# Truro (UK Parliament constituency)

Truro was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall represented in the House of Commons of England and later of Great Britain from 1295 until 1800, then in the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918 and finally from 1950 to 1997. Until 1885 it was a parliamentary borough, electing two members of parliament (MPs) by the plurality-at-large system of election; the name was then transferred to the surrounding county constituency, which elected a single Member by the first past the post system. In 1997, although there had been no changes to its boundaries, it was renamed as Truro and St Austell, reflecting the fact that St Austell by then had a larger population than Truro.

## Boundaries

1950–1974: The Borough of Truro, the Urban District of St Austell, the Rural District of Truro except the parish of Gwennap, and in the Rural District of St Austell the parishes of Creed, Grampound, Roche, St Dennis, St Ewe, St Goran, St Mewan, St Michael Caerhays, and St Stephen-in-Brannel.
1974–1983: The Boroughs of Truro, and St Austell with Fowey, the Rural District of Truro except the parish of Gwennap, and in the Rural District of St Austell the parishes of Creed, Grampound, Roche, St Dennis, St Ewe, St Goran, St Mewan, St Michael Caerhays, and St Stephen-in-Brannel.
1983–1997: The District of Carrick wards of Boscawen, Chacewater, Feock, Kea, Kenwyn, Moresk, Newlyn, Perranzabuloe, Probus, Roseland, St Agnes, St Clement, Tregolls, and Trehaverne, and the Borough of Restormel wards of Crinnis, Mevagissey, Poltair, Rock, St Ewe, St Mewan, St Stephen-in-Brannel, Trevarna, and Treverbyn.

## History

The constituency has existed in a number of different forms. The constituency of Truro, up until 1885 elected two members to parliament; this was reduced to one. In 1918 the constituency was abolished but it was recreated again in 1950.
The seat became a safe Lib Dem bet thanks to the popularity and eloquence of its former MP, David Penhaligon. His death in a car crash, aged only 42, robbed the House of Commons of one of its most independent-minded and pragmatic members. His successor, Matthew Taylor, held the seat comfortably from a by-election in 1987, and remained its MP after the name change in 1997.

## Members of Parliament
### Truro Parliamentary borough
#### MPs 1295–1629

* Constituency created (1295)
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1358 | John Hamely | |
| 1386 | John Tregoose | Robert Clerk |
| 1388 (Feb) | Henry Gourlyn | John Tremayne |
| 1388 (Sep) | John Tr...uran | John Trebernet |
| 1390 (Jan) | John Coke | Walter Bloyowe |
| 1390 (Nov) | | |
| 1391 | John Urban | Roger Juyl |
| 1393 | Ralph Trenewith I | Walter Bloyowe |
| 1394 | | |
| 1395 | Richard Respryn | Andrew Borlase |
| 1397 (Jan) | John Trereise | John Megre |
| 1397 (Sep) | Nicholas Trenewith | John Lawhire |
| 1399 | Richard Carhorta | Pascoe Polruddan |
| 1401 | | |
| 1402 | Ralph Kayl | John Trereise |
| 1404 (Jan) | | |
| 1404 (Oct) | | |
| 1406 | Ralph Cardrewe | Thomas Brunsham |
| 1407 | | |
| 1410 | | |
| 1411 | Thomas Paderda | William Colyn |
| 1413 (Feb) | | |
| 1413 (May) | John Chinals | William Chamberlain |
| 1414 (Apr) | | |
| 1414 (Nov) | John Trereise | William Trethake I |
| 1415 | | |
| 1416 (Mar) | Peter Hayme | William Moun |
| 1416 (Oct) | | |
| 1417 | John Megre | Andrew Hirnans |
| 1419 | John Trewint | John Langedon |
| 1420 | William Panter | Robert Trenerth |
| 1421 (May) | William Trethake II | William Richard |
| 1421 (Dec) | Robert Treage | William Richard |
| 1422 | John But |
| 1425 | John But |
| 1467 | Edward Aysshton | |
| 1510–1523 | No names known | |
| 1529 | Roger Corbet | John Thomas |
| 1536 | ?Roger Corbet | ? |
| 1539 | ? | |
| 1542 | ? | |
| 1545 | Francis Smith | Robert Trencreke |
| 1547 | Robert Trencreke | Nicholas Randall |
| First Parliament of 1553 | Nicholas Randall | Thomas Roydon |
| Second Parliament of 1553 | Nicholas Randall | John Methnes |
| Parliament of 1554 | William Iseham | Thomas Duppa |
| Parliament of 1554–1555 | John Melhuish | Thomas Roydon |
| Parliament of 1555 | Nicholas Randall | Thomas Randall |
| Parliament of 1558 | Nicholas Randall | Thomas Roydon |
| Parliament of 1563–1567 | John Carminow | John Mitchell |
| Parliament of 1571 | Henry Killigrew | Vincent Skinner |
| Parliament of 1572–1581 | Henry Killigrew | Oliver Carminow |
| Parliament of 1584–1585 | Edward Darcy | Michael Hicks |
| Parliament of 1586–1587 | John Stanhope | Roland Lytton |
| Parliament of 1588–1589 | Hannibal Vyvyan | John Woolton |
| Parliament of 1593 | John Parker | Nicholas Smyth |
| Parliament of 1597–1598 | Maurice Berkeley | Reade Stafford |
| Parliament of 1601 | William Daniel | Thomas Harris |
| Parliament of 1604–1611 | Henry Cossen | Thomas Burgess |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Thomas Russell | Thomas Burgess, junior |
| Parliament of 1621–1622 | Barnaby Gough, sat for Cambridge Univ. and replaced by Sir John Catcher | John Trefusis |
| Happy Parliament (1624) | Richard Daniel | Thomas Burgess |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | William Rous | Henry Rolle |
| Parliament of 1626 | Francis Rous | Henry Rolle |
| Parliament of 1628 | Richard Daniel | Henry Rolle |
| No Parliament summoned 1629–1640 |||

#### MPs 1640–1885

| Election | First member | First member | First party | Second member | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Francis Rous | Parliamentarian | | John Rolle | Parliamentarian |
| November 1640 | | Francis Rous | Parliamentarian | | John Rolle | Parliamentarian |
| November 1648 | | Francis Rous | Parliamentarian | Rolle died – seat left vacant | Rolle died – seat left vacant | Rolle died – seat left vacant |
| 1653 | Truro was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Truro was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Truro was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Truro was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Truro was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Truro was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Francis Rous | | Truro had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Truro had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Truro had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | Walter Vincent | | Truro had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Truro had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Truro had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Walter Vincent | | | Charles Boscawen | |
| May 1659 | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump |
| April 1660 | | Walter Vincent | | | Edward Boscawen | |
| 1661 | | Nicholas Arundell | | | Edward Boscawen | |
| 1666 | | John Arundell | | | Edward Boscawen | |
| 1679 | | William Boscawen | | | Edward Boscawen | |
| 1681 | | Henry Ashurst | | | Edward Boscawen | |
| 1685 | | John Arundell | | | Henry Vincent | |
| 1689 | | Sir Henry Ashurst, Bt | | | Henry Vincent | |
| 1690 | | John Cloberry | | | Henry Vincent | |
| 1695 | | Hugh Fortescue | Whig | | Henry Vincent | |
| March 1701 | | Sir John Hawles | Whig | | Henry Vincent | |
| December 1701 | | Sir William Scawen sat for Grampound | | | Henry Vincent | |
| February 1702 | | Sir Robert Cotton | Tory | | Henry Vincent | |
| July 1702 | | Thomas Powys | | | Henry Vincent | |
| November 1702 | | Sir Philip Meadowes | | | Henry Vincent | |
| May 1705 | | Hugh Boscawen | Whig | | Henry Vincent | |
| November 1705 | | Peregrine Bertie | Whig | | Henry Vincent | |
| May 1708 | | James Brydges | | | Henry Vincent | |
| December 1708 | | Robert Furnese | Whig | | Henry Vincent | |
| 1710 | | Hugh Boscawen | Whig | | Henry Vincent | |
| 1713 | | Thomas Hare | | | William Collier | |
| 1715 | | John Selwyn | | | Spencer Cowper | Whig |
| 1721 | | Thomas Wyndham | | | Spencer Cowper | Whig |
| 1727 | | Hugh Boscawen | | | Sidney Meadows | |
| 1734 | | Kelland Courtenay | | | Robert Trefusis | |
| 1741 | | Charles Hamilton | | | James Hammond | |
| 1742 | | Charles Hamilton | | | Admiral the Hon. Edward Boscawen | Tory |
| 1747 | | Hon. John Boscawen | Tory | | Admiral the Hon. Edward Boscawen | Tory |
| 1761 | | Hon. John Boscawen | Tory | | Lt General the Hon. George Boscawen | Tory |
| 1767 | | Edward Hugh Boscawen | Tory | | Lt General the Hon. George Boscawen | Tory |
| 1774 | | George Boscawen | Tory | | Bamber Gascoyne | Whig |
| 1780 | | Henry Rosewarne | Whig | | Bamber Gascoyne | Whig |
| 1783 | | John Pollexfen Bastard | Tory | | Bamber Gascoyne | Whig |
| February 1784 | | Sir John St Aubyn, Bt | Whig | | Bamber Gascoyne | Whig |
| April 1784 | | William Macarmick | Tory | | William Augustus Spencer Boscawen | Tory |
| 1787 | | John Hiley Addington | Tory | | William Augustus Spencer Boscawen | Tory |
| 1790 | | James Gordon | Tory | | William Augustus Spencer Boscawen | Tory |
| 1792 | | James Gordon | Tory | | Charles Ingoldsby Paulet | Tory |
| 1796 | | Lt Colonel John Leveson-Gower | Tory | | John Lemon | Whig |
| 1802 | | Captain Edward Leveson-Gower | Tory | | John Lemon | Whig |
| 1807 | | Edward Boscawen | Tory | | John Lemon | Whig |
| 1808 | | Charles Powlett Townshend | Tory | | John Lemon | Whig |
| 1810 | | William John Bankes | Tory | | John Lemon | Whig |
| 1812 | | Sir George Warrender, Bt | Tory | | John Lemon | Whig |
| 1814 | | Sir George Warrender, Bt | Tory | | George Dashwood | Tory |
| 1818 | | Lord FitzRoy Somerset | Tory | | William Edward Tomline | Tory |
| 1820 | | Sir Hussey Vivian | Whig | | William Gossett | Whig |
| 1826 | | Lord FitzRoy Somerset | Tory | | William Edward Tomline | Tory |
| 1829 | | Viscount Encombe | Tory | | Nathaniel William Peach | Tory |
| 1832 | | Sir Hussey Vivian | Whig | | William Tooke | Whig |
| 1835 | | John Ennis Vivian | Conservative | | William Tooke | Whig |
| 1837 | | John Ennis Vivian | Conservative | | Edmund Turner | Whig |
| 1849 | | John Ennis Vivian | Conservative | | Humphrey Willyams | Whig |
| 1852 | | John Ennis Vivian | Conservative | | Sir Henry Vivian | Whig |
| 1857 | | Augustus Smith | Whig | | Edward Brydges Willyams | Whig |
| 1859 | | Augustus Smith | Liberal | | Montague Edward Smith | Conservative |
| February 1865 | | Augustus Smith | Liberal | | Sir Frederick Williams, Bt | Conservative |
| July 1865 | | Hon. John Vivian | Liberal | | Sir Frederick Williams, Bt | Conservative |
| 1871 | | Sir James McGarel-Hogg, Bt | Conservative | | Sir Frederick Williams, Bt | Conservative |
| 1878 | | Sir James McGarel-Hogg, Bt | Conservative | | Arthur Tremayne | Conservative |
| 1880 | | Sir James McGarel-Hogg, Bt | Conservative | | Edward Brydges Willyams | Liberal |
| 1885 | Borough constituency abolished – name transferred to single-member county constituency | Borough constituency abolished – name transferred to single-member county constituency | Borough constituency abolished – name transferred to single-member county constituency | Borough constituency abolished – name transferred to single-member county constituency | Borough constituency abolished – name transferred to single-member county constituency | Borough constituency abolished – name transferred to single-member county constituency |

### Truro County constituency
#### MPs 1885–1918

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | William Bickford-Smith | Liberal later Liberal Unionist |
| 1892 | John Charles Williams | Liberal Unionist |
| 1895 | Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence | Liberal Unionist |
| 1906 | George Hay Morgan | Liberal |
| 1918 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

#### MPs 1950–1997

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | Geoffrey Wilson | Conservative |
| 1970 | Piers Dixon | Conservative |
| Oct 1974 | David Penhaligon | Liberal |
| 1987 by-election | Matthew Taylor | Liberal |
| 1988 | Matthew Taylor | Liberal Democrats |
| 1997 | name changed to Truro & St. Austell | name changed to Truro & St. Austell |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Scott | 14 | 46.7 |
| | Tory | Nathaniel William Peach | 14 | 46.7 |
| | Whig | John Lubbock | 1 | 3.3 |
| | Whig | William Tooke | 1 | 3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 43.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 15 | c. 62.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
178 free burgesses polled for Lubbock and Tooke, and one for Scott and Peach, but their votes were rejected.
General election 1831: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John Scott | 10 | 45.5 | −1.2 |
| | Tory | Nathaniel William Peach | 10 | 45.5 | −1.2 |
| | Whig | William Tooke | 1 | 4.5 | +1.2 |
| | Whig | Humphrey Willyams | 1 | 4.5 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 41.0 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 11 | c. 45.8 | c. −16.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | −1.2 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | −1.2 | |
24 votes were tendered by inhabitant householders for Tooke and Willyams, but these were rejected.
General election 1832: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Hussey Vivian | 291 | 42.2 | +37.7 |
| | Whig | William Tooke | 203 | 29.4 | +24.9 |
| | Tory | John Ennis Vivian | 196 | 28.4 | −62.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 386 | 95.3 | c. +49.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 406 | | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +34.5 | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | +28.1 | |
General election 1835: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | 316 | 41.3 | +12.9 |
| | Whig | William Tooke | 274 | 35.8 | +6.4 |
| | Whig | Hussey Vivian | 176 | 23.0 | −19.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 456 | 89.4 | −5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 510 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | 5.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +12.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 98 | 12.8 | +11.8 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | ±0.0 | |
General election 1837: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edmund Turner | 393 | 45.0 | +22.0 |
| | Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | 254 | 29.1 | −12.2 |
| | Whig | William Tooke | 226 | 25.9 | −9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 488 | 84.3 | −5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 579 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 139 | 15.9 | +3.1 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +14.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 | 3.2 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −12.2 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edmund Turner | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 622 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edmund Turner | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 627 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Turner's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 11 January 1849: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Humphrey Willyams | 240 | 51.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Montague Edward Smith | 224 | 48.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 464 | 79.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 586 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Vivian | 267 | 26.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Ennis Vivian | 263 | 25.9 | N/A |
| | Whig | Augustus Smith | 255 | 25.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Montague Edward Smith | 229 | 22.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 507 (est) | 83.5 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 607 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1857: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Augustus Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Edward Brydges Willyams | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 646 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative |
General election 1859: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Montague Edward Smith | 303 | 40.9 | New |
| | Liberal | Augustus Smith | 225 | 30.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Vivian | 213 | 28.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 78 | 10.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 522 (est) | 80.7 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 647 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1860s

Montague Edward Smith resigned after being appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.
By-election, 14 February 1865: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Williams | 249 | 53.1 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal | John Vivian | 220 | 46.9 | −12.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 6.2 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 469 | 82.7 | +2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 567 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +12.2 | |
General election 1865: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Williams | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | John Vivian | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 567 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Williams | 731 | 40.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Vivian | 683 | 37.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Passmore Edwards | 406 | 22.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 48 | 2.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,276 (est) | 88.9 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,435 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Vivian was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, causing a by-election.
By-election, 21 December 1868: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Vivian | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

Vivian resigned after being appointed Under-Secretary of State for War.
By-election, 13 Sep 1871: Truro (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Hogg | 605 | 58.1 | +17.9 |
| | Liberal | Edward Jenkins | 436 | 41.9 | −17.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 169 | 16.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,041 | 72.2 | −16.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,442 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1874: Truro (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Williams | 798 | 31.4 | −8.8 |
| | Conservative | James Hogg | 723 | 28.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Henry Riversdale Grenfell | 565 | 22.2 | −15.3 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Graham | 455 | 17.9 | −5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 158 | 6.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,271 (est) | 80.3 (est) | −8.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,582 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
Williams' death caused a by-election.
By-election, 26 Sep 1878: Truro (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Tremayne | 656 | 51.8 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal | Edward Brydges Willyams | 611 | 48.2 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45 | 3.6 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,267 | 80.3 | 0.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,578 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −8.1 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Truro (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James McGarel-Hogg | 781 | 45.5 | +17.0 |
| | Liberal | Brydges Willyams | 754 | 43.9 | −3.8 |
| | Conservative | John Chester | 181 | 10.5 | −20.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,158 (est) | 75.1 (est) | −5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,542 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 1.6 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 573 | 33.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.5 | |
General election 1885: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Bickford-Smith | 3,816 | 57.0 | +13.1 |
| | Conservative | William Molesworth-St Aubyn | 2,883 | 43.0 | −13.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 933 | 14.0 | −19.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,699 | 75.9 | +0.8 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,825 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +13.1 | |
General election 1886: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Bickford-Smith | 3,522 | 69.5 | +26.5 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Lough | 1,546 | 30.5 | −26.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,976 | 39.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,068 | 57.4 | −18.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,825 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +26.5 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | John Williams | 4,029 | 61.5 | −8.0 |
| | Liberal | John Henry Lile | 2,518 | 38.5 | +8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,511 | 23.0 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,547 | 76.5 | +19.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,556 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | -8.0 | |
General election 1895: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Edwin Lawrence | 3,282 | 52.1 | −9.4 |
| | Liberal | Henry Turner Waddy | 3,012 | 47.9 | +9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 270 | 4.2 | −18.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,294 | 69.5 | −7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,057 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | -9.4 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Edwin Durning-Lawrence | 3,869 | 55.9 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal | Charles W. Thornton | 3,051 | 44.1 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 818 | 11.8 | +7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,920 | 74.5 | +5.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,290 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | +3.8 | |
General election 1906: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Hay Morgan | 4,187 | 53.2 | +9.1 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Edwin Durning-Lawrence | 3,683 | 46.8 | −9.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 504 | 6.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,870 | 83.7 | +9.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,403 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +9.1 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Hay Morgan | 4,874 | 53.4 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Edwin Durning-Lawrence | 4,261 | 46.6 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 613 | 6.8 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,135 | 89.9 | +6.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
General election December 1910: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Hay Morgan | 4,573 | 52.3 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative | Charles Williams | 4,176 | 47.7 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 397 | 4.6 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,749 | 86.1 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -1.1 | |
General Election 1914/15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal: Walter Burt
* Unionist:

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 18,910 | 41.8 | |
| | Labour | Henry Brinton | 15,617 | 34.5 | |
| | Liberal | Gerald Edward Leaman Whitmarsh | 10,746 | 23.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,293 | 7.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,273 | 83.3 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
General election 1951: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 24,883 | 55.7 | +13.9 |
| | Labour | John N. Newby | 19,752 | 44.2 | +9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,131 | 11.5 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,635 | 81.2 | −2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
General election 1955: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 19,900 | 46.1 | −9.6 |
| | Labour | John N. Newby | 15,183 | 35.2 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal | Nancy Seear | 8,056 | 18.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,717 | 10.9 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,139 | 78.7 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.3 | |
General election 1959: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 19,544 | 44.2 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | Ronald James Rae Blindell | 15,057 | 34.0 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | Nancy Seear | 9,637 | 21.8 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,487 | 10.2 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,238 | 80.2 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 18,328 | 40.6 | −3.6 |
| | Labour | Douglas W. J. Grazier | 14,224 | 31.5 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal | William Rowse Hosking | 12,575 | 27.9 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,104 | 9.1 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,127 | 79.2 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.5 | |
General election 1966: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Wilson | 18,701 | 40.4 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | Reginald Cyril J. Scott | 17,093 | 37.0 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal | William Rowse Hosking | 10,450 | 22.6 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,608 | 3.4 | −5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,244 | 79.2 | 0.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.8 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Piers Dixon | 24,894 | 49.3 | +8.9 |
| | Labour | Raymond Charles Cuss | 16,684 | 33.0 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal | Michael Steed | 8,923 | 17.7 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,210 | 16.3 | +12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,501 | 76.0 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.4 | |
General election February 1974: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Piers Dixon | 23,493 | 40.3 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal | David Penhaligon | 20,932 | 35.9 | +18.2 |
| | Labour | M. W. White | 12,945 | 22.2 | −10.8 |
| | Mebyon Kernow | James Whetter | 850 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,561 | 4.4 | −11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,220 | 81.5 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -13.6 | |
General election October 1974: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Penhaligon | 22,549 | 39.8 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | Piers Dixon | 22,085 | 39.0 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | A. F. Long | 11,606 | 20.5 | −1.7 |
| | Mebyon Kernow | James Whetter | 384 | 0.7 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 464 | 0.8 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,624 | 78.6 | −2.9 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.6 | |
General election 1979: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Penhaligon | 33,571 | 52.8 | +13.0 |
| | Conservative | R. A. Brown | 24,863 | 39.1 | +0.1 |
| | Labour | Bruce Malcolm Tidy | 4,689 | 7.4 | −13.1 |
| | Cornish Nationalist | James Whetter | 227 | 0.4 | −0.3 |
| | National Front | N. F. Hedger | 182 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,708 | 13.7 | +12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,532 | 82.9 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.4 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Penhaligon | 31,279 | 57.3 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative | Philip Darren Buddell | 20,799 | 38.1 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | Janet Mary Beecroft | 2,479 | 4.6 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,480 | 19.2 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,447 | 79.6 | −3.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.8 | |
By-election 1987: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Matthew Owen John Taylor | 30,599 | 60.4 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | Nick St. Aubyn | 15,982 | 31.5 | −6.6 |
| | Labour | John King | 3,603 | 7.1 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Howard Hoptrough | 403 | 0.8 | New |
| | Death off Road: Freight on Rail | Helen Anscomb | 75 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,617 | 28.9 | +9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,662 | 70.2 | −9.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +4.8 | |
General election 1987: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Matthew Owen John Taylor | 28,368 | 49.0 | −8.3 |
| | Conservative | Nick St Aubyn | 23,615 | 40.8 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | John King | 5,882 | 10.2 | +5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,753 | 8.2 | −11.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,865 | 79.9 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -5.5 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Truro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Taylor | 31,230 | 50.5 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative | Nick St Aubyn | 23,660 | 38.3 | −2.5 |
| | Labour | James H. Geach | 6,078 | 9.8 | −0.4 |
| | Green | Liam Keating | 569 | 0.9 | New |
| | Liberal | Christopher Tankard | 208 | 0.3 | New |
| | Natural Law | Margot Hartley | 108 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,570 | 12.2 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,853 | 82.3 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +2.0 | |