# Meath (UK Parliament constituency)

Meath was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

## Boundaries

This constituency comprised the whole of County Meath.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | 1st Member | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Member | 2nd Party |
| 1801 | | Hamilton Gorges | | | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet | Whig |
| 1802 | | Thomas Cherburgh Bligh | Whig | | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet | Whig |
| 1812 | | Thomas Taylour, Earl of Bective (later Marquess of Headfort) | Whig | | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet | Whig |
| Feb 1830 | | Arthur Plunkett, Baron Killeen, later Earl of Fingall | Whig | | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet | Whig |
| Aug 1831 | | Arthur Plunkett, Baron Killeen, later Earl of Fingall | Whig | | Henry Grattan | Repeal Association |
| 1832 | | Morgan O'Connell | Repeal Association | | Henry Grattan | Repeal Association |
| Feb 1840 | | Matthew Corbally | Whig | | Henry Grattan | Repeal Association |
| 1841 | | Daniel O'Connell | Repeal Association | | Henry Grattan | Repeal Association |
| Jun 1842 | | Matthew Corbally | Whig | | Henry Grattan | Repeal Association |
| 1852 | | Matthew Corbally | Ind. Irish | | Frederick Lucas | Ind. Irish |
| 1855 | | Matthew Corbally | Ind. Irish | | Edward McEvoy | Ind. Irish |
| 1859 | | Matthew Corbally | Liberal | | Edward McEvoy | Liberal |
| 1871 | | John Martin | Ind. Nationalist | | Edward McEvoy | Liberal |
| 1874 | | John Martin | Home Rule League | | Nicholas Ennis | Home Rule League |
| 1875 | | Charles Stewart Parnell | Home Rule League | | Nicholas Ennis | Home Rule League |
| Apr 1880 | | Charles Stewart Parnell | Home Rule League | | Robert Henry Metge | Home Rule League |
| May 1880 | | Alexander Martin Sullivan | Home Rule League | | Robert Henry Metge | Home Rule League |
| Feb 1882 | | Michael Davitt | Home Rule League | | Robert Henry Metge | Home Rule League |
| Apr 1882 | | Edward Sheil | Home Rule League | | Robert Henry Metge | Home Rule League |
| Feb 1884 | | Edward Sheil | Home Rule League | | William Meagher | Home Rule League |
| 1885 | Constituency divided: see South Meath and North Meath | Constituency divided: see South Meath and North Meath | Constituency divided: see South Meath and North Meath | Constituency divided: see South Meath and North Meath | Constituency divided: see South Meath and North Meath | Constituency divided: see South Meath and North Meath |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

Taylour succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Marquess of Headfort and causing a by-election.
By-election, 22 February 1830: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Arthur Plunkett | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 977 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1830: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Arthur Plunkett | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 977 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1831: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Arthur Plunkett | 417 | 47.2 |
| | Whig | Sir Marcus Somerville, 4th Baronet | 250 | 28.3 |
| | Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | 198 | 22.4 |
| | Whig | James Lenox William Naper | 10 | 1.1 |
| | Tory | Richard Rowley | 8 | 0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 52 | 5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 442 | c. 45.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 977 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Somerville's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 11 August 1831: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | 309 | 67.3 | +44.9 |
| | Whig | John Duncan Bligh | 150 | 32.7 | −43.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 159 | 34.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 459 | 47.0 | c. +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 977 | | |
| | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Swing | +44.4 | |
General election 1832: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Repeal | Morgan O'Connell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,520 | |
| | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig |
| | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig |
General election 1835: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | Morgan O'Connell | 838 | 35.7 |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | Henry Grattan | 826 | 35.2 |
| | Conservative | Randal Plunkett | 346 | 14.7 |
| | Conservative | Gustavus Lambert | 337 | 14.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 480 | 20.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 1,174 | c. 72.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,617 | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
General election 1837: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | Morgan O'Connell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | Henry Grattan | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,872 | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

O'Connell resigned after being appointed assistant registrar of deeds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 4 February 1840: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal |
General election 1841: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Repeal | Daniel O'Connell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,236 | | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
O'Connell was also elected for County Cork and opted to sit there, causing a by-election.
By-election, 10 June 1842: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal |
General election 1847: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Matthew Corbally | 598 | 41.8 | N/A |
| | Irish Repeal | Henry Grattan | 503 | 35.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Corbet Singleton | 331 | 23.1 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 716 (est) | 44.4 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,611 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | 6.7 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 172 | 12.0 | N/A |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Irish | Frederick Lucas | 2,004 | 44.2 | N/A |
| | Independent Irish | Matthew Corbally | 1,968 | 43.4 | +1.6 |
| | Independent Irish | Henry Grattan | 565 | 12.5 | −22.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,403 | 30.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,269 (est) | 53.8 (est) | +9.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,218 | | |
| | Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal | Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal | Swing | N/A | |
| | Independent Irish gain from Whig | Independent Irish gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
Lucas' death caused a by-election.
By-election, 17 December 1855: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Irish | Edward McEvoy | 1,639 | 64.6 | N/A |
| | Whig | Henry Meredyth | 899 | 35.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 740 | 29.2 | −1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,538 | 60.2 | +6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,218 | | |
| | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1857: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Irish | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent Irish | Edward McEvoy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,177 | | |
| | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold |
| | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold | Independent Irish hold |
General election 1859: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Edward McEvoy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,383 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Matthew Corbally | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Edward McEvoy | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,155 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Matthew Corbally | 1,696 | 49.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Edward McEvoy | 1,655 | 48.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Thomas Hinds | 88 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,567 | 45.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,720 (est) | 42.8 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,018 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1870s

Corbally's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 17 Jan 1871: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Nationalist | John Martin | 1,140 | 62.5 | New |
| | Conservative | George John Plunkett | 684 | 37.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 456 | 25.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,824 | 43.6 | +0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,179 | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist gain from Liberal | Ind. Nationalist gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1874: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Nicholas Ennis | 1,716 | 38.8 | N/A |
| | Home Rule | John Martin | 1,709 | 38.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Lennox Napier | 992 | 22.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 717 | 16.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,705 (est) | 66.5 (est) | +23.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,069 | | |
| | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
| | Home Rule gain from Ind. Nationalist | Home Rule gain from Ind. Nationalist | Swing | N/A | |
Martin's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 17 Apr 1875: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Charles Stewart Parnell | 1,771 | 62.8 | −14.7 |
| | Conservative | James Lennox Napier | 912 | 32.3 | +9.8 |
| | Home Rule | John Thomas Hinds | 138 | 4.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 859 | 30.5 | +14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,821 | 68.2 | +1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,139 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Swing | −12.3 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Parnellite Home Rule League | Charles Stewart Parnell | 2,283 | 45.2 | +6.4 |
| | Home Rule | Robert Henry Metge | 2,252 | 44.6 | +5.9 |
| | Conservative | Henry Lorton Bourke | 514 | 10.2 | −12.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,738 | 34.4 | +18.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,797 (est) | 72.1 (est) | +5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,877 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Swing | +6.3 | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Swing | +6.0 | |
Parnell was also elected MP for Cork City and opted to sit there, causing a by-election.
By-election, 20 May 1880: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Alexander Martin Sullivan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,877 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold |
Sullivan resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 22 Feb 1882: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Michael Davitt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,711 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold |
Davitt was disqualified because he was in prison, causing a by-election.
By-election, 14 Apr 1882: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Edward Sheil | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,711 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold |
Metge resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 21 Feb 1884: Meath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | William Meagher | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,660 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold |