# Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)

Bristol was a two-member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England (to 1707), Great Britain (1707–1800), and the United Kingdom (from 1801). The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.

## Boundaries

The historic port city of Bristol is located in what is now the South West Region of England. It straddles the border between the historic geographical counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. It was usually accounted as a Gloucestershire borough in the later part of the 19th and the 20th centuries.
The parliamentary borough of Bristol was represented in Parliament from the 13th century, as one of the most important population centres in the Kingdom. Namier and Brooke comment that in 1754 the city was the second largest in the Kingdom and had the third largest electorate for an urban seat.
From the 1885 United Kingdom general election the city was divided into four single member seats. These were Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West.

## Members of Parliament

The use of Roman numerals in the list below denotes different politicians of the same name, not that the individuals concerned would have used the Roman numerals as part of their name.
Non Partisan denotes that the politician concerned is not known to have been associated with a party (not necessarily that he was not). Whilst Whig and Tory societies in the city continued to nominate candidates in the last half of the 18th century, the electoral labels used in Bristol had very little to do with what the MPs did in national politics.
| Year | 1st Member | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Member | 2nd Party |
| 1295 | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | |
| 1298 | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John de Cheddre |
| 1301 | John de Malmesbury | John de Malmesbury | John de Malmesbury | John de Malmesbury | |
| 1305 | Thomas Welishote | Thomas Welishote | Thomas Welishote | Thomas Welishote | John Hasard |
| 1306 | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | Robert de Holhurst |
| 1307 (Jan) | Geoffrey Comper | Geoffrey Comper | Geoffrey Comper | Geoffrey Comper | Nicholas Coker |
| 1309 | Stephen de Bello Monte | Stephen de Bello Monte | Stephen de Bello Monte | Stephen de Bello Monte | Robert Martyn |
| 1311 (Aug) | Richard Colpeck | Richard Colpeck | Richard Colpeck | Richard Colpeck | John Fraunceys |
| 1311 (Nov) | John Haszard | John Haszard | John Haszard | John Haszard | John le Lun |
| 1313 (Mar) | John de Wellescoten | John de Wellescoten | John de Wellescoten | John de Wellescoten | John Methelan |
| 1313 (Sep) | John Fraunceys | John Fraunceys | John Fraunceys | John Fraunceys | John Tropyn |
| 1315 | Robert Wyldemersh | Robert Wyldemersh | Robert Wyldemersh | Robert Wyldemersh | Thomas le Spicer |
| 1316 (Jan) | Nicholas de Roubergwe | Nicholas de Roubergwe | Nicholas de Roubergwe | Nicholas de Roubergwe | John Veys |
| 1318 | Gilbert Pickering | Gilbert Pickering | Gilbert Pickering | Gilbert Pickering | Richard de Woodhall |
| 1319 | Thomas de Salop | Thomas de Salop | Thomas de Salop | Thomas de Salop | Robert de Lyncoln |
| 1320 | John le Hunte | John le Hunte | John le Hunte | John le Hunte | John Welishote |
| 1321 | John de Romeneye | John de Romeneye | John de Romeneye | John de Romeneye | William de Hanyngfeld |
| 1322 (May) | William de Clyf | William de Clyf | William de Clyf | William de Clyf | John Fraunceys jnr (son of 1311) |
| 1322 (Nov) | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John le Taverner | John Fraunceys jnr |
| 1324 (Jan) | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John Fraunceys jnr |
| 1325 | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John Fraunceys jnr |
| 1327 | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John de Axebridge | John de Romeneye |
| 1328 (Feb) | Richard de Panes | Richard de Panes | Richard de Panes | Richard de Panes | Hugh le Hunte |
| 1328 (Apr) | William de Trowbridge | William de Trowbridge | William de Trowbridge | William de Trowbridge | Hugh de Langebridge |
| 1330 (Mar) | John Fraunceys | John Fraunceys | John Fraunceys | John Fraunceys | Hugh le Hunte |
| 1330 (Nov) | Hugh le Hunte | Hugh le Hunte | Hugh le Hunte | Hugh le Hunte | Richard de Panes |
| 1332 (Mar) | John de Romeneye | John de Romeneye | John de Romeneye | John de Romeneye | John de Axebridge |
| 1332 (Sep) | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | John de Axebridge |
| 1332 (Dec) | Richard de Chelreye | Richard de Chelreye | Richard de Chelreye | Richard de Chelreye | John Fraunceys snr |
| 1334 (Feb) | John Otery | John Otery | John Otery | John Otery | John de Strete |
| 1334 (Sep) | Robert Gyene or Gwyen | Robert Gyene or Gwyen | Robert Gyene or Gwyen | Robert Gyene or Gwyen |
| 1335 | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | John de Strete |
| 1336 (Mar) | Robert de Gyn or de Gyeyn | Robert de Gyn or de Gyeyn | Robert de Gyn or de Gyeyn | Robert de Gyn or de Gyeyn | John Franceys |
| 1336 (Sep) | John Fraunceys jnr | John Fraunceys jnr | John Fraunceys jnr | John Fraunceys jnr | Thomas Tropin |
| 1336 (Dec) | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | Hugh de Langebridge | John le Spycer William le Haukare |
| 1337 (Jan) | Robert de Gyene | Robert de Gyene | Robert de Gyene | Robert de Gyene | John de Strete |
| 1338 (Jan) | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Philip de Torynton |
| 1338 (Jul) | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Philip de Torynton |
| 1339 (Jan) | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | John de Strete |
| 1340 (Jan) | Thomas Tropyn | Thomas Tropyn | Thomas Tropyn | Thomas Tropyn | John le Spicer |
| 1341 | Robert Guyene | Robert Guyene | Robert Guyene | Robert Guyene | Philip de Toryton |
| 1344 | Roger Turtle | Roger Turtle | Roger Turtle | Roger Turtle | John de Horncastle |
| 1346 (Sep) | John de Wycoumbe | John de Wycoumbe | John de Wycoumbe | John de Wycoumbe | John Neel |
| 1348 (Jan) | Everard Fraunceys or le Freynshe | Everard Fraunceys or le Freynshe | Everard Fraunceys or le Freynshe | Everard Fraunceys or le Freynshe | John de Strete |
| 1348 (Mar) | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Everard le Fraunceys | Thomas de Lodelawe |
| 1351 | John de Colyngton or Cobbington | John de Colyngton or Cobbington | John de Colyngton or Cobbington | John de Colyngton or Cobbington | John Seymour |
| 1353 | Thomas Babbecary | Thomas Babbecary | Thomas Babbecary | Thomas Babbecary | William Coumbe |
| 1354 | Richard le Spicer | Richard le Spicer | Richard le Spicer | Richard le Spicer | Reginald le French |
| 1358 | Reginald French | Reginald French | Reginald French | Reginald French | Richard Brompton |
| 1360 | Thomas Babbecari | Thomas Babbecari | Thomas Babbecari | Thomas Babbecari | Galfridus Beauflour (Geoffrey Beauflower) |
| 1361 | Reginald le French | Reginald le French | Reginald le French | Reginald le French | William Yonge |
| 1362 | Walter Frompton | Walter Frompton | Walter Frompton | Walter Frompton | Edmund Blanket |
| 1363 | John Serjaunt | John Serjaunt | John Serjaunt | John Serjaunt | John Stoke |
| 1365 | William Haye | William Haye | William Haye | William Haye | William Cannings |
| 1366 | William Somerwell | William Somerwell | William Somerwell | William Somerwell | Thomas Denbaud |
| 1368 | Richard Chaimburleyn | Richard Chaimburleyn | Richard Chaimburleyn | Richard Chaimburleyn | Richard Sydenham |
| 1369 | Robert Cheddre | Robert Cheddre | Robert Cheddre | Robert Cheddre | Edmund Blanket |
| 1371 (Jun) | John Bathe | John Bathe | John Bathe | John Bathe |
| 1372 | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | John Stoke |
| 1373 | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | Thomas Beaupyne or Beaupenny |
| 1377 (Jan) | Ehas Spelly | Ehas Spelly | Ehas Spelly | Ehas Spelly | Thomas Beaupyne or Beaupenny |
| 1378 | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Walter de Frompton |
| 1381 | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | John Stokes |
| 1382 (May) | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | John Viell |
| 1382 (Oct) | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | Walter Derby | John Fullbroke |
| 1383 (Feb) | William I Canynges(d.1396) | William I Canynges(d.1396) | William I Canynges(d.1396) | William I Canynges(d.1396) | John Candavere |
| 1383 (Oct) | John Canynges(d.1405) | John Canynges(d.1405) | John Canynges(d.1405) | John Canynges(d.1405) | William Frome |
| 1384 (Apr) | William I Canynges(d.1396) | William I Canynges(d.1396) | William I Canynges(d.1396) | William I Canynges(d.1396) | William Somerwell |
| 1384 (Nov) | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Walter Tedistill (Tyddeley?) |
| 1385 | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Thomas Knapp |
| 1386 | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | Elias Spelly | William I Canynges (d.1396) |
| 1388 (Feb) | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Knapp |
| 1388 (Sep) | Robert Gardiner | Robert Gardiner | Robert Gardiner | Robert Gardiner | John Fulbrook |
| 1390 (Jan) | John Viell | John Viell | John Viell | John Viell | William Frome |
| 1391 | William Frome | William Frome | William Frome | William Frome | John Stephens |
| 1393 | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | Thomas Beaupyne | John Stephens |
| 1397 (Jan) | William Frome | William Frome | William Frome | William Frome | John Banbury |
| 1399 | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Richard Pavys or Pannys |
| 1402 | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | John Droyes |
| 1406 | Henry Bokerell | Henry Bokerell | Henry Bokerell | Henry Bokerell | Gilbert Joce |
| 1407 (Oct) | John Droys, merchant | John Droys, merchant | John Droys, merchant | John Droys, merchant | John Newton, merchant |
| 1411 (Oct) | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | David Dudbroke |
| 1413 (Apr) | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | John Leycester |
| 1414 (Jan) | Thomas Young | Thomas Young | Thomas Young | Thomas Young | John Spyne |
| 1414 (Oct) | Thomas Blount, merchant | Thomas Blount, merchant | Thomas Blount, merchant | Thomas Blount, merchant | John Clyve, merchant |
| 1416 (Feb) | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Robert Colville |
| 1417 (Oct) | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | John Burton |
| 1419 (Sep) | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Mark William |
| 1420 (Nov) | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | John Spyne |
| 1421 (Mar) | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Thomas Norton | Henry Gildeney |
| 1421 (Nov) | Mark William | Mark William | Mark William | Mark William | Richard Trenode |
| 1422 (Oct) | John Burton | John Burton | John Burton | John Burton | Roger Lyveden or Lavindon |
| 1423 (Oct) | John Burton | John Burton | John Burton | John Burton | Roger Leveden or Lavindon |
| 1425 (Mar) | Richard Trenode | Richard Trenode | Richard Trenode | Richard Trenode | Walter Power or Powell |
| 1426 (Feb) | Henry Gildeney | Henry Gildeney | Henry Gildeney | Henry Gildeney | John Langley |
| 1427 (Sep) | John Burton | John Burton | John Burton | John Burton | Henry Gildeney |
| 1429 (Sep) | Richard Trenode | Richard Trenode | Richard Trenode | Richard Trenode | John Sharp |
| 1430 (Dec) | Thomas Fish | Thomas Fish | Thomas Fish | Thomas Fish | Walter Power or Powell |
| 1432 (Apr) | John Burton | John Burton | John Burton | John Burton | John Sharp |
| 1433 (Jun) | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Robert Russell | Walter Power |
| 1435 (Sep) | Thomas Fisshe | Thomas Fisshe | Thomas Fisshe | Thomas Fisshe | Thomas Young(d.1476) |
| 1436 (Dec) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Norton jnr |
| 1439 | William II Canynges(d.1474) | William II Canynges(d.1474) | William II Canynges(d.1474) | William II Canynges(d.1474) | |
| 1442 (Jan) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | John Sharp |
| 1447 (Jan) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | John Sharp, jnr (son of John Sharp 1429) |
| 1449 (Jan) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | John Sharp, jnr |
| 1449 (Nov) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | John Sharp, jnr |
| 1450 (Oct) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | William II Canynges(d.1474) |
| 1453 (Feb) | John Shipward | John Shipward | John Shipward | John Shipward | William Pa(vy?) |
| 1455 (Jul) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | Thomas Young(d.1476) | William II Canynges(d.1474) |
| 1459 (Nov) | John Shipward | John Shipward | John Shipward | John Shipward | Philip Mede |
| 1460 (Sep) | John Shipward | John Shipward | John Shipward | John Shipward | Philip Mede |
| 1462 | Thomas Meede | Thomas Meede | Thomas Meede | Thomas Meede | |
| 1467 (Apr) | William Spencer | William Spencer | William Spencer | William Spencer | John Bagot |
| 1472 (Aug) | John Twynyho | John Twynyho | John Twynyho | John Twynyho | John Bagot |
| 1478 (Jan) | John Hawkes | John Hawkes | John Hawkes | John Hawkes | Edmund Westcote |
| 1483 (Jan) | Edmund Westcote | Edmund Westcote | Edmund Westcote | Edmund Westcote | William Wykam |
| 1484 (Jan) | John Twynyho | John Twynyho | John Twynyho | John Twynyho | Robert Strange |
| 1485 (Oct) | John Esterfield | John Esterfield | John Esterfield | John Esterfield | Robert Strange (MP for Bristol) |
| 1487 (Oct) | John Esterfield | John Esterfield | John Esterfield | John Esterfield | Henry Vaughan |
| 1490 (Jan) | William Toker | William Toker | William Toker | William Toker | John Fisher |
| 1491 (Oct) | John Syram™ (or Seymour?) | John Syram™ (or Seymour?) | John Syram™ (or Seymour?) | John Syram™ (or Seymour?) | John Pynke |
| 1495 (Oct) | Henry Vaughan | Henry Vaughan | Henry Vaughan | Henry Vaughan | Philip Kingston |
| 1505 | Henry Dale | Henry Dale | Henry Dale | Henry Dale | Thomas Snigg |
| 1510 )Jan) | Richard Vaughan | Richard Vaughan | Richard Vaughan | Richard Vaughan | Henry Dale |
| 1512 (Jan) | Thomas Smith | Thomas Smith | Thomas Smith | Thomas Smith | Richard Hobby |
| 1523 (Apr) | Robert Thorn | Robert Thorn | Robert Thorn | Robert Thorn | Richard Hobby |
| 1529 | | Thomas Jubbes | | | Richard Abingdon | |
| 1536 | | Nicholas Thorn | | | Roger Coke | |
| 1539 | | Thomas White | | | David Broke$^1$ | |
| 1541 | | David Broke | | | Robert Elyot | |
| 1545 | | Robert Keilway | | | John Drewes | |
| 1553 | | John Walshe | | | David Harris | |
| 1554 | | John Walshe | | | Thomas Lansden | |
| 1555 | | John Walshe | | | William Chester | |
| 1558 | | William Tyndall | | | Robert Butler | |
| 1559 | | John Walshe | | | William Carr | |
| 1563 | | John Walshe, made judge, repl. by Thomas Chester | | | William Carr | |
| 1571 | | John Popham | | | Philip Langley | |
| 1584 | | Thomas Hanham | | | Richard Cole | |
| 1586 | | Thomas Hanham | | | Thomas Aldworth | |
| 1588 | | Thomas Hanham | | | William Saltern | |
| 1593 | | Thomas Hanham | | | Richard Cole | |
| 1597 | | George Snigge made Baron of the Court of Exchequer and replaced 1605 by John Whitson | | | William Ellys | |
| 1601 | | George Snigge made Baron of the Court of Exchequer and replaced 1605 by John Whitson | | | John Hopkins | Non Partisan |
| 1604 | | George Snigge made Baron of the Court of Exchequer and replaced 1605 by John Whitson | | | Thomas James | Non Partisan |
| 1614 | | John Whitson | Non Partisan | | Thomas James | Non Partisan |
| 1621 | | John Barker | Non-Partisan | | John Guy | Non Partisan |
| 1624 | | John Barker | Non Partisan | | John Guy | Non Partisan |
| 1625 | | Nicholas Hyde | Non Partisan | | John Whitson | Non Partisan |
| 1626 | | John Whitson | Non Partisan | | John Doughty | Non Partisan |
| 1628 | | John Doughty | Non Partisan | | John Barker | Non Partisan |
| 1640 (Mar) | | John Glanville | Non Partisan | | Humphrey Hooke | Non Partisan |
| 1640 (Oct) | | Humphrey Hooke | Non Partisan | | Richard Longe | Non Partisan |
| 1642 | | John Glanville | Non Partisan | | John Tailer | Non Partisan |
| 1646 | | Richard Aldworth | Non Partisan | | Luke Hodges | Non Partisan |
| 1654 | | Richard Aldworth | Non Partisan | | Miles Jackson | Non Partisan |
| 1656 | | Robert Aldworth | Non Partisan | | John Dodderidge Miles Jackson | Non Partisan |
| 1659 | | Robert Aldworth | Non Partisan | | Joseph Jackson | Non Partisan |
| 1660 | | John Stephens | Non Partisan | | Sir John Knight | Non Partisan |
| 1661 | | The Earl of Ossory $^2$ | Non Partisan | | Sir John Knight | Non Partisan |
| 1666 | | Sir Humphrey Hooke $^3$ | Non Partisan | | Sir John Knight | Non Partisan |
| 1678 | | Sir Robert Cann | Non Partisan | | Sir John Knight | Non Partisan |
| 1681 | | Thomas Earle | Non Partisan | | Sir John Knight | Non Partisan |
| 1681 | | Thomas Earle | Non Partisan | | Sir Richard Hart | Non Partisan |
| 1685 | | Sir John Churchill $^4$ | Non Partisan | | Sir Richard Crumpe | Non Partisan |
| 1685 | | Sir Richard Hart | Non Partisan | | Sir Richard Crumpe | Non Partisan |
| 1689 | | Sir Richard Hart | Non Partisan | | Sir John Knight II | Non Partisan |
| 1695 | | Sir Thomas Day | Non Partisan | | Robert Yate | Non Partisan |
| 1701 | | Sir William Daines | Non Partisan | | Robert Yate | Non Partisan |
| 1710 | | Edward Colston | Tory | | Joseph Earle | Non Partisan |
| 1713 | | Thomas Edwards | Non Partisan | | Joseph Earle | Non Partisan |
| 1715 | | Sir William Daines | Non Partisan | | Joseph Earle | Non Partisan |
| 1722 | | Sir Abraham Elton, Bt I | Non Partisan | | Joseph Earle | Non Partisan |
| 1727 | | John Scrope | Non Partisan | | Sir Abraham Elton, Bt II $^6$ | Non Partisan |
| 1734 | | Thomas Coster $^5$ | Non Partisan | | Sir Abraham Elton, Bt II $^6$ | Non Partisan |
| 1739 | | Edward Southwell | Non Partisan | | Sir Abraham Elton, Bt II $^6$ | Non Partisan |
| 1742 | | Edward Southwell | Non Partisan | | Robert Hoblyn | Non Partisan |
| 1754 | | Robert Craggs-Nugent (later The Viscount Clare) $^8$ | Whig | | Richard Beckford $^7$ | Tory |
| 1756 | | Robert Craggs-Nugent (later The Viscount Clare) $^8$ | Whig | | Jarrit Smith | Tory |
| 1768 | | Robert Craggs-Nugent (later The Viscount Clare) $^8$ | Whig | | Matthew Brickdale | Tory |
| 1774 | | Henry Cruger | Whig | | Edmund Burke | Whig |
| 1780 | | Matthew Brickdale | Tory | | Sir Henry Lippincott, Bt $^9$ | Tory |
| 1781 | | Matthew Brickdale | Tory | | George Daubeny | Tory |
| 1784 | | Matthew Brickdale | Tory | | Henry Cruger | Whig |
| 1790 | | Marquess of Worcester | Tory | | The Lord Sheffield $^{10}$ | Whig |
| 1796 | | Charles Bragge (later Charles Bragge Bathurst) $^{11}$ | Tory | | The Lord Sheffield $^{10}$ | Whig |
| 1802 | | Charles Bragge (later Charles Bragge Bathurst) $^{11}$ | Tory | | Evan Baillie | Whig |
| 1812 | | Richard Hart Davis | Tory | | Evan Baillie | Whig |
| 1812 | | Richard Hart Davis | Tory | | Edward Protheroe I | Whig |
| 1820 | | Richard Hart Davis | Tory | | Henry Bright | Whig |
| 1830 | | Richard Hart Davis | Tory | | James Evan Baillie | Whig |
| 1831 | | Edward Protheroe II | Whig | | James Evan Baillie | Whig |
| 1832 | | Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bt | Tory | | James Evan Baillie | Whig |
| 1834 | | Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bt | Conservative | | James Evan Baillie | Whig |
| 1835 | | Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bt | Conservative | | Philip John Miles | Conservative |
| 1837 | | Philip William Skinner Miles | Conservative | | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley $^{13}$ | Radical |
| 1852 | | Henry Gore-Langton | Whig | | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley $^{13}$ | Radical |
| 1859 | | Henry Gore-Langton | Liberal | | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley $^{13}$ | Liberal |
| 1865 | | Sir Morton Peto $^{12}$ | Liberal | | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley $^{13}$ | Liberal |
| 1868 | | John Miles | Conservative | | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley $^{13}$ | Liberal |
| 1868 | | Samuel Morley | Liberal | | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley $^{13}$ | Liberal |
| 1870 | | Samuel Morley | Liberal | | Elisha Smith Robinson $^{14}$ | Liberal |
| 1870 | | Samuel Morley | Liberal | | Kirkman Hodgson $^{12}$ | Liberal |
| 1878 | | Samuel Morley | Liberal | | Lewis Fry | Liberal |
| 1885 | constituency divided. See Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West. | constituency divided. See Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West. | constituency divided. See Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West. | constituency divided. See Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West. | constituency divided. See Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West. | constituency divided. See Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West. |
Notes:-
* $^1$ By 4 February 1536 David Broke had been elected vice Thomas Jubbes deceased. He was probably re-elected in the 1536 general election and certainly was at the 1539 and 1542 elections..
* $^2$ A Peer of Ireland. He was created a Peer of England, as 1st Baron Butler, in 1666.
* $^3$ Died 16 October 1677.
* $^4$ Died 11 October 1685.
* $^5$ Died 30 September 1739.
* $^6$ Died 20 October 1742.
* $^7$ Died 24 January 1756.
* $^8$ Created a Peer of Ireland, as 1st Viscount Clare, in 1767.
* $^9$ Died 30 December 1780.
* $^{10}$ A Peer of Ireland, as 1st Baron Sheffield, created in 1781.
* $^{11}$ Adopted a new surname of Bathurst, in 1804.
* $^{12}$ Resigned.
* $^{13}$ Died 10 March 1870.
* $^{14}$ Election declared void on petition.

## Elections

During the existence of this constituency, Bristol was a city with the status of being a county of itself. That meant that the city was not subject to the administration of the officials of the geographic counties in which it was situated. In electoral terms it meant that the voters for the parliamentary borough included those qualified on the same 40 shilling freeholder franchise as that for a county constituency. Other electors qualified as freemen of the borough. These were the ancient right franchises, applicable to Bristol, preserved by the Reform Act 1832, which also introduced a broader occupation franchise for all borough constituencies.
Bristol was a fairly partisan constituency in the eighteenth century with two rival clubs - the Union Club for the Whigs and the Steadfast Society for the Tories.
The bloc vote electoral system was used in two seat elections and first past the post for single member by-elections. Each voter had up to as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings (until the secret ballot was introduced in 1872).
Namier and Brooke, in The House of Commons 1754-1790, estimated the electorate of Bristol to number about 5,000. When registration of electors was introduced in 1832 the city had 10,315 names on the electoral register.
Note on percentage change calculations: Where there was only one candidate of a party in successive elections, for the same number of seats, change is calculated on the party percentage vote. Where there was more than one candidate, in one or both successive elections for the same number of seats, then change is calculated on the individual percentage vote.
Note on sources: The information for the election results given below is taken from Sedgwick 1715–1754, Namier and Brooke 1754–1790, Stooks Smith 1790-1832 and from Craig thereafter. Where Stooks Smith gives additional information or differs from the other sources this is indicated in a note after the result.

### Elections in the 1710s

General election 9 February 1715: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | William Daines | 1,936 | 24.87 | N/A |
| Whig | Joseph Earle | 1,879 | 24.14 | N/A |
| Tory | Philip Freke | 1,991 | 25.58 | N/A |
| Tory | Thomas Edwards | 1,978 | 25.41 | N/A |
* Note (1715): Although the Whig candidates received fewer votes than the Tory ones, the Returning Officer declared them elected and the House of Commons did not hear the petitions against the return; so Daines and Earle continued to sit throughout the Parliament.

### Elections in the 1720s

General election 28 March 1722: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | Joseph Earle | 2,141 | 37.22 | +13.08 |
| Whig | Abraham Elton | 1,869 | 32.49 | N/A |
| Tory | William Hart | 1,743 | 30.30 | N/A |
General election 8 September 1727: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Scrope | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig | Abraham Elton | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Note (1727): William Hart (Tory) was a candidate, but he did not go to a poll after Mr Elton paid him £1,000 to cover his election expenses.
* Elton became the 2nd Baronet, upon the death of his father (the MP of the same name elected in 1722) in 1728.

### Elections in the 1730s

General election 24 May 1734: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | Abraham Elton | 2,428 | 38.15 | N/A |
| Tory | Thomas Coster | 2,071 | 32.54 | N/A |
| Whig | John Scrope | 1,866 | 29.32 | N/A |
* Death of Coster
By-Election 12 December 1739: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Southwell | 2,651 | 54.61 | N/A |
| | Non Partisan | Henry Combe | 2,203 | 45.39 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 448 | 9.23 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
* Note (1759): Southwell was an Opposition Whig

### Elections in the 1740s

General election 13 May 1741: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Abraham Elton | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig | Edward Southwell | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Death of Elton
By-Election 24 November 1742: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Robert Hoblyn | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1 July 1747: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Southwell | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Robert Hoblyn | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1750s

General election 1 May 1754: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | Robert Nugent | 2,592 | 37.04 | N/A |
| Tory | Richard Beckford | 2,245 | 32.09 | N/A |
| Tory | John Philipps | 2,160 | 30.87 | N/A |
* Note (1754): Nugent 2,601; Philips 2,165. (Source: Stooks Smith)
* Death of Beckford
By-Election 18 March 1756: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Jarrit Smith | 2,418 | 50.75 | N/A |
| | Whig | John Spencer | 2,347 | 49.25 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 71 | 1.49 | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Seat vacated by appointment of Craggs-Nugent as a Vice Treasurer of Ireland
By-Election 26 December 1759: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1760s

General election 27 March 1761: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Jarrit Smith | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Seat vacated by appointment of Craggs-Nugent as First Commissioner of the Board of Trade and Plantations
By-Election 16 December 1766: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Creation of Craggs-Nugent as the 1st Viscount Clare, in the Peerage of Ireland, in 1767
General election 16 March 1768: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Matthew Brickdale | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Seat vacated by appointment of Viscount Clare as a Vice Treasurer of Ireland
By-Election 27 June 1768: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Nugent | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1770s

General election 3 November 1774: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | Henry Cruger | 3,565 | 39.56 | N/A |
| Whig | Edmund Burke | 2,707 | 30.04 | N/A |
| Tory | Matthew Brickdale | 2,456 | 27.26 | N/A |
| Whig | Robert Nugent | 283 | 3.14 | N/A |
* Note (1774): 5,384 voted. Lord Clare resigned on the second day when Mr. Burke was first proposed. Mr. Burke was at the time in Malton, for which place he had been returned when the deputation arrived to invite him to Bristol, where he arrived on the sixth day's poll. (Source: Stooks Smith)

### Elections in the 1780s

General election 20 September 1780: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Matthew Brickdale | 2,771 | 37.62 | +10.36 |
| Tory | Henry Lippincott | 2,518 | 34.18 | N/A |
| Whig | Henry Cruger | 1,271 | 17.25 | −22.31 |
| Whig | Samuel Peach | 788 | 10.70 | N/A |
| Whig | Edmund Burke | 18 | 0.24 | −29.80 |
* Note (1780): Lippincott 3,518; Burke 0. Mr. Rich. Combe, late member of Aldeburgh, was a Candidate, but died the day before the commencement of the poll. (Source: Stooks Smith)
* Death of Lippincott
By-Election 26 February 1781: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | George Daubeny | 3,143 | 53.15 | N/A |
| | Whig | Henry Cruger | 2,771 | 46.85 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 372 | 6.29 | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 10 May 1784: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Matthew Brickdale | 3,458 | 35.05 | −2.57 |
| Whig | Henry Cruger | 3,052 | 30.93 | +13.68 |
| Tory | George Daubeny | 2,984 | 30.24 | N/A |
| Whig | Samuel Peach | 373 | 3.73 | −6.97 |
* Note (1784): 6,094 voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)

### Elections in the 1790s

General election 1790: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Henry Somerset | 544 | 49.54 | N/A |
| Whig | John Baker-Holroyd | 537 | 48.91 | N/A |
| Non Partisan | -. Lewis | 12 | 1.09 | N/A |
| Non Partisan | William Cunningham | 5 | 0.46 | N/A |
General election 1796: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Charles Bragge | 364 | 44.83 | −4.71 |
| Whig | John Baker-Holroyd | 340 | 41.87 | −7.04 |
| Whig | Benjamin Hobhouse | 108 | 13.30 | N/A |
* Note (1796): Poll 1 day. (Source: Stooks Smith)

### Elections in the 1800s

* Members of the last Parliament of Great Britain, continued in office for the first Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801
Co-option 1801: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Charles Bragge | Co-opted | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig | John Baker-Holroyd | Co-opted | N/A | N/A |
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Bragge as Treasurer of the Navy
By-Election November 1801: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Charles Bragge | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1802: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Charles Bragge | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig | Evan Baillie | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
* Note (1802): Sir Frederick Eden was a candidate, but retired before the election. (Source: Stooks Smith)
* Seat vacated on the appointment of Bragge as Secretary at War
By-Election August 1803: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Charles Bragge | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Bragge changed his surname to Bathurst in 1804
General election 1806: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Charles Bathurst | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig | Evan Baillie | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 1807: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Charles Bathurst | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Whig | Evan Baillie | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1810s

* Seat vacated on the appointment of Bathurst as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 23 June 1812
By-Election July 1812: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Richard Hart Davis | 1,907 | 89.03 | N/A |
| | Radical | Henry Hunt | 235 | 10.97 | N/A |
| | Radical | William Cobbett | 0 | 0.00 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,672 | 78.06 | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Note (1812 by-election): Poll 13 days; 2,142 electors voted. (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 1812: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Richard Hart Davis | 2,910 | 39.24 | N/A |
| Whig | Edward Protheroe | 2,435 | 32.84 | N/A |
| Whig | Samuel Romilly | 1,615 | 21.78 | N/A |
| Radical | Henry Hunt | 455 | 6.14 | N/A |
* Note (1812): Poll 10 days; 4,389 electors cast 7,415 votes. (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 1818: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Richard Hart Davis | 3,377 | 46.13 | +6.89 |
| Whig | Edward Protheroe | 2,259 | 30.86 | −1.98 |
| Whig | Hugh Duncan Baillie | 1,684 | 23.01 | +23.01 |
* Note (1818): Poll 5 days; 4,121 electors cast 7,320 votes. (Source: Stooks Smith)

### Elections in the 1820s

General election 1820: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | Henry Bright | 2,975 | 50.45 | +50.45 |
| Tory | Richard Hart Davis | 2,795 | 47.40 | +1.27 |
| Whig | Hugh Duncan Baillie | 127 | 2.15 | −20.86 |
General election 1826: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Richard Hart Davis | 3,887 | 48.14 | +0.74 |
| Whig | Henry Bright | 2,314 | 28.66 | −21.79 |
| Whig | Edward Protheroe | 1,874 | 23.21 | +23.21 |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | Richard Hart Davis | 5,012 | 44.6 |
| | Whig | James Evan Baillie | 3,378 | 30.1 |
| | Whig | Edward Davis Protheroe | 2,842 | 25.3 |
| | Radical | James Acland | 8 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,311 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,634 | 14.5 |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,370 | 30.1 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
* Note (1830): Poll 4 days (Source: Stooks Smith)
General election 1831: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Whig | James Evan Baillie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig | Edward Davis Protheroe | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| 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 14 December 1832: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Richard Vyvyan | 3,697 | 29.3 | New |
| | Whig | James Evan Baillie | 3,159 | 25.0 | N/A |
| | Whig | Edward Davis Protheroe | 3,030 | 24.0 | N/A |
| | Whig | John Williams | 2,741 | 21.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 538 | 5.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,631 | 64.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,315 | | |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 9 January 1835: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Philip John Miles | 3,709 | 32.7 | +18.1 |
| | Conservative | Richard Vyvyan | 3,313 | 29.2 | +14.6 |
| | Whig | James Evan Baillie | 2,518 | 22.2 | −48.5 |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | 1,808 | 15.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,191 | 10.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,879 | 58.2 | −6.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,100 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +21.2 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +19.4 | |
General election 22 July 1837: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Philip William Skinner Miles | 3,839 | 37.6 | +4.9 |
| | Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 3,212 | 31.5 | +15.6 |
| | Conservative | William Fripp | 3,156 | 30.9 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,375 | 63.8 | +5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,992 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 627 | 6.1 | −0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.5 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 28 June 1841: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Philip William Skinner Miles | 4,193 | 36.1 | −1.5 |
| | Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 3,739 | 32.2 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative | William Fripp | 3,684 | 31.7 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,808 (est) | 52.1 (est) | −11.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,150 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 454 | 3.9 | −2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 55 | 0.5 | −0.1 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +0.7 | |
General election 1847: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 4,381 | 45.5 | +29.4 |
| | Conservative | Philip William Skinner Miles | 2,595 | 27.0 | −9.1 |
| | Conservative | William Fripp | 2,476 | 25.7 | −6.0 |
| | Radical | Apsley Pellatt | 171 | 1.8 | −14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,913 | 62.7 | +10.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,032 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,786 | 18.5 | +18.0 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +18.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,424 | 25.2 | +21.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −8.3 | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 10 July 1852: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 4,681 | 36.4 | −10.9 |
| | Whig | Henry Gore-Langton | 4,531 | 35.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Foster Alleyne McGeachy | 3,632 | 28.3 | −24.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,422 (est) | 51.2 (est) | −11.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,548 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 | 1.1 | −17.4 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +6.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 899 | 7.0 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
* Note (1852): From this election the number of electors who voted is unknown, so the number of votes cast is divided by two, and the resultant figure is used to calculate an estimated minimum turnout. To the extent that electors did not cast both their possible votes the turnout figure will be an underestimate.
General election 27 March 1857: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Henry Gore-Langton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,612 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 30 April 1859: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 4,432 | 34.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Henry Gore-Langton | 4,285 | 33.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Frederick William Slade | 4,205 | 32.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,461 (est) | 50.0 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,929 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 15 July 1865: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 5,296 | 35.8 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal | Morton Peto | 5,228 | 35.3 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Fremantle | 4,269 | 28.9 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 959 | 6.5 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,531 (est) | 84.3 (est) | +34.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,303 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
* Resignation of Peto
By-Election 30 April 1868: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Miles | 5,173 | 51.0 | +22.1 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Morley | 4,977 | 49.0 | −22.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 196 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,150 | 89.8 | +5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,303 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +22.1 | |
* McCalmont reports that Miles was unseated on petition, but that no new writ was issued before the 1868 general election. Craig also reports the election was voided.
General election 16 November 1868: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley | 8,759 | 36.2 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Morley | 8,714 | 36.1 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | John Miles | 6,694 | 27.7 | −1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,020 | 8.4 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,431 (est) | 72.9 (est) | −11.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,153 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.5 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.7 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

* Death of Berkeley
By-Election 29 March 1870: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Elisha Smith Robinson | 7,882 | 52.7 | −19.6 |
| | Conservative | Sholto Vere Hare | 7,062 | 47.3 | +19.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 820 | 5.4 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,944 | 70.6 | −2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,153 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −19.6 | |
* Election of Robinson declared void on petition
By-Election 27 June 1870: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Kirkman Hodgson | 7,816 | 51.9 | −20.4 |
| | Conservative | Sholto Vere Hare | 7,238 | 48.1 | +20.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 578 | 3.8 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,054 | 71.2 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,153 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −20.4 | |
* Swing from Liberal to Conservative
General election 5 February 1874: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Kirkman Hodgson | 8,888 | 26.3 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Morley | 8,732 | 25.8 | −10.3 |
| | Conservative | Sholto Vere Hare | 8,552 | 25.3 | +11.4 |
| | Conservative | George Henry Chambers | 7,626 | 22.6 | +8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 0.5 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,899 (est) | 73.9 (est) | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,867 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −9.4 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −9.5 | |
* Resignation of Hodgson
By-Election 16 December 1878: Bristol :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Lewis Fry | 9,342 | 54.5 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative | Ivor Guest | 7,795 | 45.5 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,547 | 9.0 | +8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,137 | 69.0 | −4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,851 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.4 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election April 1880: Bristol (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Morley | 10,704 | 31.2 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal | Lewis Fry | 10,070 | 29.4 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | Ivor Guest | 9,395 | 27.4 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal | Elisha Smith Robinson | 4,100 | 12.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 675 | 2.0 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,135 (est) | 73.8 (est) | −0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,229 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.2 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
* Constituency abolished - city split into four divisions (1885)