this constituency took place using the first past the post electoral system. Multi-member elections used the plurality-at-large voting system.[17]

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Waterford City[14][12][18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig John Newport Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1831: Waterford City[14][12][18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig John Newport Unopposed
Registered electors 1,300
Whig hold
General election 1832: Waterford City (2 seats)[14][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Irish Repeal Henry Barron 570 28.9
Tory William Christmas 570 28.9
Irish Repeal Roger Hayes 453 23.0
Whig Thomas Wyse 379 19.2
Turnout 1,140 91.9
Registered electors 1,241
Majority 191 9.7
Irish Repeal gain from Whig
Majority 117 5.9
Tory win (new seat)
General election 1835: Waterford City (2 seats)[14][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Thomas Wyse 587 34.2 +15.0
Irish Repeal (Whig) Henry Barron 561 32.7 −19.2
Conservative William Christmas 440 25.6 +11.2
Conservative William Morris Reade 129 7.5 −7.0
Turnout 965 65.5 −26.4
Registered electors 1,473
Majority 147 8.6 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +6.5
Majority 121 7.1 −2.6
Irish Repeal hold Swing −10.7
General election 1837: Waterford City (2 seats)[14][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Thomas Wyse 632 31.5 −2.7
Irish Repeal (Whig) Henry Barron 602 30.0 −2.7
Conservative William Beresford 427 21.3 −4.3
Conservative John Tracy O'Reilly 347 17.3 +9.8
Turnout 1,035 69.7 +4.2
Registered electors 1,486
Majority 30 1.5 −7.1
Whig hold Swing −2.7
Majority 175 8.7 +1.6
Irish Repeal hold Swing −2.7

Wyse was appointed as a Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 6 September 1839: Waterford City[14][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Thomas Wyse Unopposed
Whig hold

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Christmas 285 30.2 +8.9
Conservative William Morris Reade 259 27.4 +10.1
Whig Henry Barron 202 21.4 −10.1
Whig Thomas Wyse 199 21.1 −8.9
Majority 57 6.0 N/A
Turnout c. 473 c. 59.0 c. −10.7
Registered electors 802
Conservative gain from Irish Repeal Swing +8.9
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +10.1

On petition, Christmas and Reade were unseated and Wyse and Barron were declared elected on 13 June 1842.

General election 1847: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Repeal Thomas Meagher 521 33.3 New
Irish Repeal Daniel O'Connell Jr. 499 31.9 New
Whig Henry Barron 294 18.8 −2.6
Whig Thomas Wyse 252 16.1 −5.0
Majority 205 13.1 N/A
Turnout 783 (est) 46.2 (est) −12.8
Registered electors 1,696
Irish Repeal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Irish Repeal gain from Conservative Swing N/A

O'Connell resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

By-election, 1 March 1848: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Henry Barron 318 41.1 +6.2
Irish Repeal Patrick Costello 301 38.9 −26.3
Irish Confederate Thomas Francis Meagher 154 19.9 New
Majority 17 2.2 N/A
Turnout 773 45.6 (est) −0.6
Registered electors 1,696 (1847 figure)
Whig gain from Irish Repeal Swing +16.3

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Irish Thomas Meagher 463 29.5 −3.8
Independent Irish Robert Keating 445 28.3 −3.6
Conservative William Christmas 355 22.6 New
Whig Henry Barron 309 19.7 −15.2
Majority 90 5.7 N/A
Turnout 786 (est) 69.3 (est) +27.1
Registered electors 1,135
Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal Swing +1.9
Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal Swing +2.0
General election 1857: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Irish John Aloysius Blake 519 33.1 −24.7
Conservative Michael D. Hassard 479 30.5 +7.9
Whig Henry Barron 330 21.0 +1.3
Radical Andrew O'Dwyer[19][20] 242 15.4 New
Turnout 785 (est) 67.7 (est) −1.6
Registered electors 1,160
Majority 40 2.6 −3.1
Independent Irish hold Swing −16.3
Majority 149 9.5 N/A
Conservative gain from Independent Irish Swing +16.3
General election 1859: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael D. Hassard 536 35.3 +4.8
Liberal John Aloysius Blake 529 34.8 +1.7
Liberal Henry Barron 455 29.9 +8.9
Majority 7 0.5 −9.0
Turnout 760 (est) 67.0 (est) −0.7
Registered electors 1,134
Conservative hold Swing −2.9
Liberal hold Swing −0.4

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Aloysius Blake 592 40.8 +6.0
Liberal Henry Barron 516 35.5 +5.6
Liberal John Barrington 344 23.7 N/A
Majority 172 11.8 N/A
Turnout 726 (est) 62.8 (est) −4.2
Registered electors 1,156
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General election 1868: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Aloysius Blake 796 44.0 +3.2
Liberal James Delahunty 583 32.2 N/A
Liberal Henry Barron 430 23.8 +0.1
Majority 153 8.4 −3.4
Turnout 905 (est) 65.4 (est) +2.6
Registered electors 1,383
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Blake resigned after he was appointed inspector of Irish fisheries, causing a by-election.

By-election, 22 November 1869: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Barron 487 50.8 +27.0
Liberal Ralph Bernal Osborne 471 49.2 N/A
Majority 16 1.6 −6.8
Turnout 958 69.3 +3.9
Registered electors 1,383
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1870s

Barron was unseated on petition, causing a by-election.

By-election, 25 Feb 1870: Waterford City (1 seat)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ralph Bernal Osborne 483 50.4 N/A
Ind. Nationalist Patrick Joseph Smyth 475 49.6 New
Majority 8 0.8 −0.8
Turnout 958 69.3 0.0
Registered electors 1,383
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General election 1874: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Home Rule Richard Power 526 27.8 New
Home Rule Purcell O'Gorman 480 25.4 New
Conservative Edward Gibson 365 19.3 New
Home Rule James Delahunty 360 19.0 New
Liberal Ralph Bernal Osborne 160 8.5 N/A
Majority 115 6.1 N/A
Turnout 1,208 (est) 87.7 (est) +22.3
Registered electors 1,378
Home Rule gain from Liberal Swing N/A
Home Rule gain from Liberal Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Waterford City (2 seats)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Home Rule Richard Power 661 42.0 +14.2
Parnellite Home Rule League Edmund Leamy 494 31.4 +12.4
Home Rule Purcell O'Gorman 420 26.7 +1.3
Majority 74 4.6 −1.5
Turnout 788 (est) 54.3 (est) −33.4
Registered electors 1,449
Home Rule hold Swing N/A
Home Rule hold Swing N/A
1885 general election: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Richard Power 2,420 89.8 N/A
Irish Conservative Fitzmaurice Gustavus Bloomfield 276 10.2 New
Majority 2,144 79.6 N/A
Turnout 2,696 68.3 +14.0 (est)
Registered electors 3,946
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing N/A
1886 general election: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Richard Power Unopposed
Registered electors 3,946
Irish Parliamentary hold

Elections in the 1890s

Power died, causing a by-election.

By-election 1891: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish National League John Redmond 1,775 59.1 N/A
Irish National Federation Michael Davitt 1,229 40.9 N/A
Majority 546 18.2 N/A
Turnout 3,004 74.2 N/A
Registered electors 4,046
Irish National League gain from Irish Parliamentary Swing N/A
1892 general election: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish National League John Redmond 1,676 56.4 N/A
Irish National Federation David Sheehy 1,293 43.6 N/A
Majority 383 12.8 N/A
Turnout 2,969 74.7 N/A
Registered electors 3,974
Irish National League gain from Irish Parliamentary Swing N/A
1895 general election: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish National League John Redmond 1,788 59.3 +2.9
Irish National Federation Thomas Joseph Farrell 1,229 40.7 −2.9
Majority 559 18.6 +5.8
Turnout 3,017 76.8 +2.1
Registered electors 3,927
Irish National League hold Swing +2.9

Elections in the 1900s

1900 general election: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary John Redmond Unopposed
Registered electors 3,941
Irish Parliamentary hold
1906 general election: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary John Redmond Unopposed
Registered electors 3,354
Irish Parliamentary hold

Elections in the 1910s

January 1910 general election: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary John Redmond Unopposed
Registered electors 3,104
Irish Parliamentary hold
December 1910 general election: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary John Redmond Unopposed
Registered electors 3,104
Irish Parliamentary hold
By-election, 1918: Waterford City[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary William Redmond 1,242 62.5 N/A
Sinn Féin Vincent White 745 37.5 New
Majority 497 25.0 N/A
Turnout 1,987 66.9 N/A
Registered electors 2,972
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing N/A
General Election 14 December 1918: Waterford City
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary William Redmond 4,915 52.6 N/A
Sinn Féin Vincent White 4,431 47.4 N/A
Majority 484 5.2 N/A
Turnout 9,346 77.5 N/A
Registered electors 12,063
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing N/A

See also

References

  1. ^ "Waterford City is..." Ireland.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  2. ^ Higgs, Elizabeth Anne. "'THE NATURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF LIBERAL PROTESTANTISM IN WATERFORD, 1800-42'" (PDF). Maynooth University.
  3. ^ "Act of Union | United Kingdom ". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Lá na mBan 1918 – An Irishwoman's Diary on Kilkenny's protest against conscription". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  5. ^ Board, Ireland Local Government (1905). Annual Report of the Local Government Board for Ireland for the Year ...: Being the ... Report Under "The Local Government Board (Ireland) Act, 1872", 35 & 36 Vic., C. 69 ... H.M. Stationery Office.
  6. ^ "British Withdrawl [sic] (1922) – General Michael Collins". generalmichaelcollins.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  7. ^ "The Irish General Election of 1918". ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  8. ^ Jonathan Githens-Mazer, Myths and Memories of the Easter Rising, Cultural and Political Nationalism in Ireland, (Dublin and Portland, OR: Irish Academic Press, 2006), 202
  9. ^ Brian, Walker, ed, Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922, (Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1978), 187–191
  10. ^ Correspondant, our Irish (16 December 1918). "The Sinn Fein tide". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  11. ^ "The First Dáil". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 242. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  13. ^ On petition Alcock was unseated and Newport was declared elected, 7 December 1803.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. pp. 241, 317–318, 378. ISBN 0901714127.
  15. ^ a b c d "General Election". Coventry Herald. 16 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 14 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ a b c d "Election Intelligence". Berkshire Chronicle. 14 August 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 14 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ Kelleher, Jason. "Irish Political Maps: Referendum 1959: "First Past The Post" electoral system". Irish Political Maps. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  18. ^ a b Salmon, Philip. "Waterford". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Waterford News". 10 April 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 14 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "City of Waterford". Dublin Daily Express. 2 April 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 14 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

  • GITHENS-MAZER, Jonathan. Myths and Memories of the Easter Rising, Cultural and Political Nationalism in Ireland. Dublin and Portland, OR: Irish Academic Press, 2006, 238p.
  • 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)
  • Walker, Brian M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Royal Irish Academy.
  • Stenton, M.; Lees, S., eds. (1978). Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume II 1886–1918. The Harvester Press.
  • Stenton, M.; Lees, S., eds. (1979). 'Who's Who of British members of parliament: Volume III 1919–1945. The Harvester Press.
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
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