# Caernarvonshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Caernarvonshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885 and from 1918 until 1950. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system.

## Members of Parliament

* Constituency created (1542)

### MPs 1542–1604

| Parliament | Member |
| 1542 | ?John "Wynn" ap Maredudd |
| 1545 | John Puleston |
| 1547 | Sir John Puleston, died 1552 and replaced by John "Wynn" ap Maredudd} |
| 1553 (Mar) | John Wynn ap Hugh |
| 1553 (Oct) | Morris Wynn |
| 1554 (Apr) | Morris Wynn |
| 1554 (Nov) | David Lloyd ap Thomas |
| 1555 | Sir Rhys Gruffydd |
| 1558 | William Wynn Williams |
| 1558–1559 | Robert Pugh |
| 1563 (Jan) | Morris Wynn |
| 1571 | John Wynn ap Hugh |
| 1572 (Apr) | John Gwynne, died 1574 and replaced by William Thomas |
| 1584 | William Thomas |
| 1586 | John Wynn |
| 1588 (Oct) | Hugh Gwyn Bodvel |
| 1593 | William Maurice |
| 1597 (Oct) | William Griffith |
| 1601 (Sep) | William Jones |

### MPs 1604–1950

| Year | Member | Party |
| 1604 | Sir William Maurice | |
| 1614 | Richard Wynn | |
| 1621 | John Griffith | |
| 1624 | Thomas Glynn | |
| 1625 | Thomas Glynn | |
| 1626 | John Griffith | |
| 1628 | John Griffith | |
| 1640 April | Thomas Glynn | |
| 1640 November | John Griffith junior | disabled 1642 |
| 1647 | Sir Richard Wynn, 4th Baronet | |
| 1653 | Not represented in Barebones Parliament | Not represented in Barebones Parliament |
| Year | First Member | Second Member |
| Two members in first and second protectorate parliaments |||
| 1654 | Sir John Glynne | Thomas Madryn |
| 1656 | Sir John Glynne Henry Lawrence | Robert Williams |
| Year | | Member | Party |
| 1659 | | William Glynne | |
| 1660 | | Sir John Glynne | |
| 1661 | | Sir Richard Wynn, 4th Baronet | |
| 1675 | | Robert Bulkeley, 2nd Viscount Bulkeley | |
| 1679 | | Thomas Bulkeley | |
| 1689 | | Sir William Williams, 6th Baronet | |
| 1697 | | Thomas Bulkeley | |
| 1705 | | Sir John Wynn, 5th Baronet | |
| 1713 | | William Griffith | |
| 1715 | | John Griffith | |
| 1740 | | John Wynn | |
| 1741 | | William Bodvell | |
| 1754 | | Sir John Wynn, 2nd Baronet | |
| 1761 | | Sir Thomas Wynn, 3rd Baronet | |
| 1774 | | Thomas Assheton Smith | |
| 1780 | | John Parry | |
| 1790 | | Sir Robert Williams, 9th Baronet | Whig |
| 1826 | | Sir Thomas Wynn, 3rd Baronet | Non Partisan |
| 1830 | | Charles Griffith-Wynne | Tory |
| 1832 | | Thomas Assheton Smith | Tory |
| 1834 | | Thomas Assheton Smith | Conservative |
| 1837 | | John Ormsby-Gore | Conservative |
| 1841 | | Edward Douglas-Pennant | Conservative |
| 1866 | | George Douglas-Pennant | Conservative |
| 1868 | | Love Jones-Parry | Liberal |
| 1874 | | Hon. George Douglas-Pennant | Conservative |
| April 1880 | | Watkin Williams | Liberal |
| December 1880 | | William Rathbone | Liberal |
| 1885 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |
| 1918 | Constituency re-created | Constituency re-created | Constituency re-created |
| 1918 | | Charles Edward Breese | Coalition Liberal |
| 1922 | | Robert Jones | Labour |
| 1923 | | Goronwy Owen | Liberal |
| 1945 | | Goronwy Roberts | Labour |
| 1950 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |

## Uncontested elections 1830–1865

General election 1830: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Charles Griffith-Wynne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,500 | | |
| | Tory gain from Nonpartisan | Tory gain from Nonpartisan | Tory gain from Nonpartisan | Tory gain from Nonpartisan | Tory gain from Nonpartisan |
General election 1831: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Charles Griffith-Wynne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,500 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1832: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Thomas Assheton Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,688 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1835: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Assheton Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,642 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1837: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Ormsby-Gore | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,791 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1841: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Douglas-Pennant | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,162 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Douglas-Pennant | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,117 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1852: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Douglas-Pennant | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,913 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Douglas-Pennant | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,060 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Douglas-Pennant | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,116 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1865: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Douglas-Pennant | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,190 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

## Elections 1866–1885
### Elections in the 1860s

Pennant was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Penrhyn, causing a by-election.
By-election, 14 Aug 1866: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Douglas-Pennant | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1868: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Love Jones-Parry | 1,968 | 52.0 | New |
| | Conservative | George Douglas-Pennant | 1,815 | 48.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 153 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,783 | 78.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,852 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Douglas-Pennant | 2,750 | 54.3 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal | Love Jones-Parry | 2,318 | 45.7 | −6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 432 | 8.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,068 | 80.6 | +2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,286 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.3 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Watkin Williams | 3,303 | 60.0 | +14.3 |
| | Conservative | George Douglas-Pennant | 2,206 | 40.0 | −14.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,097 | 20.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,509 | 82.8 | +2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,652 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.3 | |
Williams resigned after being appointed a judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice
By-election, 2 Dec 1880: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Rathbone | 3,180 | 59.7 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Ellis-Nanney | 2,151 | 40.3 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,029 | 19.4 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,331 | 80.1 | −2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,652 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -0.3 | |

## Elections 1918–1945
### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Charles Edward Breese | 10,488 | 44.5 | |
| | Independent Labour | Robert Jones | 8,145 | 34.6 | |
| | Independent Liberal | Ellis William Davies | 4,937 | 21.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,343 | 9.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,570 | 64.6 | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Jones | 14,016 | 53.0 | +18.4 |
| | National Liberal | Charles Edward Breese | 12,407 | 47.0 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,609 | 6.0 | −3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,423 | 70.6 | +6.0 |
| | Labour gain from National Liberal | Labour gain from National Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Goronwy Owen | 15,043 | 52.7 | +5.7 |
| | Labour | Robert Jones | 13,521 | 47.3 | −5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,522 | 5.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,564 | 74.9 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +5.7 | |
General election 1924: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Goronwy Owen | 15,033 | 50.8 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | Robert Jones | 14,564 | 49.2 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 469 | 1.6 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,597 | 76.6 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.9 | |
General election 1929: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Goronwy Owen | 18,507 | 47.8 | −3.0 |
| | Labour | Robert Jones | 14,867 | 38.5 | −10.7 |
| | Unionist | D. Fowden Jones | 4,669 | 12.1 | New |
| | Plaid Cymru | Lewis Valentine | 609 | 1.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,640 | 9.3 | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,652 | 81.4 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.9 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Goronwy Owen | 14,993 | 39.0 | −8.8 |
| | Labour | Elwyn Jones | 14,299 | 37.2 | −1.3 |
| | National | W P O Evans | 7,990 | 20.8 | New |
| | Plaid Cymru | John Edward Daniel | 1,136 | 3.0 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 694 | 1.8 | −7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,418 | 80.0 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
* Owen opposed the National Government
General election 1935: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Goronwy Owen | 17,947 | 48.6 | +9.6 |
| | Labour | Elwyn Jones | 16,450 | 44.5 | +7.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | John Edward Daniel | 2,534 | 6.9 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,497 | 4.1 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,931 | 74.9 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General Election 1939–40:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal: Goronwy Owen
* Labour: Elwyn Jones

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Caernarvonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Goronwy Roberts | 22,043 | 55.3 | +10.8 |
| | Liberal | Goronwy Owen | 15,637 | 39.3 | −9.3 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Ambrose Bebb | 2,152 | 5.4 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,406 | 16.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,832 | 77.7 | +2.8 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.0 | |