# Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)

Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950. The last two members to represent Oxford University when it was abolished were A. P. Herbert and Arthur Salter.

## Boundaries, electorate and electoral system

This university constituency was created by a Royal Charter of 1603. It was abolished in 1950 by the Representation of the People Act 1948.
The constituency was not a physical area. Its electorate consisted of the graduates of the University of Oxford. Before 1918 the franchise was restricted to male graduates with a Doctorate or MA degree. Namier and Brooke estimated the number of electors as about 500 in the 1754–1790 period; by 1910, it had risen to 6,500. Following the reforms of 1918, the franchise encompassed all graduates who paid a fee of £1 to join the register. This included around 400 women who had passed examinations which would have entitled them to a degree if they were male.
The constituency returned two Members of Parliament. From 1918, the MPs were elected by the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.

## History

The university strongly supported the old Tory cause in the 18th century. The original party system endured long after it had become meaningless in almost every other constituency.
After the Hanoverian succession to the British throne the Whigs became dominant in the politics of Cambridge University, the other university represented in Parliament, by using a royal prerogative power to confer doctorates. That power did not exist at Oxford, so the major part of the university electorate remained Tory (and in the first half of the 18th century sometimes Jacobite) in sympathy.
The university also valued its independence from government. In a rare contested general election in 1768 the two candidates with administration ties were defeated.
In the 19th century the university continued to support the right, almost always returning Tory, Conservative or Liberal Unionist candidates. The only exception was William Ewart Gladstone, formerly "the rising hope of the stern unbending Tories". He first represented the university as a Peelite, supporting a former member for the constituency – the sometime Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. Gladstone retained his seat as a Liberal, for a time after 1859. Following Gladstone's defeat, in 1865, subsequent Liberal candidates were rare and they were never successful in winning a seat.
Even after the introduction of proportional representation, in 1918, both members continued to be Conservatives until 1935. Independent members were elected in the last phase of university elections to Parliament, before the constituency was abolished in 1950.

## Members of Parliament

Sir William Whitelock is named by Rayment as "Sir William Whitelocke" and by Sedgwick as "Sir William Whitlock".
The Roman numerals in brackets after the names of the two members called William Bromley (who were father and son) are included to distinguish them. It is not a method which would have been used by the men themselves.
* Constituency created (1603)

### Parliament of England 1604–1707

As there were sometimes significant gaps between Parliaments held in this period, the dates of first assembly and dissolution are given. Where the name of the member has not yet been ascertained, the entry unknown is entered in the table.
| Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First Member | Second Member |
| 1604 | 19 March 1604 | 9 February 1611 | Sir Thomas Crompton | Sir Daniel Donne or Dun |
| 1614 | 5 April 1614 | 7 June 1614 | Sir John Bennet | Sir Daniel Donne or Dun |
| 1620 or 1621 | 16 January 1621 | 8 February 1622 | Sir John Bennet | Sir Clement Edmondes |
| 1623 or 1624 | 12 February 1624 | 27 March 1625 | Sir Isaac Wake | Sir George Calvert |
| 1625 | 17 May 1625 | 12 August 1625 | Sir Thomas Edmonds | Sir John Danvers |
| 1626 | 6 February 1626 | 15 June 1626 | Sir Thomas Edmonds | Sir John Danvers |
| 1628 | 17 March 1628 | 10 March 1629 | Sir Henry Marten | Sir John Danvers |
| 1640 | 13 April 1640 | 5 May 1640 | Sir Francis Windebanke | Sir John Danvers |
| 1640 | 3 November 1640 | 5 December 1648 | John Selden | Sir Thomas Roe |
| 1640 | 6 December 1648 $^a$ | 20 April 1653 $^b$ | unknown | Sir Thomas Roe |
| 1653 $^c$ | 4 July 1653 | 12 December 1653 | unrepresented in Barebones Parliament | unrepresented in Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 $^d$ | 3 September 1654 | 22 January 1655 | Dr John Owen | Dr John Owen |
| 1656 $^e$ | 17 September 1656 | 4 February 1658 | Nathaniel Fiennes | Nathaniel Fiennes |
| 1658 or 1659 | 27 January 1659 | 22 April 1659 | Matthew Hale | John Mylles |
| N/A $^f$ | 7 May 1659 | 20 February 1660 | unknown | unknown |
| N/A $^f$ | 21 February 1660 | 16 March 1660 | unknown | unknown |
| 12 April 1660 | 25 April 1660 | 29 December 1660 | Thomas Clayton | John Mylles |
| 1 April 1661 | 8 May 1661 | 24 January 1679 | Laurence Hyde | Sir Heneage Finch, Bt |
| 16 January 1674 | 8 May 1661 | 24 January 1679 | Laurence Hyde | Thomas Thynne |
| 27 February 1679 | 6 March 1679 | 12 July 1679 | Heneage Finch | John Eddisbury |
| 19 August 1679 | 21 October 1680 | 18 January 1681 | Sir Leoline Jenkins | Charles Perrot |
| 1681 | 21 March 1681 | 28 March 1681 | Sir Leoline Jenkins | Charles Perrot |
| 1685 | 19 May 1685 | 2 June 1687 | Sir Leoline Jenkins | Charles Perrot |
| 23 November 1685 | 19 May 1685 | 2 June 1687 | George Clarke | Charles Perrot |
| 7 January 1689 | 22 January 1689 | 6 February 1690 | Heneage Finch | Sir Thomas Clarges$^g$ |
| 1690 | 20 March 1690 | 11 October 1695 | Heneage Finch | Sir Thomas Clarges$^g$ |
| 21 October 1695 | 22 November 1695 | 6 July 1698 | Heneage Finch | Sir William Trumbull |
| 23 July 1698 | 24 August 1698 | 19 December 1700 | Sir Christopher Musgrave, Bt | Sir William Glynne, Bt |
| 3 January 1701 | 6 February 1701 | 11 November 1701 | Sir Christopher Musgrave, Bt | Heneage Finch |
| 21 March 1701 | 6 February 1701 | 11 November 1701 | William Bromley (I) | Heneage Finch |
| 1701 | 30 December 1701 | 2 July 1702 | William Bromley (I) | Heneage Finch |
| 1702 | 20 August 1702 | 5 April 1705 | William Bromley (I) | Heneage Finch |
| 22 November 1703 | 20 August 1702 | 5 April 1705 | William Bromley (I) | Sir William Whitelock |
| 1705 | 14 June 1705 | 1707 $^h$ | William Bromley (I) | Sir William Whitelock |
Notes:-
* $^a$ Date of Pride's Purge, which converted the Long Parliament into the Rump Parliament.
* $^b$ Date when Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament by force.
* $^c$ Date when the members of the nominated or Barebones Parliament were selected. The university was not represented in this body.
* $^d$ Date when the members of the First Protectorate Parliament were elected. The university was represented by one member in this body.
* $^e$ Date when the members of the Second Protectorate Parliament were elected. The university was represented by one member in this body.
* $^f$ The Rump Parliament was recalled and subsequently Pride's Purge was reversed, allowing the full Long Parliament to meet until it agreed to dissolve itself.
* $^g$ Clarges died on 4 October 1695, so the seat was vacant at the dissolution of 11 October 1695.
* $^h$ The MPs of the last Parliament of England and 45 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Scotland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of Great Britain which assembled on 23 October 1707 (see below for the members in that Parliament).

### Parliaments of Great Britain 1707–1800 and of the United Kingdom 1801–1950

| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| 1707 | Sir William Whitelock | Tory | William Bromley $^1$ | Tory |
| 1717 | George Clarke | Tory | William Bromley $^1$ | Tory |
| 1732 | George Clarke | Tory | Viscount Cornbury | Tory |
| 1737 | William Bromley (II) | Tory | Viscount Cornbury | Tory |
| 1737 | Edward Butler | Tory | Viscount Cornbury | Tory |
| 1745 | Peregrine Palmer | Tory | Viscount Cornbury | Tory |
| 1751 | Peregrine Palmer | Tory | Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt | Tory |
| 1762 | Sir Walter Bagot, Bt | Tory | Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt | Tory |
| 1768 | Sir William Dolben, Bt | Tory | Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt | Tory |
| 1768 | Francis Page | Tory | Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt | Tory |
| 1780 | Francis Page | Tory | Sir William Dolben, Bt | Tory |
| 1801 | Sir William Scott | Tory | Sir William Dolben, Bt | Tory |
| 1806 | Sir William Scott | Tory | Charles Abbot $^2$ | Tory |
| 1817 | Sir William Scott | Tory | Robert Peel | Tory |
| 1821 | Richard Heber | Tory | Robert Peel | Tory |
| 1826 | Thomas Grimston Estcourt $^3$ | Tory | Robert Peel | Tory |
| 1829 | Thomas Grimston Estcourt $^3$ | Tory | Sir Robert Inglis, Bt $^3$ | Tory |
| 1834 | Thomas Grimston Estcourt $^3$ | Conservative | Sir Robert Inglis, Bt $^3$ | Conservative |
| 1847 | William Ewart Gladstone $^4$ | Peelite | Sir Robert Inglis, Bt $^3$ | Conservative |
| 1854 | William Ewart Gladstone $^4$ | Peelite | Sir William Heathcote, Bt | Conservative |
| 1859 | William Ewart Gladstone $^4$ | Liberal | Sir William Heathcote, Bt | Conservative |
| 1865 | Gathorne Hardy | Conservative | Sir William Heathcote, Bt | Conservative |
| 1868 | Gathorne Hardy | Conservative | Sir John Mowbray, Bt | Conservative |
| 1878 | John Gilbert Talbot | Conservative | Sir John Mowbray, Bt | Conservative |
| 1899 | John Gilbert Talbot | Conservative | Sir William Anson $^5$ | Liberal Unionist |
| 1910 | Lord Hugh Cecil $^6$ | Conservative | Sir William Anson $^5$ | Liberal Unionist |
| 1912 | Lord Hugh Cecil $^6$ | Conservative | Sir William Anson $^5$ | Conservative |
| 1914 | Lord Hugh Cecil $^6$ | Conservative | Rowland Prothero | Conservative |
| 1918 | Lord Hugh Cecil $^6$ | Coalition Conservative | Rowland Prothero | Coalition Conservative |
| 1919 | Lord Hugh Cecil $^6$ | Coalition Conservative | Sir Charles Oman | Coalition Conservative |
| 1922 | Lord Hugh Cecil $^6$ | Conservative | Sir Charles Oman | Conservative |
| 1935 | Lord Hugh Cecil $^6$ | Conservative | Sir A. P. Herbert | Independent |
| 1937 | Sir Arthur Salter | Independent | Sir A. P. Herbert | Independent |
* Constituency abolished (1950)
Notes:-
* $^1$ Bromley had represented the university since a by-election in March 1701. He was Speaker of the House of Commons 1710–1713.
* $^2$ Abbot was Speaker of the House of Commons 1802–1817.
* $^3$ Estcourt and Inglis are regarded as Conservative MPs from 1835, as this was the approximate date when the Tory Party became known as the Conservative Party.
* $^4$ Gladstone accepted office in a Liberal ministry in 1859, thus vacating the seat he had held (as a Peelite MP – more formally a Liberal Conservative). He was re-elected as a Liberal candidate.
* $^5$ Anson became a Conservative MP when the Liberal Unionists formally merged with the Conservatives in 1912.
* $^6$ Cecil joined the non-Coalition wing of his party at some point during the 1918–1922 Parliament.

## Elections
### Elections in the 1710s

General election 24 January 1715: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Whitelock | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | William Bromley (I) | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Note (1715): Bromley had been Speaker of the House of Commons 1710-1713.
* Death of Whitelock
By-Election 4 December 1717: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | George Clarke | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1720s

General election 22 March 1722: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Bromley (I) | 337 | 43.54 | N/A |
| | Tory | George Clarke | 278 | 35.92 | N/A |
| | Tory | William King | 159 | 20.54 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 774 | N/A | N/A |
* Note (1722): Stooks Smith records the votes as Bromley 278, Clarke 213 and King 142.
General election 18 August 1727: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Bromley (I) | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | George Clarke | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1730s

* Death of Bromley
By-Election 26 February 1732: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Henry Hyde | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 26 April 1734: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Henry Hyde | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | George Clarke | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Death of Clarke
By-Election 9 February 1737: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Bromley (II) | 329 | 73.11 | N/A |
| | Whig | Robert Trevor | 121 | 26.89 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 208 | 46.22 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 450 | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Death of Bromley
By-Election 31 March 1737: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Edward Butler | 214 | 76.98 | N/A |
| | Tory | Peregrine Palmer | 64 | 23.02 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 | 53.96 | +7.74 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 278 | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1740s

General election 26 April 1741: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Henry Hyde | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Edward Butler | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Death of Butler
By-Election 12 November 1745: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Peregrine Palmer | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 27 June 1747: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Henry Hyde | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Peregrine Palmer | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1750s

* Summons to the House of Lords of Cornbury, by writ in acceleration for his father's subsidiary title of Lord Hyde
By-Election 31 January 1751: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Roger Newdigate | 184 | 48.81 | N/A |
| | Tory | Robert Harley | 126 | 33.42 | N/A |
| | Tory | Edward Turner | 67 | 17.77 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 58 | 15.38 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 377 | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Note (1751): Stooks Smith records Turner's vote as 47.
General election 15 April 1754: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Roger Newdigate | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Peregrine Palmer | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1760s

General election 27 March 1761: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Roger Newdigate | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Peregrine Palmer | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Death of Palmer
By-Election 16 December 1762: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Walter Bagot | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Death of Bagot
By-Election 3 February 1768: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Dolben | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 23 March 1768: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Roger Newdigate | 352 | 38.77 | N/A |
| | Tory | Francis Page | 296 | 32.80 | N/A |
| | Nonpartisan | Charles Jenkinson | 198 | 21.81 | N/A |
| | Nonpartisan | George Hay | 62 | 6.83 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 908 (493 voted) | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1770s

General election 11 October 1774: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Roger Newdigate | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Francis Page | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1780s

General election 11 September 1780: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Dolben | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Francis Page | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 1 April 1784: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Dolben | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Francis Page | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1790s

General election 1790: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Dolben | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Francis Page | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 1796: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Dolben | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Francis Page | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1800s

* Resignation of Page
By-Election March 1801: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Scott | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1802: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Dolben | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | William Scott | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 1806: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Scott | 651 | 48.95 | N/A |
| | Tory | Charles Abbot | 404 | 30.38 | N/A |
| | Tory | Richard Heber | 275 | 20.68 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,330 | N/A | N/A |
General election 1807: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Scott | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Charles Abbot | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1810s

General election 1812: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Scott | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Charles Abbot | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Creation of Abbot as the 1st Lord Colchester
By-Election June 1817: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Peel | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1818: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Scott | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Robert Peel | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1820s

General election 1820: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | William Scott | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Robert Peel | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Creation of Scott as the 1st Lord Stowell
By-Election August 1821: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Richard Heber | 612 | 54.11 | N/A |
| | Tory | J. Nicholl | 519 | 45.89 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 93 | 8.22 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,131 | | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Peel as Secretary of State for the Home Department
By-Election February 1822: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Peel | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
* Resignation of Heber
By-Election February 1826: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Thomas Grimston Estcourt | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1826: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Peel | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Thomas Grimston Estcourt | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Peel as Secretary of State for the Home Department
By-Election February 1828: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Peel | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
* Resignation of Peel
By-Election February 1829: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Inglis | 755 | 55.35 | N/A |
| | Tory | Robert Peel | 609 | 44.65 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 146 | 10.70 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,354 | | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Note (1829): Stooks Smith records that the polls were open for three days. Inglis was a candidate promoted by the Ultra-Tories in opposition to Catholic emancipation.

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Tory | Thomas Grimston Estcourt | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory | Robert Inglis | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1831: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | Thomas Grimston Estcourt | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Robert Inglis | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,524 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 12 December 1832: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | Thomas Grimston Estcourt | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Robert Inglis | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,496 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 8 January 1835: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Thomas Grimston Estcourt | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Robert Inglis | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,496 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 25 July 1837: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Thomas Grimston Estcourt | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Robert Inglis | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,496 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 29 June 1841: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Grimston Estcourt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Robert Inglis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,496 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Note (1841): McCalmont classifies Inglis as a Peelite candidate, at this election.
General election August 1847: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Inglis | 1,700 | 48.3 | N/A |
| | Peelite | William Ewart Gladstone | 997 | 28.3 | New |
| | Conservative | Charles Gray Round | 824 | 23.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,851 | 56.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,300 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 703 | 20.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 | 4.9 | N/A |
| | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
* Note (1847): Poll 5 days. (Source for this note and the number of voters: Stooks Smith). McCalmont classifies Inglis as a Peelite and Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.

### Elections in the 1850s

General election July 1852: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Inglis | 1,369 | 42.3 | −6.0 |
| | Peelite | William Ewart Gladstone | 1,108 | 34.3 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | Robert Bullock Marsham | 758 | 23.4 | — |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,618 (est) | 46.6 (est) | −9.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,474 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 261 | 8.0 | −12.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 350 | 10.9 | +6.0 |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Swing | +6.0 | |
* Note (1852): Minimum possible turnout estimated by dividing votes by 2. To the extent that electors did not use both their votes, the figure will be an underestimate. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer
By-election, 20 January 1853: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | William Ewart Gladstone | 1,022 | 53.2 | +18.9 |
| | Conservative | Dudley Montagu Perceval | 898 | 46.8 | −18.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124 | 6.4 | −4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,920 | 57.2 | +10.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,357 | | |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Swing | +18.9 | |
* Resignation of Inglis.
By-election, 7 February 1854: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Heathcote | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 27 March 1857: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | William Ewart Gladstone | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | William Heathcote | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,538 | | |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Lord High Commissioner to the Ionian Islands. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal Conservative candidate, at this election.
By-election, 12 February 1859: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | William Ewart Gladstone | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold |
General election 29 April 1859: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Ewart Gladstone | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | William Heathcote | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,623 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer. McCalmont classifies Gladstone as a Liberal candidate, at this election.
By-Election 1 July 1859: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Ewart Gladstone | 1,050 | 55.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Richard Temple-Grenville | 859 | 45.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 191 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,909 | 52.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,623 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 18 July 1865: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Heathcote | 3,236 | 47.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Gathorne Hardy | 1,904 | 27.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | William Ewart Gladstone | 1,724 | 25.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,432 (est) | 91.4 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,755 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Note (1865): Turnout estimated in the same way as for the 1852 election.
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Hardy as President of the Poor Law Board
By-Election 12 July 1866: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gathorne Hardy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Hardy as Secretary of State for the Home Department
By-Election 20 May 1867: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gathorne Hardy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 18 November 1868: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gathorne Hardy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Mowbray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,190 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 31 January 1874: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gathorne Hardy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Mowbray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,659 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Hardy as Secretary of State for War
By-Election 14 March 1874: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gathorne Hardy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Creation of Hardy as the 1st Viscount Cranbrook
1878 Oxford University by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Gilbert Talbot | 2,687 | 73.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Henry John Stephen Smith | 989 | 26.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,698 | 46.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,676 | 73.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,026 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election April 1880: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Mowbray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Gilbert Talbot | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,033 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 24 November 1885: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Mowbray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative | John Gilbert Talbot | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 2 July 1886: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Mowbray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative | John Gilbert Talbot | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election July 1892: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Mowbray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative | John Gilbert Talbot | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 13 July 1895: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Mowbray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative | John Gilbert Talbot | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Death of Mowbray
By-Election 11 May 1899: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Anson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1 October 1900: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Gilbert Talbot | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Liberal Unionist | William Anson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold |
General election 13 January 1906: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Gilbert Talbot | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Liberal Unionist | William Anson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 15 January 1910: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Unionist | William Anson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative | Hugh Cecil | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election December 1910: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Unionist | William Anson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative | Hugh Cecil | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Anson became a Conservative MP in 1912 when the Liberal Unionist Party formally merged with the Conservative Party.
* Death of Anson
By-Election 30 June 1914: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Rowland Prothero | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
* Electorate expanded and elections using the bloc vote replaced by those using the single transferable vote, by the Representation of the People Act 1918, from the 1918 United Kingdom general election.
General Election 1918: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| C | Unionist | Hugh Cecil | 49.80 | 2,771 | |
| C | Unionist | Rowland Prothero | 30.84 | 1,716 | 2,546 |
| | Liberal | Gilbert Murray | 13.34 | 742 | 812 |
| | Labour | Henry Sanderson Furniss | 6.02 | 335 | 351 |
| Electorate: 7,907 Valid: 5,564 Quota: 1,855 Turnout: 70.37% ||||||
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
* Creation of Prothero as 1st Lord Ernle
By-Election 19–24 March 1919: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Charles Oman | 2,613 | 52.52 | −28.08 |
| | Liberal | Gilbert Murray | 1,330 | 26.73 | +13.39 |
| | Independent | J. A. L. Riley | 1,032 | 20.74 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,283 | 25.79 | −41.47 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,975 | 62.92 | −7.35 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,907 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1922: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Unionist | Hugh Cecil | 56.40 | 3,185 | |
| | Unionist | Charles Oman | 18.03 | 1,018 | 2,170 |
| | Liberal | Gilbert Murray | 25.57 | 1,444 | 1,594 |
| Electorate: 9,374 Valid: 5,647 Quota: 1,883 Turnout: 60.24% ||||||
General Election 1923: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Unionist | Hugh Cecil | 43.77 | 3,560 | |
| | Unionist | Charles Oman | 27.12 | 2,206 | 2,950 |
| | Liberal | Gilbert Murray | 29.11 | 2,368 | 2,472 |
| Electorate: 10,814 Valid: 8,134 Quota: 2,712 Turnout: 75.22% ||||||
General Election 1924: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Unionist | Hugh Cecil | 49.65 | 4,320 | |
| | Unionist | Charles Oman | 19.97 | 1,738 | 2,968 |
| | Liberal | Gilbert Murray | 30.38 | 2,643 | 2,832 |
| Electorate: 10,773 Valid: 8,701 Quota: 2,901 Turnout: 80.77% ||||||
General Election 1929: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Unionist | Hugh Cecil | 52.45 | 6,012 | |
| | Unionist | Charles Oman | 18.97 | 2,174 | 4,112 |
| | Liberal | Gilbert Murray | 28.59 | 3,277 | 3,529 |
| Electorate: 15,770 Valid: 11,463 Quota: 3,822 Turnout: 72.69% ||||||

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hugh Cecil | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative | Charles Oman | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General Election 1935: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Cecil | 48.32 | 7,365 | | |
| | Independent | A. P. Herbert | 22.24 | 3,390 | 3,864 | 5,206 |
| | Conservative | C. R. M. F. Cruttwell | 11.83 | 1,803 | 3,520 | 3,697 |
| | Labour | J. L. Stocks | 17.60 | 2,683 | 2,776 | eliminated |
| Electorate: 22,413 Valid: 15,241 Quota: 5,081 Turnout: 68.00 |||||||
* Resignation of Cecil
By-Election 23≠27 February 1937: Oxford University :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Arthur Salter | 7,580 | 50.18 | New |
| | Conservative | Farquhar Buzzard | 3,917 | 25.93 | N/A |
| | Ind. Conservative | Frederick Lindemann | 3,608 | 23.89 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,663 | 24.25 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,105 | 62.68 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,021 | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Oxford University (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Arthur Salter | 6,771 | 44.19 | N/A |
| | Independent | A. P. Herbert | 5,136 | 33.52 | +11.28 |
| | Labour | G. D. H. Cole | 3,414 | 22.28 | +4.68 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,722 | 5.23 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,321 | 53.08 | −14.92 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,865 | | |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 5,108 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
* As two candidates achieved the quota only one count was necessary
* Constituency abolished (1950)