# Shaftesbury (UK Parliament constituency)

Shaftesbury was a parliamentary constituency in Dorset. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England, Great Britain and the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1295 until 1832 and one member until the constituency was abolished in 1885.

## History
### Boundaries and franchise before 1832

Shaftesbury was one of the towns summoned to send representatives to the Model Parliament of 1295, and thereafter was continuously represented (except during the temporary upheavals of the Commonwealth) until the 19th century. The constituency was a parliamentary borough, which until 1832 consisted of parts of three parishes in the town of Shaftesbury, a market town in Dorset. In the 17th century the Mayor and Corporation attempted to restrict the right to vote to themselves, but after a decision in 1697 the vote was exercised by all inhabitant householders paying scot and lot. Shaftesbury being a prosperous town this included the vast majority of households, and in 1831 when the borough contained only 474 houses, 400 separate properties were rated for scot and lot and 359 people voted in that year's election. The franchise was therefore in practice, for the period, a very liberal one.

### Political character in the 18th century

Like many boroughs, Shaftesbury generally recognised the local landowner as its "patron", with the right to nominate both its MPs, but also expected this influence to be cemented with generous bribery, making electoral control of the substantial electorate an expensive business. In the mid 18th century the joint patrons were Lord Ilchester and The Earl of Shaftesbury, who generally agreed to nominate one member each rather than bringing about a contested election which would allow the voters scope to demand bribes. Ilchester, who as Stephen Fox had sat as the borough's MP for a number of years before being raised to the peerage, described it as "troublesome, expensive and corrupt".
The patrons were free to recoup their expenditure by selling the seats to suitable candidates (at that period perfectly legal) rather than giving them to family or friends, but avoiding an expensive contest meant they could pocket the proceeds rather than seeing them (illegally) passing into the pockets of the voters. Namier quotes from the papers of Prime Minister Newcastle to show that Sir Thomas Clavering paid £2000 for his seat at Shaftesbury in 1754, and that in 1761 Newcastle quoted the same sum as the likely price of a seat for Sir Gilbert Heathcote, but added that no other pocket borough would be any cheaper.
However, the agreement between the patrons to split the seats amicably merely caused the townsmen to encourage independent candidates to stand so as to ensure a contest, and from 1761 onwards there was generally at least one candidate competing against those backed by the patrons. There also developed the practice of extending bribes in the form of "loans", which would not be called in provided the voter voted as instructed.

### The corrupt election of 1774

Over the years a number of election results were overturned because of corrupt or illegal practices by the victors, but that of 1774 was particularly notorious. At that election one candidate, Hans Winthrop Mortimer, stood independently of the established interests in the town and, having been easily defeated, petitioned to have the result overturned and produced copious evidence of corruption. Thomas Rumbold and Francis Sykes were both shown to have bribed at a rate of 20 guineas (£21) a man, the total spent amounting to several thousand pounds; worse, the magistrates of the town were implicated in distributing this largesse. The contemporary historian of abuses in the rotten boroughs, Thomas Oldfield, gave this account of the "very singular and very absurd contrivances" unsuccessfully used in the hope of preventing proof of involvement:
    A person concealed under a ludicrous and fantastical disguise, and called by the name of Punch, was placed in a small apartment, and through a hole in the door delivered to the voters parcels, containing twenty guineas each: upon which they were conducted to another apartment in the same house, where they found another person called Punch's secretary, who required them to sign notes for the value received: these notes were made payable to an imaginary character, to whom was given the name of Glenbucket. Two of the witnesses swore that they had seen Punch through the hole in the door, and that they knew him to be Mr. Matthews, an alderman of the town...
The Commons Committee accepted the evidence before them, and not only declared Sykes and Rumbold not duly elected and Mortimer duly elected to one of the seats in their place, but ordered that Sykes, Rumbold, and a long list of other inhabitants of the town should be prosecuted by the Attorney General for bribery and perjury. A bill was also brought in to permanently deprive the guilty parties of their votes; however this was never passed, the prosecution never took place, and the Commons was eventually persuaded to reverse its condemnations of Sykes and Rumbold so that both were able to stand for the borough at the next general election. They did not escape penalty entirely, however, as Mortimer brought a civil suit for bribery against Sykes at Dorchester Assizes, and was awarded £11,000 in damages – which he used to buy houses in the town, increasing his own influence at future elections.

### Bankruptcy and evictions

The combination of corruption at the election itself and the need to fight petitions against the result afterwards made Shaftesbury too expensive to be useful to Ilchester, and he sold most of his property in the town to Sykes, while the Earl of Shaftesbury, having failed to get his candidate elected in 1776, seems to have withdrawn from any active involvement. Meanwhile, Mortimer continued his acquisition of property in the town until he owned the majority of houses in the borough, but spent so much on this and on fighting elections that he ran through his substantial fortune and ended in a debtors' prison.
The majority interest in the borough then passed to the nabob Paul Benfield, who bought up Mortimer's properties cheaply when they were auctioned off to benefit his creditors. However, after twice being elected in expensive contests, Benfield too was bankrupted. Shaftesbury then passed through a number of hands until, on the eve of the Reform Act, the principal interest was that of Earl Grosvenor. His accession seems to have eliminated Shaftesbury's endemic bribery and converted it to a more secure pocket borough: when Edward Harbord was offered the seat in 1820 in token of Grosvenor's admiration for his stand over Peterloo, he described it as "a place where no questions are asked as to political principles, and no money required". However, Grosvenor opted for coercion rather than persuasion to enforce his will, and at the tumultuous election of 1830 threatened to evict any of his tenants who did not back his candidates. This won the day, although the anti-Grosvenor candidate promised to compensate any of his supporters who might be evicted, and the election ended in a riot. Grosvenor's agents then proceeded to issue notice to quit to the recalcitrant tenants, fuelling an even-more-vigorous (but still unsuccessful) opposition to his candidates at the 1831 election, even though both of his nominees were pro-Reform.

### Effects of the Reform Act

In 1831, the population of the borough was 2,742, but the Reform Act of the following year extended the boundaries to include the whole of three town parishes and ten other adjoining parishes, covering an area several miles across and bringing the population up to 8,518. This was a bigger population than the revised borough of Poole, across the county, which kept both its MPs. Nevertheless, the Act provided that Shaftesbury lost one of its two MPs. The electorate of the new constituency was 634, and the reformed franchise being more restrictive than that which had previously operated, it was only the provision that preserved the rights of existing voters for life that prevented the new electorate from being as small as the old one. Indeed, as these voters died off or moved away the electorate fell still further, and only 461 men were registered to vote by 1865.
The constituency was unaltered in the boundary changes of 1868, but was too small to survive the next reform, and was abolished with effect from the 1885 general election. Shaftesbury itself and most of the borough were placed in the new Dorset North county constituency, though the parish of Donhead St Mary was in Wiltshire and was therefore incorporated into the Wilton constituency.

## Members of Parliament
### 1295–1629

| Year of reign | Year | Location | MP1 | MP2 |
| Edward 1 from | 1272 | | | |
| 25 | 1296 | Westminster | John Cockaine | Hugh Gappe |
| 26 | 1297 | York | Roger le Teynturer | Wm. Langecock |
| 28 | 1299 | London | Walter Snowden/Senden | John Vigorous |
| 30 | 1301 | London | Wm. Sesewood | Thos. Sharewood |
| 33 | 1304 | London | Laurence Pynge jun. | John de Wilton |
| 34 | 1305 | London | Wm. Aunkehill | John de Wilton |
| 35 | 1306 | Carlisle | Walter Sanden | Hamond le Lange |
| Edward 2 from | 1307 | | | |
| 1 | 1307 | York | Robert de Monte Alto | Richard Normayne |
| 5 | 1311 | London | Walter Sanden | Hamond le Lange |
| 6 | 1312 | Westminster | Walter Sanden | Thos. Steerman/Shareham |
| 7 | 1313 | Westminster | John Hatche | John le Read |
| 8 | 1314 | Westminster | Walter Sanden/de Soudon | John Figerous/Vigorous |
| 15 | 1321 | York | John le Mal/Hull | John le Ston |
| 16 | 1322 | Westminster | Richard Kinemere/Kymer | John Cockayne/Cockaine |
| 19 | 1325 | Westminster | Roge Luff jun | Wm. Vigorous/Virugore |
| Edward 3 from | 1327 | | | |
| 1 | 1327 | York | Richard Palmer | John de Hull |
| 1 | 1327 | Westminster | Thos. Berewyk | |
| 2 | 1328 | North | Richard le Palmere | Richard de Kynemere |
| 4 | 1330 | Winchester | Richard de Kynemour | Wm. Vigorous |
| 6 | 1332 | Westminster | John Anketill | John Bray |
| 7 | 1333 | Westminster | Robt. Anctill | Walter Sondon |
| 9 | 1335 | Westminster | Peter Mankerneys | Walter Sondon |
| 9 | 1335 | York | John Anketill | John le Draper |
| 10 | 1336 | Nottingham | John Anketill | Wm. Sondon |
| 11 | 1337 | Westminster | John Sutton | |
| 11 | 1337 | Westminster | Wm. Anketill | Thos. Platell & John Seled |
| 12 | 1338 | Westminster | Thos. Platell | Wm. Anketill |
| 14 | 1340 | Westminster | John Steerman | Thos. Platell |
| 15 | 1341 | Westminster | John de Wyke | |
| 15 | 1341 | Westminster | Robt. Axtrll | John Steerman |
| 17 | 1343 | Westminster | Wm. le Mew | Thos. Platell |
| 20 | 1346 | Westminster | Thos. de Trent | John de Wyke |
| 21 | 1347 | Westminster | John de Wyke | John Steerman |
| 22 | 1348 | Westminster | Roger de Manyngford | Wm. Hackevill |
| 22 | 1348 | Westminster | John de Wyke | Walter de Thornhull |
| 24 | 1350 | Westminster | John Luff | John Piggon |
| 28 | 1354 | Westminster | John Piggon | John Luff |
| 29 | 1355 | Westminster | Robt. Fovent | John Sharnthorne |
| 31 | 1357 | Westminster | Walter Perie | Edwd. Barnabe |
| 32 | 1358 | Westminster | John Piggon | John Luff |
| 33 | 1359 | Westminster | John Wilton | Lawrence Pynge |
| 34 | 1360 | Westminster | Edmund. Barnabe | Thos. Aleron/Alton |
| 34 | 1360 | Westminster | John Piggon | Edmund. Barnabe |
| 36 | 1362 | Westminster | Wm. Smallbergh | John Moryn |
| 37 | 1363 | Westminster | Walter Henley | Alan Caunsted |
| 43 | 1369 | Westminster | Walter Henley | Edwd. Barnabe |
| 45 | 1371 | Winchester | Walter Henley | |
| 47 | 1373 | Westminster | Wm. Anketill | John Luff |
| Richard 2 from | 1377 | | | |
| 1 | 1377 | Westminster | Walter Haule | Thos. Bache |
| 2 | 1378 | Westminster | Walter Haule | Thos. Bache |
| 3 | 1379 | Westminster | Walter Haulegh | Thos. Cammell |
| 5 | 1381 | Westminster | Walter Haulegh | Thos. Cammell |
| 6 | 1382 | Westminster | Walter Haulegh | Thos. Seaward |
* Constituency created (1295)
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1386 | Edward Leante | Richard Payn |
| 1388 (Feb) | Thomas Cammell | Thomas Seward |
| 1388 (Sep) | Hugh Croxhale | Roger Pyjon |
| 1390 (Jan) | Thomas Cammell | Robert Fovent |
| 1390 (Nov) | |
| 1391 | Thomas Cammell | John Whiting |
| 1393 | Thomas Cammell | Walter Biere |
| 1394 | Thomas Cammell | Robert Biere |
| 1395 | John Whiting | Walter Biere |
| 1397 (Jan) | John Hordere | Walter Biere |
| 1397 (Sep) | Hugh Croxhale | Walter Biere |
| 1399 | Thomas Cammell | Walter Biere |
| 1401 | |
| 1402 | Thomas Cammell | Walter Biere |
| 1404 (Jan) | |
| 1404 (Oct) | |
| 1406 | Robert Frye II | John Scarburgh |
| 1407 | John Bole | John Bremle |
| 1410 | John Bole | Walter Biere |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) | |
| 1413 (May) | John Bole | Walter Biere |
| 1414 (Apr) | Thomas Haselmere | John Pyjon |
| 1414 (Nov) | Thomas Hat | Walter Biere |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | Robert Frye | Walter Biere |
| 1419 | Robert Squibbe | John Clerk |
| 1420 | Robert Squibbe | John Bole |
| 1421 (May) | Robert Squibbe | John Clerk |
| 1421 (Dec) | Robert Squibbe | John Hody |
| 1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
| 1529 | William More | John Mathew |
| 1536 | ? |
| 1539 | ? |
| 1542 | ? |
| 1545 | William More | Robert Grove |
| 1547 | John Arundell | Henry Ashley |
| 1553 (Mar) | ? |
| 1553 (Nov) | John Gapputh | John Fuell |
| 1554 (Apr) | John Gapputh | John Denham |
| Parliament of 1554 (Nov) | John Gapputh | John Plympton |
| Parliament of 1555 | Matthew Arundell | John Foster |
| Parliament of 1558 | William Grove | Hugh Hawker |
| Parliament of 1559 | Sir John Zouche | Henry Coker |
| Parliament of 1563–1567 | Henry Iden | William Jordyn |
| Parliament of 1571 | John Long | Thomas Morgan |
| Parliament of 1572–1581 | Robert Grove | Charles Vaughan |
| Parliament of 1584–1585 | Thomas Cavendish | Bartholomew Kemp |
| Parliament of 1586–1587 | Francis Zouche | Gregory Sprint |
| Parliament of 1588–1589 | Thomas Crompton | Michael Hicks |
| Parliament of 1593 | Arthur Atye | Michael Hicks |
| Parliament of 1597–1598 | John Budden | John Davies |
| Parliament of 1601 | Arthur Messenger | John Budden |
| Parliament of 1604–1611 | Robert Hopton | John Budden |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Henry Croke | Sir Miles Sandys sat for Cambridge University In his place Sir Simeon Steward |
| Parliament of 1621–1622 | William Beecher Expelled from the House In his place Percy Herbert | Thomas Sheppard Expelled from the House In his place Ralph Hopton |
| Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | William Whitaker | John Thoroughgood |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | William Whitaker | John Thoroughgood |
| Parliament of 1625–1626 | William Whitaker | Samuel Turner |
| Parliament of 1628–1629 | John Thoroughgood | Sir John Croke |
| No Parliament summoned 1629–1640 |||

### 1640–1832

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | William Whitaker | Parliamentarian | | Edward Hyde | Royalist |
| 1640 | | William Whitaker | Parliamentarian | | Samuel Turner | Royalist |
| November 1640 | | William Whitaker | Parliamentarian | | Samuel Turner | Royalist |
| January 1644 | | William Whitaker | Parliamentarian | Turner disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Turner disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Turner disabled from sitting – seat vacant |
| 1645 | | William Whitaker | Parliamentarian | | John Bingham | |
| 1646 | | George Starre | | | John Bingham | |
| 1647 | | John Fry | | | John Bingham | |
| February 1651 | Fry expelled – seat vacant | Fry expelled – seat vacant | Fry expelled – seat vacant | | | | John Bingham |
| 1653 | Shaftesbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Shaftesbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Shaftesbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Shaftesbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Shaftesbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Shaftesbury was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Henry Whitaker | | | James Baker | |
| May 1659 | | John Bingham | | One seat vacant | One seat vacant | One seat vacant |
| April 1660 | | Thomas Grove | | | James Baker | |
| 1661 | | Henry Whitaker | | | John Lowe | |
| 1667 | | Henry Whitaker | | | John Bennett | |
| 1677 | | Henry Whitaker | | | Thomas Bennett | |
| 1679 | | Sir Matthew Andrews | | | Thomas Bennett | |
| 1685 | | Sir Henry Butler | | | John Bowles | |
| 1689 | | Sir Matthew Andrews | | | Edward Nicholas | |
| 1698 | | Henry Cornish | | | Edward Nicholas | |
| 1699 | | Thomas Chafin | | | Edward Nicholas | |
| 1701 | | Sir John Cropley | | | Edward Nicholas | |
| 1710 | | Edward Seymour | | | Edward Nicholas | |
| 1711 | | Henry Whitaker | | | Edward Nicholas | |
| January 1715 | | Samuel Rush | | | Edward Nicholas | |
| May 1715 | | William Benson | Whig | | Edward Nicholas | |
| 1719 | | Sir Edward des Bouverie | | | Edward Nicholas | |
| 1726 | | Sir Edward des Bouverie | | | Stephen Fox | |
| 1734 | | Jacob Banks | | | Philip Bennet | |
| 1735 | | Jacob Banks | | | Stephen Fox | |
| 1738 | | Philip Bennet | | | Stephen Fox | |
| 1741 | | Peter Walter | | | Charles Ewer | |
| 1742 | | Peter Walter | | | George Pitt | Tory |
| June 1747 | | Cuthbert Ellison | | | George Pitt | Tory |
| December 1747 | | Cuthbert Ellison | | | William Beckford | |
| 1754 | | Hon. James Brudenell | | | Sir Thomas Clavering | Whig |
| 1761 | | Sir Gilbert Heathcote | Whig | | Samuel Touchet | Whig |
| 1768 | | William Chaffin Grove | | | (Sir) Ralph Payne | |
| 1771 | | William Chaffin Grove | | | Francis Sykes | |
| 1774 | | Thomas Rumbold | | | Francis Sykes | |
| 1775 | | Seat declared vacant pending by-election | Seat declared vacant pending by-election | | Hans Winthrop Mortimer | Independent |
| 1776 | | George Rous | | | Hans Winthrop Mortimer | Independent |
| 1780 | | Sir Thomas Rumbold | | | (Sir) Francis Sykes | |
| 1781 | | Hans Winthrop Mortimer | Independent | | (Sir) Francis Sykes | |
| 1784 | | Hans Winthrop Mortimer | Independent | | Adam Drummond | |
| 1786 | | Hans Winthrop Mortimer | Independent | | John Drummond | |
| 1790 | | Charles Duncombe | Tory | | William Grant | Tory |
| 1793 | | Charles Duncombe | Tory | | Paul Benfield | |
| 1796 | | Walter Boyd | | | Paul Benfield | |
| 1802 | | Edward Loveden Loveden | | | Robert Hurst | |
| 1806 | | Edward Loveden Loveden | | | Captain Sir Home Riggs Popham | |
| 1807 | | Edward Loveden Loveden | Whig | | Thomas Wallace | Whig |
| 1812 | | Richard Bateman-Robson | Whig | | Hudson Gurney | Whig |
| 1813 | | Charles Wetherell | Tory | | Edward Kerrison | Tory |
| 1818 | | John Bacon Sawrey Morritt | | | Henry John Shepherd | |
| 1820 | | Edward Harbord | | | Abraham Moore | |
| 1821 | | Ralph Leycester | Whig | | Abraham Moore | |
| 1822 | | Ralph Leycester | Whig | | Lord Robert Grosvenor | Whig |
| 1826 | | Ralph Leycester | Whig | | Edward Davies Davenport | Whig |
| 1830 | | Edward Penrhyn | Whig | | William Stratford Dugdale | Tory |
| 1831 | | Edward Penrhyn | Whig | | William Leader Maberly | Whig |
| 1832 | 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 |

### 1832–1885

| Year | | Member | Party |
| 1832 | | John Sayer Poulter | Whig |
| 1838 | | George Mathew | Conservative |
| 1841 | | Lord Howard of Effingham | Whig |
| 1845 | | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Whig |
| 1852 | | Hon. Henry Portman | Whig |
| 1857 | | George Glyn | Whig |
| 1859 | | George Glyn | Liberal |
| 1873 | | Vere Benett-Stanford | Conservative |
| 1880 | | Hon. Sidney Glyn | Liberal |
| 1885 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |

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

General election 1830: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Edward Penrhyn | 169 | 38.9 |
| | Tory | William Stratford Dugdale | 145 | 33.3 |
| | Radical | Sir Francis Charles Knowles, 3rd Baronet | 121 | 27.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 270 | c. 77.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 350 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 5.6 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 5.5 |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig |
Dugdale resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 19 April 1831: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | William Leader Maberly | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1831: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Penrhyn | 171 | 28.7 | +9.3 |
| | Whig | William Leader Maberly | 168 | 28.2 | +8.8 |
| | Radical | Sir Francis Charles Knowles, 3rd Baronet | 133 | 22.4 | −5.4 |
| | Tory | Dominick Trant | 123 | 20.7 | −12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 | 7.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 298 | c. 85.0 | c. +7.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 350 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +7.8 | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +7.6 | |
General election 1832: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Sayer Poulter | 318 | 60.2 | +32.0 |
| | Whig | Edward Penrhyn | 210 | 39.8 | +11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 108 | 20.4 | +12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 528 | 83.3 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 634 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +10.5 | |
General election 1835: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Sayer Poulter | 237 | 61.6 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | William Best | 148 | 38.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 89 | 23.2 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 385 | 69.5 | −13.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 554 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
General election 1837: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Sayer Poulter | 224 | 50.6 | −11.0 |
| | Conservative | George Mathew | 219 | 49.4 | +11.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 | 1.2 | −22.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 443 | 89.3 | +19.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 496 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −11.0 | |
* On petition, Poulter was unseated in favour of Mathew

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Howard | 219 | 52.0 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | George Mathew | 202 | 48.0 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17 | 4.0 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 421 | 84.7 | −4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 497 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
Howard succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Earl of Effingham, causing a by-election.
By-election, 5 March 1845: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | 213 | 54.8 | +2.8 |
| | Conservative | Richard Bethell | 176 | 45.2 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37 | 9.6 | +5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 389 | 80.4 | −4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 484 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +2.8 | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Portman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 509 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1857: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Glyn | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 540 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1859: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Glyn | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 515 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Glyn | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 461 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Glyn | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,311 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

Glyn succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Wolverton and causing a by-election.
By-election, 30 Aug 1873: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Vere Benett-Stanford | 603 | 53.0 | New |
| | Liberal | Henry Danby Seymour | 534 | 47.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 6.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,137 | 86.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,311 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1874: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Vere Benett-Stanford | 591 | 51.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Henry Danby Seymour | 562 | 48.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,153 | 89.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,286 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Shaftesbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sidney Glyn | 652 | 51.3 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | Vere Benett-Stanford | 618 | 48.7 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,270 | 91.5 | +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,388 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.6 | |