# East Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)

East (or Eastern) Aberdeenshire was a Scottish county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 to 1918 and from 1950 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
During the period 1918 to 1950, the area of the constituency was divided between East Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire and Central Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, which were both entirely within the county of Aberdeen.
In 1983, the East Aberdeenshire area was divided between the new constituencies of Banff and Buchan and Gordon.

## Boundaries
### Eastern Aberdeenshire, 1868 to 1918
#### 1868 to 1885

When, created by the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1868, and first used in the 1868 general election, the constituency was nominally one of three covering the county of Aberdeen. The other two were the county constituency of West Aberdeenshire and the burgh constituency of Aberdeen. The county had been covered previously by the Aberdeenshire constituency and the Aberdeen constituency.
East Aberdeenshire was defined by the 1868 legislation as consisting of the parishes of Aberdour, Belhelvie, Bourtie, Crimond, Cruden, Daviot, Ellon, Fintray, Foveran, Fraserburgh, Fyvie, Keith-hall and Kinkell, King-Edward, Logie-Buchan, Longside, Lonmay, Methlick, Montquhitter, New Deer, New Machar, Old Deer, Oldmeldrum, Peterhead, Pitsligo, Rathen, Slains, Strichen, Tarves, Turriff, Tyrie and Udny, together with the part of the parish of Old Machar lying east of the River Don, and the parish of St Fergus in Banffshire.
1868 boundaries were also used in the 1874 general election and the 1880 general election.

#### 1885 to 1918

For the 1885 general election the burgh constituencies of Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South were created. Both of these new constituencies included areas beyond the boundaries of the burgh of Aberdeen.
1885 boundaries were also used in the 1886 general election, the 1892 general election, the 1895 general election, the 1900 general election, the 1906 general election, the January 1910 general election and the December 1910 general election.
County boundaries were redefined under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, and the county of city of Aberdeen was created in 1900, but these developments did not affect constituency boundaries.
In 1918, the Representation of the People Act 1918 created new constituency boundaries, taking account of new local government boundaries, and grouped the county of Aberdeen, the county of city of Aberdeen and the county of Kincardine in the creation of new constituencies for the 1918 general election.

### East Aberdeenshire, 1950 to 1983
#### 1950 to 1955

The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949 created new boundaries for the 1950 general election, and East Aberdeenshire was created as one of four constituencies covering the county of Aberdeen and the county of city of Aberdeen. East Aberdeenshire and West Aberdeenshire were entirely within the county of Aberdeen, and Aberdeen North and Aberdeen South were entirely within the county of city of Aberdeen. East Aberdeenshire consisted of the burghs of Ellon, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Peterhead, Rosehearty and Turriff and the districts of Deer, Ellon, Huntly and Turriff.
The same boundaries were used for the 1951 general election.

#### 1955 to 1983

For the 1955 general election, the burgh of Huntly and the district of Huntly were transferred to West Aberdeenshire.
East Aberdeenshire retained the same boundaries for the 1959 general election, the 1964 general election, the 1966 general election, the 1970 general election, the February 1974 general election and the October 1974 general election.
In 1975, throughout Scotland, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, counties and burghs were abolished as local government areas, and East Aberdeenshire became a constituency within the Grampian region.
The 1979 general election was held before a review of constituency boundaries took account of new local government boundaries.
For the 1983 general election, the East Aberdeenshire area was divided between the new constituencies of Banff and Buchan and Gordon.

## Members of Parliament
### Eastern Aberdeenshire, 1868 to 1918

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1868 | William Dingwall Fordyce | Liberal |
| 1875 by-election | Sir Alexander Hamilton-Gordon | Conservative |
| 1879 | Sir Alexander Hamilton-Gordon | Liberal |
| 1885 | Peter Esslemont | Liberal |
| 1892 by-election | Thomas Buchanan | Liberal |
| 1900 | Archibald White Maconochie | Liberal Unionist |
| 1906 | James Annand | Liberal |
| 1906 by-election | James Murray | Liberal |
| Jan. 1910 | Henry Cowan | Liberal |
| 1918 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

### East Aberdeenshire, 1950 to 1983

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1950 | Sir Robert Boothby | Conservative |
| | 1958 by-election | Patrick Wolrige-Gordon | Conservative |
| | Feb 1974 | Douglas Henderson | SNP |
| | 1979 | Albert McQuarrie | Conservative |
| 1983 | 1983 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1860s

1868 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Dingwall Fordyce | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,297 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |

### Elections in the 1870s

1874 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Dingwall Fordyce | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,371 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Fordyce's death caused a by-election.
By-election 1875: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alexander Hamilton-Gordon | 1,903 | 55.0 | New |
| | Liberal | George Hope | 1,558 | 45.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 345 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,461 | 76.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,499 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal |

### Elections in the 1880s

1880 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Hamilton-Gordon | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,788 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1885 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Peter Esslemont | 6,509 | 67.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Wolrige-Gordon | 3,155 | 32.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,354 | 34.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,664 | 77.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,522 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
1886 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Peter Esslemont | 4,952 | 66.1 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | William Harry Lumsden | 2,544 | 33.9 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,408 | 32.2 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,496 | 59.9 | −17.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,522 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -1.3 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

1892 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Peter Esslemont | 5,116 | 59.4 | −6.7 |
| | Conservative | Francis Russell | 3,492 | 40.6 | +6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,624 | 18.8 | −13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,608 | 72.9 | +13.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,803 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −6.7 | |
By-election 1892: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Buchanan | 4,243 | 59.3 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | Francis Russell | 2,917 | 40.7 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,326 | 18.6 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,160 | 60.7 | −12.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,803 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.1 | |
1895 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Buchanan | 4,723 | 58.8 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Smith | 3,308 | 41.2 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,415 | 17.6 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,031 | 66.1 | −6.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,157 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.6 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

1900 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Archibald White Maconochie | 4,173 | 50.4 | +9.2 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Buchanan | 4,100 | 49.6 | −9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,273 | 66.7 | +0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,404 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.2 | |
1906 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Annand | 6,149 | 58.7 | +9.1 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Archibald White Maconochie | 4,319 | 41.3 | −9.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,830 | 17.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,468 | 83.7 | +17.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,509 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +9.1 | |
By-election 1906: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Murray | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1910s

January 1910 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Cowan | 6,600 | 62.5 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Charles Burn | 3,962 | 37.5 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,638 | 25.0 | +7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,562 | 83.6 | −0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,635 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.8 | |
December 1910 general election: Aberdeenshire Eastern :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Cowan | 6,152 | 62.0 | −0.5 |
| | Unionist | William Craighead | 3,772 | 38.0 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,380 | 24.0 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,924 | 78.5 | −5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,649 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.5 | |
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: Henry Cowan
* Unionist: Malcolm Barclay-Harvey

### Elections in the 1950s

1950 general election: East Aberdeenshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Unionist | Robert Boothby | 24,971 | 65.96 |
| | Labour | Gregor Mackenzie | 12,886 | 34.04 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,085 | 31.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,857 | 75.59 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | |
1951 general election: East Aberdeenshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Unionist | Robert Boothby | 24,985 | 68.05 |
| | Labour | Alexander G.S. Whipp | 11,730 | 31.95 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,255 | 36.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,715 | 69.97 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | |
1955 general election: East Aberdeenshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Boothby | 18,600 | 68.5 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | Charles Ross | 8,543 | 31.5 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,057 | 37.0 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,143 | 59.76 | −10.21 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
By-election 1958: East Aberdeenshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Patrick Wolrige-Gordon | 14,314 | 48.5 | −20.0 |
| | Labour | John B Urquhart | 7,986 | 27.1 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal | Maitland Mackie | 7,153 | 24.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,328 | 21.4 | −15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,485 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
1959 general election: East Aberdeenshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Patrick Wolrige-Gordon | 18,982 | 63.4 | −5.1 |
| | Labour | John B Urquhart | 10,980 | 36.6 | +5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,002 | 26.8 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,962 | 67.13 | +7.37 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

1964 general election: East Aberdeenshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Patrick Wolrige-Gordon | 14,621 | 48.0 | −15.4 |
| | Liberal | Norman W King | 7,088 | 23.3 | New |
| | Labour | David McGibbon | 6,840 | 22.5 | −14.1 |
| | SNP | Bruce Mavor Cockie | 1,925 | 6.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,533 | 24.7 | −2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,474 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
1966 general election: East Aberdeenshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick Wolrige-Gordon | 12,067 | 41.5 | −6.5 |
| | Liberal | Robin Sinclair | 8,034 | 27.6 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | Ian Stuart Davidson | 6,422 | 22.1 | −0.4 |
| | SNP | Bruce Mavor Cockie | 2,584 | 8.9 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,033 | 13.9 | −10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,107 | 68.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.5 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

1970 general election: East Aberdeenshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick Wolrige-Gordon | 12,866 | 40.9 | −0.6 |
| | SNP | Alex Farquhar | 9,377 | 29.8 | +20.9 |
| | Labour | Harold C. Grimes | 5,656 | 17.9 | −4.2 |
| | Liberal | Gurth Hoyer-Millar | 3,548 | 11.3 | −16.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,489 | 11.1 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,447 | 68.0 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
February 1974 general election: Aberdeenshire East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Douglas Henderson | 18,333 | 50.8 | +21.0 |
| | Conservative | Patrick Wolrige-Gordon | 12,634 | 35.0 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal | W. Cruikshank | 2,727 | 7.6 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | Sarah Beverley Sissons | 2,416 | 6.7 | −11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,699 | 15.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,110 | 76.6 | +8.6 |
| | SNP gain from Conservative | SNP gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
October 1974 general election: Aberdeenshire East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | SNP | Douglas Henderson | 16,304 | 48.5 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | Keith Raffan | 11,933 | 35.5 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | Sarah Beverley Sissons | 3,173 | 9.4 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal | C. Alistair Dow | 2,232 | 6.6 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,371 | 13.0 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,642 | 70.5 | −6.1 |
| | SNP hold | SNP hold | Swing | −1.4 | |
1979 general election: Aberdeenshire East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Albert McQuarrie | 16,827 | 42.8 | +7.3 |
| | SNP | Douglas Henderson | 16,269 | 41.4 | −7.1 |
| | Labour | N.L. Bonney | 6,201 | 15.8 | +6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 558 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,297 | 72.4 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative gain from SNP | Conservative gain from SNP | Swing | +7.2 | |