# Nottingham (UK Parliament constituency)

Nottingham was a parliamentary borough in Nottinghamshire, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons from 1295. In 1885 the constituency was abolished and the city of Nottingham divided into three single-member constituencies.

## History

Nottingham sent two representatives to Parliament from 1283 onwards.
In the mid eighteenth century it was influenced by the large local landowners the Duke of Newcastle for the Whigs and Lord Middleton for the Tories and as a consequence would tend to return MP from each party.
The constituency was abolished in 1885 and replaced by Nottingham East, Nottingham South and Nottingham West.

## Members of Parliament
### 1295–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1318 | Robert Ingram | Simon Folville |
| 1322 (May) | Geoffrey le Flemyng | Simon Folville |
| 1327 (Jan) | Robert Ingram of Nottingham | Simon Folville |
| 1384 (Apr) | John Tansley | |
| 1385 | John Crowshaw | |
| 1386 | William Butler | Robert Howden |
| 1388 (Feb) | John Crowshaw | John Plumtre |
| 1388 (Sep) | William Butler | Thomas Mapperley |
| 1390 (Jan) | William Butler | Robert German |
| 1390 (Nov) | |
| 1391 | William Butler | Thomas Mapperley |
| 1393 | William Butler | Nicholas Alestre |
| 1394 | |
| 1395 | Thomas Mapperley | Robert German (MP) |
| 1397 (Jan) | Thomas Mapperley | Robert German (MP) |
| 1397 (Sep) | William Gresley | John Hodings |
| 1399 | John Plumtre | John Tansley |
| 1401 | |
| 1402 | |
| 1404 (Jan) | |
| 1404 (Oct) | |
| 1406 | Walter Stacy | Thomas Fox |
| 1407 | John Bothall | John Jorce |
| 1410 | |
| 1411 | Thomas Mapperley | John Hodings |
| 1413 (Feb) | Thomas Mapperley | John Hodings 1 |
| 1413 (May) | Thomas Mapperley | John Tansley |
| 1414 (Apr) | John Tansley | Robert Glade |
| 1414 (Nov) | Walter Stacy | Henry Preston |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | John Alestre | John Bingham |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | Henry Preston | William Burton |
| 1419 | Robert Glade | Richard Samon |
| 1420 | John Bingham | Thomas Poge |
| 1421 (May) | Robert Glade | John Alestre |
| 1421 (Dec) | Richard Samon | Thomas Poge |
| 1422 | John Alestre | Thomas Poge |
| 1423 | Thomas Poge | |
| 1425 | John Alestre | |
| 1427 | Thomas Poge | |
| 1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
| 1529 | Anthony Babington | Henry Statham, died and replaced Jan 1535 by Nicholas Quarnby |
| 1536 | ?Sir Anthony Babington | ? |
| 1539 | Sir John Markham | George Pierrepont |
| 1542 | Edward Chamberlain | ?Sir John Markham |
| 1545 | Sir John Markham | Nicholas Powtrell |
| 1547 | John Paston | Nicholas Powtrell |
| 1553 (Mar) | Robert Haselrigg | Francis Colman |
| 1553 (Oct) | Humphrey Quarnby | Thomas Markham |
| 1554 (Apr) | Humphrey Quarnby | Francis Colman |
| 1554 (Nov) | Nicholas Powtrell | William Markham |
| 1555 | Hugh Thornhill | John Bateman |
| 1558 | Francis Colman | Edward Boun |
| 1558 (Dec) | Thomas Markham | John Bateman |
| 1562–1563 | Humphrey Quarnby, died and replaced 1566 by Ralph Barton | John Bateman |
| 1571 | Ralph Barton | William Ball |
| 1572 (Apr) | Sir Thomas Manners | John Bateman |
| 1584 (Oct) | Richard Parkins | John Bateman |
| 1586 | Sir Robert Constable | Richard Parkins |
| 1588–1589 | Richard Parkins | George Manners |
| 1593 | Richard Parkins | Humphrey Bonner |
| 1597 (Sep) | Humphrey Bonner | Anchor Jackson |
| 1601 | William Gregory | William Greaves |
| 1604–1611 | Richard Harte (or Hunt) | Anchor Jackson |
| 1614 | William Gregory | Robert Staples |
| 1621 | Michael Purefoy | George Lascelles |
| 1623 | John Byron | Sir Charles Cavendish |
| 1625 | Robert Greaves | John Martyn |
| 1626 | Sir Gervase Clifton | John Byron |
| 1628 | Sir Charles Cavendish | Viscount Newark |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments convened | No Parliaments convened |

### 1640–1885

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Charles Cavendish | Royalist | | Gilbert Boone | |
| November 1640 | | William Stanhope | Royalist | | Gilbert Millington | Parliamentarian |
| January 1644 | Stanhope disabled to sit – seat vacant | Stanhope disabled to sit – seat vacant | Stanhope disabled to sit – seat vacant | | | | Gilbert Millington | Parliamentarian |
| 1645 | | Francis Pierrepont | | | Gilbert Millington | Parliamentarian |
| 1653 | Nottingham was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Nottingham was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Nottingham was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Nottingham was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Nottingham was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Nottingham was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | James Chadwick | | | John Mason | |
| 1656 | | James Chadwick | | | William Drury | |
| January 1659 | | John Whalley | | | John Parker | |
| May 1659 | | Gilbert Millington | | One seat vacant | One seat vacant | One seat vacant |
| April 1660 | | Arthur Stanhope | | | John Hutchinson (banned as Regicide) | |
| June 1660 | | Arthur Stanhope | | | Robert Pierrepont | |
| 1679 | | Richard Slater | | | Robert Pierrepont | |
| 1685 | | John Beaumont | | | Sir William Stanhope | |
| 1689 | | Francis Pierrepont | | | Edward Bigland | |
| 1690 | | Charles Hutchinson | | | Richard Slater | |
| 1695 | | William Pierrepont | | | Richard Slater | |
| 1699 | | William Pierrepont | | | Robert Sacheverell | |
| January 1701 | | William Pierrepont | | | George Gregory | |
| June 1701 | | William Pierrepont | | | Robert Sacheverell | |
| December 1701 | | William Pierrepont | | | Robert Sacheverell | |
| 1702 | | William Pierrepont | | | George Gregory | |
| 1705 | | William Pierrepont | | | Robert Sacheverell | |
| 1706 | | John Plumptre | Whig | | Robert Sacheverell | |
| 1708 | | John Plumptre | Whig | | Roby Sherwin | |
| 1710 | | John Plumptre | Whig | | Robert Sacheverell | |
| 1713 | | Borlase Warren | Tory | | Robert Sacheverell | |
| 1715 | | John Plumptre | Whig | | George Gregory | Whig |
| 1727 | | John Stanhope | | | Borlase Warren | Tory |
| 1734 | | John Plumptre | Whig | | Borlase Warren | Tory |
| May 1747 | | John Plumptre | Whig | | Sir Charles Sedley | |
| June 1747 | | George Howe | Whig | | Sir Charles Sedley | |
| 1754 | | George Howe | Whig | | Sir Willoughby Aston | Tory |
| 1758 | | Colonel the Hon. (Sir) William Howe | Whig | | Sir Willoughby Aston | Tory |
| 1761 | | Colonel the Hon. (Sir) William Howe | Whig | | John Plumptre | |
| 1774 | | Colonel the Hon. (Sir) William Howe | Whig | | Sir Charles Sedley | Tory |
| 1778 | | Colonel the Hon. (Sir) William Howe | Whig | | Abel Smith | |
| 1779 | | Colonel the Hon. (Sir) William Howe | Whig | | Robert Smith | Whig |
| 1780 | | Daniel Coke | Tory | | Robert Smith | Whig |
| 1797 | | Daniel Coke | Tory | | Captain Sir John Borlase Warren | Tory |
| 1802 | | Joseph Birch | Whig | | Captain Sir John Borlase Warren | Tory |
| 1803 | | Daniel Coke | Tory | | Captain Sir John Borlase Warren | Tory |
| 1806 | | Daniel Coke | Tory | | John Smith | Whig |
| 1812 | | George Parkyns | Whig | | John Smith | Whig |
| 1818 | | George Parkyns | Whig | | Joseph Birch | Whig |
| 1820 | | Thomas Denman | Whig | | Joseph Birch | Whig |
| 1826 | | George Parkyns | WHIG | | Joseph Birch | Whig |
| 1830 | | Thomas Denman | Whig | | Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson | Whig |
| 1832 | | John Ponsonby | Whig | | Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson | Whig |
| 1834 | | Sir John Hobhouse | Radical | | Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson | Whig |
| April 1841 | | Sir John Hobhouse | Radical | | John Walter | Conservative |
| June 1841 | | Sir John Hobhouse | Radical | | George Larpent | Whig |
| 1842 | | Sir John Hobhouse | Radical | | John Walter | Conservative |
| 1843 | | Sir John Hobhouse | Radical | | Thomas Gisborne | Whig |
| 1847 | | John Walter (junior) | Conservative | | Feargus O'Connor | Chartist |
| 1852 | | John Walter (junior) | Peelite | | Edward Strutt | Whig |
| 1856 | | John Walter (junior) | Peelite | | Charles Paget | Radical |
| 1859 | | John Mellor | Liberal | | Charles Paget | Liberal |
| 1861 | | Sir Robert Juckes Clifton | Ind. Liberal | | Charles Paget | Liberal |
| 1865 | | Sir Robert Juckes Clifton | Ind. Liberal | | Samuel Morley | Liberal |
| 1866 | | Ralph Bernal Osborne | Ind. Liberal | | Viscount Amberley | Liberal |
| 1868 | | Sir Robert Juckes Clifton | Ind. Liberal | | Charles Ichabod Wright | Conservative |
| 1869 | | Charles Seely | Liberal | | Charles Ichabod Wright | Conservative |
| 1870 | | Charles Seely | Liberal | | Hon. Auberon Herbert | Liberal |
| 1874 | | William Evelyn Denison | Conservative | | Saul Isaac | Conservative |
| April 1880 | | Charles Seely | Liberal | | John Skirrow Wright | Liberal |
| May 1880 | | Charles Seely | Liberal | | Arnold Morley | Liberal |
| 1885 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |
Notes
* ↑ Later General; knighted 1775
* ↑ Later Rear-Admiral
* ↑ On petition, Birch was found not to have been duly elected
* ↑ On petition, Walter's election was declared void and a by-election held, in which his son, John Walter (junior), took his place as Conservative candidate and was defeated
* ↑ On petition, the election of 1865 was declared void and a by-election held

## Election results
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Thomas Denman | 1,206 | 46.2 |
| | Whig | Ronald Craufurd Ferguson | 1,180 | 45.2 |
| | Tory | Thomas Bailey | 226 | 8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 954 | 36.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,413 | c. 28.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 5,000 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
General election 1831: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Thomas Denman | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Ronald Craufurd Ferguson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 5,000 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Ronald Craufurd Ferguson | 2,399 | 41.9 |
| | Whig | John Ponsonby | 2,349 | 41.0 |
| | Tory | James Edward Gordon | 976 | 17.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,373 | 23.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,322 | 63.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,220 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Ponsonby was appointed Home Secretary and elevated to the House of Lords as Lord Duncannon, causing a by-election.
By-election, 25 July 1834: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | 1,591 | 73.8 | N/A |
| | Radical | William Eagle | 566 | 26.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,025 | 47.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,157 | 41.8 | −21.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,166 | | |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |
General election 1835: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Ronald Craufurd Ferguson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,454 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |
Hobhouse was appointed as President of the Board of Control for the Affairs of India, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 24 April 1835: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1837: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Ronald Craufurd Ferguson | 2,056 | 29.8 |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | 2,052 | 29.7 |
| | Conservative | William Plowden | 1,397 | 20.2 |
| | Conservative | Horace Twiss | 1,396 | 20.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,728 | 68.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,475 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 0.1 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 655 | 9.5 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

Ferguson's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 26 April 1841: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Walter Sr. | 1,983 | 53.2 | +12.8 |
| | Whig | George Larpent | 1,745 | 46.8 | +17.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 238 | 6.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,728 | 79.7 | +11.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,678 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | −2.1 | |
General election 1841: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Larpent | 529 | 39.4 | +9.6 |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | 527 | 39.3 | +9.6 |
| | Conservative | John Walter Sr. | 144 | 10.7 | −9.5 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Broughton Charlton | 142 | 10.6 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 671 (est) | 14.3 (est) | c. −53.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,260 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 0.1 | ±0.0 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +9.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 383 | 28.6 | +19.1 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +9.6 | |
Walter and Charlton retired half an hour after the poll opened.
Larpent resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 4 August 1842: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Walter Sr. | 1,885 | 51.1 | +29.8 |
| | Radical | Joseph Sturge | 1,801 | 48.9 | +9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 84 | 2.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,686 | 67.8 | +53.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,436 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +10.1 | |
Walter's election was declared void, on petition, due to bribery by his agents, on 23 March 1843, causing a by-election.
By-election, 5 April 1843: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Thomas Gisborne | 1,839 | 51.6 | +12.2 |
| | Conservative | John Walter Jr. | 1,728 | 48.4 | +27.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 3.0 | +2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,567 | 69.0 | +54.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,172 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −7.5 | |
Hobhouse was appointed President of the Board of Control for the Affairs of India, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 8 July 1846: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1847: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Walter Jr. | 1,683 | 34.8 | +13.5 |
| | Chartist | Feargus O'Connor | 1,257 | 26.0 | N/A |
| | Whig | Thomas Gisborne | 999 | 20.7 | −18.7 |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | 893 | 18.5 | −20.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,416 (est) | 46.9 (est) | +32.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,148 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 684 | 13.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +16.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 364 | 7.5 | N/A |
| | Chartist gain from Radical | Chartist gain from Radical | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Strutt | 1,960 | 45.2 | +24.5 |
| | Peelite | John Walter Jr. | 1,863 | 43.0 | +8.2 |
| | Chartist | Charles Sturgeon | 512 | 11.8 | −14.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,168 (est) | 41.2 (est) | −5.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,260 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,448 | 33.4 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Chartist | Whig gain from Chartist | Swing | +15.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,351 | 31.2 | N/A |
| | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.7 | |
Strutt was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 1 January 1853: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Strutt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Strutt was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Belper, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 30 July 1856: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Charles Paget | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |
General election 1857: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Charles Paget | 2,393 | 49.4 | +4.2 |
| | Peelite | John Walter Jr. | 1,836 | 37.9 | −5.1 |
| | Chartist | Ernest Charles Jones | 614 | 12.7 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,422 (est) | 42.9 (est) | +1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,650 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 557 | 11.5 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | +1.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,222 | 25.2 | −6.0 |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Swing | −2.8 | |
General election 1859: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Paget | 2,456 | 37.1 | +12.4 |
| | Liberal | John Mellor | 2,181 | 32.9 | +8.2 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Bromley | 1,836 | 27.7 | −10.2 |
| | Chartist | Ernest Charles Jones | 151 | 2.3 | −10.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 345 | 5.2 | −6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,312 (est) | 55.1 (est) | +12.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,012 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +8.8 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.7 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

Mellor resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, causing a by-election.
By-election, 26 December 1861: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | Robert Juckes Clifton | 2,513 | 69.1 | New |
| | Liberal | Henry Pelham-Clinton | 1,122 | 30.9 | −29.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,391 | 38.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,635 | 55.6 | +0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,533 | | |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1865: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Morley | 2,393 | 25.7 | −7.2 |
| | Independent Liberal | Robert Juckes Clifton | 2,352 | 25.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Paget | 2,327 | 25.0 | −12.1 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Marten | 2,242 | 24.1 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,657 (est) | 78.5 (est) | +23.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,934 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 | 0.4 | −4.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
The election, "won by violence" and bribery was declared void on petition, causing a by-election.
By-election, 11 May 1866: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | Ralph Bernal Osborne | 2,518 | 25.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Russell | 2,494 | 25.6 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | George Jenkinson | 2,411 | 24.8 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal | Handel Cossham | 2,307 | 23.7 | −1.3 |
| | Independent Liberal | David Faulkner | 3 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,867 (est) | 82.0 (est) | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,934 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| | Independent Liberal hold | Independent Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83 | 0.8 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.2 | |
General election 1868: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | Robert Juckes Clifton | 5,285 | 28.4 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | Charles Ichabod Wright | 4,591 | 24.6 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal | Charles Seely | 4,004 | 21.5 | −4.2 |
| | Liberal | Peter Clayden | 2,716 | 14.6 | −10.7 |
| | Independent Liberal | Ralph Bernal Osborne | 2,031 | 10.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,609 (est) | 81.9 (est) | +3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,168 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 694 | 3.8 | +3.5 |
| | Independent Liberal hold | Independent Liberal hold | Swing | +5.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 587 | 3.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.0 | |
* Wright was a Liberal-Conservative candidate.
Clifton's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 16 June 1869: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Seely | 4,627 | 50.6 | +14.5 |
| | Independent Liberal | William Digby Seymour | 4,517 | 49.4 | +10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 110 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,144 | 64.5 | −17.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,168 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1870s

Wright's resignation caused a by-election.
By-election, 24 Feb 1870: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Auberon Herbert | 4,971 | 51.5 | +15.4 |
| | Independent Liberal | William Digby Seymour | 4,675 | 48.5 | +9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 296 | 3.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,646 | 68.1 | −13.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,168 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1874: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Evelyn Denison | 5,268 | 24.9 | +12.6 |
| | Conservative | Saul Isaac | 4,790 | 22.6 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal | Robert Laycock | 3,732 | 17.6 | −3.9 |
| | Liberal | Henry Labouchère | 3,545 | 16.8 | +2.2 |
| | Lib-Lab | David Heath | 2,752 | 13.0 | New |
| | Independent Liberal | Richard Birkin | 1,074 | 5.1 | −34.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,058 | 5.0 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,581 (est) | 65.5 (est) | −16.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,154 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.7 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Liberal | Conservative gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | +5.6 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Seely | 8,499 | 31.3 | +13.7 |
| | Liberal | John Skirrow Wright | 8,055 | 29.6 | +12.8 |
| | Conservative | Saul Isaac | 5,575 | 20.5 | −2.1 |
| | Conservative | William Gill | 5,052 | 18.6 | −6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,480 | 9.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,591 (est) | 72.7 (est) | +7.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,699 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.9 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.6 | |
Wright's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 8 May 1880: Nottingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arnold Morley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |