# Kerry (UK Parliament constituency)

County Kerry was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning two Members of Parliament. In 1885, it was divided into four constituencies.

## History

County Kerry had been represented by two seats in the Irish House of Commons. From 1801, under the Acts of Union 1800, it was represented by two MPs in the United Kingdom House of Commons. It comprised the whole of County Kerry, except for the borough of Tralee. The boroughs of Ardfert and Dingle were disfranchised in 1801.
Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Tralee lost its separate franchise and the county was divided into four divisions: East Kerry, North Kerry, South Kerry and West Kerry.

## Members of Parliament

| Year | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Party |
| 1801 | James Crosbie | | Maurice Fitzgerald | Whig |
| 1806 | Henry Arthur Herbert (1756–1821) | | Maurice Fitzgerald | Whig |
| 1812 | James Crosbie | | Maurice Fitzgerald | Whig |
| 1826 | William Hare (Viscount Ennismore from 1827) | Whig | Maurice Fitzgerald | Whig |
| 1830 | William Browne | Whig | Maurice Fitzgerald | Tory |
| 1831 | Frederick Mullins | Repeal Association | Daniel O'Connell | Repeal Association |
| 1832 | Frederick Mullins | Repeal Association | Charles O'Connell | Repeal Association |
| 1835 | Frederick Mullins | Repeal Association | Morgan John O'Connell | Repeal Association |
| 1837 | Arthur Blennerhassett | Conservative | Morgan John O'Connell | Repeal Association |
| 1841 | William Browne | Whig | Morgan John O'Connell | Repeal Association |
| 1847 | Henry Arthur Herbert (1815–66) | Peelite | Morgan John O'Connell | Repeal Association |
| 1852 | Henry Arthur Herbert (1815–66) | Peelite | Valentine Browne (Viscount Castlerosse from 1853) | Whig |
| 1859 | Henry Arthur Herbert (1815–66) | Liberal | Valentine Browne (Viscount Castlerosse from 1853) | Liberal |
| 1866 by-election | Henry Arthur Herbert (1840–1901) | Liberal | Valentine Browne (Viscount Castlerosse from 1853) | Liberal |
| 1872 by-election | Henry Arthur Herbert (1840–1901) | Liberal | Rowland Blennerhassett | Home Rule League |
| 1880 | Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 4th Bt | Liberal Party | Rowland Blennerhassett | Home Rule League |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

FitzGerald was appointed as Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, causing a by-election.
By-election, 20 April 1830: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Maurice FitzGerald | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig |
General election 1830: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | William Browne | 390 | 36.1 |
| | Tory | Maurice FitzGerald | 377 | 34.9 |
| | Tory | Pierce Crosbie | 217 | 20.1 |
| | Tory | John Bateman (Tralee MP) | 96 | 8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 543 | 53.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,024 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 1.2 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 160 | 14.8 |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | |
General election 1831: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal | Daniel O'Connell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Repeal | Frederick Mullins | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 936 | |
| | Irish Repeal gain from Tory | Irish Repeal gain from Tory | Irish Repeal gain from Tory | Irish Repeal gain from Tory |
| | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig |
General election 1832: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal | Charles O'Connell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Repeal | Frederick Mullins | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,161 | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
General election 1835: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | Morgan O'Connell | 818 | 44.0 |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | Frederick Mullins | 596 | 32.0 |
| | Conservative | Maurice FitzGerald | 384 | 20.6 |
| | Whig | Thomas Ponsonby | 63 | 3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 212 | 11.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,002 | 82.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,212 | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
General election 1837: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | Morgan O'Connell | 697 | 37.6 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Blennerhassett | 546 | 29.5 | +8.9 |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | Frederick Mullins | 498 | 26.9 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative | Samuel Murray Hickson | 112 | 6.0 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 921 | 60.9 | −21.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,512 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 151 | 8.1 | −3.3 |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Swing | −6.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 48 | 2.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Irish Repeal | Conservative gain from Irish Repeal | Swing | +12.5 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Browne | 751 | 37.4 | N/A |
| | Irish Repeal | Morgan O'Connell | 744 | 37.1 | −27.4 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Blennerhassett | 445 | 22.2 | −7.3 |
| | Conservative | John Hickson Mahony | 67 | 3.3 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,219 | 80.0 | +19.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,523 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 15.2 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 299 | 14.9 | +6.8 |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Swing | −8.5 | |
General election 1847: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Repeal | Morgan O'Connell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Peelite | Henry Arthur Herbert (senior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,840 | | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
| | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Valentine Browne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Peelite | Henry Arthur Herbert (senior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,222 | | |
| | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold |
Browne was appointed Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 9 August 1856: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Valentine Browne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1857: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Valentine Browne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Peelite | Henry Arthur Herbert (senior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,427 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold |
Herbert was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 9 June 1857: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | Henry Arthur Herbert (senior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,427 | | |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Peelite hold |
General election 1859: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Valentine Browne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Arthur Herbert (senior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,278 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Browne was appointed Treasurer of the Household, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 5 July 1859: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Valentine Browne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,278 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Valentine Browne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Arthur Herbert (senior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,415 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Herbert's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 16 March 1866: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Arthur Herbert (junior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,415 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Valentine Browne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Arthur Herbert (junior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,506 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Browne was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 7 January 1869: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Valentine Browne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,506 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

Browne succeeded as Earl of Kenmare, causing a by-election.
By-election, 6 Feb 1872: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Rowland Ponsonby Blennerhassett | 2,237 | 61.5 | New |
| | Liberal | James Arthur Dease | 1,398 | 38.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 839 | 23.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,635 | 66.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,450 | | |
| | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal |
General election 1874: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Rowland Ponsonby Blennerhassett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Arthur Herbert (junior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,484 | | |
| | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Kerry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Rowland Ponsonby Blennerhassett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Rowland Blennerhassett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,326 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |