# Sheffield (UK Parliament constituency)

Sheffield was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1885. It elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system of elections.
The constituency encompassed the urban part of the town and parish (now city) of Sheffield, England, but not the western, rural, parts of Upper Hallam and Ecclesall Bierlow, which were incorporated into Sheffield Town Borough in 1843.

## History

Before 1832 Sheffield had been represented by the Yorkshire constituency. The Sheffield Borough constituency was created by the Reform Act 1832, and was given two MPs, the first time that the town had been represented in the House of Commons. Four candidates stood at the first election contesting these two seats. Voting took place on 13 and 14 December 1832, with the results declared on 15 December (see below). The election sparked a riot on 14 December, which resulted in the military being called out. The soldiers fired on the crowd, killing six people and injuring several others. Following the Redistribution of Seats Act in 1885, which sought to eliminate constituencies with more than one MP and give greater representation to urban areas, the Borough of Sheffield was sub-divided. The five new divisions—Attercliffe, Brightside, Ecclesall, Hallam, and Sheffield Central—each returned a single MP.

## Members of Parliament

Two MPs were elected at each general election. The table below shows the election years in which one or both of the MPs changed.
| Election | Member 1 | Member 1 | Party | Member 2 | Member 2 | Party |
| 1832 | | John Parker | Whig | | James Silk Buckingham | Radical |
| 1837 | | John Parker | Whig | | Henry George Ward | Radical |
| 1849 by-election | | John Parker | Whig | | John Arthur Roebuck | Independent Whig |
| 1852 | | George Hadfield | Radical | | John Arthur Roebuck | Independent Whig |
| 1859 | | George Hadfield | Liberal | | John Arthur Roebuck | Independent Liberal |
| 1868 | | George Hadfield | Liberal | | A. J. Mundella | Liberal |
| 1874 | | John Arthur Roebuck | Independent Liberal | | A. J. Mundella | Liberal |
| 1879 by-election | | Samuel Danks Waddy | Liberal | | A. J. Mundella | Liberal |
| 1880 | | Charles Stuart-Wortley | Conservative | | A. J. Mundella | Liberal |
| 1885 | Constituency divided | Constituency divided | Constituency divided | Constituency divided | Constituency divided | Constituency divided |
The constituency was sub-divided in 1885. The sitting MPs, A. J. Mundella and Charles Stuart-Wortley subsequently stood for and won seats in one of the new constituencies (Sheffield Brightside and Sheffield Hallam respectively).

## Election results
### Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 8 May 1880: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | A. J. Mundella | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Mundella's appointment as Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education.
1880 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | A. J. Mundella | 17,217 | 34.2 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | Charles Stuart-Wortley | 16,546 | 32.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Samuel Danks Waddy | 16,506 | 32.8 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,408 (est) | 78.1 (est) | +15.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 42,794 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 671 | 1.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Liberal | Conservative gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1870s

By-election, 21 Dec 1879: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Danks Waddy | 14,062 | 50.9 | −12.4 |
| | Conservative | Charles Stuart-Wortley | 13,584 | 49.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 478 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,646 | 70.4 | +17.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,270 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | | |
* Caused by Roebuck's death.
1874 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | John Arthur Roebuck | 14,193 | 36.7 | +13.8 |
| | Liberal | A. J. Mundella | 12,858 | 33.2 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Chamberlain | 11,053 | 28.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Alfred Allott | 621 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,140 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,363 (est) | 52.8 (est) | −17.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 36,701 | | |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.9 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −4.9 | |
* Allott withdrew from the race before polling day.

### Elections in the 1860s

1868 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Hadfield | 14,793 | 35.3 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal | A. J. Mundella | 12,212 | 29.2 | +14.8 |
| | Independent Liberal | John Arthur Roebuck | 9,571 | 22.9 | −8.2 |
| | Conservative | Edwin Plumer Price | 5,272 | 12.6 | −11.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,641 | 6.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,924 (est) | 69.9 (est) | +5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,955 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +4.5 | |
| | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal gain from Independent Liberal | Swing | +9.5 | |
1865 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | John Arthur Roebuck | 3,410 | 31.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Hadfield | 3,348 | 30.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Stuart-Wortley | 2,626 | 24.0 | New |
| | Independent | Thomas Campbell Foster | 1,576 | 14.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,480 (est) | 64.0 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,557 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Independent Liberal hold | Independent Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 722 | 6.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1850s

1859 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal | John Arthur Roebuck | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | George Hadfield | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,381 | | |
| | Independent Liberal hold | Independent Liberal hold | Independent Liberal hold | Independent Liberal hold | Independent Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1857 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Whig | John Arthur Roebuck | 3,200 | 39.4 | +8.2 |
| | Radical | George Hadfield | 2,871 | 35.3 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative | William Overend | 2,059 | 25.3 | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,095 (est) | 74.1 (est) | +11.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,874 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 329 | 4.1 | +0.5 |
| | Independent Whig hold | Independent Whig hold | Swing | +2.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 812 | 1.0 | −3.0 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +1.8 | |
1852 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Whig | John Arthur Roebuck | 2,092 | 31.2 | N/A |
| | Radical | George Hadfield | 1,853 | 27.6 | −15.7 |
| | Whig | John Parker | 1,580 | 23.6 | −20.3 |
| | Conservative | William Overend | 1,180 | 17.6 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,353 (est) | 63.0 (est) | +34.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,322 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 239 | 3.6 | N/A |
| | Ind. Whig gain from Whig | Ind. Whig gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 273 | 4.0 | −26.6 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +2.3 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

By-election, 3 May 1849: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Whig | John Arthur Roebuck | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Ind. Whig gain from Radical | Ind. Whig gain from Radical | Ind. Whig gain from Radical | Ind. Whig gain from Radical | Ind. Whig gain from Radical |
* Caused by Ward's resignation after being appointed Lord High Commissioners of the Ionian Islands.
1847 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Parker | 1,125 | 43.9 | +3.8 |
| | Radical | Henry George Ward | 1,110 | 43.3 | +4.2 |
| | Chartist | Thomas Clark | 326 | 12.7 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,444 (est) | 29.3 (est) | −23.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,934 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 | 0.6 | −0.4 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −0.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 784 | 30.6 | +2.4 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
1841 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Parker | 1,849 | 40.1 | −5.3 |
| | Radical | Henry George Ward | 1,805 | 39.1 | −1.9 |
| | Conservative | David Urquhart | 503 | 10.9 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | William Sheppard | 457 | 9.9 | +3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,307 (est) | 53.1 (est) | c. −13.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,347 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 1.0 | −3.4 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −4.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,302 | 28.2 | +0.8 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −2.8 | |

### Elections in the 1830s

1837 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Parker | 2,186 | 45.4 | −20.8 |
| | Radical | Henry George Ward | 1,976 | 41.0 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | John Thorneley | 655 | 13.6 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,700 | 67.0 | −16.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,028 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 210 | 4.4 | +3.2 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −14.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,321 | 27.4 | +24.8 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +14.0 | |
By-election, 22 August 1836: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Parker | 414 | 100.0 | +33.8 |
| | Radical | John Bell | 0 | 0.0 | −33.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 414 | 100.0 | +98.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 414 | 10.6 | −72.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,903 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +33.8 | |
* Caused by Parker's appointment as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
1835 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Parker | 1,607 | 35.0 | +4.9 |
| | Radical | James Silk Buckingham | 1,554 | 33.8 | −19.9 |
| | Whig | Samuel Bailey | 1,434 | 31.2 | +15.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,986 | 83.2 | −9.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,587 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53 | 1.2 | +0.9 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +7.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | 2.6 | −3.1 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −20.0 | |
1832 general election: Sheffield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John Parker | 1,515 | 30.1 |
| | Radical | James Silk Buckingham | 1,498 | 29.7 |
| | Radical | Thomas Asline Ward | 1,210 | 24.0 |
| | Whig | Samuel Bailey | 813 | 16.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,056 | 92.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,308 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17 | 0.4 |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 288 | 5.7 |
| | Radical win (new seat) | Radical win (new seat) | Radical win (new seat) | Radical win (new seat) |