# Cockermouth (UK Parliament constituency)

Cockermouth was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England in 1295, and again from 1641, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was a parliamentary borough represented by two Members of Parliament until 1868, and by one member from 1868 to 1885. The name was then transferred to a county constituency electing one MP from 1885 until 1918.
Notable MPs have included the regicide, Francis Allen.

## The borough constituency (until 1885)

Until the Great Reform Act 1832, the constituency consisted solely of the market town of Cockermouth in Cumberland. It first returned members to the Model Parliament of 1295, but its franchise then seems to have lapsed until 1641, when the Long Parliament passed a resolution (15 February 1641) to restore its ancient privileges.
The right of election in Cockermouth was vested in the burgage tenants of the borough, of whom there were about 300 in 1832. Cockermouth was considered a pocket borough, with the vast majority of the voters being under the influence of the Lowther family.
At the time of the 1831 census, the borough included just over 1,000 houses and had a population of 4,536. The Reform Act 1832 expanded the boundaries to bring in the neighbouring parishes of Eaglesfield, Brigham, Papcastle and Bridekirk, and part of Dovenby, increasing the population to 6,022 and encompassing 1,325 houses. This made the borough big enough to retain both its members. However, in the next wave of reform, introduced at the 1868 general election, one of Cockermouth's two seats was withdrawn, and in 1885 the borough was abolished altogether, although the name was transferred to the surrounding county constituency.

## The county constituency (1885-1918)

The Cockermouth constituency created in 1885, strictly speaking The Cockermouth Division of Cumberland, was a compact division stretching westwards from Cockermouth to the sea, and including the much larger town of Workington. There was a significant Irish vote, and the Conservative victory in 1885 and subsequent Liberal gain of the seat in 1886 have been attributed to Parnell's shift of support from the one party to the other.
The constituency was divided between the new Workington and Penrith and Cockermouth divisions of Cumberland from 1918.

## Members of Parliament

Cockermouth re-enfranchised by Parliament in Nov 1640

### MPs 1641–1868

| Year | Year | Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| | | 1641 | Sir John Fenwick, Bt | Parliamentarian | Sir John Hippisley | Parliamentarian |
| | | 1642 | Seat vacant through double return | Seat vacant through double return | | Sir John Hippisley | Parliamentarian |
| | | 1645 | Francis Allen | | Sir John Hippisley | Parliamentarian |
| | | 1653 | Cockermouth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Cockermouth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Cockermouth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Cockermouth was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| | | January 1659 | John Stapleton | | Wilfrid Lawson | |
| | | 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 |
| | | 1660 | Richard Tolson | | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | |
| | | 1661 | Hugh Potter | | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | |
| | | 1662 | Robert Scawen | | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | |
| | | 1670 | John Clarke | | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | |
| | | 1675 | Sir Richard Grahme | | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | |
| | | 1679 | Sir Richard Grahme | | Sir Orlando Gee | |
| | | 1685 | Sir Daniel Fleming | | Sir Orlando Gee | |
| | | 1689 | Sir Henry Capell | | Henry Fletcher | |
| | | 1690 | Sir Orlando Gee | | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | |
| | | 1695 | Sir Charles Gerard | | Goodwin Wharton | Whig |
| | | 1698 | George Fletcher | Whig | William Seymour | |
| | | 1701 | Goodwin Wharton | Whig | William Seymour | |
| | | February 1702 | Thomas Lamplugh | | William Seymour | |
| | | July 1702 | Thomas Lamplugh | | James Stanhope | Whig |
| | | 1708 | Albemarle Bertie | | James Stanhope | Whig |
| | | 1710 | Nicholas Lechmere | | James Stanhope | Whig |
| | | 1713 | Nicholas Lechmere | | Joseph Musgrave | |
| | | 1715 | Nicholas Lechmere | | James Stanhope | Whig |
| | | April 1717 | Nicholas Lechmere | | Sir Thomas Pengelly | |
| | | July 1717 | Lord Percy Seymour | | Sir Thomas Pengelly | |
| | | 1721 | Anthony Lowther | | Sir Thomas Pengelly | |
| | | 1722 | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | | Sir Thomas Pengelly | |
| | | 1727 | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | | William Finch | |
| | | 1734 | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | | William Finch | |
| | | 1738 | Eldred Curwen | | William Finch | |
| | | 1741 | Sir John Mordaunt | | William Finch | |
| | | July 1747 | Sir John Mordaunt | | Sir Charles Wyndham | |
| | | December 1747 | Sir John Mordaunt | | William Finch | |
| | | 1754 | Sir John Mordaunt | | Percy Wyndham-O'Brien | |
| | | 1761 | Sir John Mordaunt | | Charles Jenkinson | |
| | | 1767 | Sir John Mordaunt | | Captain John Elliot, RN | |
| | | March 1768 | Charles Jenkinson | | Sir George Macartney | |
| | | May 1768 | Captain George Johnstone, RN | Independent | Sir George Macartney | |
| | | 1769 | Captain George Johnstone, RN | Independent | Sir James Lowther | |
| | | 1774 | Captain George Johnstone, RN | Independent | Fletcher Norton | |
| | | 1775 | Ralph Gowland | | James Adair | |
| | | 1780 | John Baynes Garforth | Tory | John Lowther | Tory |
| | | 1784 | James Clarke Satterthwaite | Tory | John Lowther | Tory |
| | | 1786 | James Clarke Satterthwaite | Tory | Humphrey Senhouse | Tory |
| | | 1790 | John Baynes Garforth | Tory | Sir John Anstruther, 1st and 4th Baronet | Tory |
| | | 1796 | John Baynes Garforth | Tory | Edward Burrow | Tory |
| | | 1800 | John Baynes Garforth | Tory | Walter Spencer-Stanhope | Tory |
| | | 1802 | James Graham | Tory | Robert Plumer Ward | Tory |
| | | 1805 | Viscount Garlies | Tory | Robert Plumer Ward | Tory |
| | | 1806 | John Lowther | Tory | James Graham | Tory |
| | | January 1807 | Lord Binning | Tory | James Graham | Tory |
| | | May 1807 | John Lowther | Tory | James Graham | Tory |
| | | July 1807 | John Osborn | Tory | James Graham | Tory |
| | | 1808 | Viscount Lowther | Tory | James Graham | Tory |
| | | October 1812 | Viscount Lowther | Tory | John Lowther | Tory |
| | | December 1812 | Viscount Lowther | Tory | Augustus Foster | Tory |
| | | 1813 | Viscount Lowther | Tory | Thomas Wallace | Tory |
| | | 1816 | John Lowther | Tory | Thomas Wallace | Tory |
| | | 1818 | John Lowther | Tory | Sir John Beckett | Tory |
| | | 1821 | John Lowther | Tory | William Wilson Carus Wilson | Tory |
| | | 1826 | Viscount Garlies | Tory | William Wilson Carus Wilson | Tory |
| | | 1827 | Viscount Garlies | Tory | Laurence Peel | Tory |
| | | 1830 | Viscount Garlies | Tory | Philip Pleydell-Bouverie | Whig |
| | | 1831 | John Lowther | Tory | Sir James Scarlett | Tory |
| | | 1832 | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | Radical | Fretchville Lawson Ballantine Dykes | Whig |
| | | 1836 | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | Radical | Edward Horsman | Whig |
| | | 1852 | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | Radical | Henry Wyndham | Conservative |
| | | 1854 | John Steel | Radical | Henry Wyndham | Conservative |
| | | 1857 | John Steel | Radical | Lord Naas | Conservative |
| | | 1859 | John Steel | Liberal | Lord Naas | Conservative |
| | | April 1868 | Andrew Green Thompson | Conservative | Lord Naas | Conservative |
| 1868 | 1868 | 1868 | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member |

### MPs 1868–1885

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1868 | Isaac Fletcher | Liberal |
| 1879 by-election | William Fletcher | Liberal |
| 1880 | Edward Waugh | Liberal |
| 1885 | Borough abolished; name transferred to county division | Borough abolished; name transferred to county division |

### MPs 1885–1918

Cockermouth Division of Cumberland
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Charles James Valentine | Conservative |
| 1886 | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | Liberal |
| 1900 | John Randles | Conservative |
| 1906 | Sir Wilfrid Lawson | Liberal |
| 1906 | Sir John Randles | Conservative |
| 1910 | Sir Wilfrid Lawson jnr. | Liberal |
| 1916 | Joseph Bliss | Liberal |
| 1918 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Randolph Stewart | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Philip Pleydell-Bouverie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 235 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1831: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John Lowther | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | James Scarlett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 235 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig |
General election 1832: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Fretchville Lawson Ballantine Dykes | 187 | 40.2 | New |
| | Radical | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | 153 | 32.9 | New |
| | Radical | Andrew Green | 125 | 26.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 7.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 255 | 83.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 305 | | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
| | Radical gain from Tory | Radical gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1835: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | 192 | 42.7 | −17.1 |
| | Whig | Fretchville Lawson Ballantine Dykes | 145 | 32.2 | +12.1 |
| | Whig | Edward Horsman | 113 | 25.1 | +5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 | 10.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 258 | 78.7 | −4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 328 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −17.1 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +10.3 | |
Dykes resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 15 February 1836: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Horsman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | 169 | 42.0 | −0.7 |
| | Whig | Edward Horsman | 122 | 30.3 | +5.2 |
| | Whig | Richard Benson | 111 | 27.6 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 | 11.7 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 229 | 77.1 | −1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 297 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −0.7 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +2.8 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

Horsman was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 1 June 1840: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Horsman | 117 | 56.3 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative | Henry Wyndham | 91 | 43.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 12.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 208 | 72.2 | −4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 288 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1841: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | 129 | 36.2 | −5.8 |
| | Whig | Edward Horsman | 127 | 35.7 | −22.2 |
| | Conservative | Henry Wyndham | 100 | 28.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 228 | 78.2 | +1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 293 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 0.5 | −11.2 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | '+8.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 7.6 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −8.5 | |
General election 1847: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Horsman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 319 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Wyndham | 160 | 34.7 | New |
| | Radical | Henry Aglionby Aglionby | 154 | 33.4 | N/A |
| | Whig | Edward Horsman | 147 | 31.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 311 (est) | 87.5 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 355 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 2.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 1.5 | N/A |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
Aglionby's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 9 August 1854: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John Steel | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1857: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Bourke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | John Steel | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 408 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
Bourke was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 3 March 1858: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Bourke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Bourke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | John Steel | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 412 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Bourke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | John Steel | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 336 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Bourke was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 11 Jul 1866: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Bourke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Steel's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 27 Apr 1868: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrew Green Thompson | 171 | 54.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Isaac Fletcher | 144 | 45.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 8.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 315 | 93.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 336 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal |
Seat reduced to one member
General election 1868: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Isaac Fletcher | 620 | 61.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Lorton Bourke | 388 | 38.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 232 | 23.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,008 | 93.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,074 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Isaac Fletcher | 506 | 56.6 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative | John Henry Fawcett | 388 | 43.4 | +4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 118 | 13.2 | −9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 894 | 83.0 | −10.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,077 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −4.9 | |
Fletcher's suicide caused a by-election.
By-election, 18 Apr 1879: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Fletcher | 557 | 60.3 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative | David Rapley | 366 | 39.7 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 191 | 20.6 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 923 | 83.8 | +0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,102 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.7 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Waugh | 582 | 60.5 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | Robert Webster | 380 | 39.5 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 202 | 21.0 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 962 | 87.9 | +4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,094 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
General election 1885: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles James Valentine | 3,845 | 50.1 | +10.6 |
| | Liberal | Wilfrid Lawson | 3,835 | 49.9 | −10.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,680 | 80.5 | −7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,538 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.6 | |
General election 1886: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wilfrid Lawson | 4,130 | 56.9 | +7.0 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Henry Frazer Curwen | 3,126 | 43.1 | −7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,004 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,256 | 76.1 | −4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,538 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.0 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wilfrid Lawson | 4,599 | 54.6 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | John Scott Napier | 3,829 | 45.4 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 770 | 9.2 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,428 | 77.3 | +1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,906 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.3 | |
General election 1895: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wilfrid Lawson | 4,259 | 51.5 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Milvain | 4,018 | 48.5 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 241 | 3.0 | −6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,277 | 80.8 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,242 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −3.1 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Randles | 4,276 | 51.3 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal | Wilfrid Lawson | 4,067 | 48.7 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,343 | 76.6 | −4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,897 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.8 | |
General election 1906: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wilfrid Lawson | 5,349 | 52.8 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | John Randles | 4,786 | 47.2 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 563 | 5.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,135 | 86.6 | +10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,700 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.1 | |
1906 Cockermouth by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Randles | 4,593 | 46.2 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Guest | 3,903 | 39.3 | −13.5 |
| | Labour | Robert Smillie | 1,436 | 14.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 690 | 6.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,932 | 84.9 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,700 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.2 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Randles | 4,579 | 45.2 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | Wilfrid Lawson | 3,638 | 35.9 | −3.4 |
| | Labour | James Percy Whitehead | 1,909 | 18.9 | +4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 941 | 9.3 | +2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,126 | 89.4 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.2 | |
General election December 1910: Cockermouth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wilfrid Lawson | 5,003 | 52.7 | +16.8 |
| | Conservative | John Randles | 4,492 | 47.3 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 511 | 5.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,495 | 83.8 | −5.6 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.4 | |
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: Wilfrid Lawson
* Unionist: Daniel Johnston Mason
* Labour:Thomas Cape
1916 Cockermouth by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Bliss | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |