# Aberdeen (UK Parliament constituency)

Aberdeen was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1885. It was represented by one Member of Parliament (MP), elected by the first past the post voting system.

## Boundaries

As created in 1832, the constituency covered the burgh of Aberdeen, which was previously within the Aberdeen Burghs constituency. Together with Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen was one of two constituencies covering the county of Aberdeen.
The boundaries of the constituency, as set out in the 1832 Act, were-
    "From the Point, on the North-west of the Town, at which the Scatter Burn joins the River Don, down the River Don to the Point at which the same joins the Sea; thence along the Sea Shore to the Point at which the River Dee joins the Sea; thence up the River Dee to a Point which is distant One hundred Yards (measured along the River Dee) above the Bridge of Dee; thence in a straight Line to the Point at which the March between the Parishes of Old Machar and Banchory Davenick crosses the Old-Dee-side Road; thence, Northward, along the March between the Parishes of Old Machar and Banchory Davenick, and Old Machar and Newhills, to the Point first described."
In 1885, the Aberdeen constituency was divided between Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1832 | Alexander Bannerman | Whig |
| 1847 | Alexander Fordyce | Whig |
| 1852 | George Thompson | Radical |
| 1857 | William Henry Sykes | Whig |
| 1859 | William Henry Sykes | Liberal |
| 1872 by-election | John Farley Leith | Liberal |
| 1880 | John Webster | Liberal |
| 1885 | Redistribution of Seats Act: constituency abolished | Redistribution of Seats Act: constituency abolished |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Webster | 7,505 | 70.5 | +11.6 |
| | Conservative | James Shaw | 3,139 | 29.5 | −11.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,366 | 41.0 | +23.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,644 | 75.0 | +29.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,184 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +11.6 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Farley Leith | 3,910 | 58.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Shaw | 2,724 | 41.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,186 | 17.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,634 | 45.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,585 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
By-election, 29 June 1872: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Farley Leith | 4,392 | 57.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | James William Barclay | 2,615 | 33.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Shaw | 704 | 9.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,777 | 23.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,711 | 55.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,996 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Sykes' death.

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Henry Sykes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,312 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Henry Sykes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,996 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Henry Sykes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,442 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1857: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Henry Sykes | 1,035 | 54.9 | N/A |
| | Whig | John Farley Leith | 849 | 45.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 186 | 9.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,884 | 80.3 | +54.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,346 | | |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1852: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | George Thompson | 682 | 58.8 | N/A |
| | Whig | Andrew Leith Hay | 478 | 41.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 204 | 17.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,160 | 25.5 | −14.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,547 | | |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Alexander Fordyce | 918 | 68.5 | N/A |
| | Whig | William Henry Sykes | 422 | 31.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 496 | 37.0 | +16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,340 | 39.8 | −20.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,364 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1841: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Alexander Bannerman | 780 | 59.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Innes | 513 | 38.8 | New |
| | Chartist | Robert Lowery | 30 | 2.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 267 | 20.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,323 | 60.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,189 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Alexander Bannerman | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,110 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Alexander Bannerman | 938 | 71.6 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Farquhar | 372 | 28.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 566 | 43.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,310 | 62.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,098 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Aberdeen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Alexander Bannerman | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,024 | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |