# Dorchester (UK Parliament constituency)

Dorchester was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Dorchester in Dorset. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England, Great Britain and House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1295 to 1868, when its representation was reduced to one member.
The constituency was abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, after which Dorchester was placed in the new Dorset South constituency. In 1918 it was transferred to Dorset West, where it has remained since.

## Members of Parliament
### 1295-1629

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1386 | Henry Cravell | Peter Blount |
| 1388 (Feb) | John Perle | Thomas Lamer |
| 1388 (Sep) | William Chuse | Thomas Gardener |
| 1390 (Jan) | William Tylle | John Blount |
| 1390 (Nov) | |
| 1391 | Thomas Lamer | John Gould |
| 1393 | Robert Gutton | Thomas Gardener |
| 1394 | William Pullare | William Ash |
| 1395 | John Blount | Thomas Hussey |
| 1397 (Jan) | Robert Veel | John Jordan |
| 1397 (Sep) | Robert Gutton | John Jordan |
| 1399 | John Blount | John Westpray |
| 1401 | |
| 1402 | John Bomel | John Jordan |
| 1404 (Jan) | John Blount | John Jordan |
| 1404 (Oct) | |
| 1406 | Richard Hyde | John Jordan |
| 1407 | John Cheverell | John Jordan |
| 1410 | John Jordan |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) | |
| 1413 (May) | Walter Tracy | William Newton |
| 1414 (Apr) | John Blount | John Gryffyn |
| 1414 (Nov) | John Jordan | Richard Berell |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | Reynold Jacob | John Ford |
| 1419 | John Ford | |
| 1420 | John Stork | John Ford |
| 1421 (May) | John Stork | John Ford |
| 1421 (Dec) | Robert Mose | John Ford |
| Second Parliament of 1553 | Christopher Hole | William Holman |
| Parliament of 1554 | Christopher Hole | Owen Hayman |
| Parliament of 1554-1555 | Christopher Hole | John Davy |
| Parliament of 1555 | Robert Robotham | Ralph Perne |
| Parliament of 1558 | Christopher Hole | John Hayward |
| Parliament of 1559 | William Holman | John Leweston |
| Parliament of 1563-1567 | Thomas Marten | Lewis Montgomery Chose to sit for Northampton By-election John Gardiner |
| Parliament of 1571 | Henry Macwilliam | William Adyn |
| Parliament of 1572-1581 | George Carleton | George Trenchard |
| Parliament of 1584-1585 | Robert Beale | Thomas Freke |
| Parliament of 1586-1587 | Robert Beale | Robert Napier |
| Parliament of 1588-1589 | Robert Beale | Nowell Sotherton |
| Parliament of 1593 | Dr Francis James | Thomas Dabridgecourt |
| Parliament of 1597-1598 | Robert Ashley | Richard Wright |
| Parliament of 1601 | Henry Brouncker | Matthew Chubbe |
| Parliament of 1604-1611 | John Spicer | Matthew Chubbe |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Francis Ashley | George Horsey |
| Parliament of 1621-1622 | Sir Francis Ashley | John Parkins |
| Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | William Whiteway | Richard Bushrode |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir Francis Ashley | William Whiteway |
| Parliament of 1625-1626 | Michael Humphreys died replaced by William Whiteway jnr | Richard Bushrode |
| Parliament of 1628-1629 | Denzil Holles | John Hill |
| No Parliament summoned 1629-1640 |||

### 1640-1868

| Year | First Member | First Member | First Party | Second Member | Second Member | Second Party |
| April 1640 | | Denzil Holles | Parliamentarian | | Denis Bond | Parliamentarian |
| November 1640 | | Denzil Holles | Parliamentarian | | Denis Bond | Parliamentarian |
| December 1648 | Holles excluded in Pride's Purge - seat vacant | Holles excluded in Pride's Purge - seat vacant | Holles excluded in Pride's Purge - seat vacant | | | | Denis Bond | Parliamentarian |
| 1653 | Dorchester was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Dorchester was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Dorchester was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Dorchester was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Dorchester was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Dorchester was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | John Whiteway | | Dorchester had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Dorchester had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Dorchester had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | John Whiteway | | Dorchester had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Dorchester had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Dorchester had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | James Gould | | | John Bushrode | |
| May 1659 | Dorchester was not represented in the restored Rump | Dorchester was not represented in the restored Rump | Dorchester was not represented in the restored Rump | Dorchester was not represented in the restored Rump | Dorchester was not represented in the restored Rump | Dorchester was not represented in the restored Rump |
| April 1660 | | Denzil Holles | | | John Whiteway | |
| March 1661 | | Denzil Holles | | | James Gould | |
| May 1661 | | John Churchill | | | James Gould | |
| 1677 | | John Churchill | | | James Gould | |
| 1679 | | Sir Francis Holles | | | Nicholas Gould | |
| 1680 | | James Gould | | | Nicholas Gould | |
| 1681 | | James Gould | | | Nathaniel Bond | |
| 1685 | | Edward Meller | | | William Churchill | |
| January 1689 | | Gerard Napier | | | Thomas Trenchard | |
| December 1689 | | Thomas Chafin | | | Thomas Trenchard | |
| March 1690 | | James Gould | | | Sir Robert Napier, Bt | |
| December 1690 | | James Gould | | | Thomas Trenchard | |
| 1695 | | Nathaniel Bond | | | Nathaniel Napier | |
| 1698 | | Sir Robert Napier, Bt | | | Nathaniel Napier | |
| 1701 | | Thomas Trenchard | | | Nathaniel Napier | |
| 1702 | | Sir Nathaniel Napier, Bt | | | Nathaniel Napier | |
| 1705 | | Awnsham Churchill | | | Nathaniel Napier | |
| 1708 | | Awnsham Churchill | | | John Churchill | |
| 1709 | | Awnsham Churchill | | | Denis Bond | |
| 1710 | | Sir Nathaniel Napier, Bt | | | Benjamin Gifford | |
| 1713 | | Sir Nathaniel Napier, Bt | | | Henry Trenchard | |
| April 1720 | | Sir Nathaniel Napier, Bt | | | Robert Browne | |
| May 1720 | | Sir Nathaniel Napier, Bt | | | Abraham Janssen | |
| 1722 | | Edmund Morton Pleydell | | | Joseph Damer | |
| 1723 | | William Chapple | | | Joseph Damer | |
| 1727 | | William Chapple | | | John Browne | |
| 1737 | | Robert Browne | | | John Browne | |
| 1741 | | Nathaniel Gundry | | | John Browne | |
| 1751 | | George Damer | | | John Pitt | |
| 1752 | | George Clavell | | | John Pitt | |
| 1754 | | The Lord Milton | | | John Pitt | |
| 1761 | | The Lord Milton | | | Thomas Foster | |
| 1762 | | John Damer | Tory | | Thomas Foster | |
| 1765 | | John Damer | Tory | | William Ewer | Tory |
| 1780 | | Hon. George Damer | Tory | | William Ewer | Tory |
| 1789 | | Hon. George Damer | Tory | | Thomas Ewer | Tory |
| Jan. 1790 | | Hon. George Damer | Tory | | Hon. Cropley Ashley | Tory |
| Jun. 1790 | | Hon. George Damer | Whig | | Francis Fane | Tory |
| 1791 | | Hon. Cropley Ashley | Tory | | Francis Fane | Tory |
| 1807 | | Hon. Cropley Ashley | Tory | | Robert Williams | Whig |
| 1811 | | Charles Henry Bouverie | | | Robert Williams | Whig |
| October 1812 | | Charles Henry Bouverie | | | Robert Williams | |
| December 1812 | | William A'Court | | | Robert Williams | |
| 1814 | | Sir Samuel Shepherd | | | Robert Williams | |
| 1819 | | Charles Warren | | | Robert Williams | |
| 1826 | | William Ashley-Cooper | Tory | | Robert Williams | Tory |
| Apr. 1830 | | Henry Sturt | | | Robert Williams | Tory |
| Aug. 1830 | | Lord Ashley | Tory | | Robert Williams | Tory |
| 1831 | | Hon. Henry Ashley-Cooper | Tory | | Robert Williams | Tory |
| 1834 | | Hon. Henry Ashley-Cooper | Conservative | | Robert Williams | Conservative |
| 1835 | | Hon. Henry Ashley-Cooper | Conservative | | Robert Williams | Conservative |
| 1841 | | Hon. Henry Ashley-Cooper | Conservative | | Sir James Graham, Bt | Conservative |
| 1847 | | Hon. George Dawson-Damer | Conservative | | Henry Sturt | Conservative |
| 1852 | | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Whig | | Henry Sturt | Conservative |
| 1856 | | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Whig | | Charles Napier Sturt | Conservative |
| 1859 | | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Liberal | | Charles Napier Sturt | Conservative |
| 1868 | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member |

### 1868-1885

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| 1868 | 1868 | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member |
| | 1868 | Charles Napier Sturt | Conservative |
| | 1874 | William Brymer | Conservative |
| 1885 | 1885 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

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

By-election, 10 April 1830: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | No label | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 500 | | |
| | No label gain from Tory | No label gain from Tory | No label gain from Tory | No label gain from Tory | No label gain from Tory |
General election 1830: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Williams, senior | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Anthony Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 500 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1831: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Williams, senior | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Anthony Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 500 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
Ashley-Cooper resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 11 October 1831: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Henry Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 500 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1832: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Williams, senior | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Henry Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 322 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1835: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Williams, junior | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 318 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1837: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Williams, junior | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 397 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Ashley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Graham | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 367 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Graham was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 13 September 1841: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Graham | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Dawson-Damer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 405 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | 235 | 36.9 | New |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | 215 | 33.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | George Dawson-Damer | 186 | 29.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20 | 3.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 318 (est) | 73.6 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 432 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Sturt resigned in order to contest the 1856 by-election in Dorset, causing a by-election.
By-election, 22 July 1856: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Napier Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Charles Napier Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 451 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Charles Napier Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 442 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Napier Sturt | 268 | 42.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | 255 | 40.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Drummond Wolff | 103 | 16.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 313 (est) | 72.5 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 432 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 2.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 152 | 24.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Seat reduced to one member
General election 1868: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Napier Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 628 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Brymer | 353 | 60.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Sir Francis Somerville Head, 2nd Baronet | 233 | 39.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | 20.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 586 | 85.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 688 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Dorchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Brymer | 374 | 53.0 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal | Algernon Greville | 332 | 47.0 | +7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | 6.0 | −14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 706 | 86.4 | +1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 817 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.2 | |