# Manchester (UK Parliament constituency)

Manchester was a Parliamentary borough constituency in the county of Lancashire which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its territory consisted of the city of Manchester.

## History

Manchester had first been represented in Parliament in 1654, when it was granted one seat in the First Protectorate Parliament. However, as with other boroughs enfranchised during the Commonwealth, it was disenfranchised at the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
The subsequent growth of Manchester into a major industrial city left its lack of representation a major anomaly, and demands for a seat in Parliament led to a mass public meeting in August 1819. This peaceful rally of 60,000 pro-democracy reformers, men, women and children, was attacked by armed cavalry resulting in 15 deaths and over 600 injuries, and became known as the Peterloo Massacre.
Reform was attempted unsuccessfully by Lord John Russell, whose bills in 1828 and 1830 were rejected by the Commons. The city was finally enfranchised by the Reform Act 1832, and at the 1832 general election, Manchester returned two Members of Parliament (MPs). The Reform Act 1867 increased this in 1868 to three Members of Parliament.
Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the constituency was abolished with effect from the 1885 general election, when the city was split into six new single-member divisions: East, North, North East, North West, South, and South West.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1654–1660

| Election | First member | First member |
| 1654 | Charles Worsley |
| 1656 | Richard Radcliffe |

### MPs 1832–1885

| Election | First member | First member | First party | Second member | Second member | Second party | Third member | Third member | Third party |
| 1832 | | Mark Philips | Whig | | Charles Poulett-Thomson | Whig | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1839 by-election | | Mark Philips | Whig | | Robert Hyde Greg | Whig | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1841 | | Mark Philips | Whig | | Thomas Milner Gibson | Radical | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1847 | | John Bright | Radical | | Thomas Milner Gibson | Radical | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1857 | | John Potter | Whig | | James Aspinall Turner | Whig | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1858 by-election | | Thomas Bazley | Whig | | James Aspinall Turner | Whig | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1859 | | Thomas Bazley | Liberal | | James Aspinall Turner | Liberal | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1865 | | Thomas Bazley | Liberal | | Edward James | Liberal | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1867 by-election | | Thomas Bazley | Liberal | | Jacob Bright | Liberal | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 | 2 seats until 1868 3 seats from 1868 to 1885 |
| 1868 | | Thomas Bazley | Liberal | | Jacob Bright | Liberal | | Hugh Birley | Conservative |
| 1874 | | Thomas Bazley | Liberal | | William Romaine Callender | Conservative | | Hugh Birley | Conservative |
| 1876 by-election | | Thomas Bazley | Liberal | | Jacob Bright | Liberal | | Hugh Birley | Conservative |
| 1880 | | John Slagg | Liberal | | Jacob Bright | Liberal | | Hugh Birley | Conservative |
| 1883 by-election | | John Slagg | Liberal | | Jacob Bright | Liberal | | William Houldsworth | Conservative |
| 1885 | Constituency abolished (1885) | Constituency abolished (1885) | Constituency abolished (1885) | Constituency abolished (1885) | Constituency abolished (1885) | Constituency abolished (1885) | Constituency abolished (1885) | Constituency abolished (1885) | Constituency abolished (1885) |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 6 Oct 1883: Manchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Houldsworth | 18,188 | 74.5 | +29.4 |
| | Liberal | Richard Pankhurst | 6,216 | 25.5 | −29.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,972 | 49.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,404 | 46.2 | −27.8 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,831 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +29.4 | |
* Caused by Birley's death.
General election 1880: Manchester (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Slagg | 24,959 | 27.5 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal | Jacob Bright | 24,789 | 27.4 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Birley | 20,594 | 22.7 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | William Houldsworth | 20,268 | 22.4 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,521 | 5.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,305 (est) | 74.0 (est) | +9.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 61,234 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1870s

By-election, 19 Feb 1876: Manchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jacob Bright | 22,770 | 52.0 | +3.0 |
| | Conservative | Francis Powell | 20,985 | 48.0 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,785 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,755 | 70.5 | +6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,074 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.0 | |
* Caused by Callender's death.
General election 1874: Manchester (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hugh Birley | 19,984 | 25.7 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | William Romaine Callender | 19,649 | 25.3 | +7.6 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Bazley | 19,325 | 24.9 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal | Jacob Bright | 18,727 | 24.1 | +5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 922 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,843 (est) | 64.5 (est) | +5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,222 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.2 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.5 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.3 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Manchester (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hugh Birley | 15,486 | 21.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Thomas Bazley | 14,192 | 19.8 | −12.6 |
| | Liberal | Jacob Bright | 13,154 | 18.3 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative | Joseph Hoare | 12,684 | 17.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Ernest Charles Jones | 10,662 | 14.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Mitchell Henry | 5,236 | 7.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,620 (est) | 59.3 (est) | +2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 48,256 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,824 | 6.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,508 | 2.1 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
* Seat increased to three members.
By-election, 27 November 1867: Manchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Jacob Bright | 8,160 | 53.6 | +30.8 |
| | Conservative | John Marsland Bennett | 6,420 | 42.2 | New |
| | Liberal | Mitchell Henry | 643 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,740 | 11.4 | +6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,223 | 70.7 | +14.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,542 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
* James' death caused a by-election. Bright was an advanced Liberal, and Henry was a Whig liberal.
General election 1865: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Bazley | 7,909 | 32.4 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal | Edward James | 6,698 | 27.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Jacob Bright | 5,562 | 22.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Abel Heywood | 4,242 | 17.4 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,136 | 4.6 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,206 (est) | 56.7 (est) | −12.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,542 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Bazley | 7,545 | 29.6 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal | James Aspinall Turner | 7,300 | 28.6 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal | Abel Heywood | 5,448 | 21.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Joseph Denman | 5,201 | 20.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,852 | 7.2 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,747 (est) | 69.5 (est) | −6.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,334 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
By-election, 17 November 1858: Manchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Thomas Bazley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
* Caused by Potter's death.
General election 1857: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Potter | 8,368 | 30.7 | |
| | Whig | James Aspinall Turner | 7,854 | 28.8 | |
| | Radical | Thomas Milner Gibson | 5,588 | 20.5 | −8.9 |
| | Radical | John Bright | 5,458 | 20.0 | −8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,266 | 8.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,634 (est) | 75.6 (est) | +5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,044 | | |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Swing | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | | |
General election 1852: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Thomas Milner Gibson | 5,762 | 29.4 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Bright | 5,475 | 28.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | George Loch | 4,364 | 22.3 | New |
| | Conservative | Joseph Denman | 3,969 | 20.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,111 | 5.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,785 (est) | 70.3 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,921 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John Bright | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | Thomas Milner Gibson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,841 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig |
By-election, 13 July 1846: Manchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Thomas Milner Gibson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
* Caused by Gibson's appointment as Vice-President of the Board of Trade
General election 1841: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Mark Philips | 3,695 | 28.3 | −49.3 |
| | Radical | Thomas Milner Gibson | 3,575 | 27.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | George Murray | 3,115 | 23.8 | +12.6 |
| | Conservative | William Entwisle | 2,692 | 20.6 | +9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,539 (est) | 60.4 (est) | c. +5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,818 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | 1.0 | −13.4 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −31.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 460 | 3.5 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1830s

By-election, 7 September 1839: Manchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Hyde Greg | 3,096 | 50.5 | −27.1 |
| | Conservative | George Murray | 2,969 | 48.4 | +26.0 |
| | Radical | Thomas Perronet Thompson | 63 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 127 | 2.1 | −12.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,128 | 54.8 | −0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,185 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −26.6 | |
* Caused by Poulett-Thomson's resignation after being appointed Governor-General of Canada
General election 1837: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Poulett-Thomson | 4,158 | 40.8 | +6.0 |
| | Whig | Mark Philips | 3,750 | 36.8 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative | William Ewart Gladstone | 2,281 | 22.4 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,469 | 14.4 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,146 | 54.9 | −11.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,185 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +4.0 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +3.0 | |
By-election, 30 April 1835: Manchester :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Poulett-Thomson | 3,183 | 63.4 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Braidley | 1,837 | 36.6 | +10.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,346 | 26.8 | +20.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,020 | 59.5 | −6.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,432 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −4.7 | |
* Caused by Poulett-Thomson's appointment as President of the Board of Trade
General election 1835: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Poulett-Thomson | 3,355 | 34.8 | +13.5 |
| | Whig | Mark Philips | 3,163 | 32.8 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Braidley | 2,535 | 26.3 | +10.2 |
| | Radical | Charles Wolseley | 583 | 6.1 | −7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 628 | 6.5 | +4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,595 | 66.4 | −11.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,432 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +8.6 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +3.2 | |
General election 1832: Manchester (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Mark Philips | 2,923 | 30.2 |
| | Whig | Charles Poulett-Thomson | 2,068 | 21.3 |
| | Whig | Samuel Jones-Loyd | 1,832 | 18.9 |
| | Tory | John Thomas Hope | 1,560 | 16.1 |
| | Radical | William Cobbett | 1,305 | 13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 236 | 2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,267 | 78.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,726 | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |

## Sources

* Manchester City Council Archive