# Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Bedfordshire was a United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1295 until 1707, then the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1801 and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until 1885 when it was divided into two constituencies under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.

## History

The constituency consisted of the historic county of Bedfordshire. (Although Bedfordshire contained the borough of Bedford, which elected two MPs in its own right, this was not excluded from the county constituency, and owning property within the borough could confer a vote at the county election.)
As in other county constituencies the franchise between 1430 and 1832 was defined by the Forty Shilling Freeholder Act 1430, which gave the right to vote to every man who possessed freehold property within the county valued at £2 or more per year for the purposes of land tax; it was not necessary for the freeholder to occupy his land, nor even in later years to be resident in the county at all.
At the time of the Great Reform Act 1832, Bedfordshire had a population of approximately 95,000, but under 4,000 votes were cast at the election of 1826, and under 3,000 in election of 1830, even though each voter could cast two votes. Although local landowners could never control a county the size of Bedfordshire in the way they could own a pocket borough, titled magnates still exercised considerable influence over deferential county voters, and the Duke of Bedford was regarded as the hereditary "patron" of the constituency.
Elections were held at a single polling place, Bedford, and voters from the rest of the county had to travel to the county town to exercise their franchise. In many other counties this could make the cost of a contested election prohibitive, since it was normal for voters to expect the candidates for whom they voted to meet their expenses in travelling to the poll; but this was less of a factor in a small county like Bedfordshire, and contested elections were not uncommon.
Under the terms of the Great Reform Act 1832, the county franchise was extended to occupiers of land worth £50 or more, as well as the forty-shilling freeholders, but Bedfordshire was otherwise left unchanged. Under the new rules, 3,966 were registered and entitled to vote at the general election of 1832. While Bedford remained the place of election, where nominations were taken and the result declared, polling also took place at Luton, Leighton Buzzard, Ampthill, Biggleswade and Sharnbrook.
Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the constituency was abolished and the county divided into two single-member county constituencies, Biggleswade and Luton.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1290–1640

* Constituency created (1290)
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| Parliament of 1295 | Sir David Flitwick |
| Parliament of 1313 (Jul) | Peter de Loring | David Flitwick, K.B. |
| Parliament of 1313 (Sep) | Sir Peter de Loring | Sir David Flitwick, K.B. |
| Parliament of 1316 | Roger Dakeney |
| Parliament of 1322 (Sep) | John Morice or Moriz |
| Good Parliament (1376) | Johannes Trayle |
| Parliament of Jan 1377 | Sir Gerard Braybrooke I |
| Parliament of 1379 | William Mordaunt |
| Parliament of 1381 | Johannes Trayle |
| Parliament of 1385 | Reynold Ragon |
| Parliament of 1386 | Ralph Fitzrichard | John Hervey |
| Parliament of Feb 1388 | Sir Gerard Braybrooke II | Robert Digswell |
| Parliament of Sep 1388 | William Terrington | Ralph Walton |
| Parliament of Jan 1390 | William Terrington | Baldwin Pigot |
| Parliament of Nov 1390 | Sir Gerard Braybrooke I | Thomas Zouche |
| Parliament of 1391 | William Terrington | Ralph Walton |
| Parliament of 1393 | William Terrington | John Worship |
| Parliament of 1394 | Reynold Regan | John Worship |
| Parliament of 1395 | Philip Walwyn | Giles Daubeney |
| Parliament of Jan 1397 | William Terrington | John Worship |
| Parliament of Sep 1397 | Sir Baldwin Pigot | John Worship |
| Parliament of 1399 | Sir Gerard Braybrooke II | Sir Roger Beauchamp |
| Parliament of 1401 | Sir Baldwin Pigot | Giles Daubeney |
| Parliament of 1402 | Reynold Ragon | John Worship |
| Parliament of Jan 1404 | Reynold Ragon | William Terrington |
| Parliament of Oct 1404 | Thomas Durant | William Wenlock |
| Parliament of 1406 | Thomas Durant | Hugh Hasilden |
| Parliament of 1407 | William Bosom | John Worship |
| Parliament of 1409 | Returns lost |
| Parliament of 1411 | Returns lost |
| Parliament of May 1413 | William Bosom | Thomas Waweton |
| Parliament of Apr 1414 | John Goldington | Thomas Waweton |
| Parliament of Nov 1414 | John Enderby | Roger Hunt |
| Parliament of Mar 1416 | William Bosom | Roger Hunt |
| Parliament of 1417 | William Bosom | Thomas Roxton |
| Parliament of 1419 | John Enderby | Sir Thomas Waweton |
| Parliament of 1420 | Robert Scott | Roger Hunt |
| Parliament of May 1421 | John Goldington II | Thomas Mordaunt |
| Parliament of Dec 1421 | Thomas Manningham | Henry Cockayne |
| Parliament of 1424 | Sir Thomas Waweton |
| Parliament of 1431 | Sir Thomas Waweton |
| Parliament of 1433 | John Wenlock |
| Parliament of 1436 | John Wenlock |
| Parliament of 1437 | John Wenlock |
| Parliament of 1439 | John Wenlock |
| Parliament of 1455 | Sir John Wenlock |
| Parliament of 1529 | Sir William Gascoigne | George Acworth (died 1532) Sir John St John |
| Parliament of 1536 | Sir William Gascoigne |
| Parliament of 1539 | Sir John St John | John Gostwick |
| Parliament of 1542 | Sir John St John | Sir John Gascoigne |
| Parliament of 1545 | John Gostwick, died 1545 | Edmund Conquest |
| Parliament of 1547–1552 | Oliver St John | Lewis Dyve |
| Parliament of March 1553 | Sir Humphrey Radclyffe | Lewis Dyve |
| Parliament of October 1553 | Sir John Gascoigne | Sir John Mordaunt |
| Parliament of 1554 | Sir Humphrey Radclyffe | Sir John Mordaunt |
| Parliament of 1554-1555 | Sir Humphrey Radclyffe | Sir John Mordaunt |
| Parliament of 1555 | Sir Humphrey Radclyffe | Sir John Mordaunt |
| Parliament of 1558 | Sir Humphrey Radclyffe | Sir John Gascoigne |
| Parliament of 1559 | John St John | Thomas Pigott |
| Parliament of 1563–1567 | Hon. John St John | Lewis Mordaunt |
| Parliament of 1571 | George Rotheram | Thomas Snagge |
| Parliament of 1572–1583 | George Rotheram | Sir Henry Cheyne (1572 - created a peer) John Thomson (1572-1583) |
| Parliament of 1584–1585 | George Rotheram | Nicholas Luke |
| Parliament of 1586–1587 | George Rotheram | Thomas Snagge |
| Parliament of 1588–1589 | Hon. Oliver St John | Edward Radclyffe |
| Parliament of 1593 | Hon. Oliver St John | George Rotheram |
| Parliament of 1597–1598 | Sir Edward Radclyffe | Nicholas Luke |
| Parliament of 1601 | Sir Edward Radclyffe | Hon. Oliver St John |
| Parliament of 1604–1611 | Sir Edward Radclyffe | Hon. Oliver St John |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Sir Henry Grey | Sir Oliver Luke |
| Parliament of 1621-1622 | Sir Beauchamp St John | Sir Oliver Luke |
| Happy Parliament (1624-1625) | Oliver St John | Sir Oliver Luke |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Oliver St John | Sir Oliver Luke |
| Parliament of 1625-1626 | Oliver St John | Sir Oliver Luke |
| Parliament of 1628-1629 | Oliver St John | Sir Oliver Luke |
| No Parliament summoned 1629-1640 |||
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### MPs 1640–1885

| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | The Lord Wentworth | Royalist | Sir Oliver Luke | Parliamentarian |
| 1641 | Roger Burgoyne | Parliamentarian | Sir Oliver Luke | Parliamentarian |
| December 1648 | Burgoyne and Luke excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Burgoyne and Luke excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Burgoyne and Luke excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Burgoyne and Luke excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant |
| 1653 | Nathaniel Taylor | | Edward Cater | |
Representation increased to five members in First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate :
| Year | First member | Second member | Third member | Fourth member | Fifth member |
| 1654 | Sir William Boteler | John Harvey | Edmund Wingate | John Neale | Samuel Bedford |
| 1656 | Sir William Boteler | John Harvey | Richard Wagstaffe | Richard Edwards | Samuel Bedford |
Representation reverted to two members in Third Protectorate Parliament :
| Year | Year | Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| | | January 1659 | Major Richard Wagstaffe | | Colonel John Okey | |
| | | 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 |
| | | 9 April 1660 | Lord Bruce of Whorlton | | Samuel Browne | |
| | | 10 April 1661 | Lord Bruce of Whorlton | | Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Bt | |
| | | 2 May 1664 | Sir John Napier, 4th Bt | | Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Bt | |
| | | 18 February 1679 | Lord Russell | Whig | Sir Humphrey Monoux, 2nd Bt | |
| | | 1 September 1679 | Lord Russell | Whig | Sir Humphrey Monoux, 2nd Bt | |
| | | 14 February 1681 | Lord Russell | Whig | Sir Humphrey Monoux, 2nd Bt | |
| | | 10 March 1685 | Sir Villiers Chernock, 2nd Bt | | William Boteler | |
| | | 11 January 1689 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | William Duncombe | Whig |
| | | 27 February 1690 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | Thomas Browne | |
| | | 2 November 1695 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | William Duncombe | Whig |
| | | 20 July 1698 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | Sir William Gostwick, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | c. January 1701 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | Sir William Gostwick, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 11 December 1701 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | Sir William Gostwick, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 22 July 1702 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | Sir William Gostwick, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 23 May 1705 | Sir Pynsent Chernock, 3rd Bt | Tory | Sir William Gostwick, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 19 May 1708 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | Sir William Gostwick, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 5 October 1710 | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | Sir William Gostwick, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 2 September 1713 | Sir Pynsent Chernock, 3rd Bt | Tory | John Harvey | Tory |
| | | 16 February 1715 | William Hillersden | Whig | John Harvey | Tory |
| | | 19 July 1715 | William Hillersden | Whig | John Cater | Whig |
| | | 4 April 1722 | Hon. Charles Leigh | Tory | Sir Rowland Alston, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 1 September 1727 | Hon. Pattee Byng | | Sir Rowland Alston, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 16 February 1733 | Charles Leigh | Tory | Sir Rowland Alston, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 24 April 1734 | Hon. John Spencer | | Sir Rowland Alston, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 26 February 1735 | Sir Roger Burgoyne, 6th Bt | Whig | Sir Rowland Alston, 4th Bt | Whig |
| | | 18 May 1741 | Sir Roger Burgoyne, 6th Bt | Whig | Sir John Chester, 6th Bt | Tory |
| | | 6 July 1747 | Sir Danvers Osborn, 3rd Bt | Tory | Thomas Alston | Tory |
| | | 5 December 1753 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Thomas Alston | Tory |
| | | 24 April 1754 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Thomas Alston | Tory |
| | | 13 December 1758 | Henry Osborn | Tory | Thomas Alston | Tory |
| | | 1 April 1761 | Marquess of Tavistock | Whig | Robert Henley-Ongley | Tory |
| | | 7 April 1767 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Robert Henley-Ongley | Tory |
| | | 28 March 1768 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Robert Henley-Ongley | Tory |
| | | 21 October 1774 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Robert Henley-Ongley | Tory |
| | | 27 September 1780 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Hon. St Andrew St John | Whig |
| | | 19 April 1784 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Hon. St Andrew St John | Whig |
| | | 1 July 1784 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | The Lord Ongley | Tory |
| | | 19 May 1785 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Hon. St Andrew St John | Whig |
| | | 28 June 1790 | The Earl of Upper Ossory | Whig | Hon. St Andrew St John | Whig |
| | | 15 September 1794 | John Osborn | Tory | Hon. St Andrew St John | Whig |
| | | 31 May 1796 | John Osborn | Tory | Hon. St Andrew St John | Whig |
| | | 10 July 1802 | John Osborn | Tory | Hon. St Andrew St John | Whig |
| | | 5 July 1806 | John Osborn | Tory | Francis Pym | Whig |
| | | 11 May 1807 | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | Whig | Francis Pym | Whig |
| | | 14 October 1812 | Marquess of Tavistock | Whig | Francis Pym | Whig |
| | | 23 June 1818 | Marquess of Tavistock | Whig | Sir John Osborn, 5th Bt | Tory |
| | | 21 March 1820 | Marquess of Tavistock | Whig | Francis Pym | Whig |
| | | 15 June 1826 | Marquess of Tavistock | Whig | Thomas Potter Macqueen | Tory |
| | | 9 August 1830 | Marquess of Tavistock | Whig | William Stuart | Tory |
| | | 5 May 1831 | Marquess of Tavistock | Whig | Peter Payne | Whig |
| | | 1832 | Lord Charles Russell | Whig | William Stuart | Tory |
| | | 1834 | Lord Charles Russell | Whig | William Stuart | Conservative |
| | | 1835 | Lord Charles Russell | Whig | Viscount Alford | Conservative |
| | | 1841 | William Astell | Conservative | Viscount Alford | Conservative |
| | | March 1847 | Lord Charles Russell | Whig | Viscount Alford | Conservative |
| | | August 1847 | Francis Russell | Whig | Viscount Alford | Conservative |
| | | 1851 | Francis Russell | Whig | Sir Richard Gilpin, 1st Bt | Conservative |
| | | 1859 | Francis Russell | Liberal | Sir Richard Gilpin, 1st Bt | Conservative |
| | | 1872 | Francis Bassett | Liberal | Sir Richard Gilpin, 1st Bt | Conservative |
| | | 1875 | Marquess of Tavistock | Liberal | Sir Richard Gilpin, 1st Bt | Conservative |
| | | 1880 | Marquess of Tavistock | Liberal | James Howard | Liberal |
| 1885 | 1885 | 1885 | constituency divided: see Luton and Biggleswade | constituency divided: see Luton and Biggleswade | constituency divided: see Luton and Biggleswade | constituency divided: see Luton and Biggleswade |
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## Elections
### Elections in the 1800s

* 1802: John Osborn (Tory) and Hon. St Andrew St John (Whig) elected unopposed
* 1806: Following the elevation of Hon. St Andrew St John to the House of Lords, Francis Pym (Whig) elected unopposed
* 1806: John Osborn (Tory) and Francis Pym (Whig) elected unopposed
General election 1807: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Francis Pym | 1,138 | 34.6 | N/A |
| | Whig | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | 1,084 | 32.9 | N/A |
| | Tory | John Osborn | 1,069 | 32.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 2,000 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1810s

* 1812: Marquess of Tavistock and Francis Pym (both Whig) elected unopposed
* 1818: Marquess of Tavistock (Whig) and Sir John Osborn, 5th Bt (Tory) elected unopposed
Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1820s

General election 1820: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Marquess of Tavistock | 1,458 | 36.6 | N/A |
| | Whig | Francis Pym | 1,308 | 32.9 | N/A |
| | Tory | Sir John Osborn, 5th Bt | 1,214 | 30.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 94 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,980 | | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 2,800 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1826: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Thomas Potter Macqueen | 1,515 | 39.6 | +9.1 |
| | Whig | Marquess of Tavistock | 1,273 | 33.3 | −3.3 |
| | Whig | Francis Pym | 1,040 | 27.2 | −5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 233 | 6.1 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,546 | c.90.9 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 2,800 | | |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | +7.4 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −6.2 | |
Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Francis Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | William Stuart | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 2,800 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1831: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Francis Russell | 1,137 | 39.2 |
| | Whig | Peter Payne (MP) | 1,073 | 37.0 |
| | Tory | William Stuart | 690 | 23.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 383 | 13.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 1,450 | c. 51.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 2,800 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1832: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Russell | 1,937 | 34.8 | −4.4 |
| | Tory | William Stuart | 1,871 | 33.6 | +9.8 |
| | Whig | Peter Payne (MP) | 1,756 | 31.6 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,478 | 87.7 | c. +35.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,966 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 66 | 1.2 | −12.0 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −4.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 115 | 2.0 | N/A |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | +9.8 | |
General election 1835: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Egerton | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,015 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1837: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Egerton | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,134 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Astell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Egerton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,333 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
Astell's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 30 March 1847: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative |
General election 1847: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Egerton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Francis Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,339 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative |
Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1850s

Egerton's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 24 February 1851: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Gilpin | 1,562 | 73.7 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Houghton | 558 | 26.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,004 | 47.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,120 | 52.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,071 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1852: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Francis Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Richard Gilpin | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,513 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Francis Russell | 1,564 | 28.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Richard Gilpin | 1,374 | 24.9 | N/A |
| | Whig | William Bartholomew Higgins | 1,343 | 24.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Stuart | 1,246 | 22.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,764 (est) | 65.3 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,231 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 | 3.4 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1859: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Gilpin | 2,027 | 37.2 | −10.2 |
| | Liberal | Francis Russell | 1,837 | 33.7 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal | William Bartholomew Higgins | 1,583 | 29.1 | +4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 | 3.5 | +2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,737 (est) | 79.5 (est) | +14.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,701 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −10.2 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +5.3 | |
Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Richard Gilpin | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,845 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1868: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Richard Gilpin | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,680 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1870s

Russell succeeded to the peerage, becoming Duke of Bedford and causing a by-election.
By-election, 27 Jun 1872: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Bassett | 2,450 | 52.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Stuart | 2,250 | 47.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,700 | 71.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,580 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1874: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis Bassett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Richard Gilpin | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,874 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Bassett's resignation caused a by-election.
By-election, 28 Apr 1875: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Bedfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Howard | 3,143 | 36.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Russell | 3,088 | 35.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Stuart | 2,500 | 28.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 588 | 6.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,643 (est) | 79.1 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,133 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Back to Elections