# Donegal (UK Parliament constituency)

County Donegal was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning two Members of Parliament (MPs).

## Boundaries

This constituency comprised the whole of County Donegal. In 1885, it was divided into separate constituencies of East Donegal, North Donegal, South Donegal and West Donegal.

## Members of Parliament

* Constituency created (1801)
| Election | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Party |
| 1801 | Henry Vaughan Brooke | | Viscount Sudley | Tory |
| 1802 | Sir James Stewart, Bt | | Viscount Sudley | Tory |
| 1806 | Sir James Stewart, Bt | | Henry Vaughan Brooke | |
| 1808 | Sir James Stewart, Bt | | Henry Montgomery | Tory |
| 1812 | Sir James Stewart, Bt | | George Vaughan Hart | Tory |
| 1818 | Earl of Mount Charles | Tory | George Vaughan Hart | Tory |
| 1825 | Earl of Mount Charles | Tory | George Vaughan Hart | Tory |
| 1831 | Sir Edmund Hayes | Tory | Edward Conolly | Tory |
| 1831 | Sir Edmund Hayes | Conservative | Edward Conolly | Conservative |
| 1849 | Sir Edmund Hayes | Conservative | Thomas Conolly | Conservative |
| 1860 | Viscount Hamilton (known as the Marquess of Hamilton from August 1868) | Conservative | Thomas Conolly | Conservative |
| 1876 | Viscount Hamilton (known as the Marquess of Hamilton from August 1868) | Conservative | William Wilson | Conservative |
| 1879 | Viscount Hamilton (known as the Marquess of Hamilton from August 1868) | Conservative | Thomas Lea | Liberal |
| 1880 | John Kinnear | Liberal | Thomas Lea | Liberal |
* Constituency abolished (1885)

## Elections
### Elections of the 1880s

General election 1880: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Lea | 2,274 | 36.4 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal | John Kinnear | 2,015 | 32.3 | +9.0 |
| | Irish Conservative | James Hamilton | 1,954 | 31.3 | −21.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 61 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,228 (est) | 91.7 (est) | +9.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,612 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Irish Conservative | Liberal gain from Irish Conservative | Swing | +11.4 | |
| | Liberal gain from Irish Conservative | Liberal gain from Irish Conservative | Swing | +9.8 | |

### Elections of the 1870s

By-election, 15 Dec 1879: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Lea | 2,313 | 58.7 | +11.2 |
| | Irish Conservative | David Bartholomew McCorkeil | 1,630 | 41.3 | −11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 683 | 17.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,943 | 84.3 | +2.0 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,680 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Irish Conservative | Liberal gain from Irish Conservative | Swing | +11.2 | |
* Caused by Wilson's death.
By-election, 26 Aug 1876: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | William Wilson | 1,975 | 51.3 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Lea | 1,876 | 48.7 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 99 | 2.6 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,851 | 83.8 | +1.5 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,597 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |
* Caused by Conolly's death.
General election 1874: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | James Hamilton | 2,102 | 27.8 | N/A |
| | Irish Conservative | Thomas Conolly | 1,866 | 24.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Tristram Kennedy | 1,826 | 24.2 | New |
| | Liberal | Evory Kennedy | 1,757 | 23.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,776 (est) | 82.3 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,587 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections of the 1860s

General election 1868: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | Thomas Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative | James Hamilton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,596 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
General election 1865: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | Thomas Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative | James Hamilton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,685 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
By-election, 17 July 1860: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | James Hamilton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
* Caused by Hayes' death.

### Elections of the 1850s

General election 1859: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | Thomas Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative | Edmund Hayes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,307 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | Thomas Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative | Edmund Hayes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,254 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
General election 1852: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | Thomas Conolly | 1,839 | 39.9 | N/A |
| | Irish Conservative | Edmund Hayes | 1,624 | 35.3 | N/A |
| | Whig | Patrick Francis Campbell-Johnston | 1,143 | 24.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 481 | 10.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,875 (est) | 76.7 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,748 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1840s

By-election, 20 February 1849: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | Thomas Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
* Caused by Conolly's death
General election 1847: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | Edward Michael Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative | Edmund Hayes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 848 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
General election 1841: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | Edward Michael Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative | Edmund Hayes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,446 | | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |

### Elections of the 1830s

General election 1837: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Conservative | Edmund Hayes | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative | Edward Michael Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,960 | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
General election 1835: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Conservative | Edmund Hayes | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative | Edward Michael Conolly | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,618 | |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
| | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold | Irish Conservative hold |
General election 1832: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Edmund Hayes | 795 | 38.2 | +2.4 |
| | Tory | Edward Michael Conolly | 734 | 35.3 | +3.2 |
| | Whig | Hamilton Francis Chichester | 552 | 26.5 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 182 | 8.8 | −6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,323 | 91.4 | c. +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,448 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | +2.6 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | +3.0 | |
General election 1831: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | Edmund Hayes | 416 | 35.8 |
| | Tory | Edward Michael Conolly | 373 | 32.1 |
| | Whig | Sir Thomas Style, 8th Baronet | 192 | 16.5 |
| | Whig | Arthur Chichester | 180 | 15.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 600 | c. 90.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 667 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1830: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | George Vaughan Hart | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Francis Conyngham | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 667 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |

### Elections of the 1810s

General election 1818: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | George Vaughan Hart | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Henry Conyngham | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | N/A | N/A |
General election 1812: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | James Stewart | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | George Vaughan Hart | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | N/A | N/A |

### Elections of the 1800s

1808 Donegal by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Henry Conyngham Montgomery | 433 | 54.8 | N/A |
| | Tory | George Vaughan Hart | 357 | 45.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 76 | 9.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 790 | | N/A |
| | Tory gain from | Tory gain from | Swing | | |
General election 1807: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | James Stewart | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | | Henry Vaughan Brooke | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | N/A | N/A |
General election 1806: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | James Stewart | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | | Henry Vaughan Brooke | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | N/A | N/A |
General election 1802: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Arthur Gore | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | | James Stewart | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1801 co-option: Donegal :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | | Henry Vaughan Brooke | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Arthur Gore | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | N/A | N/A |