Canterbury is a county constituency which has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...

 since 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

A parliamentary borough

Parliamentary borough

Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...

 of the same name existed from 1295 to 1918, electing two MPs until 1885, and then one until 1918.

Boundaries

Canterbury constituency comprises the larger part of the City of Canterbury

City of Canterbury

The City of Canterbury is a local government district with city status in Kent, England. The main settlement in the district is Canterbury, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.-History:...

 District, containing the City and surrounding villages, together with the coastal town of Whitstable

Whitstable

Whitstable is a seaside town in Northeast Kent, Southeast England. It is approximately north of the city of Canterbury and approximately west of the seaside town of Herne Bay. It is part of the City of Canterbury district and has a population of about 30,000.Whitstable is famous for its oysters,...

, but excluding the town of Herne Bay

Herne Bay, Kent

Herne Bay is a seaside town in Kent, South East England, with a population of 35,188. On the south coast of the Thames Estuary, it is north of Canterbury and east of Whitstable. It neighbours the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver and is part of the City of Canterbury local government district...

 which is in the North Thanet constituency.

Boundary review

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Kent

Kent

Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...

, the Boundary Commission for England has made major changes to the existing constituencies to deal with population changes across the county.

The modified Canterbury constituency is formed from the following electoral wards from within the city of Canterbury;

• Barham Downs, Barton, Blean Forest, Chartham and Stone Street, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, Gorrell, Harbledown, Harbour, Little Stour, North Nailbourne, Northgate, St Stephens, Seasalter, Sturry North, Sturry South, Tankerton, Westgate, and Wincheap. From 2013 it is proposed that the constituency boundaries will face further changes, absorbing six wards of the current Faversham and Mid Kent Constituency which will be abolished. This will include the town of Faversham
  Faversham
  Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. The parish of Faversham grew up around an ancient sea port on Faversham Creek and was the birthplace of the explosives industry in England.-History:...
  
   itself. All six wards lie within the Borough of Swale
  Swale
  Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The borough is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, a channel that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the...
  
  .

MPs 1295–1660

Parliament	First member	Second member
1386	Thomas Holt	John Symme
1388 (Feb)	John Mendham	William Ellis
1388 (Sep)	John Creking	John Wimpole
1390 (Jan)	Henry Lincol	Thomas Ickham
1390 (Nov)
1391	Edmund Horne	John Proude
1393	John Sexton	Richard Gervays
1394	John Proude	Robert Farthing
1395	William Ellis	Thomas Ickham
1397 (Jan)	Richard Gervays	John Sexton
1397 (Sep)	Edmund Horne	Robert Farthing
1399	John Sheldwich I	Thomas Lane
1401	Thomas Ickham	John Pirie
1402	John Sheldwich I	Robert Cooper
1404 (Jan)	Thomas Chisshe	John Sexton
1404 (Oct)	John Umfray	John Haute
1406	Edmund Horne	Richard Water
1407	John Sexton	Richard Water
1410	Thomas Lane	Henry Lynde
1411	William Ickham	William Rose
1413 (Feb)	William Lane	John Sheldwich II
1413 (May)	Thomas Lane	William Emery
1414 (Apr)	Richard Water	John Sheldwich II
1414 (Nov)	Thomas Lane	John Sheldwich II
1415	John Sheldwich II
1416 (Mar)	Henry Lynde	John Sheldwich II
1416 (Oct)	William Ickham	William Benet
1417	John Sheldwich II	Henry Lynde
1419	John Monyn	John Sheldwich II
1420	William Benet	William Ickham
1421 (May)	John Sheldwich II	William Lane
1421 (Dec)	Thomas Langdon	Thomas Norman
1510	William Crump	Thomas Atwode
1512	Thomas Wainfleet	John Hales
1515	Thomas Atwode	John Hales
1523	Christopher Hales	John Bridges
1529	Thomas Atwode, died and repl. by Feb 1535 by Robert Darknall	John Bridges
1536	Robert Darknall	John Bridges
1539	John Starkey	Robert Lewis
1542	Robert Darknall	Walter Hendley
1545	Robert Lewis	?
1547	Robert Darknall	Thomas Hales
1553 (Mar)	Robert Darknall	George Webbe
1553 (Oct)	John Twyne	William Coppyn
1554 (Apr)	John Twyne	William Coppyn
1554 (Nov)	Nicholas Fish	Richard Railton
1558	Sir Henry Crispe	William Roper
1558/9	Sir Thomas Finch	George Maye
1562/3	William Lovelace	Robert Alcock
1571	William Lovelace	Robert Alcock
1572	Anthony Webbe, died and repl. 1582 by Sir George Carey	William Lovelace, died and repl. 1578 by ?
1584	Simon Brome	John Rose
1586	Simon Brome	John Rose
1588	Simon Brome	Bartholomew Brome
1593	Richard Lee	Sir Henry Finch Henry Finch Sir Henry Finch was an English lawyer and politician, created serjeant-at-law and knighted, and remembered as a legal writer.-Life:He was born the son of Sir Thomas Finch of Eastwell and the brother of Moyle Finch...
1597	John Boys	Sir Henry Finch Henry Finch Sir Henry Finch was an English lawyer and politician, created serjeant-at-law and knighted, and remembered as a legal writer.-Life:He was born the son of Sir Thomas Finch of Eastwell and the brother of Moyle Finch...
1601	John Boys	John Rogers
1604	John Bowes	Matthew Head
1614	George Newman	Sir William Lovelace
1621-1622	John Finch	Sir Robert Newington
1624	Thomas Scot	Thomas Denn
1625	John Fisher	Sir Thomas Wilsford
1626	Sir John Finch	James Palmer
1628-1629	Sir John Finch	Thomas Scott
1629–1640	No Parliaments summoned
1640 (Apr)	Edward Master Edward Master Sir Edward Master was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and to 1679.Master was High Sheriff of Kent in 1639.... s	John Nutt John Nutt (MP) John Nutt was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1653. He fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.Nutt was an alderman of Canterbury and lived at Nackington House at Nackington....
1640 (Nov)	Sir Edward Masters Edward Master Sir Edward Master was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and to 1679.Master was High Sheriff of Kent in 1639....	John Nutt John Nutt (MP) John Nutt was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1653. He fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.Nutt was an alderman of Canterbury and lived at Nackington House at Nackington....
1645	Sir Edward Masters Edward Master Sir Edward Master was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and to 1679.Master was High Sheriff of Kent in 1639....	John Nutt John Nutt (MP) John Nutt was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1653. He fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.Nutt was an alderman of Canterbury and lived at Nackington House at Nackington....
1648	Sir Edward Masters Edward Master Sir Edward Master was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and to 1679.Master was High Sheriff of Kent in 1639....	John Nutt John Nutt (MP) John Nutt was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1653. He fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.Nutt was an alderman of Canterbury and lived at Nackington House at Nackington....
1653	Canterbury not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654	Thomas Scot	Francis Butcher
1656	Thomas St Nicholas	Vincent Denne Vincent Denne Vincent Denne was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654 and from 1681 to 1685.Denne was the son of Thomas Denne, of Canterbury and his wife Susan Honeywood, daughter of Arthur Honeywood of Lenham. He became a sergeant-at-law.In 1656, Denne was elected Member of Parliament ...
1659	Thomas St Nicholas	Robert Gibbon
1659	Sir Edward Masters Edward Master Sir Edward Master was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and to 1679.Master was High Sheriff of Kent in 1639....	John Nutt John Nutt (MP) John Nutt was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1653. He fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.Nutt was an alderman of Canterbury and lived at Nackington House at Nackington....

MPs 1660–1880

Election		First member	Party		Second member	Party
1660		Sir Anthony Aucher			Heneage Finch Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham, PC , Lord Chancellor of England, was descended from the old family of Finch, many of whose members had attained high legal eminence, and was the eldest son of Sir Heneage Finch, recorder of London, by his first wife Frances Bell, daughter of Sir Edmond Bell of...
1661		Francis Lovelace Francis Lovelace Francis Lovelace was an English Royalist and the second Governor of New York colony.He was born the third son of Sir William Lovelace and his wife Anne Barne of Lovelace Place, Bethersden and Woolwich, Kent. He was the younger brother of Richard Lovelace, the Cavalier poet...			Sir Edward Master Edward Master Sir Edward Master was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and to 1679.Master was High Sheriff of Kent in 1639....
1664		Thomas Hardres Thomas Hardres Thomas Hardres was an English barrister and politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Canterbury, Kent from 1664.-Life:He was descended from a family owning the manor of Broad Oak at Hardres, near Canterbury, and was fourth son of Sir Thomas Hardres and Eleanor, sole surviving daughter and...
Feb 1679		Edward Hales Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1679 to 1681...			William Jacob William Jacob (Canterbury MP) William Jacob was an English physician and politician who sat in the House of Commons briefly in 1679.Jacob was a physician at Canterbury and was the subject of a ghost story. In September 1652 he treated a Henry Jacob for gangrene but his patient died and was buried in All Saints Church in...
Aug 1679					Sir Thomas Hardres Thomas Hardres Thomas Hardres was an English barrister and politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Canterbury, Kent from 1664.-Life:He was descended from a family owning the manor of Broad Oak at Hardres, near Canterbury, and was fourth son of Sir Thomas Hardres and Eleanor, sole surviving daughter and...
1681		Lewis Watson Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham was an English peer and politician.Rockingham was the eldest son of Edward Watson, 2nd Baron Rockingham and his wife, the former Lady Anne Wentworth, daughter of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford. In 1677, he married Lady Catherine Sondes, a daughter of...			Vincent Denne Vincent Denne Vincent Denne was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654 and from 1681 to 1685.Denne was the son of Thomas Denne, of Canterbury and his wife Susan Honeywood, daughter of Arthur Honeywood of Lenham. He became a sergeant-at-law.In 1656, Denne was elected Member of Parliament ...
1685		Sir William Honywood, Bt Sir William Honywood, 2nd Baronet Sir William Honywood, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1685 to 1695.Honywood was the son of Sir Edward Honywood, 1st Baronet and his wife Elizabeth Maynard, daughter of Sir John Maynard of Tooting, Surrey. He inherited the baronetcy of Evington on the...			Henry Lee Henry Lee (Canterbury MP) Henry Lee was an English Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1685 and 1715.Lee was the son of Dr John Lee, archdeacon of Rochester. His father took the name of Warner by act of parliament under the terms of the will of his uncle Dr John Warner, Bishop of Rochester...
1695					George Sayer George Sayer (MP) George Sayer was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1695 to 1705.Sayer was the son of Sir John Sayer of Bourchers Hall in Essex and his wife Katherine Van Piershill, daughter of John van Hossen van Piershill of Zealand. His father was page to the Prince of...
1698		Henry Lee Henry Lee (Canterbury MP) Henry Lee was an English Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1685 and 1715.Lee was the son of Dr John Lee, archdeacon of Rochester. His father took the name of Warner by act of parliament under the terms of the will of his uncle Dr John Warner, Bishop of Rochester...
1705					John Hardres John Hardres John Hardres was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England and then the House of Commons of Great Britain in two periods between 1705 and 1722....
1708		Edward Watson			Thomas D'Aeth
1710		John Hardres John Hardres John Hardres was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England and then the House of Commons of Great Britain in two periods between 1705 and 1722....			Henry Lee Henry Lee (Canterbury MP) Henry Lee was an English Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1685 and 1715.Lee was the son of Dr John Lee, archdeacon of Rochester. His father took the name of Warner by act of parliament under the terms of the will of his uncle Dr John Warner, Bishop of Rochester...
1715 British general election, 1715 The British general election of 1715 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 5th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707...					Sir Thomas Hales, Bt Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet , of Beakesbourne and Brymore in Kent, was an English Member of Parliament.Hales was the eldest son of Thomas Hales of Howlets and grandson of Sir Robert Hales, who had been created a baronet at the Restoration. His father having already died, he succeeded to his...
1722 British general election, 1722 The British general election of 1722 elected members to serve in the House of Commons of the 6th Parliament of Great Britain. This event took place following the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election was fiercely fought, with contests taking place...		Samuel Milles Samuel Milles Samuel Milles was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1722 to 1727.Milles was elected Member of Parliament for Canterbury in 1722 and held the seat to 1727....
1727 British general election, 1727 The British general election, 1727 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 7th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election was triggered by the death of George I; at the time elections...		Sir William Hardres, Bt Sir William Hardres, 4th Baronet Sir William Hardres, 4th Baronet of Hardres Court, Kent was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1711 and 1735....
1734 British general election, 1734 The British general election, 1734 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 8th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. Robert Walpole's increasingly unpopular Whig government lost ground to the...					Thomas May
1735		Sir Thomas Hales, Bt Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet , of Beakesbourne and Brymore in Kent, was an English Member of Parliament.Hales was the eldest son of Thomas Hales of Howlets and grandson of Sir Robert Hales, who had been created a baronet at the Restoration. His father having already died, he succeeded to his...
1741 British general election, 1741 The British general election, 1741 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 9th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707...		Thomas Watson Thomas Watson, 3rd Earl of Rockingham Thomas Watson, 3rd Earl of Rockingham was an English nobleman and politician. He served as Member of Parliament for Canterbury from 1741 until 1745 when he succeeded to the earldom. He died the next year at the age of thirty.-Titles from birth to death:*The Hon. Thomas Watson *The Hon. Thomas...			Thomas Best Thomas Best (MP) Thomas Best was an English Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1741 and 1768.Best was the son of Mawdistly Best and his wife Elizabeth Fearne. The family were brewers of Chatham. He was educated at University College, Oxford.In 1741, Best was elected Member of...
1746 by-election		Sir Thomas Hales, Bt Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet , of Beakesbourne and Brymore in Kent, was an English Member of Parliament.Hales was the eldest son of Thomas Hales of Howlets and grandson of Sir Robert Hales, who had been created a baronet at the Restoration. His father having already died, he succeeded to his...
1747 British general election, 1747 The British general election, 1747 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 10th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election saw Henry Pelham's Whig government increase its majority and...		Matthew Robinson-Morris Matthew Robinson, 2nd Baron Rokeby Matthew Robinson, 2nd Baron Rokeby was an English eccentric nobleman who preferred a watery environment to a dry one....
1754 British general election, 1754 The British general election, 1754 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 11th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707....					Sir James Creed James Creed Sir James Creed was an English merchant and politician.Creed was a merchant of London and a director of the Honourable East India Company. He was in business in the manufacture of white lead, for which he obtained a patent in December 1749...
1761 British general election, 1761 The British general election, 1761 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707...		Richard Milles Richard Milles Richard Milles was an English landowner, horticulturalist and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1761 to 1780....			Thomas Best Thomas Best (MP) Thomas Best was an English Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1741 and 1768.Best was the son of Mawdistly Best and his wife Elizabeth Fearne. The family were brewers of Chatham. He was educated at University College, Oxford.In 1741, Best was elected Member of...
1768 British general election, 1768 The British general election, 1768 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:...					William Lynch William Lynch (diplomat) William Lynch was a British diplomat and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1762 and 1774.Lynch was the eldest son of John Lynch, DD Dean of Canterbury and his wife Mary Wake, daughter of William Wake, Archbishop of Canterbury.Lynch was elected Member of Parliament for Weobly in...
1774 British general election, 1774 The British general election, 1774 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 14th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:...					Sir William Mayne William Mayne, 1st Baron Newhaven William Mayne, 1st Baron Newhaven PC , known as Sir William Mayne, Bt, between 1763 and 1776, was a British politician....
1780 British general election, 1780 The British general election, 1780 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Great Britain to be held after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707...		George Gipps George Gipps (MP for Canterbury) George Gipps was an English apothecary, hop merchant, banker and politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain between 1780 and 1796.Gipps was the son of John Gipps, a staymaker of Ashford, and his wife Sarah Flint...			Charles Robinson Charles Robinson (MP) Charles Robinson was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1780 to 1790.Robinson was the son of Matthew Robinson of Edgeley, Yorkshire and his wife Elizabeth Drake. He served in the Royal Navy as a boy but then went into the law. He entered Middle Temple in 1749...
1790 British general election, 1790 The British general election, 1790 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Political Situation:...					Sir John Honywood, Bt
1796 British general election, 1796 The British general election, 1796 returned members to serve in the 18th and last House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain to be held before the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801...		John Baker John Baker (MP for Canterbury) John Baker was an English Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom in 1796 and 1797 and from 1802 to 1818....	Whig		Samuel Elias Sawbridge Samuel Elias Sawbridge Samuel Elias Sawbridge was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain and then of the United Kingdom from 1796 to 1797 and in 1807....	Whig
Election declared void 2 Mar 1797
Mar 1797 by-election		John Baker John Baker (MP for Canterbury) John Baker was an English Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom in 1796 and 1797 and from 1802 to 1818....	Whig		Samuel Elias Sawbridge Samuel Elias Sawbridge Samuel Elias Sawbridge was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain and then of the United Kingdom from 1796 to 1797 and in 1807....	Whig
May 1797		Sir John Honywood, Bt	Tory		George Gipps George Gipps (MP for Canterbury) George Gipps was an English apothecary, hop merchant, banker and politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain between 1780 and 1796.Gipps was the son of John Gipps, a staymaker of Ashford, and his wife Sarah Flint...	Tory
1800 by-election					George Watson George Watson (MP) George Watson was a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Canterbury from 1800 to 1806.He died aged 56.-References:...
1802 United Kingdom general election, 1802 The United Kingdom general election, 1802 was the election to the 2nd Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was the first to be held after the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...		John Baker John Baker (MP for Canterbury) John Baker was an English Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom in 1796 and 1797 and from 1802 to 1818....	Whig
1806 United Kingdom general election, 1806 The United Kingdom general election, 1806 was the election of members to the 3rd Parliament of the United Kingdom. This was the second general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland....					James Simmons
Feb 1807 by-election					Samuel Elias Sawbridge Samuel Elias Sawbridge Samuel Elias Sawbridge was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain and then of the United Kingdom from 1796 to 1797 and in 1807....	Whig
May 1807 United Kingdom general election, 1807 The election to the 4th Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1807 was the third general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland....					Edward Taylor Edward Taylor (MP for Canterbury) Edward Taylor was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1807 to 1812.Taylor was the son of Rev. Edward Taylor of Bifrons, Patrixbourne, Kent and his wife Margaret Payler daughter of Thomas Turner Payler of Ileden, who died at Brussells in 1780...	Whig
1812 United Kingdom general election, 1812 The election to the 5th Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1812 was the fourth general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland....					Stephen Rumbold Lushington Stephen Rumbold Lushington Stephen Rumbold Lushington was an English Tory politician and an administrator in India. He was Governor of Madras from 1827 to 1835....	Tory
1818 United Kingdom general election, 1818 The 1818 general election of the United Kingdom saw the Whigs gain a few seats, but the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool retained a majority of around 90 seats...		Lord Clifton Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley , styled Lord Clifton until 1831, was a British peer and politician.-Background:...	Whig
1830 United Kingdom general election, 1830 The 1830 United Kingdom general election, was triggered by the death of King George IV and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, William IV. Fought in the aftermath of the Swing Riots, it saw electoral reform become a major election issue...		Richard Watson	Whig		Viscount Fordwich George Cowper, 6th Earl Cowper George Augustus Frederick Cowper, 6th Earl Cowper , styled Viscount Fordwich until 1837, was a British Whig politician...	Whig
Jan 1835 United Kingdom general election, 1835 The 1835 United Kingdom general election was called when Parliament was dissolved on 29 December 1834. Polling took place between 6 January and 6 February 1835, and the results saw Robert Peel's Conservatives make large gains from their low of the 1832 election, but the Whigs maintained a large...		Lord Albert Conyngham Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough Albert Denison Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough, KCH, FRS, FSA was a British Liberal Party politician and diplomat, known as Lord Albert Conyngham from 1816-49.-Early life and career:...	Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...		Frederick Villiers Frederick Villiers Meynell Frederick Villiers Meynell , known as Frederick Villiers during his political career, was a British Whig politician....	Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Mar 1835					Stephen Rumbold Lushington Stephen Rumbold Lushington Stephen Rumbold Lushington was an English Tory politician and an administrator in India. He was Governor of Madras from 1827 to 1835....	Liberal Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1837 United Kingdom general election, 1837 The 1837 United Kingdom general election saw Robert Peel's Conservatives close further on the position of the Whigs, who won their fourth election of the decade....					James Bradshaw James Bradshaw (MP) James Bradshaw was a British Tory and later Conservative Party politician. He sat as Member of Parliament for Brackley from 1825 to 1832, for Berwick-upon-Tweed from 1835 to 1837 and for Canterbury from 1837 to 1847....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1841 by-election		George Smythe George Smythe, 7th Viscount Strangford George Smythe, 7th Viscount Strangford , styled The Honourable George Smythe until 1855, was a British Conservative politician, best known for his association with Benjamin Disraeli and the Young England movement...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1847 by-election					Lord Albert Conyngham Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough Albert Denison Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough, KCH, FRS, FSA was a British Liberal Party politician and diplomat, known as Lord Albert Conyngham from 1816-49.-Early life and career:...	Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
1850 by-election					Frederick Romilly Frederick Romilly Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Romilly , was a British Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1850 to 1852 and a cricketer who played for MCC....	Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
1852 United Kingdom general election, 1852 The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising...		Henry Plumptre Gipps Henry Plumptre Gipps Henry Plumptre Gipps was an English lawyer and Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1852 to 1853....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...		Henry Butler-Johnstone Henry Butler-Johnstone Henry Butler-Johnstone was a British Conservative Party politician, born Hon. Henry Butler, a younger son of James Butler, 13th Baron Dunboyne...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1853	Constituency representation suspended
1854 by-election		Charles Manners Lushington Charles Manners Lushington Charles Manners Lushington was an English Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1854 to 1857....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...		Sir William Somerville, Bt William Somerville, 1st Baron Athlumney William Meredyth Somerville, 1st Baron Athlumney PC , known as Sir William Somerville, Bt, between 1831 and 1863, was a British Liberal politician.-Background and education:...	Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
1857 United Kingdom general election, 1857 -Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...		Henry Butler-Johnstone Henry Butler-Johnstone Henry Butler-Johnstone was a British Conservative Party politician, born Hon. Henry Butler, a younger son of James Butler, 13th Baron Dunboyne...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1862 by-election		Henry Munro Butler-Johnstone	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1865 United Kingdom general election, 1865 The 1865 United Kingdom general election saw the Liberals, led by Lord Palmerston, increase their large majority over the Earl of Derby's Conservatives to more than 80. The Whig Party changed its name to the Liberal Party between the previous election and this one.Palmerston died later in the same...					John Walter Huddleston John Walter Huddleston Sir John Walter Huddleston was an English judge, formerly a criminal lawyer who had established an eminent reputation in various causes célèbres....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1868 United Kingdom general election, 1868 The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom...					Theodore Henry Brinckman	Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
1874 United Kingdom general election, 1874 -Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...					Lewis Ashurst Majendie	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1878 by-election		Hon. Alfred Gathorne-Hardy Alfred Gathorne-Hardy Alfred Erskine Gathorne-Hardy , styled The Honourable from 1878, was a British Conservative Member of Parliament....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1879 by-election					Robert Peter Laurie Robert Peter Laurie Robert Peter Laurie was a British Conservative Party politician.-Parliamentary career:Laurie was elected as one of the two Members of Parliament for the parliamentary borough of Canterbury at a by-election in May 1879, following the resignation from the House of Commons of the Conservative MP...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
1880	Constituency representation suspended

MPs 1885–1918

• Constituency representation restored and reduced to one (1885)

  Election		Member	Party
  	1885 United Kingdom general election, 1885 -Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...	John Heaton	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
  	Dec 1910	Francis Bennett-Goldney Francis Bennett-Goldney Francis Bennett-Goldney , born Francis Evans, was the Independent Unionist Member of Parliament for Canterbury and mayor of Canterbury 1906-1911, who died in World War I....	Independent Unionist Independent Unionist See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
  	1918 by-election	George Anderson George Knox Anderson George Knox Anderson JP was briefly the Conservative Member of Parliament for Canterbury.Anderson was elected unopposed in August 1918 to succeed Francis Bennett-Goldney, who was killed while serving in France. Anderson was nearly 64 years old when elected.He retired at the dissolution three...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
  	1918 United Kingdom general election, 1918 The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...	Parliamentary borough abolished, name transferred to a new county division

MPs since 1918

Election		Member	Party
	1918 United Kingdom general election, 1918 The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...	Ronald McNeill	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1927 by-election	William Wayland William Wayland Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Abraham Edward Wayland was an English politician and farmer.Wayland was educated at Marlowes College. He served as Mayor of Deptford from 1914 to 1920, for which he was knighted in the 1920 New Year Honours...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1945 United Kingdom general election, 1945 The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...	John White John Baker White John Baker White started his career as a political activist becoming a director of a private organisation dedicated to fighting left-wing subversion. He became an amateur spy in Nazi Germany before becoming a propaganda agent during World War II. In 1945, he was elected a Conservative politician...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1953 by-election	Leslie Thomas Leslie Thomas (politician) Sir Leslie Montagu Thomas was a British Conservative politician. He was elected Member of Parliament for Canterbury in a 1953 by-election, and served until he stood down in 1966....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1966 United Kingdom general election, 1966 The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs...	David Crouch David Crouch Sir David Lance Crouch was a British Conservative politician.Crouch was educated at University College School, London and became a marketing consultant.Crouch contested Leeds West in 1959....	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
	1987 United Kingdom general election, 1987 The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...	Julian Brazier Julian Brazier Julian William Hendy Brazier TD is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Canterbury...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Sources