Westbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Westbury was a parliamentary constituency
in Wiltshire
from 1449 to 2010. It was represented in the House of Commons of England
until 1707, and then in the House of Commons of Great Britain
from 1707 to 1800, and finally in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
from 1801 until 2010.
Until 1885, it was a parliamentary borough
, returning two Members of Parliament
(MPs) until 1832 and only one from 1832 to 1885. Then parliamentary borough was abolished in 1885, when the name was transferred to a county constituency returning one MP. Elections used the bloc vote
system when two MPs were returned, and the first-past-the-post
system of election when one seat was contested.
Westbury returned a Conservative
Member at every election after 1924.
, covering only a small part of the parish of Westbury
, in the 19th century the borough became a rural parliamentary constituency in the English
county of Wiltshire
. At the time of the constituency's abolition in 2010 it included the towns of Westbury
, Warminster
, Trowbridge
, and Bradford on Avon
, and the surrounding rural areas as far south as Mere
. Until boundary changes in 1997 it had also included Melksham
.
was created mostly from the adjoining North Wiltshire
constituency, plus the town of Bradford on Avon
at the northern end of the Westbury constituency, while the rest of Westbury saw minor changes to its composition and was renamed South West Wiltshire. These changes were approved in 2005, to take effect at the following general election, which ultimately took place in 2010.
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
from 1449 to 2010. It was represented in the House of Commons of England
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
until 1707, and then in the House of Commons of Great Britain
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
from 1707 to 1800, and finally 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...
from 1801 until 2010.
Until 1885, it was 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...
, returning two Members 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,...
(MPs) until 1832 and only one from 1832 to 1885. Then parliamentary borough was abolished in 1885, when the name was transferred to a county constituency returning one MP. Elections used the bloc vote
Plurality-at-large voting
Plurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
system when two MPs were returned, and the first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
system of election when one seat was contested.
Westbury returned a 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...
Member at every election after 1924.
Boundaries
Originally a small rotten boroughRotten borough
A "rotten", "decayed" or pocket borough was a parliamentary borough or constituency in the United Kingdom that had a very small electorate and could be used by a patron to gain undue and unrepresentative influence within Parliament....
, covering only a small part of the parish of Westbury
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
, in the 19th century the borough became a rural parliamentary constituency in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. At the time of the constituency's abolition in 2010 it included the towns of Westbury
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
, Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
, Trowbridge
Trowbridge
Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset....
, and Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon is a town in west Wiltshire, England with a population of about 9,326. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists....
, and the surrounding rural areas as far south as Mere
Mere, Wiltshire
Mere is a small town in Wiltshire, England. It lies at the extreme southwestern tip of Salisbury Plain close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset....
. Until boundary changes in 1997 it had also included Melksham
Melksham
Melksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
.
Boundary review, 2005
Following a review of parliamentary representation in Wiltshire, the Boundary Commission for England created two new constituencies in the county. ChippenhamChippenham (UK Parliament constituency)
Chippenham is a parliamentary constituency, abolished in 1983 but recreated in 2010, and represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
was created mostly from the adjoining North Wiltshire
North Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Wiltshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Until 1983, it was known as Chippenham.- Boundaries :As the name suggests, the constituency covers most of north Wiltshire...
constituency, plus the town of Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon is a town in west Wiltshire, England with a population of about 9,326. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists....
at the northern end of the Westbury constituency, while the rest of Westbury saw minor changes to its composition and was renamed South West Wiltshire. These changes were approved in 2005, to take effect at the following general election, which ultimately took place in 2010.
MPs 1449–1640
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
|---|---|---|
| 1491 | Sir Thomas Long of Draycot | |
| 1510-1523 | No names known | |
| 1529 | Thomas Kirton | Thomas Temys |
| 1536 | ? | |
| 1539 | ? | |
| 1542 | ? | |
| 1545 | William Hartgill | Geoffrey Carter |
| 1547 | John Stokes | Kenelm Throckmorton |
| 1553 (Mar) | ? | |
| 1553 (Oct) | Andrew Baynton Andrew Baynton Sir Andrew Baynton , was an English scholar.Baynton was son and heir of Sir Edward Baynton, of Bromham-Baynton, Wiltshire, a favourite courtier of Henry VIII, vice-chamberlain to three of his queens, and a friend and patron of Hugh Latimer, some of the correspondence between them Sir Andrew Baynton... |
Griffin Curteys |
| 1554 (Apr) | Griffin Curteys | Peter Morgan |
| 1554 (Nov) | William Bennett | Griffin Curteys |
| 1555 | Sir Thomas Throckmorton I | William Hoskins |
| 1558 | John Buckland | William Allen alias Helyer |
| 1559 | Anthony Carleton | Ralph Skinner |
| 1562/3 | Hugh Ryley | John Dyster |
| 1571 | Francis Blount | Thomas Long |
| 1572 | William Brouncker | Henry Brouncker |
| 1584 | William Brouncker | Edward Midwinter |
| 1586 | Robert Baynard | Henry Whitaker |
| 1588 | Henry Fanshawe Henry Fanshawe -Early life:Henry Fanshawe, baptised 15 August 1569, was the elder son of Thomas Fanshawe by his first wife, Mary, daughter of Antony Bourchier and was thus a half-brother of Thomas Fanshawe. In November 1586 he became a student of the Inner Temple... |
John Bennett |
| 1593 | William Jordyn II | Henry Fanshawe Henry Fanshawe -Early life:Henry Fanshawe, baptised 15 August 1569, was the elder son of Thomas Fanshawe by his first wife, Mary, daughter of Antony Bourchier and was thus a half-brother of Thomas Fanshawe. In November 1586 he became a student of the Inner Temple... |
| 1597 | Matthew Ley Matthew Ley Matthew Ley was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1597 to 1614.Ley was the second son of Henry Ley. In 1578 he and his brother James purchased the manor of Brembridge, near Westbury, and he later acquired Heywood north of Westbury. In 1597, he was elected... |
James Ley James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February... |
| 1601 | Matthew Ley Matthew Ley Matthew Ley was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1597 to 1614.Ley was the second son of Henry Ley. In 1578 he and his brother James purchased the manor of Brembridge, near Westbury, and he later acquired Heywood north of Westbury. In 1597, he was elected... |
Henry Jackman |
| 1604 | Matthew Ley Matthew Ley Matthew Ley was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1597 to 1614.Ley was the second son of Henry Ley. In 1578 he and his brother James purchased the manor of Brembridge, near Westbury, and he later acquired Heywood north of Westbury. In 1597, he was elected... |
James Ley James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February... , made judge and replaced by Alexander Choke |
| 1614 | Matthew Ley Matthew Ley Matthew Ley was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1597 to 1614.Ley was the second son of Henry Ley. In 1578 he and his brother James purchased the manor of Brembridge, near Westbury, and he later acquired Heywood north of Westbury. In 1597, he was elected... |
Henry Ley Henry Ley Henry George Ley MA DMus FRCO FRCM HonRAM was an English organist, composer and music teacher.Dr Ley was born in Chagford in Devon on 30 December 1887... |
| 1621 | Sir James Ley James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February... |
Sir Miles Fleetwood Miles Fleetwood Sir Miles Fleetwood of Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire was receiver of the court of wards and politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1614 and 1641.Fleetwood was the son of Sir William Fleetwood Sir Miles Fleetwood of Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire ( died 8 March 1641) was receiver... |
| 1624 | Sir John Saye | Sir Henry Mildmay Henry Mildmay Sir Henry Mildmay was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1659. He supported the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War and was one of the Regicides of Charles I of England.... |
| 1625 | Sir Walter Long, 1st Baronet Sir Walter Long, 1st Baronet Sir Walter Long, 1st Baronet of Whaddon was an English politician.The second son of Henry Long and Rebecca Bailey, Long was Educated at Lincoln's Inn... |
Thomas Hopton |
| 1626 | Sir Walter Long, 1st Baronet Sir Walter Long, 1st Baronet Sir Walter Long, 1st Baronet of Whaddon was an English politician.The second son of Henry Long and Rebecca Bailey, Long was Educated at Lincoln's Inn... |
Thomas Hopton |
| 1628 | Maximilian Petty | Charles Thynne |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | |
- 1625: ?Gifford LongGifford LongGifford Long was an English landowner, J.P and Member of Parliament.- Biography :Born at Broughton Gifford, Wiltshire, the eldest surviving son and heir of Edward Long, clothier of Monkton, and his wife Ann Brouncker , he was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, matriculating in...
MPs 1640–1832
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1640 Short Parliament The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks.... |
Sir Thomas Penyston | John Ashe John Ashe (of Freshford) John Ashe was an English clothier and politician who sat in the House of Commons ar various times between 1640 and 1656.Ashe was the son of James Ashe of Freshford, Somerset and his wife Grace Pitt, daughter of Richard Pitt of Melcombe Regis He entered the cloth trade and became on the "greatest... |
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| November 1640 Long Parliament The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and... |
John Ashe John Ashe (of Freshford) John Ashe was an English clothier and politician who sat in the House of Commons ar various times between 1640 and 1656.Ashe was the son of James Ashe of Freshford, Somerset and his wife Grace Pitt, daughter of Richard Pitt of Melcombe Regis He entered the cloth trade and became on the "greatest... |
Parliamentarian | William Wheler Sir William Wheler, 1st Baronet Sir William Wheler, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1640 and 1660.Wheler was the son of John Wheler and his wife Martha Herrick daughter of Robert Herrick of Leicester.... |
Parliamentarian | ||
| December 1648 | Wheler excluded in Pride's Purge Pride's Purge Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents... - seat vacant |
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| 1653 | Westbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament Barebones Parliament Barebone's Parliament, also known as the Little Parliament, the Nominated Assembly and the Parliament of Saints, came into being on 4 July 1653, and was the last attempt of the English Commonwealth to find a stable political form before the installation of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector... and the First First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.... and Second Second Protectorate Parliament The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons... Parliaments of the Protectorate |
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| January 1659 Third Protectorate Parliament The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons... |
Robert Villiers, alias Danvers Robert Danvers Robert Danvers also Wright, Howard and Villiers was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660... |
William Eyre William Eyre of Neston William Eyre of Neston, Wiltshire , was a parliamentarian army officer and politician.Eyre fought for the parliamentary cause in the English Civil War. He may have risen from the rank of captain of foot to colonel... |
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| May 1659 Rump Parliament The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason.... |
Not represented in the restored Rump Rump Parliament The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason.... , Ashe having died in the interim |
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| April 1660 | Richard Lewis | William Brouncker | ||||
| 1661 | Thomas Wancklyn | |||||
| 1678 | Henry Bertie Henry Bertie (of Weston-on-the-Green) Captain Henry Bertie, JP , English politician, was a younger son of Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey by his second wife, Lady Norreys.... |
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| February 1679 | William Trenchard | |||||
| August 1679 | Henry Bertie Henry Bertie (of Weston-on-the-Green) Captain Henry Bertie, JP , English politician, was a younger son of Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey by his second wife, Lady Norreys.... |
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| 1680 | Edward Norton | William Trenchard | ||||
| 1681 | John Ashe | |||||
| 1685 | Richard Lewis | James Herbert | ||||
| 1689 | Peregrine Bertie Peregrine Bertie (senior) Peregrine Bertie was an English politician, the second son of Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey.One of the English volunteers in the French army in 1654, Bertie subsequently served as a cornet in the Royal Horse Guards in 1661, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1667 and captain from 1676 until... |
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| 1695 | Robert Bertie | |||||
| 1701 | Henry Bertie Henry Bertie (of Weston-on-the-Green) Captain Henry Bertie, JP , English politician, was a younger son of Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey by his second wife, Lady Norreys.... |
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| July 1702 | William Trenchard | Thomas Phipps | ||||
| December 1702 | Henry Bertie Henry Bertie (of Weston-on-the-Green) Captain Henry Bertie, JP , English politician, was a younger son of Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey by his second wife, Lady Norreys.... |
Robert Bertie | ||||
| 1708 | Francis Annesley | |||||
| January 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... |
Willoughby Bertie Willoughby Bertie, 3rd Earl of Abingdon Willoughby Bertie, 3rd Earl of Abingdon was an English peer.He was the son of James Bertie of Stanwell in Middlesex and Elizabeth Willoughby. He was elected to Parliament in 1715, but was unseated on petition. He married Anna Maria Collins in August 1727. They had ten children.- Children :# Lady... |
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| June 1715 | The Lord Carbery George Evans, 1st Baron Carbery George Evans, 1st Baron Carbery PC was an Irish politician and peer.Evans was the son of George Evans, of Bulgaddon Hall, County Limerick and his wife Mary . He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Limerick County in 1707, a seat he held until 1715... |
Charles Allanson | ||||
| 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... |
James Bertie | Francis Annesley | ||||
| March 1723 by-election | The Lord Carbery George Evans, 1st Baron Carbery George Evans, 1st Baron Carbery PC was an Irish politician and peer.Evans was the son of George Evans, of Bulgaddon Hall, County Limerick and his wife Mary . He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Limerick County in 1707, a seat he held until 1715... |
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| 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... |
John Hoskins Gifford | |||||
| 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... |
Hon. George Evans | John Bance | ||||
| 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... |
Joseph Townsend Joseph Townsend Joseph Townsend was a physician, geologist and vicar of Pewsey in Wiltshire, perhaps best known for his 1786 treatise A Dissertation on the Poor Laws in which he expounded a naturalistic theory of economics and opposed the provision of 'outdoor' relief to the able bodied poor under English Poor... |
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| 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... |
John Bance | Paul Methuen Paul Methuen (MP) Paul Methuen was an English politician.He was Member of Parliament for Westbury 1747–1748, for Warwick 1762–1768, Great Bedwyn 1774–1781.- References:... |
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| 1748 | Chauncy Townsend Chauncy Townsend Chauncy Townsend was a businessman and a Member of Parliament in the British Parliament.He started his business career as a London linen draper, before becoming a merchant in about 1740. He developed extensive interests in coal mines in the Swansea area of Wales, as well as mining, smelting and... |
Pro-Government | Matthew Michell | |||
| 1753 by-election | Peregrine Bertie | |||||
| 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 Blackstone William Blackstone Sir William Blackstone KC SL was an English jurist, judge and Tory politician of the eighteenth century. He is most noted for writing the Commentaries on the Laws of England. Born into a middle class family in London, Blackstone was educated at Charterhouse School before matriculating at Pembroke... |
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| 1770 by-election | Hon. Charles Dillon Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon Charles Dillon-Lee, 12th Viscount Dillon, KP, PC was Member of Parliament for the English borough of Westbury .... |
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| 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:... |
Hon. Thomas Wenman Thomas Wenman The Honourable Thomas Francis Wenman FRS was a British professor, natural historian, and antiquarian.Wenman was the second son of Philip Wenman, 6th Viscount Wenman and his wife Sophia, daughter and co-heiress of James Herbert of Tythorpe. He was born at Thame Park, near Thame, Oxfordshire in 1745... |
Nathaniel Bayly | ||||
| 1779 by-election | Samuel Estwick | |||||
| 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... |
(Sir) John Whalley-Gardiner | |||||
| 1784 British general election, 1784 The British general election of 1784 resulted in William Pitt the Younger securing an overall majority of about 120 in the House of Commons of Great Britain, having previously had to survive in a House which was dominated by his opponents.-Background:... |
Chaloner Arcedeckne | |||||
| 1786 by-election | John Madocks | |||||
| 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:... |
Ewan Law | |||||
| January 1795 by-election | Samuel Estwick | |||||
| November 1795 by-election | Edward Wilbraham-Bootle | |||||
| May 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... |
Sir Henry Paulet St John-Mildmay, Bt | George Ellis | ||||
| October 1796 by-election | Lieutenant Colonel George Harcourt | |||||
| 1800 by-election | John Simon Harcourt | |||||
| 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... |
William Baldwin | Charles Smith Charles Smith (MP) Charles Smith was a British politician. He sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1796 until its abolition in 1800, and then in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1806.... |
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| 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.... |
William Jacob William Jacob William Jacob was an English merchant, scientist, parliamentarian, public official and advocate for expanded British trade... |
John Woolmore | ||||
| 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 Lascelles | Glynn Wynn | ||||
| July 1807 by-election | Henry Lascelles Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood DL , known as Viscount Lascelles from 1814 to 1820, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.... |
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| 1809 by-election | Francis Whittle | |||||
| 1810 by-election | John de Ponthieu | |||||
| 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.... |
Benjamin Hall Benjamin Hall (ironmaster) Benjamin Hall, FRS was an industrialist and a prominent figure in South Wales.- Background, Education & Connections :... |
Benjamin Shaw Benjamin Shaw Benjamin Shaw is an English a musician and artist based in London.He released his debut EP "I Got the Pox, the Pox is What I Got" in October 2009 on Audio Antihero which saw airplay from BBC 6 Music on the Tom Ravenscroft, Gideon Coe, Steve Lamacq, Jon Holmes and Tom Robinson shows and positive... |
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| 1814 by-election | Ralph Franco Sir Ralph Lopes, 2nd Baronet Sir Ralph Lopes, 2nd Baronet , of Maristow in Devon, was a British Member of Parliament .Lopes was born as Ralph Franco. His uncle, Manasseh Masseh Lopes, an MP and borough owner, was created a baronet in 1805, with a special remainder to his nephew... |
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 Francis Conyngham Francis Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham General Francis Nathaniel Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham KP, GCH, PC , styled Lord Francis Conyngham between 1816 and 1824 and Earl of Mount Charles between 1824 and 1832, was a British soldier, courtier and politician.-Background and education:Born in Dublin, Conyngham was the second son of... |
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| 1819 by-election | William Leader Maberly William Leader Maberly William Leader Maberly spent most of his life as a British army officer and Whig politician.He was the eldest child of John Maberly , a currier, clothing manufacturer, banker and MP, who had made and lost a fortune in a lifetime.... |
Whig | ||||
| March 1820 United Kingdom general election, 1820 The 1820 UK general election, held shortly after the Radical War in Scotland and the Cato Street Conspiracy. In this atmosphere, the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool were able to win a substantial majority over the Whigs.... |
Jonathan Elford | Tory | Nathaniel Barton | Tory | ||
| November 1820 by-election | Sir Manasseh Masseh Lopes, Bt Sir Manasseh Masseh Lopes, 1st Baronet Sir Manasseh Masseh Lopes, 1st Baronet , of Maristow in Devon, was a British Member of Parliament and borough-monger.-Parliamentary career:... |
Tory | Philip John Miles | Tory | ||
| 1826 United Kingdom general election, 1826 The 1826 United Kingdom general election saw the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool win a substantial and increased majority over the Whigs. In Ireland, Home Rule candidates, working with the Whigs, won large gains from Unionist candidates.... |
Sir George Warrender Sir George Warrender, 4th Baronet Sir George Warrender of Lochend, 4th Baronet PC, FRS was a Scottish politician. In 1799, he succeeded to his father's baronetcy. Due to his lifestyle, he was nicknamed Sir Gorge Provender.... |
Canningite Tory Canningite Canningites was the name used for a faction of British Tories in the first decade of the 19th century through the 1820s who were led by George Canning. The Canningites were distinct within the Tory party because they favoured Catholic emancipation and freer trade.After the incapacity of Lord... |
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| 1829 by-election | Robert Peel Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846... |
Tory | ||||
| 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... |
Sir Alexander Cray Grant, Bt Sir Alexander Grant, 8th Baronet Sir Alexander Cray Grant, 8th Baronet was a British politician and plantation owner in the West Indies.He was born in 1782 in West Alvington, Devon, the eldest son of Sir Alexander Grant, 7th Baronet and Sarah Cray. He graduated from St John's College, Cambridge in 1806 with a Master of Arts... |
Tory | Michael George Prendergast | Tory | ||
| May 1831 United Kingdom general election, 1831 The 1831 general election in the United Kingdom saw a landslide win by supporters of electoral reform, which was the major election issue. As a result it was the last unreformed election, as the Parliament which resulted ensured the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Polling was held from 28 April to... |
Sir Ralph Lopes, Bt Sir Ralph Lopes, 2nd Baronet Sir Ralph Lopes, 2nd Baronet , of Maristow in Devon, was a British Member of Parliament .Lopes was born as Ralph Franco. His uncle, Manasseh Masseh Lopes, an MP and borough owner, was created a baronet in 1805, with a special remainder to his nephew... |
Whig | Henry Hanmer Henry Hanmer Henry Hanmer was an English Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1831 to 1837.Hanmer was the fifth son of Sir Thomas Hanmer, 2nd Baronet of Hanmer, Bettisfield Park in Flintshire, and his wife Margaret Kenyon daughter of George Kenyon of Peel Hall Leicestershire. He was educated... |
Whig | ||
| July 1831 by-election | Henry Frederick Stephenson | Whig | ||||
| 1832 United Kingdom general election, 1832 -Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807.... |
Representation reduced to one MP | |||||
MPs 1832–1885
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 United Kingdom general election, 1832 -Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807.... |
Sir Ralph Lopes Sir Ralph Lopes, 2nd Baronet Sir Ralph Lopes, 2nd Baronet , of Maristow in Devon, was a British Member of Parliament .Lopes was born as Ralph Franco. His uncle, Manasseh Masseh Lopes, an MP and borough owner, was created a baronet in 1805, with a special remainder to his nephew... |
Whig | |
| 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.... |
John Ivatt Briscoe John Ivatt Briscoe John Ivatt Briscoe was an English Whig and later Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1857 to 1870.Briscoe was the son of John Briscoe of Cross Deep, Twickenham and his wife Mary Winthrop, daughter of Stephen Winthrop. He was educated at University College, Oxford and graduated... |
Whig | |
| 1841 United Kingdom general election, 1841 -Seats summary:-Whig MPs who lost their seats:*Viscount Morpeth - Chief Secretary for Ireland*Sir George Strickland, Bt*Sir Henry Barron, 1st Baronet-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987... |
Sir Ralph Lopes Sir Ralph Lopes, 2nd Baronet Sir Ralph Lopes, 2nd Baronet , of Maristow in Devon, was a British Member of Parliament .Lopes was born as Ralph Franco. His uncle, Manasseh Masseh Lopes, an MP and borough owner, was created a baronet in 1805, with a special remainder to his nephew... |
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 United Kingdom general election, 1847 -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 *... |
James Wilson James Wilson (UK politician) James Wilson was a Scottish businessman, economist and Liberal politician. He founded The Economist and the Standard Chartered Bank.-Early life:... |
Whig | |
| 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 *... |
Sir Massey Lopes Sir Massey Lopes, 3rd Baronet Sir Massey Lopes, 3rd Baronet PC , known as Massey Franco until 1831 and as Massey Lopes from 1831 to 1854, was a British Conservative politician and agriculturalist.... |
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... |
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| 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... |
John Lewis Phipps John Lewis Phipps John Lewis Phipps , of Leighton House, Westbury, Wiltshire, was a Brazil merchant, briefly Conservative MP for Westbury and High Sheriff of Wiltshire .... |
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... |
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| 1869 by-election | Charles Paul Phipps Charles Paul Phipps Charles Paul Phipps , of Chalcot House, Westbury, Wiltshire, was an English merchant in Brazil and later Conservative MP for Westbury and High Sheriff of Wiltshire .-Origins:... |
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... |
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| 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 *... |
Abraham Laverton Abraham Laverton Abraham Laverton , of Westbury, Wiltshire, was a cloth mill owner, philanthropist, and Liberal member of parliament for the parliamentary borough of Westbury from 1874 to 1880.-Mill owner and philanthropist:... |
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... |
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| 1880 United Kingdom general election, 1880 -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 *... |
Charles Nicholas Paul Phipps Charles Nicholas Paul Phipps Charles Nicholas Paul Phipps , of Chalcot House, Westbury, Wiltshire, was a Brazil merchant, Conservative MP for Westbury and High Sheriff of Wiltshire .... |
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... |
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| 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:... |
Borough abolished - named transferred to county division | ||
Westbury County Constituency (since 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:... |
George Fuller George Fuller (British politician) George Pargiter Fuller , was a British Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1895.Fuller was born at Baynton, Wiltshire, the eldest surviving son of John Bird Fuller, a partner in Fuller Smith & Turner, brewers, and his wife Sophia Hanning, daughter of John Hanning... |
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... |
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| 1895 United Kingdom general election, 1895 The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery... |
Richard Chaloner Richard Chaloner, 1st Baron Gisborough Richard Godolphin Walmesley Chaloner, 1st Baron Gisborough was a British soldier and 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... |
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| 1900 United Kingdom general election, 1900 -Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**... |
John Fuller Sir John Fuller, 1st Baronet Sir John Michael Fleetwood Fuller, 1st Baronet KCMG , was a British Liberal Party politician and colonial administrator.... |
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... |
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| 1911 by-election | Hon. Geoffrey Howard Geoffrey Howard (Liberal politician) The Honourable Geoffrey William Algernon Howard JP was a British Liberal politician. He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household under H. H... |
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... |
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| 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... |
George Llewellen Palmer George Llewellen Palmer George Llewellen Palmer was a British Conservative Party politician.In 1903-1904, Palmer was High Sheriff of Wiltshire.... |
Coalition Conservative | |
| 1922 United Kingdom general election, 1922 The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John... |
Charles Darbishire Charles Darbishire Charles William Darbishire was a British Liberal politician and East India merchant.-Early life and family:Darbishire was born in London, the son of Colonel C. H. Darbishire of Plas Mawr, Penmaenmawr in North Wales. He was educated at Giggleswick School in Yorkshire... |
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... |
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| 1924 United Kingdom general election, 1924 - Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *... |
Captain W. W. Shaw Walter William Shaw Walter William Shaw was a British Conservative Party politician.He was elected at the 1924 general election as Member of Parliament for Westbury in Wiltshire, having unsuccessfully fought the seat in 1923... |
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... |
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| 1927 by-election | Richard Long Richard Long, 3rd Viscount Long Richard Eric Onslow Long, 3rd Viscount Long DL TD was a British Conservative Party politician. He married Gwendoline Hague-Cook in 1916, and they had three sons, including Richard Long, and one daughter.... |
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... |
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| 1931 United Kingdom general election, 1931 The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the... |
Sir Robert Grimston Robert Grimston, 1st Baron Grimston of Westbury Robert Villiers Grimston, 1st Baron Grimston of Westbury was a British Conservative politician.The eldest son of the Rev. and Hon... |
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... |
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| 1964 United Kingdom general election, 1964 The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power... |
Sir Dennis Walters Dennis Walters Sir Dennis Murray Walters MBE was a British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for Westbury.-Early life:The son of Douglas Walters and Clara Pomello, Walters is of English and Italian descent and was brought up as a Roman Catholic... |
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... |
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| 1992 United Kingdom general election, 1992 The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil... |
David Faber David Faber (politician) David James Christian Faber was a Conservative member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, then an author, before in 2010 being appointed as head master of Summer Fields School, Oxford... |
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... |
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| 2001 United Kingdom general election, 2001 The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats... |
Andrew Murrison Andrew Murrison Dr Andrew William Murrison is a doctor and Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. After serving as the Member of Parliament for Westbury from 2001 to 2010, at the 2010 general election he was elected for the new seat of South West Wiltshire.-Early life:The son of William Gordon... |
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... |
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| 2010 | Constituency abolished: see South West Wiltshire and Chippenham Chippenham (UK Parliament constituency) Chippenham is a parliamentary constituency, abolished in 1983 but recreated in 2010, and represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election... |
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Elections
Sources
- Guardian Unlimited (2004). Ask Aristotle - Westbury. Retrieved November 16, 2004.
- D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- "Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803" (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) http://www2.odl.ox.ac.uk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=p-000-00---0modhis06--00-0-0-0prompt-10---4------0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---00001-001-1-1isoZz-8859Zz-1-0&a=d&cl=CL1