# Oxford (UK Parliament constituency)

Oxford was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, comprising the city of Oxford in the county of Oxfordshire.

## History

The parliamentary borough of Oxford elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from its creation in 1295 to 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. In 1885, its representation was reduced to one member by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and it was abolished in 1983 as a result of the Third Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Oxford was a marginal seat.

## Boundaries and boundary changes
### 1918–1950

The County Borough of Oxford.
The boundaries were expanded to coincide with the County Borough.

### 1950–1983

As above, with redrawn boundaries.
Areas which had been absorbed by the County Borough of Oxford, including Cowley and Headington, transferred from the Henley constituency. Small area in the north also transferred from Banbury.
In the 1983 redistribution, the Oxford constituency disappeared and was split into two distinct constituencies: Oxford East, and Oxford West and Abingdon. The City of Oxford local government district had succeeded the County Borough of Oxford on 1 April 1974, as outlined in the Local Government Act 1972, and the redistribution was a reflection of this change. Oxford West and Abingdon encompassed Oxford city centre at the time, but Oxford East primarily comprised the majority of the new district. From 2010, the city centre was situated within the redrawn Oxford East constituency until 2024 when it was transferred back into Oxford West and Abingdon.

## Members of Parliament
### 1295–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1379 | Edmund Kenyan | Thomas Somerset |
| 1380 (Nov) | Edmund Kenyan | |
| 1381 | Edmund Kenyan | |
| 1382 (May) | Edmund Kenyan | |
| 1385 | Edmund Kenyan | |
| 1386 | Edmund Kenyan | Thomas Houkyn |
| 1388 (Feb) | John Hickes | Thomas Somerset |
| 1388 (Sep) | John Shawe | Thomas Baret |
| 1390 (Jan) | Richard Garston | Alan Lekensfeld |
| 1390 (Nov) | Edmund Kenyan | Adam de la River |
| 1391 | Edmund Kenyan | John Ottworth |
| 1393 | Richard Garston | John Merston |
| 1394 | Edmund Kenyan | John Forster |
| 1395 | John Ludlow | Adam de la River |
| 1397 (Jan) | Walter Benham | Adam de la River |
| 1397 (Sep) | John Ottworth | Adam de la River |
| 1399 | John Spicer | John Burbridge |
| 1401 | Thomas Forsthull | Adam de la River |
| 1402 | Walter Benham | John Spicer |
| 1404 (Jan) | Thomas Coventre | John Spicer |
| 1404 (Oct) | John Merston | Michael Salisbury |
| 1406 | John Ottworth | Thomas Cowley |
| 1407 | Thomas Coventre | Hugh Benet |
| 1410 | Thomas Coventre | Hugh Benet |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) | |
| 1413 (May) | Thomas Coventre | Hugh Benet |
| 1414 (Apr) | John Shawe II | Walter Colet |
| 1414 (Nov) | Thomas Coventre | John Merston |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | Thomas Coventre | William Brampton |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | Thomas Coventre | Hugh Benet |
| 1419 | Thomas Coventre | William Brampton |
| 1420 | Thomas Coventre | William Offord |
| 1421 (May) | Thomas Coventre | William Brampton |
| 1421 (Dec) | John Quarane | William Offord |
| 1491 | Robert Caxton | |
| 1510–1523 | No names known |
| 1529 | John Latton | William Fleming |
| 1536 | ?John Latton | ?William Fleming |
| 1539 | Thomas Denton | Richard Gunter |
| 1542 | ? |
| 1545 | ? |
| 1547 | Ralph Flaxney | Edward Frere |
| 1553 (Mar) | Christopher Edmonds | Edward Glynton |
| 1553 (Oct) | John Wayte | Thomas Williams |
| 1554 (Apr) | Thomas Mallinson | Edward Glynton |
| 1554 (Nov) | John Wayte | William Tylcock |
| 1555 | John Wayte | William Pantre |
| 1558 | John Barton | Richard Williams |
| 1559 (Jan) | Thomas Wood | Roger Taylor |
| 1562 (Dec) | William Page | Thomas Wood |
| 1571 | Edward Knollys | William Frere |
| 1572 (Apr) | Edward Knollys, died and replaced 1576 by Francis Knollys | William Owen, died and replaced Jan 1581 by Edward Norris |
| 1584 (Oct) | Francis Knollys | William Noble |
| 1586 (Sep) | Francis Knollys | George Calfield |
| 1588 (Oct) | Francis Knollys | George Calfield |
| 1593 | Sir Edmund Carey | George Calfield |
| 1597 (Aug) | Anthony Bacon | George Calfield |
| 1601 (Sep) | Sir Francis Leigh | George Calfield |
| 1604 | Francis Leigh | Thomas Wentworth |
| 1614 | Sir John Astley | Thomas Wentworth |
| 1621–1622 | Sir John Brooke | Thomas Wentworth |
| 1624 | John Whistler | Thomas Wentworth |
| 1625 | John Whistler | Thomas Wentworth |
| 1626 | John Whistler | Thomas Wentworth |
| 1628–1629 | John Whistler | Thomas Wentworth |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments convened |

### 1640–1885

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Viscount Andover | Royalist | | John Whistler | Royalist |
| 1640 (Nov) | | John Smith | Royalist | | John Whistler | Royalist |
| 1644 | Smith and Whistler disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Smith and Whistler disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Smith and Whistler disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Smith and Whistler disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Smith and Whistler disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Smith and Whistler disabled from sitting – both seats vacant |
| 1645 | | John Nixon | | | John Doyley | |
| December 1648 | Nixon and Doyley excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant | Nixon and Doyley excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant | Nixon and Doyley excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant | Nixon and Doyley excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant | Nixon and Doyley excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant | Nixon and Doyley excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant |
| 1653 | Oxford was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Oxford was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Oxford was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Oxford was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Oxford was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Oxford was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Bulstrode Whitelocke | | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1654 | | Richard Croke | | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | Richard Croke | | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Oxford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Richard Croke | | | Major Unton Croke | Parliamentarian |
| May 1659 | | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump |
| April 1660 | | The Viscount Falkland | | | James Huxley | |
| 1661 | | Richard Croke | | | Brome Whorwood | |
| 1679 | | William Wright | | | Brome Whorwood | |
| 1685 | | Hon. Henry Bertie | | | Sir George Pudsey | |
| 1689 | | Hon. Henry Bertie | | | Sir Edward Norreys | Tory |
| 1695 | | Thomas Rowney | Tory | | Sir Edward Norreys | Tory |
| 1701 | | Thomas Rowney | Tory | | Francis Norreys | Tory |
| 1706 | | Thomas Rowney | Tory | | Sir John Walter | Tory |
| March 1722 | | Thomas Rowney, junior | Tory | | Sir John Walter | Tory |
| October 1722 | | Thomas Rowney, junior | Tory | | Francis Knollys | Tory |
| 1734 | | Thomas Rowney, junior | Tory | | Matthew Skinner | |
| 1739 | | Thomas Rowney, junior | Tory | | James Herbert | |
| 1740 | | Thomas Rowney, junior | Tory | | Philip Herbert | |
| 1749 | | Thomas Rowney, junior | Tory | | Philip Wenman | |
| 1754 | | Thomas Rowney, junior | Tory | | Hon. Robert Lee | |
| 1759 | | Sir Thomas Stapleton | | | Hon. Robert Lee | |
| 1768 | | George Nares | | | Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. William Harcourt | |
| 1771 | | Lord Robert Spencer | | | Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. William Harcourt | |
| 1774 | | Lord Robert Spencer | | | Captain the Hon. Peregrine Bertie | |
| June 1790 | | Francis Burton | | | Captain the Hon. Peregrine Bertie | |
| December 1790 | | Francis Burton | | | Arthur Annesley | |
| 1796 | | Francis Burton | | | Henry Peters | |
| 1802 | | Francis Burton | | | John Atkyns-Wright | |
| 1807 | | Francis Burton | | | John Ingram Lockhart | |
| 1812 | | John Atkyns-Wright | | | John Ingram Lockhart | |
| 1818 | | John Atkyns-Wright | | | Frederick St John | |
| 1820 | | Charles Wetherell | Tory | | John Ingram Lockhart | |
| 1826 | | James Langston | Whig | | John Ingram Lockhart | |
| 1830 | | James Langston | Whig | | William Hughes Hughes | Whig |
| 1832 | | James Langston | Whig | | Thomas Stonor | Whig |
| 1833 | | James Langston | Whig | | William Hughes Hughes | Whig |
| 1835 | | Donald Maclean | Conservative | | William Hughes Hughes | Conservative |
| 1837 | | Donald Maclean | Conservative | | William Erle | Whig |
| 1841 | | Donald Maclean | Conservative | | James Langston | Whig |
| 1847 | | (Sir) William Wood | Radical | | James Langston | Whig |
| 1853 | | Edward Cardwell | Peelite | | James Langston | Whig |
| March 1857 | | Charles Neate | Whig | | James Langston | Whig |
| July 1857 | | Edward Cardwell | Peelite | | James Langston | Whig |
| 1859 | | Edward Cardwell | Liberal | | James Langston | Liberal |
| 1863 | | Edward Cardwell | Liberal | | Charles Neate | Liberal |
| 1868 | | Edward Cardwell | Liberal | | (Sir) William Vernon Harcourt | Liberal |
| 1874 | | Alexander William Hall | Conservative | | (Sir) William Vernon Harcourt | Liberal |
| April 1880 | | Joseph William Chitty | Liberal | | (Sir) William Vernon Harcourt | Liberal |
| May 1880 | | Joseph William Chitty | Liberal | | Alexander William Hall | Conservative |
| 1881 | | Joseph William Chitty | Liberal | Writ suspended – seat vacant | Writ suspended – seat vacant | Writ suspended – seat vacant |
| September 1881 | Writ suspended – seat vacant | Writ suspended – seat vacant | Writ suspended – seat vacant | | | Writ suspended – seat vacant | Writ suspended – seat vacant | Writ suspended – seat vacant |
| 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 |

### 1885–1983

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Alexander William Hall | Conservative |
| 1892 | Sir George Tomkyns Chesney | Conservative |
| 1895 | Arthur Annesley | Conservative |
| 1917 by-election | John Marriott | Coalition Conservative |
| 1922 | Frank Gray | Liberal |
| 1924 by-election | Robert Bourne | Unionist |
| 1938 by-election | Quintin Hogg | Conservative |
| 1950 by-election | Lawrence Turner | Conservative |
| 1959 | Montague Woodhouse | Conservative |
| 1966 | Evan Luard | Labour |
| 1970 | Montague Woodhouse | Conservative |
| Oct 1974 | Evan Luard | Labour |
| 1979 | John Patten | Conservative |
| 1983 | constituency abolished: see Oxford East & Oxford West and Abingdon | constituency abolished: see Oxford East & Oxford West and Abingdon |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | James Langston | 1,108 | 38.1 |
| | Whig | William Hughes Hughes | 1,054 | 36.2 |
| | Nonpartisan | John Ingram Lockhart | 750 | 25.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 304 | 10.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,779 | c. 80.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 2,200 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
| | Whig gain from Nonpartisan | Whig gain from Nonpartisan | Swing | |
General election 1831: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | James Langston | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Hughes Hughes | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 2,200 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | James Langston | 1,260 | 34.5 |
| | Whig | Thomas Stonor | 953 | 26.1 |
| | Whig | William Hughes Hughes | 919 | 25.1 |
| | Tory | Charles Wetherell | 523 | 14.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 430 | 11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,139 | 92.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,312 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Stonor's election was declared void on petition, causing a by-election.
By-election, 18 March 1833: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Hughes Hughes | 803 | 40.8 | +15.7 |
| | Whig | Charles Towneley | 702 | 35.7 | N/A |
| | Tory | Donald Maclean | 462 | 23.5 | +9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 101 | 5.1 | −6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,967 | 85.1 | −7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,312 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +3.3 | |
General election 1835: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Hughes Hughes | 1,394 | 38.4 | +13.3 |
| | Conservative | Donald Maclean | 1,217 | 33.5 | +19.2 |
| | Whig | Thomas Stonor | 1,022 | 28.1 | −32.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 195 | 5.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,200 | 90.3 | −2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,436 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +14.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +17.7 | |
General election 1837: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Maclean | 1,348 | 38.9 | +5.4 |
| | Whig | William Erle | 1,217 | 35.2 | +7.1 |
| | Conservative | William Hughes Hughes | 897 | 25.9 | −12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,115 | 87.3 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,424 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 131 | 3.7 | −1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 320 | 9.3 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.1 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | James Langston | 1,349 | 37.2 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Donald Maclean | 1,238 | 34.1 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative | Neil Malcolm | 1,041 | 28.7 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,374 | 85.2 | −2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,786 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 3.1 | −6.2 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 197 | 5.4 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.9 | |
General election 1847: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | James Langston | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical | William Wood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,819 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative |

### Elections in the 1850s

Wood was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 3 April 1851: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Wood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
General election 1852: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Wood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | James Langston | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,818 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Wood resigned after being appointed Vice-Chancellor, causing a by-election.
By-election, 4 January 1853: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | Edward Cardwell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Peelite gain from Radical | Peelite gain from Radical | Peelite gain from Radical | Peelite gain from Radical | Peelite gain from Radical |
General election 1857: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | James Langston | 1,671 | 41.9 | N/A |
| | Whig | Charles Neate | 1,057 | 26.5 | N/A |
| | Peelite | Edward Cardwell | 1,016 | 25.5 | N/A |
| | Radical | Stephen Gaselee | 245 | 6.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,995 (est) | 75.1 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,656 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Swing | N/A | |
Neate's election was declared void on petition due to bribery, causing a by-election.
By-election, 21 July 1857: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | Edward Cardwell | 1,085 | 51.6 | +26.1 |
| | Independent Liberal | William Makepeace Thackeray | 1,108 | 52.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 67 | 3.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,103 | 79.2 | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,656 | | |
| | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1859: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Langston | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Edward Cardwell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,731 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Cardwell was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 27 June 1859: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Cardwell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

Cardwell was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 30 July 1861: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Cardwell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Langston's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 7 November 1863: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Neate | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Cardwell was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 9 April 1864: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Cardwell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Cardwell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Charles Neate | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,594 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Cardwell | 2,765 | 41.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | William Vernon Harcourt | 2,636 | 39.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Parker Deane | 1,225 | 18.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,411 | 21.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,926 (est) | 73.7 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,328 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Cardwell was appointed Secretary of State for War, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 22 December 1868: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Cardwell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

Harcourt was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, causing a by-election.
1873 Oxford by-election (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Vernon Harcourt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1874: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Vernon Harcourt | 2,332 | 34.2 | −5.6 |
| | Liberal | Edward Cardwell | 2,281 | 33.5 | −8.2 |
| | Conservative | Alexander William Hall | 2,198 | 32.3 | +13.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83 | 1.2 | −20.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,505 (est) | 79.3 (est) | +5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,680 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −6.3 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −7.6 | |
Cardwell was elevated to the peerage, becoming Viscount Cardwell and causing a by-election.
1874 Oxford by-election (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alexander William Hall | 2,554 | 55.0 | +22.7 |
| | Liberal | John Delaware Lewis | 2,092 | 45.0 | −22.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 462 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,646 | 81.8 | +2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,680 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +22.7 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Oxford (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Vernon Harcourt | 2,771 | 34.2 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal | Joseph William Chitty | 2,669 | 33.0 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | Alexander William Hall | 2,659 | 32.8 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.2 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,430 (est) | 88.1 (est) | +8.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,163 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.3 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
Harcourt was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.
1880 Oxford by-election (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alexander William Hall | 2,735 | 50.5 | +17.7 |
| | Liberal | William Vernon Harcourt | 2,681 | 49.5 | −17.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,416 | 87.9 | −0.2 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,163 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +17.7 | |
Hall's election was declared void, on account of bribery, and the writ was suspended.
In 1881, Chitty was appointed a judge and resigned the seat. However, as the writ was suspended, no by-election was held and the seat was left without an MP until 1885, when representation was also reduced to one member.
General election 1885: Oxford (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alexander William Hall | 3,212 | 52.6 | +19.8 |
| | Liberal | Charles Alan Fyffe | 2,894 | 47.4 | −19.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 318 | 5.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,106 | 90.3 | +2.2 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,764 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +19.8 | |
General election 1886: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alexander William Hall | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Tomkyns Chesney | 3,276 | 50.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Robinson Souttar | 3,156 | 49.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,432 | 86.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,476 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Chesney's death caused a by-election.
1895 Oxford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Annesley | 3,745 | 54.4 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal | John Fletcher Little | 3,143 | 45.6 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 602 | 8.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,888 | 90.2 | +4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,637 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.5 | |
General election 1895: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Annesley | 3,623 | 54.9 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Henry Kingerlee | 2,975 | 45.1 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 648 | 9.8 | +8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,598 | 86.4 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,637 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.0 | |
Annesley's appointment as Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.
1898 Oxford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Annesley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Annesley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1906: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Annesley | 3,910 | 50.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Whale | 3,810 | 49.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,720 | 89.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,615 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Annesley | 4,918 | 57.0 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal | G. Whale | 3,707 | 43.0 | −6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,211 | 14.0 | +12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,625 | 93.5 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,227 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.4 | |
General election December 1910: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Annesley | 4,664 | 58.4 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal | J.F. Williams | 3,318 | 41.6 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,346 | 16.8 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,982 | 86.5 | −7.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,227 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
1917 Oxford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | John Marriott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Unionist hold |
General election 1918: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | John Marriott | 9,805 | 70.7 | +12.3 |
| | Liberal | George Herbert Higgins | 4,057 | 29.3 | −12.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,748 | 41.4 | +24.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,862 | 55.2 | −31.3 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +12.3 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frank Gray | 12,489 | 59.0 | +29.7 |
| | Unionist | John Marriott | 8,683 | 41.0 | −29.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,806 | 18.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,172 | 83.8 | +28.6 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +29.7 | |
General election 1923: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frank Gray | 12,311 | 56.1 | −2.9 |
| | Unionist | Robert Bourne | 9,618 | 43.9 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,693 | 12.2 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,929 | 83.5 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -2.9 | |
1924 Oxford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Bourne | 10,079 | 47.8 | +3.9 |
| | Liberal | C.B. Fry | 8,237 | 39.1 | −17.0 |
| | Labour | Kenneth Lindsay | 2,769 | 13.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,842 | 8.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,085 | 80.3 | −3.2 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +10.5 | |
General election 1924: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Bourne | 12,196 | 57.3 | +9.5 |
| | Liberal | Robert Moon | 6,836 | 32.1 | −7.0 |
| | Labour | Frederic Ludlow | 2,260 | 10.6 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,360 | 25.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,292 | 78.5 | −1.8 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 1929: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Bourne | 14,638 | 52.5 | −4.8 |
| | Liberal | Robert Moon | 8,581 | 30.7 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | John Lyttelton Etty | 4,694 | 16.8 | +6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,057 | 21.8 | −3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,913 | 72.2 | −6.3 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -1.7 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Bourne | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1935: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Bourne | 16,306 | 62.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Patrick Gordon-Walker | 9,661 | 37.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,645 | 25.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,967 | 67.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
1938 Oxford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Quintin Hogg | 15,797 | 56.1 | −6.7 |
| | Independent Progressive | Sandie Lindsay | 12,363 | 43.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,434 | 12.2 | −13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,160 | 76.3 | +9.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -6.7 | |

### 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 Autumn 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
* Conservative: Quintin Hogg
* Labour: Patrick Gordon-Walker
* Liberal: William Brown
General election 1945: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Quintin Hogg | 14,314 | 45.3 | −17.5 |
| | Labour | Frank Pakenham | 11,451 | 36.2 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | Antony Charles Wynyard Norman | 5,860 | 18.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,863 | 9.1 | −16.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,625 | 66.3 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.3 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Quintin Hogg | 27,508 | 46.85 | +1.55 |
| | Labour | Elizabeth Pakenham | 23,902 | 40.71 | +4.51 |
| | Liberal | Donald William Tweddle | 6,807 | 11.59 | −6.91 |
| | Communist | Ernest Keeling | 494 | 0.84 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,606 | 6.14 | −2.96 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,711 | 84.89 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.48 | |
1950 Oxford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Turner | 27,583 | 57.50 | +10.65 |
| | Labour | Sydney Kersland Lewis | 20,385 | 42.50 | +1.79 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,198 | 15.00 | +8.86 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,968 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.33 | |
General election 1951: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Turner | 32,367 | 56.00 | −1.50 |
| | Labour | George Elvin | 25,427 | 44.00 | +1.50 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,940 | 12.00 | +5.86 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,794 | 81.98 | −2.91 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.50 | |
General election 1955: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lawrence Turner | 27,708 | 52.30 | −3.70 |
| | Labour | George Elvin | 19,930 | 37.62 | −6.38 |
| | Liberal | Ivor Davies | 5,336 | 10.07 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,778 | 14.68 | +2.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,974 | 78.22 | −3.76 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.34 | |
+0.69%
General election 1959: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Montague Woodhouse | 26,798 | 50.95 | −1.35 |
| | Labour | Leslie N Anderton | 18,310 | 34.81 | −2.81 |
| | Liberal | Ivor Davies | 7,491 | 14.24 | +4.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,488 | 16.14 | +1.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,599 | 78.91 | +0.69 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.73 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Montague Woodhouse | 22,212 | 42.89 | −8.06 |
| | Labour | Evan Luard | 20,783 | 40.13 | +5.32 |
| | Liberal | Ivor Davies | 8,797 | 16.99 | +2.75 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,429 | 2.76 | −13.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,792 | 77.29 | −1.63 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -6.69 | |
General election 1966: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Luard | 24,412 | 46.45 | +6.32 |
| | Conservative | Montague Woodhouse | 21,987 | 41.84 | −1.05 |
| | Liberal | Alexander Duncan Campbell Peterson | 6,152 | 11.71 | −5.28 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,425 | 4.61 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,551 | 79.26 | +1.97 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.67 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Montague Woodhouse | 24,873 | 46.96 | +5.12 |
| | Labour | Evan Luard | 22,989 | 43.40 | −3.05 |
| | Liberal | Peter H Reeves | 5,103 | 9.63 | −2.08 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,884 | 3.56 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,965 | 74.54 | −4.72 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +4.08 | |
General election February 1974: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Montague Woodhouse | 23,967 | 39.81 | −7.15 |
| | Labour | Evan Luard | 23,146 | 38.44 | −4.96 |
| | Liberal | MS Butler | 13,094 | 21.75 | +12.12 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 821 | 1.37 | −2.19 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,204 | 78.55 | +4.01 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.10 | |
General election October 1974: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Luard | 23,359 | 42.71 | +4.29 |
| | Conservative | Montague Woodhouse | 22,323 | 40.82 | +1.01 |
| | Liberal | MS Butler | 8,374 | 15.31 | −6.44 |
| | National Front | Ian Anderson | 572 | 1.05 | New |
| | Independent | Bernice Olive Smith | 64 | 0.12 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,036 | 1.89 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,691 | 70.78 | −7.77 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.64 | |
General election 1979: Oxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Patten | 27,459 | 45.30 | +4.48 |
| | Labour | Evan Luard | 25,962 | 42.83 | +0.12 |
| | Liberal | Dermot Roaf | 6,234 | 10.28 | −4.03 |
| | Oxford Ecological Movement | Anthony Cheke | 887 | 1.46 | New |
| | Independent | Bernice Olive Smith | 72 | 0.12 | 0.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,497 | 2.47 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,610 | 74.18 | +3.40 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.18 | |