# Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)

Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset. Until 1918, it was a parliamentary borough, electing two Member of Parliaments (MPs) between 1295 and 1885 and one from 1885 to 1918; the name was then transferred to a county constituency, electing one MP.
In the boundary changes that came into effect at the general election of 2010, the Boundary Commission for England replaced Taunton with a modified constituency called Taunton Deane, to reflect the district name. The new constituency's boundaries are coterminous with the local government district of the same name.

## History

Famous MPs for the borough include Thomas Cromwell.
The 1754 by-election was so fiercely contested that rioting broke out in which two people died.
In the 2005 general election, the victorious Liberal Democrats candidate in Taunton required the smallest percentage swing from the Conservative MP for them to take the seat.

## Boundaries

1918–1950: The Borough of Taunton, the Urban Districts of Wellington and Wiveliscombe, and the Rural Districts of Dulverton, Taunton, and Wellington.
1950–1974: As above less Wiveliscombe Urban District. This had been absorbed by Wellington Rural District in 1933. The constituency boundaries remained unchanged.
1974–1983: As 1950 but with redrawn boundaries.
1983–2010: The Borough of Taunton Deane, and the District of West Somerset wards of Dulverton and Brushford, Exmoor, Haddon, and Quarme.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1295–1640

* Constituency created (1295)
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1362 | William Portman | ? |
| 1363, 1365, 1366, 1368, 1369, 1371 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1372 | William Portman | ? |
| 1373, 1376, 1377 (Jan), 1377 (Oct), 1378 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1379 | William Portman | ? |
| 1380 (Jan) | William Portman | ? |
| 1380 (Nov), 1381, 1382 (May), 1382 (Oct), 1383 (Feb), 1383 (Oct), 1384 (Apr) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1384 (Nov) | William Portman | ? |
| 1385 | William Portman | ? |
| 1386 | William Portman | William Marchaunt |
| 1388 (Feb) | William Portman | William Marchaunt |
| 1388 (Sep) | William Damarle | William Marchaunt |
| 1390 (Jan) | John Porter | William Marchaunt |
| 1390 (Nov) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1391 | William Portman | William Marchaunt |
| 1393 | John Porter | William Marchaunt |
| 1394 | John Porter | William Marchaunt |
| 1395 | Walter Puryham | William Marchaunt |
| 1397 (Jan) | Robert Coullyng | Robert Eysel |
| 1397 (Sept) | Richard Marchaunt | John Northmore |
| 1399 | Walter Puryham | Edmund Rokes |
| 1401 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1402 | William Portman | Ralph Sargor |
| 1404 (Jan), 1404 (Oct) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1406 | William Portman | Robert Bathe |
| 1407 | Richard Marchaunt | John Northmore |
| 1410 | Thomas Bacot | Thomas Edward |
| 1411, 1413 (Feb) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1413 (May) | John Rydon | Lewis John |
| 1414 (Apr) | John Marchaunt | Edmund Dyer |
| 1414 (Nov) | John Marchaunt | Edmund Dyer |
| 1415, 1416 (Mar), 1416 (Oct) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1417 | John Rydon | Walter Portman |
| 1419 | Walter Portman | Robert Croke |
| 1420 | Robert Croke | William Borde |
| 1421 (May) | Walter Portman | William Borde |
| 1421 (Dec) | Walter Portman | John Bowe |
| 1422 | Walter Portman | ? |
| 1423 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1425 | Walter Portman | ? |
| 1426 | Walter Portman | ? |
| 1427 | Walter Portman | ? |
| 1429 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1431 | Walter Portman | ? |
| 1432, 1433 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1435 | Walter Portman | ? |
| 1437, 1439, 1442, 1445, 1447, 1449 (Feb), 1449 (Nov), 1450, 1453 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1455 | Ralph Legh | ? |
| 1459, 1460, 1461, 1463 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1467 | Sir William Danvers | Robert Ashetill |
| 1470 | Sir William Danvers | Edward Aysshton |
| 1472 | Sir William Danvers | ? |
| 1478 | Edward Aysshton | Robert Lovelord |
| 1483–1523 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1529 | Thomas Cromwell | William Portman |
| 1536 | ?Richard Pollard | ?William Portman |
| 1547 | Sir Nicholas Hare | John Caryll |
| 1553 (Mar) | John Mason | ? |
| 1553 (Oct) | James Basset | Jacques Wingfield |
| 1554 (Apr) | William Barne | Oliver Vachell |
| 1554 (Nov) | Thomas Eden | John Norres |
| 1555 | Dr Valentine Dale | ? |
| 1558 | Dr Valentine Dale | Richard Myrfield |
| 1559 | Dr Valentine Dale | ? |
| 1563–7 | Miles Sandys | Anthony Leigh |
| 1571 | Robert Hill | Richard Blount |
| 1572–81 | Roger Hill | Richard Blount Edmund Hodges |
| 1584–5 | Alexander Pym Maurice Horner | William Goldwell |
| 1586–7 | Francis Bacon | John Goldwell |
| 1588–9 | Thomas Fisher | John Goldwell |
| 1593 | William Aubrey, DCL | John Davidge |
| 1597–8 | Edward Barker | Edward Hext |
| 1601 | John Bond | Daniel Donne, DCL |
| 1604–11 | John Bond | Edward Hext |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | James Clarke | John Donne |
| 1621–2 | Lewis Pope | Thomas Brereton |
| Happy Parliament (1624–5) | Roger Prowse | Thomas Brereton |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Hugh Portman | Thomas Brereton |
| 1625–6 | Sir Robert Gorges | George Browne |
| 1628 | Hugh Portman | George Browne |
| 1629–40 | No Parliament summoned | No Parliament summoned |

### MPs 1640–1885

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Sir William Portman | Royalist | | Roger Hill | Parliamentarian |
| November 1640 | | Sir William Portman | Royalist | | George Searle | Parliamentarian |
| February 1644 | Portman disabled from sitting — seat vacant | Portman disabled from sitting — seat vacant | Portman disabled from sitting — seat vacant | | | | George Searle | Parliamentarian |
| 1645 | | John Palmer, MD | | | George Searle | Parliamentarian |
| 1653 | Taunton was unrepresented in the Barebone's Parliament | Taunton was unrepresented in the Barebone's Parliament | Taunton was unrepresented in the Barebone's Parliament | Taunton was unrepresented in the Barebone's Parliament | Taunton was unrepresented in the Barebone's Parliament | Taunton was unrepresented in the Barebone's Parliament |
| 1654 | | Colonel Thomas Gorges | | | John Gorges | |
| 1656 | | Colonel Thomas Gorges | | | Admiral Robert Blake | |
| January 1659 | | Colonel Thomas Gorges | | | Sir William Wyndham | |
| May 1659 | | John Palmer, MD | | One seat vacant | One seat vacant | One seat vacant |
| March 1660 | | Thomas Gorges | | | Sir William Wyndham | |
| 1661 | | Sir William Portman | | | Sir William Wyndham | |
| February 1679 | | Sir William Portman | | | John Trenchard | Whig |
| September 1679 | | Sir John Cutler Bt | | | John Trenchard | Whig |
| 1680 | | Edmund Prideaux | | | John Trenchard | Whig |
| 1685 | | Sir William Portman | Tory | | John Sanford | Tory |
| March 1690 | | Sir William Portman | Tory | | Edward Clarke | Whig |
| April 1690 | | John Speke | Whig | | Edward Clarke | Whig |
| 1698 | | Henry Seymour Portman | Tory | | Edward Clarke | Whig |
| 1701 by-election | | Sir Francis Warre | Tory | | Edward Clarke | Whig |
| 1710 | | Sir Francis Warre | Tory | | Henry Seymour Portman | Tory |
| 1715 | | William Pynsent | Whig | | James Smith | Whig |
| 1722 | | John Trenchard | Whig | | James Smith | Whig |
| 1724 by-election | | Abraham Elton | Whig | | James Smith | Whig |
| 1727 | | George Speke | Whig | | Francis Fane | Whig |
| 1734 | | Henry William Berkeley Portman | Tory | | Francis Fane | Whig |
| 1741 | | Sir John Chapman | Whig | | John Buck | Tory |
| 1745 | | Sir John Chapman | Whig | | Percy Wyndham-O'Brien | Whig |
| 1747 | | Sir Charles Wyndham | Whig | | Robert Webb | Whig |
| 1750 | | Admiral William Rowley | Whig | | Robert Webb | Whig |
| 1754 | | The Lord Carpenter | Whig | | John Halliday | Whig |
| 1754 by-election | | The Lord Carpenter | Whig | | Robert Maxwell | Whig |
| 1762 | | Laurence Sulivan | Whig | | Robert Maxwell | Whig |
| 1768 | | Alexander Popham | | | Nathaniel Webb | |
| 1774 | | Hon. Edward Stratford | Whig | | Nathaniel Webb | |
| 1775 | | John Halliday | | | Alexander Popham | |
| 1780 | | John Halliday | | | Major-General John Roberts | |
| 1782 by-election | | John Halliday | | | (Sir) Benjamin Hammet | |
| 1784 | | Alexander Popham | | | (Sir) Benjamin Hammet | |
| 1796 | | William Morland | | | (Sir) Benjamin Hammet | |
| 1800 | | William Morland | | | John Hammet | |
| 1806 | | Alexander Baring | Whig | | John Hammet | |
| 1812 | | Alexander Baring | Whig | | Henry Powell Collins | Tory |
| 1818 | | Alexander Baring | Whig | | Sir William Burroughs, Bt | Whig |
| 1819 | | Alexander Baring | Whig | | Henry Powell Collins | Tory |
| 1820 | | Alexander Baring | Whig | | John Ashley Warre | Whig |
| 1826 | | Henry Seymour | Tory | | William Peachey | Tory |
| 1830 | | Henry Labouchere | Whig | | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | Whig |
| 1842 by-election | | Henry Labouchere | Whig | | Sir Edward Colebrooke | Whig |
| 1852 | | Henry Labouchere | Whig | | Arthur Mills | Conservative |
| 1853 by-election | | Henry Labouchere | Whig | | Sir John Ramsden | Whig |
| 1857 | | Henry Labouchere | Whig | | Arthur Mills | Conservative |
| 1859 | | Henry Labouchere | Liberal | | Arthur Mills | Conservative |
| 1859 by-election | | George Cavendish-Bentinck | Conservative | | Arthur Mills | Conservative |
| 1865 | | Alexander Charles Barclay | Liberal | | Lord William Hay | Liberal |
| 1868 | | Alexander Charles Barclay | Liberal | | Edward William Cox | Conservative |
| 1869 | | Alexander Charles Barclay | Liberal | | (Sir) Henry James | Liberal |
| 1873 by-election | | Alexander Charles Barclay | Liberal | | (Sir) Henry James | Liberal |
| 1880 | | Sir William Palliser | Conservative | | (Sir) Henry James | Liberal |
| 1882 by-election | | Samuel Allsopp | Conservative | | (Sir) Henry James | Liberal |
| 1885 | Representation reduced to one Member | Representation reduced to one Member | Representation reduced to one Member | Representation reduced to one Member | Representation reduced to one Member | Representation reduced to one Member |

### MPs since 1885

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Samuel Allsopp | Conservative |
| 1887 by-election | Alfred Percy Allsopp | Conservative |
| 1895 | Sir Alfred Welby | Conservative |
| 1906 | Sir Edward Boyle | Conservative |
| 1909 by-election | William Peel | Conservative |
| 1912 by-election | Sir Gilbert Wills | Unionist |
| 1918 | Dennis Boles | Unionist |
| 1921 by-election | Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen | Unionist |
| 1922 | Sir John Hope Simpson | Liberal |
| 1924 | Hamilton Gault | Unionist |
| 1935 | Edward Wickham | Conservative |
| 1945 | Victor Collins | Labour |
| 1950 | Henry Hopkinson | Conservative |
| 1956 by-election | Sir Edward du Cann | Conservative |
| 1987 | David Nicholson | Conservative |
| 1997 | Jackie Ballard | Liberal Democrat |
| 2001 | Adrian Flook | Conservative |
| 2005 | Jeremy Browne | Liberal Democrat |
| 2010 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | 430 | 46.1 | N/A |
| | Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | 280 | 30.0 | N/A |
| | Tory | William Peachey | 223 | 23.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 57 | 6.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 533 | c. 66.6 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 800 | | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | | |
General election 1831: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 800 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Labouchere was appointed as a Lord of the Admiralty, causing a by-election.
By-election, 12 June 1832: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 800 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 949 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 920 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Labouchere was appointed as vice-president of the Board of Trade, and Master of the Mint, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 29 April 1835: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | 452 | 61.6 |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Disraeli | 282 | 38.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 170 | 23.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 734 | 79.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 920 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | 469 | 36.3 |
| | Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | 414 | 32.0 |
| | Conservative | Robert Newton Lee | 409 | 31.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 | 0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 798 | 84.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 943 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | 430 | 29.9 | −6.4 |
| | Whig | Edward Thomas Bainbridge | 409 | 28.4 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | William Wilberforce | 381 | 26.5 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | James Hall | 218 | 15.2 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 | 1.9 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 759 | 88.7 | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 856 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −5.7 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −4.3 | |
Bainbridge resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 11 February 1842: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Colebrooke | 394 | 53.9 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | James Hall | 337 | 46.1 | +4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 57 | 7.8 | +5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 731 | 72.4 | −16.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,010 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −4.4 | |
Labouchere was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 10 July 1846: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | 543 | 41.5 | +11.6 |
| | Whig | Edward Colebrooke | 388 | 29.7 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Mills | 376 | 28.8 | −12.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 0.9 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 654 (est) | 71.7 (est) | −17.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 911 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +9.0 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +3.9 | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | 430 | 37.4 | −4.1 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Mills | 361 | 31.4 | +2.6 |
| | Whig | Edward Colebrooke | 358 | 31.2 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 575 (est) | 72.7 (est) | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 790 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 6.0 | +5.1 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −2.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +2.6 | |
Mills' election was declared void on petition.
By-election, 4 May 1853: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John William Ramsden | 372 | 50.3 | −18.3 |
| | Conservative | Henry Badcock | 367 | 49.7 | +18.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 | 0.6 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 739 | 83.4 | +10.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 886 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | −18.3 | |
Labouchere was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 5 February 1856: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1857: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Henry Labouchere | 442 | 36.6 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Mills | 401 | 33.2 | +1.8 |
| | Whig | William Campbell | 366 | 30.3 | −0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 605 (est) | 68.2 (est) | −4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 887 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 | 3.4 | −2.6 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −0.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 | 2.9 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 | |
General election 1859: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Mills | 415 | 30.0 | +13.4 |
| | Liberal | Henry Labouchere | 388 | 28.1 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative | George Cavendish-Bentinck | 325 | 23.5 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal | William Beadon | 255 | 18.4 | −11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 692 (est) | 83.1 (est) | +14.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 832 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 1.9 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63 | 4.6 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −9.3 | |
Labouchere was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord 1st Baron Taunton and causing a by-election.
By-election, 9 August 1859: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Cavendish-Bentinck | 382 | 53.1 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal | Alexander Charles Barclay | 337 | 46.9 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45 | 6.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 719 | 86.4 | +3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 832 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | −0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Charles Barclay | 478 | 31.9 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal | William Hay | 470 | 31.3 | +12.9 |
| | Conservative | Edward William Cox | 292 | 19.5 | −10.5 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Austin | 260 | 17.3 | −6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 | 11.8 | +7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 750 (est) | 89.4 (est) | +6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 839 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.1 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.6 | |
General election 1868: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Charles Barclay | 1,105 | 37.0 | +5.1 |
| | Conservative | Edward William Cox | 988 | 33.1 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal | Henry James | 890 | 29.8 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,492 (est) | 75.4 (est) | −14.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,977 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 117 | 3.9 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 98 | 3.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | −3.7 | |
On petition, Cox's election was scrutinised, and some of his votes were found to have been acquired by bribery, and were then struck off. This caused him to be unseated on 8 March 1869 and James was declared elected. While a petition was then lodged against James, the court ruled a petitioner who had been seated on petition could not then be petitioned against.

### Elections in the 1870s

James was appointed Solicitor-General for England and Wales, causing a by-election.
By-election, 14 Oct 1873: Taunton (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry James | 899 | 52.5 | −14.3 |
| | Conservative | Sir Alfred Frederic Adolphus Slade, 3rd Baronet | 812 | 47.5 | +14.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87 | 5.0 | +1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,711 | 89.4 | +14.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,913 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −14.4 | |
General election 1874: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry James | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Alexander Charles Barclay | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,999 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Taunton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Palliser | 1,084 | 26.9 | New |
| | Liberal | Henry James | 1,000 | 24.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Cargill | 971 | 24.1 | New |
| | Liberal | Roger Eykyn | 968 | 24.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,012 (est) | 90.4 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,225 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 84 | 2.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
James was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 8 May 1880: Taunton (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry James | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Palliser's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 17 Feb 1882: Taunton (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samuel Allsopp | 1,144 | 55.5 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Lambart | 917 | 44.5 | −4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 11.0 | +8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,061 | 87.3 | −3.1 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,362 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.5 | |
General election 1885: Taunton (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samuel Allsopp | 1,361 | 58.2 | +7.2 |
| | Liberal | Charles Jessel | 978 | 41.8 | −7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 383 | 16.4 | +14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,339 | 92.1 | +1.7 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,541 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.2 | |
General election 1886: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samuel Allsopp | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Allsopp succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Hindlip, causing a by-election.
By-election, 23 Apr 1887: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Allsopp | 1,426 | 61.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | James Harris Sanders | 890 | 38.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 536 | 23.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,316 | 89.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,825 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Allsopp | 1,402 | 60.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Henry Hewitt Bridgman | 921 | 39.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 481 | 20.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,323 | 82.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,825 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1895: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Welby | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Welby | 1,387 | 57.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Walker King | 1,024 | 42.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 363 | 15.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,411 | 73.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,272 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1906: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Boyle | 1,842 | 55.1 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Ponsonby | 1,503 | 44.9 | +2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 339 | 10.2 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,345 | 93.2 | +18.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,590 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.4 | |
1909 Taunton by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Peel | 1,976 | 64.6 | +9.5 |
| | Labour | Frank Smith | 1,085 | 35.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 891 | 29.2 | +19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,061 | 80.4 | −12.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,808 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Peel | 1,906 | 55.3 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal | William Arthur Addinsell | 1,538 | 44.7 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 368 | 10.6 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,444 | 90.3 | −2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,814 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
General election December 1910: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Peel | 1,806 | 53.4 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal | John Edward Schunck | 1,573 | 46.6 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 233 | 6.8 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,379 | 88.6 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,814 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.9 | |
1912 Taunton by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Gilbert Wills | 1,882 | 54.1 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal | John Edward Schunk | 1,597 | 45.9 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 285 | 8.2 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,479 | 88.7 | +0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,921 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +0.7 | |
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 the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Unionist: Gilbert Wills
* Liberal: James Bromley Eames
General election 1918: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Dennis Boles | 12,619 | 72.4 | +19.0 |
| | Labour | George Woods | 4,816 | 27.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,803 | 44.8 | +38.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,435 | 60.4 | −28.2 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

1921 Taunton by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Arthur Griffith-Boscawen | 12,994 | 61.1 | −11.3 |
| | Labour | James Lunnon | 8,290 | 38.9 | +11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,704 | 22.2 | −22.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,284 | 73.5 | +13.1 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -11.3 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election 1922: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Hope Simpson | 13,195 | 56.4 | New |
| | Unionist | Arthur Griffith-Boscawen | 10,182 | 43.6 | −28.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,007 | 12.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,377 | 79.1 | +18.7 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1923: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Hope Simpson | 13,053 | 52.5 | −3.9 |
| | Unionist | Hamilton Gault | 11,798 | 47.5 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,255 | 5.0 | −7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,851 | 82.6 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -3.9 | |
General election 1924: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Hamilton Gault | 13,930 | 52.1 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal | John Hope Simpson | 10,381 | 38.8 | −13.7 |
| | Labour | George Woods | 2,441 | 9.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,549 | 13.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,752 | 85.6 | +3.0 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.1 | |
General election 1929: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Hamilton Gault | 15,083 | 45.9 | −6.2 |
| | Liberal | Walter Rea | 11,121 | 33.9 | −4.9 |
| | Labour | Joseph Sparks | 6,615 | 20.2 | +11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,962 | 12.0 | −1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,819 | 82.2 | −3.4 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -0.6 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hamilton Gault | 22,564 | 72.95 |
| | Labour | Frank George Bushnell | 8,367 | 27.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,197 | 45.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,931 | 75.43 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1935: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward Wickham | 19,443 | 63.41 |
| | Labour | James Lunnon | 11,219 | 36.59 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,224 | 26.82 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,720 | 72.39 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
* Conservative: Edward Wickham
* Labour: Charles W. Gott
General election 1945: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Victor Collins | 19,976 | 52.80 | |
| | Conservative | Edward Wickham | 17,858 | 47.20 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,118 | 5.60 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,834 | 72.98 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Hopkinson | 20,724 | 46.43 | |
| | Labour | Victor Collins | 19,352 | 43.35 | |
| | Liberal | John Robert Phillipson | 4,561 | 10.22 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,372 | 3.08 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,637 | 88.81 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Henry Hopkinson | 24,826 | 54.36 |
| | Labour | Victor Collins | 20,845 | 45.64 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,981 | 8.72 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,671 | 89.00 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Hopkinson | 22,962 | 52.11 | |
| | Labour | Reginald Wells-Pestell | 17,420 | 39.53 | |
| | Liberal | Guy Barrington | 3,684 | 8.36 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,542 | 12.58 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,066 | 85.46 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
1956 Taunton by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 19,820 | 50.84 | −1.27 |
| | Labour | Reginald Wells-Pestell | 19,163 | 49.16 | +9.63 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 657 | 1.68 | −10.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,983 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1959: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 22,680 | 49.42 |
| | Labour | Leonard V Pike | 16,182 | 35.26 |
| | Liberal | Charles Meddon Karslake Bruton | 7,031 | 15.32 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,498 | 14.16 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,893 | 87.12 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 21,367 | 46.52 |
| | Labour | Leonard V Pike | 16,619 | 36.18 |
| | Liberal | Margaret Irene Gaenor Heathcoat Amory | 7,944 | 17.30 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,748 | 10.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,930 | 84.74 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1966: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 22,369 | 47.55 |
| | Labour | Robin J Bradbury | 19,216 | 40.85 |
| | Liberal | Margaret Irene Gaenor Heathcoat Amory | 5,460 | 11.61 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,153 | 6.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,045 | 85.27 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 26,158 | 53.55 |
| | Labour | Steven Mama | 17,823 | 36.48 |
| | Liberal | Gerard O'Donnell | 4,871 | 9.97 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,335 | 17.07 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,852 | 78.96 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 23,841 | 45.11 |
| | Labour | D.W. Keene | 15,401 | 29.14 |
| | Liberal | M.E. Mann | 13,607 | 25.75 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,440 | 15.97 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,849 | 83.88 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election October 1974: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 22,542 | 44.61 | |
| | Labour | Barry Sheerman | 15,721 | 31.11 | |
| | Liberal | M.E. Mann | 11,984 | 23.72 | |
| | United Democratic Party | L.D. Bradford | 283 | 0.56 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,821 | 13.50 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,530 | 79.38 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1979: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 28,483 | 53.17 | |
| | Labour | S. Horne | 15,759 | 29.42 | |
| | Liberal | M. Lee | 7,928 | 14.80 | |
| | Ecology | G. Garbett | 1,403 | 2.62 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,724 | 23.75 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,573 | 80.74 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Edward du Cann | 28,112 | 52.89 |
| | SDP | Michael Cocks | 15,545 | 29.24 |
| | Labour | Jon Gray | 9,498 | 17.87 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,567 | 23.65 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,155 | 75.55 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1987: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Nicholson | 30,248 | 51.38 |
| | SDP | Michael Cocks | 19,868 | 33.75 |
| | Labour | Gary Reynolds | 8,754 | 14.87 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,380 | 17.63 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,870 | 79.40 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Nicholson | 29,576 | 46.0 | −5.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jackie Ballard | 26,240 | 40.8 | +7.1 |
| | Labour | L. Jean Hole | 8,151 | 12.7 | −2.2 |
| | Natural Law | Philip A. Leavey | 279 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,336 | 5.2 | −12.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 64,246 | 82.3 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.2 | |
General election 1997: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jackie Ballard | 26,064 | 42.7 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | David Nicholson | 23,621 | 38.7 | −7.3 |
| | Labour | Elizabeth Lisgo | 8,248 | 13.5 | +0.8 |
| | Referendum | Brian Ahern | 2,760 | 4.5 | New |
| | BNP | Leslie Andrews | 318 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,443 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,011 | 76.5 | −5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Adrian Flook | 23,033 | 41.7 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jackie Ballard | 22,798 | 41.3 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | Andrew Govier | 8,254 | 14.9 | +1.4 |
| | UKIP | Michael Canton | 1,140 | 2.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 235 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,225 | 67.6 | −8.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
General election 2005: Taunton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeremy Browne | 25,764 | 43.3 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Adrian Flook | 25,191 | 42.3 | +0.6 |
| | Labour | Andrew Govier | 7,132 | 12.0 | −2.9 |
| | UKIP | Helen Miles | 1,441 | 2.4 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 573 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,528 | 69.7 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | −0.7 | |