# Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)

Dorset was a county constituency covering Dorset in southern England, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs), traditionally known as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons of England from 1290 until 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until 1832.
The Great Reform Act increased its representation to three MPs with effect from the 1832 general election, and under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 the constituency was abolished for the 1885 election, and replaced by four single-member divisions: North Dorset, South Dorset, East Dorset and West Dorset.
When elections were contested, the bloc vote system was used, but contests were rare. Even after the 1832 Reforms, only three of the nineteen elections before 1885 were contested; in the others, the nominated candidates were returned without a vote.

## Members of Parliament
### Before 1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1371 | Sir John Hamely | |
| 1376 | Sir John Hamely | Sir Thomas Blount |
| 1377 (Jan) | Sir John Hamely | |
| 1386 | Sir Stephen Derby | John Frome |
| 1388 (Feb) | Sir Robert Turberville | John Frome |
| 1388 (Sep) | Sir Humphrey Stafford | Sir John Moigne |
| 1390 (Jan) | Sir Humphrey Stafford | John Frome |
| 1390 (Nov) | Sir Stephen Derby | Theobald Wykeham |
| 1391 | Sir Humphrey Stafford | Sir John Hamely |
| 1393 | Sir Humphrey Stafford | Sir John Moigne |
| 1394 | Sir Stephen Derby | John Perle |
| 1395 | Sir Humphrey Stafford | Theobald Wykeham |
| 1397 (Jan) | Sir Humphrey Stafford | Sir John Moigne |
| 1397 (Sep) | John Bathe | William Martin |
| 1399 | Sir Humphrey Stafford | John Frome |
| 1401 | Sir Humphrey Stafford | John Frome |
| 1402 | Sir William Cheyne | John Bathe |
| 1404 (Jan) | Sir Humphrey Stafford | John Frome |
| 1404 (Oct) | Sir John Devereux | John Frampton |
| 1406 | Sir Humphrey Stafford | Sir Ivo Fitzwaryn |
| 1407 | Sir Humphrey Stafford | Sir Ivo Fitzwaryn |
| 1410 | Sir Humphrey Stafford | William Stourton |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) | |
| 1413 (May) | Thomas Brooke | William Stourton |
| 1414 (Apr) | Sir Humphrey Stafford II | William Filoll |
| 1414 (Nov) | Sir Humphrey Stafford II | John Chideock |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | Sir Humphrey Stafford II | Robert More |
| 1419 | Sir Humphrey Stafford II | Ralph Bush |
| 1420 | Sir Humphrey Stafford II | William Carent |
| 1421 (May) | Sir Humphrey Stafford II | Robert Lovell |
| 1421 (Dec) | Sir John Horsey | John Roger |
| 1426 | William Carent |
| 1427 | William Carent |
| 1431 | John Hody |
| 1439 | William Browning (born 1400) |
| 1450 | William Browning (born 1400) |
| 1455 | William Browning (born 1400) |
| 1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
| 1529 | Sir Giles Strangways I | John Horsey |
| 1536 | ? |
| 1539 | Sir Giles Strangways I | Sir John Horsey |
| 1542 | ? |
| 1545 | Sir Thomas Arundell | Sir John Rogers |
| 1547 | Sir Thomas Arundell | Sir John Rogers |
| 1553 (Mar) | ? |
| 1553 (Oct) | Sir John Horsey | Sir Giles Strangeways |
| Parliament of 1554 | John Leweston | Sir Giles Strangeways |
| Parliament of 1554-1555 | Sir Henry Ashley | Richard Phelips |
| Parliament of 1555 | Sir John Rogers | Sir Giles Strangeways |
| Parliament of 1558 | Sir Oliver Laurence | Sir Giles Strangeways |
| Parliament of 1559 | Sir John Rogers | Sir Giles Strangeways |
| Parliament of 1563-1567 | Sir Henry Ashley | Thomas Howard |
| Parliament of 1571 | John Horsey | Sir William Paulet |
| Parliament of 1572-1581 | Richard Rogers | John Strode |
| Parliament of 1584-1585 | George Trenchard | John Fitzjames |
| Parliament of 1586-1587 | Ralph Horsey | Andrew Rogers |
| Parliament of 1588-1589 | Sir John Wolley | Andrew Rogers |
| Parliament of 1593 | Thomas Hussey | Arthur Gorges |
| Parliament of 1597-1598 | Sir Ralph Horsey | Sir Walter Raleigh |
| Parliament of 1601 | George Trenchard | Sir Edmund Uvedall |
| Parliament of 1604-1611 | Sir Thomas Freke | John Williams |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Sir Mervyn Audley | Sir John Strangways |
| Parliament of 1621-1622 | Sir Thomas Trenchard | Sir John Strangways |
| Happy Parliament (1624-1625) | Sir George Horsey | Sir John Strangways |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir Walter Erle | Sir Nathaniel Napier |
| Parliament of 1625-1626 | Sir George Morton | Sir Thomas Freke |
| Parliament of 1628-1629 | Sir George Hussey | Sir John Strangways |
| No Parliament summoned 1629-1640 |||

### MPs 1640–1832

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Lord Digby | Royalist | | Richard Rogers | Royalist |
| November 1640 | | Lord Digby | Royalist | | Richard Rogers | Royalist |
| 1641 | | John Browne | Parliamentarian | | Richard Rogers | Royalist |
| September 1642 | | John Browne | Parliamentarian | Rogers disabled from sitting - seat vacant | Rogers disabled from sitting - seat vacant | Rogers disabled from sitting - seat vacant |
| 1645 | | John Browne | Parliamentarian | | Sir Thomas Trenchard | |
| December 1648 | | John Browne | Parliamentarian | Trenchard did not sit after Pride's Purge - seat vacant | Trenchard did not sit after Pride's Purge - seat vacant | Trenchard did not sit after Pride's Purge - seat vacant |
| 1653 | | William Sydenham | | | John Bingham | |
| Dorset had six seats in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |||||||
| 1654 | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Sir Walter Earle, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, Henry Henley | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Sir Walter Earle, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, Henry Henley | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Sir Walter Earle, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, Henry Henley | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Sir Walter Earle, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, Henry Henley | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Sir Walter Earle, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, Henry Henley | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Sir Walter Earle, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, Henry Henley |
| 1656 | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Robert Coker, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, James Dewey | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Robert Coker, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, James Dewey | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Robert Coker, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, James Dewey | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Robert Coker, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, James Dewey | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Robert Coker, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, James Dewey | William Sydenham, John Bingham, Robert Coker, John Fitzjames, John Trenchard, James Dewey |
| Dorset reverted to two seats in the Third Protectorate Parliament |||||||
| January 1659 | | Sir Walter Earle | | | John Bingham | |
| 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 | | John Fitzjames | | | Robert Coker | |
| Apr 1661 | | John Strode | | | Giles Strangways | |
| 1675 | | John Strode | | | Lord Digby | |
| 1677 | | John Strode | | | Thomas Browne | |
| 1679 | | Thomas Strangways I | | | Thomas Freke | |
| 1701 | | Thomas Strangways I | | | Thomas Trenchard | |
| 1702 | | Thomas Strangways I | | | Thomas Chafin | |
| 1711 | | Thomas Strangways I | | | Richard Bingham | |
| 1713 | | George Chafin | | | Thomas Strangways II | |
| Jan 1727 | | George Chafin | | | George Pitt | |
| Sep 1727 | | George Chafin | | | Edmund Morton Pleydell | |
| 1747 | | George Chafin | | | George Pitt | Tory later Independent |
| 1754 | | Humphrey Sturt | | | George Pitt | Tory later Independent |
| 1774 | | Humphrey Sturt | | | Hon. George Pitt | |
| 1784 | | Francis John Browne | | | Hon. George Pitt | |
| 1790 | | Francis John Browne | | | William Morton Pitt | Tory |
| 1806 | | Edward Berkeley Portman I | Whig | | William Morton Pitt | Tory |
| 1823 | | Edward Portman II | Whig | | William Morton Pitt | Tory |
| 1826 | | Edward Portman II | Whig | | Henry Bankes | Tory |
| May. 1831 | | Edward Portman II | Whig | | John Calcraft | Whig |
| Sep. 1831 | | Edward Portman II | Whig | | Lord Ashley | Tory |
| 1832 | Representation increased to 3 members | Representation increased to 3 members | Representation increased to 3 members | Representation increased to 3 members | Representation increased to 3 members |

### MPs 1832–1885

| Election | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party | | Third member | Third party |
| 1832 | | Lord Ashley | Tory | | William John Bankes | Tory | | Hon. William Ponsonby | Whig |
| 1834 | | Lord Ashley | Conservative | | William John Bankes | Conservative | | Hon. William Ponsonby | Whig |
| 1835 | | Lord Ashley | Conservative | | Henry Sturt | Conservative | | Hon. William Ponsonby | Whig |
| 1837 | | Lord Ashley | Conservative | | Henry Sturt | Conservative | | Hon. John Fox-Strangways | Whig |
| 1841 | | Lord Ashley | Conservative | | Henry Sturt | Conservative | | George Bankes | Conservative |
| 1846 by-election | | Henry Ker Seymer | Conservative | | John Floyer | Conservative | | George Bankes | Conservative |
| 1856 by-election | | Henry Ker Seymer | Conservative | | John Floyer | Conservative | | Henry Sturt | Conservative |
| 1857 | | Henry Ker Seymer | Conservative | | Hon. Henry Portman | Whig | | Henry Sturt | Conservative |
| 1859 | | Henry Ker Seymer | Conservative | | Hon. Henry Portman | Liberal | | Henry Sturt | Conservative |
| 1864 by-election | | John Floyer | Conservative | | Hon. Henry Portman | Liberal | | Henry Sturt | Conservative |
| 1876 by-election | | John Floyer | Conservative | | Hon. Henry Portman | Liberal | | Hon. Edward Digby | Conservative |
| 1885 | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. | Constituency divided among North, South, East, and West Dorset. |

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

General election 1830: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Edward Portman | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Henry Bankes | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 3,500 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1831: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Edward Portman | 1,699 | 39.3 |
| | Whig | John Calcraft | 1,452 | 33.6 |
| | Tory | Henry Bankes | 1,170 | 27.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 282 | 6.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 2,161 | c. 54.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 4,000 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
Calcraft's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 30 September 1831: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Anthony Ashley-Cooper | 1,847 | 50.5 | +23.4 |
| | Whig | William Ponsonby | 1,811 | 49.5 | −23.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,658 | c. 91.5 | c. +37.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 4,000 | | |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | +23.4 | |
General election 1832: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | Anthony Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | William John Bankes | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Ponsonby | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,632 | |
| | Tory win (new seat) | Tory win (new seat) | Tory win (new seat) | Tory win (new seat) |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Anthony Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Ponsonby | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,679 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Anthony Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | John Fox-Strangways | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,263 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Ashley-Cooper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | George Bankes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,870 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | 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 |
Ashley-Cooper and Sturt both resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds causing a by-election.
By-election, 19 February 1846: Dorset :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Floyer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative | Henry Ker Seymer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Bankes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Floyer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Ker Seymer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,275 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

Bankes was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 9 March 1852: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Bankes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1852: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Bankes | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Floyer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Ker Seymer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,690 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Bankes' death caused a by-election.
By-election, 26 July 1856: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Portman | 2,430 | 27.1 | New |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | 2,197 | 24.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Ker Seymer | 2,177 | 24.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Floyer | 2,159 | 24.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 271 | 3.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,608 (est) | 82.0 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,203 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1859: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Ker Seymer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Portman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,639 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

Seymer resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 27 February 1864: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Floyer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1865: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Floyer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Portman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,203 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Floyer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Portman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,443 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Sturt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Floyer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Portman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,293 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Sturt was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Alington.
By-election, 5 Feb 1876: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Digby | 3,060 | 62.1 | N/A |
| | Tenant Farmer | Robert Fowler | 1,866 | 37.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,194 | 24.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,926 | 69.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,142 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Dorset :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Digby | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Floyer | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Portman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,522 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |