# 1838 Manchester Borough Council election

Elections to Manchester Borough Council were held on Friday, 14 December 1838.
This was the first local election held in Manchester since it had been incorporated under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 alongside the townships of Beswick, Cheetham Hill, Chorlton upon Medlock, and Hulme. As this was the first election to the Council, all seats for each of the fifteen wards were up for election. The candidate in each ward with the highest number of votes was elected for three years, the candidate with the second highest number of votes was elected for two years and the candidate with the third highest number of votes was elected for one year. Only one of the fifteen wards was contested.
The Conservative Party boycotted the election due to their opposition to incorporation. All seats were won by pro-incorporation candidates aligned with the Whigs with the only opposition coming in New Cross ward where the Radicals stood a slate of candidates.

## Election result

| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Full Council | Full Council | Full Council |
| Whigs | | 10,713 (90.8%) | | | 48 (100.0%) | 48 / 48 | | 64 (100.0%) | 64 / 64 |
| Radical | | 1,082 (9.2%) | | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 48 | | 0 (0.0%) | 0 / 64 |

### Full council

* 64

### Aldermen

* 16

### Councillors

* 48

## Ward results
### All Saints'

All Saints' :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | H. Marsland | 150 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | S. D. Darbishire | 149 | 99.3 | |
| | Whig | S. Eveleigh | 149 | 99.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 150 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### Ardwick

Ardwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | W. B. Watkins | 186 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | P. F. Willert | 185 | 99.5 | |
| | Whig | A. Nodal | 181 | 97.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 186 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### Cheetham

Cheetham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | J. Harrison | 127 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | G. Heywood | 127 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | T. Hopkins | 127 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 127 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### Collegiate Church

Collegiate Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | S. Satterthwaite | 440 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | J. Kershaw | 439 | 99.8 | |
| | Whig | G. H. Winder | 437 | 99.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 440 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### Exchange

Exchange :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | E. Armitage | 194 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | D. Broadhurst | 194 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | E. Shawcross | 194 | 100.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 194 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### Medlock Street

Medlock Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | A. Smith | 179 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | J. R. White | 178 | 99.4 | |
| | Whig | T. Hopkins | 175 | 97.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 179 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### New Cross

New Cross :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | H. Day | 368 | 73.0 | |
| | Whig | E. Dodgshon | 328 | 65.1 | |
| | Whig | W. Howarth | 324 | 64.3 | |
| | Whig | J. Hampson | 319 | 63.3 | |
| | Whig | A. Prentice | 301 | 59.7 | |
| | Whig | C. J. S. Walker | 299 | 59.3 | |
| | Radical | J. Wroe | 221 | 43.8 | |
| | Radical | J. Broadie | 184 | 36.5 | |
| | Radical | J. Redfern | 179 | 35.5 | |
| | Radical | W. G. Seed | 171 | 33.9 | |
| | Radical | W. Willis | 165 | 32.7 | |
| | Radical | W. Croft | 162 | 32.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 78 | 15.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 504 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### Oxford

Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | S. Stocks | 199 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | R. Roberts | 198 | 99.5 | |
| | Whig | H. Tootal | 198 | 99.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 199 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### St. Ann's

St. Ann's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | J. Herford | 193 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | H. Newbery | 193 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | J. E. Taylor | 192 | 99.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 193 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### St. Clement's

St. Clement's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | T. Molineaux | 204 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | W. Neild | 204 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | W. Woodward | 203 | 99.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 204 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### St. George's

St. George's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | H. Wadkin | 137 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | G. Smith | 136 | 99.3 | |
| | Whig | T. Hopkins | 135 | 98.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 137 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### St. James'

St. James' :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | W. Nuttall | 284 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | W. R. Callender | 281 | 98.9 | |
| | Whig | G. Nelson | 281 | 98.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 284 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | G. Brown | 238 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | A. Kay | 238 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | J. Griffiths | 237 | 99.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 238 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### St. Luke's

St. Luke's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | J. Mayson | 245 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | J. Smith | 245 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | T. Hopkins | 244 | 99.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 245 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

### St. Michael's

St. Michael's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | R. Cobden | 160 | 100.0 | |
| | Whig | J. Brooks | 159 | 99.4 | |
| | Whig | T. Potter | 159 | 99.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 160 | | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

## Aldermanic elections
### Aldermanic election, 15 December 1838

Aldermanic elections took place during the council's first meeting on 15 December 1838, all Aldermanic seats were up for election.
| Party | Alderman | Votes | Term | Ward |
| Whigs | Henry Tootal | 45 | 1844 | All Saints' |
| Whigs | Thomas Potter | 45 | 1844 | Ardwick |
| Whigs | James Kershaw | 45 | 1844 | Collegiate Church |
| Whigs | Richard Cobden | 45 | 1844 | Medlock Street |
| Whigs | C. J. S. Walker | 45 | 1844 | New Cross |
| Whigs | William Romaine Callender | 45 | 1844 | St. James' |
| Whigs | John Brooks | 45 | 1844 | St. Michael's |
| Whigs | Daniel Broadhurst | 45 | 1841 | Exchange |
| Whigs | James Murray | 45 | 1841 | New Cross |
| Whigs | Alexander Kay | 45 | 1841 | St. John's |
| Whigs | William Neild | 44 | 1844 | St. Clement's |
| Whigs | John Burd | 44 | 1841 | Cheetham |
| Whigs | John Macvicar | 44 | 1841 | Oxford |
| Whigs | Richard Roberts | 44 | 1841 | St. Ann's |
| Whigs | John Shuttleworth | 44 | 1841 | St. George's |
| Whigs | Joshua Procter Westhead | 44 | 1841 | St. Luke's |
| Whigs | James Hampson | 2 | N/A | N/A |
| Whigs | Thomas Hopkins | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Whigs | Shakespear Phillips | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Whigs | William Rawson | 1 | N/A | N/A |