# Harwich (UK Parliament constituency)

Harwich /ˈhærɪtʃ/ was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until its abolition for the 2010 general election.

## History

The Parliamentary Borough of Harwich had sent two members to the Parliament of England since it was founded in 1604 until 1707, then to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and to the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. Under the Reform Act 1867 its representation was reduced to one, and in 1885 the parliamentary borough was abolished and replaced with a division of the County of Essex (later a county constituency) under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. For a long period of time it was known as a "Treasury borough" due to the control the Treasury had over its elections.
The constituency was abolished for the 2010 general election by the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, being succeeded by the new constituency of Clacton and part of the new constituency of Harwich and North Essex.

## Boundaries and boundary changes
### 1885–1918

* The Municipal Borough of Harwich; and
* Parts of the Sessional Divisions of Lexden and Winstree.
Non-resident freeholders of the Parliamentary Borough of Colchester, which constituted the Municipal Borough thereof, were also entitled to vote.
Formally known as the North Eastern or Harwich Division of Essex, incorporating the abolished Parliamentary Borough of Harwich and extending southwards and westwards to include the towns of Clacton and Brightlingsea and the rural areas surrounding Colchester.

### 1918–1950

* The Municipal Borough of Harwich;
* The Urban Districts of Brightlingsea, Clacton, Frinton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, and Wivenhoe; and
* The Rural District of Tendring.
Western, rural areas now included in the new Colchester Division of Essex.

### 1950–1983

* The Municipal Borough of Harwich;
* The Urban Districts of Brightlingsea, Clacton, Frinton and Walton, and Wivenhoe; and
* The Rural District of Tendring.
No changes. (The Urban Districts of Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze had been merged).

### 1983–1997

* The District of Tendring wards of Beaumont and Thorpe, Bockings Elm, Bradfield Wrabness and Wix, Frinton, Golf Green, Great and Little Oakley, Harwich East, Harwich East Central, Harwich West, Harwich West Central, Haven, Holland and Kirby, Little Clacton, Ramsey, Rush Green, Southcliff, St Bartholomew's, St James, St John's, St Mary's, St Osyth, Tendring and Weeley, and Walton.
Western parts, including Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe, included in the new constituency of North Colchester.

### 1997–2010

* The District of Tendring wards of Beaumont and Thorpe, Bockings Elm, Frinton, Golf Green, Great and Little Oakley, Harwich East, Harwich East Central, Harwich West, Harwich West Central, Haven, Holland and Kirby, Little Clacton, Ramsey, Rush Green, St Bartholomew's, St James, St John's, St Mary's, Southcliff, and Walton.
A further western slice, including St Osyth, added to the new constituency of North Essex (which had largely succeeded North Colchester).
Following the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Parliament radically altered some constituencies and created new ones to allow for changes in population. Consequently, the constituency of Harwich was abolished. The majority of the constituency, including Clacton, Frinton and Walton, formed the new constituency of Clacton, and Harwich and surrounding areas were included in the new constituency of Harwich and North Essex.

## Members of Parliament

Constituency founded 1604

### 1604 to 1660

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1604 | Richard Browne | Thomas Trevor |
| 1605 | John Panton | Thomas Trevor |
| 1614 | Sir Harbottle Grimston | Sir Robert Mansell |
| 1614 (Apr) | Sir Harbottle Grimston | Sir Charles Montagu |
| 1620 | Sir Thomas Cheek | Edward Grimston |
| 1624 | Sir Nathaniel Rich | Christopher Herrys |
| 1625 | Sir Edmund Sawyer | Christopher Herrys |
| 1626 | Sir Nathaniel Rich | Christopher Herrys |
| 1628–1629 | Sir Nathaniel Rich | Christopher Herrys |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments convened | No Parliaments convened |
| 1640 (Apr) | Sir Thomas Cheek | Sir John Jacob, 1st Baronet |
| 1640 (Nov) | Sir Harbottle Grimston, 1st Baronet | Sir Thomas Cheek |
| 1645 | Sir Harbottle Grimston, 1st Baronet, died replaced 1647 by Harbottle Grimston, 2nd Baronet who was secluded Dec 1648 in Pride's Purge | Sir Thomas Cheek |
| 1648 | Sir Thomas Cheek | Capel Luckyn |
| 1653 | Harwich not represented in Barebone's Parliament | Harwich not represented in Barebone's Parliament |
| 1654 | Harwich not represented in First Protectorate Parliament | Harwich not represented in First Protectorate Parliament |
| 1656 | Harwich not represented in Second Protectorate Parliament | Harwich not represented in Second Protectorate Parliament |
| 1659 | John Sicklemore | Thomas King |

### 1660–1868

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| 1660 | | Sir Capel Luckyn, Bt | | | Sir Henry Wright, Bt | |
| 1661 | | Thomas King | | | Sir Henry Wright, Bt | |
| 1664 | | Thomas King | | | Sir Capel Luckyn, Bt | |
| February 1679 | | Sir Anthony Dean | | | Samuel Pepys | |
| August 1679 | | Sir Philip Parker, Bt | | | Sir Thomas Middleton | |
| 1685 | | Sir Anthony Dean | | | Samuel Pepys | |
| 1689 | | Sir Thomas Middleton | | | John Eldred | |
| 1690 | | Sir Thomas Middleton | | | The Viscount Newhaven | |
| 1695 | | Sir Thomas Middleton | | | Sir Thomas Davall | |
| 1698 | | Samuel Atkinson | | | Sir Thomas Davall | |
| 1699 | | Sir Thomas Middleton | | | Sir Thomas Davall | |
| 1701 | | Dennis Lydell | | | Sir Thomas Davall | |
| 1702 | | John Ellis | | | Sir Thomas Davall | |
| May 1708 | | Sir John Leake | | | Thomas Frankland | |
| December 1708 | | Kenrick Edisbury | | | Thomas Frankland | |
| 1713 | | Carew Hervey Mildmay | | | Sir Thomas Davall | |
| May 1714 | | Carew Hervey Mildmay | | | Thomas Heath | |
| June 1714 | | Carew Hervey Mildmay | | | Benedict Calvert | |
| 1715 | | Sir Philip Parker-a-Morley-Long, Bt | | | Thomas Heath | |
| 1722 | | Sir Philip Parker-a-Morley-Long, Bt | | | Humphrey Parsons | |
| 1727 | | Sir Philip Parker-a-Morley-Long, Bt | | | John Perceval | |
| 1734 | | Carteret Leathes | | | Charles Stanhope | |
| 1741 | | John Phillipson | | | Hill Mussenden | |
| 1747 | | John Phillipson | | | Edward Coke | |
| 1753 | | John Phillipson | | | Wenman Coke | |
| 1756 | | William Ponsonby | | | Wenman Coke | |
| 1758 | | Thomas Sewell | | | Wenman Coke | |
| 1761 | | Charles Townshend | | | John Roberts | |
| 1767 | | Thomas Bradshaw | | | John Roberts | |
| 1768 | | Edward Harvey | | | John Roberts | |
| 1772 | | Edward Harvey | | | Charles Jenkinson | |
| 1774 | | Edward Harvey | | | John Robinson | |
| 1778 | | George North | | | John Robinson | |
| 1784 | | Thomas Orde | Tory | | John Robinson | |
| 1796 | | Richard Hopkins | | | John Robinson | |
| 1799 | | Henry Dillon-Lee | | | John Robinson | |
| 1802 | | Thomas Myers | | | John Robinson | |
| January 1803 | | Thomas Myers | | | John Hiley Addington | Tory |
| April 1803 | | James Adams | | | John Hiley Addington | Tory |
| 1806 | | William Fremantle | Tory | | John Hiley Addington | Tory |
| March 1807 | | James Adams | | | John Hiley Addington | Tory |
| May 1807 | | William Huskisson | Tory | | John Hiley Addington | Tory |
| 1812 | | Nicholas Vansittart | Tory | | John Hiley Addington | Tory |
| 1818 | | Nicholas Vansittart | Tory | | Charles Bathurst | Tory |
| 1823 | | George Canning | Tory | | John Charles Herries | Tory |
| 1826 | | Nicholas Conyngham Tindal | Tory | | John Charles Herries | Tory |
| 1827 | | Sir William Rae, Bt | Tory | | John Charles Herries | Tory |
| 1830 | | George Robert Dawson | Tory | | John Charles Herries | Tory |
| 1832 | | Christopher Thomas Tower | Whig | | John Charles Herries | Tory |
| 1834 | | Christopher Thomas Tower | Whig | | John Charles Herries | Conservative |
| 1835 | | Francis Robert Bonham | Conservative | | John Charles Herries | Conservative |
| 1837 | | Alexander Ellice | Whig | | John Charles Herries | Conservative |
| 1841 | | John Attwood | Conservative | | William Beresford | Conservative |
| 1847 | | John Attwood | Peelite | | John Bagshaw | Whig |
| 1848 by-election | | Sir John Hobhouse, Bt | Radical | | John Bagshaw | Whig |
| March 1851 by-election | | Henry Thoby Prinsep | Conservative | | John Bagshaw | Whig |
| May 1851 by-election | | Robert Wigram Crawford | Whig | | John Bagshaw | Whig |
| July 1851 | | Writ suspended | Writ suspended | | | John Bagshaw | Whig |
| April 1852 by-election | | Sir Fitzroy Kelly | Conservative | | John Bagshaw | Whig |
| May 1852 by-election | | Isaac Butt | Conservative | | John Bagshaw | Whig |
| July 1852 | | George Peacocke | Conservative | | David Waddington | Conservative |
| 1853 by-election | | John Bagshaw | Whig | | David Waddington | Conservative |
| March 1857 | | John Bagshaw | Whig | | George Drought Warburton | Independent Whig |
| December 1857 by-election | | John Bagshaw | Whig | | Robert John Bagshaw | Whig |
| March 1859 by-election | | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | Conservative | | Robert John Bagshaw | Whig |
| May 1859 | | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | Conservative | | Hon. William Campbell | Liberal |
| 1860 by-election | | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | Conservative | | Richard Rowley | Conservative |
| 1865 | | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | Conservative | | John Kelk | Conservative |
| 1868 | Constituency reduced to one member | Constituency reduced to one member | Constituency reduced to one member | Constituency reduced to one member | Constituency reduced to one member | Constituency reduced to one member |

### 1868–2010

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| 1868 | 1868 | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member |
| | 1868 | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | Conservative |
| | 1880 | Henry Tyler | Conservative |
| | 1885 | James Round | Conservative |
| | 1906 | Arthur Lever | Liberal |
| | 1910 | Harry Newton | Conservative |
| | 1922 | Albert Hillary | Liberal |
| | 1924 | Sir Frederick Rice | Conservative |
| | 1929 | Sir John Pybus | Liberal |
| | 1931 | Sir John Pybus | Liberal National |
| | 1935 | Sir Stanley Holmes | Liberal National |
| | 1954 by-election | Julian Ridsdale | National Liberal |
| | 1968 | Julian Ridsdale | Conservative |
| | 1992 | Iain Sproat | Conservative |
| | 1997 | Ivan Henderson | Labour |
| | 2005 | Douglas Carswell | Conservative |
| | 2010 | Constituency abolished: see Clacton and Harwich and North Essex | Constituency abolished: see Clacton and Harwich and North Essex |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

Herries was appointed Secretary at War, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 10 February 1830: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Charles Herries | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
1830 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Charles Herries | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | George Robert Dawson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
1831 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Charles Herries | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | George Robert Dawson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
1832 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Charles Herries | 97 | 26.3 |
| | Whig | Christopher Thomas Tower | 93 | 25.2 |
| | Tory | Nicholas Leader | 90 | 24.4 |
| | Whig | John Disney | 89 | 24.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 186 | 86.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 214 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 1.1 |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 0.8 |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
1835 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Charles Herries | 97 | 46.2 | +19.9 |
| | Conservative | Francis Robert Bonham | 78 | 37.1 | +12.7 |
| | Whig | Robert Norris Verner | 35 | 16.7 | −32.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 20.4 | +19.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 123 | 78.8 | −8.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 156 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +18.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +14.5 | |
1837 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Charles Herries | 75 | 25.9 | −20.3 |
| | Whig | Alexander Ellice | 75 | 25.9 | +17.6 |
| | Whig | Christopher Thomas Tower | 74 | 25.5 | +17.2 |
| | Conservative | Francis Robert Bonham | 66 | 22.8 | −14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 146 | 90.1 | +11.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 162 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 0 | 0.0 | −20.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −18.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 3.1 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.5 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

1841 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Attwood | 94 | 27.2 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative | William Beresford | 94 | 27.2 | +4.4 |
| | Whig | John Bagshaw | 84 | 24.3 | −1.6 |
| | Whig | Denis Le Marchant | 73 | 21.2 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 174 | 93.5 | +3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 186 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +3.7 | |
1847 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Bagshaw | 213 | 45.9 | +0.4 |
| | Peelite | John Attwood | 184 | 39.7 | +12.5 |
| | Conservative | William Knight | 65 | 14.0 | −13.2 |
| | Conservative | Dudley St Leger Hill | 2 | 0.4 | −26.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 232 (est) | 78.6 (est) | −14.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 295 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 148 | 31.9 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 182 | 39.3 | N/A |
| | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Swing | +16.3 | |
Attwood's election was declared void on petition due to bribery by his agents, causing a by-election.
By-election, 1 April 1848: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John Hobhouse | 131 | 50.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Manners-Sutton | 127 | 49.2 | +34.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 258 | 87.8 | +10.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 294 | | |
| | Radical gain from Peelite | Radical gain from Peelite | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1850s

Hobhouse was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Broughton and causing a by-election.
By-election, 5 March 1851: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Thoby Prinsep | 135 | 50.9 | +36.5 |
| | Whig | Robert Wigram Crawford | 130 | 49.1 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 265 | 91.7 | +13.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 289 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +16.7 | |
Prinsep's election was declared void on petition due to bribery, causing a by-election.
By-election, 28 May 1851: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Wigram Crawford | 133 | 51.2 | +5.3 |
| | Conservative | Henry Thoby Prinsep | 127 | 48.8 | +34.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 260 | 90.0 | +11.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 289 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | −14.6 | |
Crawford's election was declared void, due to polling being closed prematurely, and the seat's writ was suspended in July 1851. A by-election was called the next year.
By-election, 10 April 1852: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Fitzroy Kelly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
Kelly resigned to contest a by-election in East Suffolk, causing a by-election.
By-election, 8 May 1852: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Isaac Butt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
1852 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Peacocke | 135 | 26.8 | +12.8 |
| | Conservative | David Waddington | 134 | 26.6 | +26.2 |
| | Whig | John Bagshaw | 125 | 24.8 | −21.1 |
| | Independent Whig | George Drought Warburton | 110 | 21.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 252 (est) | 92.6 (est) | +14.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 272 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Peelite | Conservative gain from Peelite | Swing | +11.7 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +18.4 | |
Peacocke's election was declared void on petition, due to corrupt practices, causing a by-election.
By-election, 21 June 1853: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Bagshaw | 140 | 54.9 | +30.1 |
| | Conservative | William Fraser | 115 | 45.1 | −8.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 | 9.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 255 | 85.3 | −7.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 299 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +19.2 | |
1857 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Bagshaw | 173 | 32.6 | +7.8 |
| | Independent Whig | George Drought Warburton | 147 | 27.7 | +5.9 |
| | Conservative | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | 113 | 21.3 | −5.5 |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Buck Greene | 98 | 18.5 | −8.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 266 (est) | 84.8 (est) | −7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 313 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 60 | 11.3 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49 | 9.2 | N/A |
| | Ind. Whig gain from Conservative | Ind. Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.4 | |
Warburton's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 9 December 1857: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert John Bagshaw | 162 | 70.1 | +37.5 |
| | Independent Whig | Andrew Arcedeckne | 69 | 29.9 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 93 | 40.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 231 | 73.8 | −11.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 313 | | |
| | Whig gain from Ind. Whig | Whig gain from Ind. Whig | | | |
Bagshaw's resignation caused a by-election.
By-election, 18 March 1859: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | 145 | 52.0 | +12.2 |
| | Whig | William Campbell | 134 | 48.0 | +15.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 279 | 83.5 | −1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 334 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | −1.6 | |
1859 general election: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | 156 | 25.7 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal | William Campbell | 155 | 25.5 | −7.1 |
| | Conservative | Richard Rowley | 152 | 25.0 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal | John Clark Marshman | 144 | 23.7 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 304 (est) | 90.9 (est) | +6.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 334 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 2.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Ind. Whig | Conservative gain from Ind. Whig | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 0.5 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −6.3 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

Campbell succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Stratheden and Campbell, and causing a by-election.
By-election, 24 April 1860: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Rowley | 146 | 55.7 | +5.0 |
| | Liberal | Stuart Donaldson | 116 | 44.3 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30 | 11.4 | +9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 262 | 82.6 | −8.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 317 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.0 | |
General election 1865: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | 209 | 35.0 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | John Kelk | 194 | 32.5 | +7.5 |
| | Liberal | Michael Wills | 117 | 19.6 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal | James Fitzjames Stephen | 77 | 12.9 | −10.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 77 | 12.9 | +10.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 299 (est) | 77.3 (est) | −13.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 386 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.9 | |
Seat reduced to one member
General election 1868: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | 328 | 69.9 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal | David James Jenkins | 141 | 30.1 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 187 | 39.8 | +26.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 469 | 75.4 | −1.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 622 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.4 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Jervis-White-Jervis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 712 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Tyler | 368 | 54.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Tomline | 310 | 45.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 58 | 8.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 678 | 89.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 759 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1885: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Round | 4,584 | 54.5 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal | James Jackson | 3,824 | 45.5 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 760 | 9.0 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,408 | 82.9 | −6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,141 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.2 | |
General election 1886: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Round | 4,623 | 66.6 | +12.1 |
| | Liberal | James Wicks | 2,322 | 33.4 | −12.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,301 | 33.2 | +24.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,945 | 68.5 | −14.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,141 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +12.1 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Round | 4,113 | 51.9 | −14.7 |
| | Liberal | Robert Varty | 3,808 | 48.1 | +14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 305 | 3.8 | −29.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,921 | 72.5 | +4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,924 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −14.7 | |
General election 1895: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Round | 4,566 | 63.0 | +11.1 |
| | Liberal | Robert Varty | 2,685 | 37.0 | −11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,881 | 26.0 | +22.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,251 | 64.2 | −8.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,296 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.1 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Round | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1906: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Lever | 5,650 | 51.6 | New |
| | Conservative | Harry Newton | 5,308 | 48.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 342 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,958 | 83.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,144 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harry Newton | 6,757 | 54.6 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Lever | 5,608 | 45.4 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,149 | 9.2 | +6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,365 | 86.6 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.0 | |
General election December 1910: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harry Newton | 6,470 | 56.4 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal | Frank Stapledon Hiley | 5,008 | 43.6 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,462 | 12.8 | +3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,478 | 80.4 | −6.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 | |
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;
* Unionist: Harry Newton
* Liberal: Edward Aylmer Digby
General election 1918: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Harry Newton | 8,261 | 53.9 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal | Edward Aylmer Digby | 7,064 | 46.1 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,197 | 7.8 | −5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,325 | 55.9 | −26.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,421 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −2.5 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Albert Hillary | 10,556 | 51.9 | +5.8 |
| | Unionist | Geoffrey St John Strutt | 9,792 | 48.1 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 764 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,348 | 71.6 | +15.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,432 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +5.8 | |
General election 1923: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Albert Hillary | 12,059 | 54.3 | +2.4 |
| | Unionist | Frederick Rice | 10,142 | 45.7 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,917 | 8.6 | +4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,201 | 76.2 | +4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,126 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.4 | |
General election 1924: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Frederick Rice | 12,219 | 51.5 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal | Albert Hillary | 9,904 | 41.7 | −12.6 |
| | Labour | Alfred Barton | 1,604 | 6.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,315 | 9.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,727 | 79.0 | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 30,047 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.2 | |
General election 1929: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Pybus | 16,309 | 52.8 | +11.1 |
| | Unionist | John Mayhew | 13,609 | 44.1 | −7.4 |
| | Ind. Unionist | J Elliott | 948 | 3.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,700 | 8.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,866 | 76.3 | −2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 40,478 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +9.3 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | John Pybus | 26,818 | 86.4 | +33.6 |
| | Labour | E L McKeag | 4,229 | 13.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,589 | 72.8 | +64.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,047 | 72.6 | −3.7 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1935: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Stanley Holmes | 21,716 | 70.3 | −16.1 |
| | Labour | Ambrose Appelbe | 9,170 | 29.7 | +16.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,546 | 40.6 | −32.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,886 | 63.9 | −8.7 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | −16.1 | |

### 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 from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal National: Stanley Holmes
* Labour: Ald. Joseph Hewitt
General election 1945: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Stanley Holmes | 16,452 | 55.7 | −14.6 |
| | Labour | Joseph Hewitt | 13,067 | 44.3 | +14.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,385 | 11.4 | −29.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,519 | 68.8 | +4.9 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | −14.6 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Stanley Holmes | 22,814 | 50.6 | −5.1 |
| | Labour | Morris Janis | 16,756 | 37.1 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal | Leonard Train | 5,536 | 12.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,058 | 13.5 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,106 | 81.9 | +13.1 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Stanley Holmes | 26,169 | 58.9 | +8.3 |
| | Labour | Morris Janis | 18,244 | 41.1 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,925 | 17.8 | +4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,413 | 78.8 | −3.1 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |
1954 Harwich by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Julian Ridsdale | 19,532 | 59.1 | +0.2 |
| | Labour | Shirley Catlin | 13,535 | 40.9 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,997 | 18.2 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,067 | | |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Julian Ridsdale | 23,889 | 56.4 | −2.5 |
| | Labour | Shirley Catlin | 14,425 | 34.1 | −7.0 |
| | Liberal | Wolf Isaac Akst | 4,010 | 9.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,464 | 22.3 | +3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,234 | 75.6 | −3.2 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1959: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Julian Ridsdale | 23,653 | 53.2 | −3.2 |
| | Labour | William Robinson | 11,588 | 26.0 | −7.1 |
| | Liberal | Thomas E Dale | 5,507 | 12.4 | +2.9 |
| | Independent | Leonard F Rose | 3,744 | 8.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,065 | 27.2 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,492 | 76.4 | +0.8 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Julian Ridsdale | 25,102 | 50.4 | −2.8 |
| | Labour | David Winnick | 14,877 | 29.9 | +3.9 |
| | Liberal | Thomas E Dale | 9,824 | 19.7 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,225 | 20.5 | −6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,803 | 75.1 | −1.3 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | | |
General election 1966: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Julian Ridsdale | 24,975 | 47.6 | −2.8 |
| | Labour | Stephen R Hatch | 18,335 | 34.9 | +5.0 |
| | Liberal | Thomas E Dale | 9,219 | 17.6 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,640 | 12.7 | −7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,529 | 74.4 | −0.7 |
| | National Liberal hold | National Liberal hold | Swing | −3.9 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Ridsdale | 32,754 | 53.5 | +5.9 |
| | Labour | Andrew Phillips | 19,923 | 32.6 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal | Thomas E Dale | 8,519 | 13.9 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,831 | 20.9 | +8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,196 | 74.5 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.0 | |
General election February 1974: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Ridsdale | 32,452 | 45.6 | −7.9 |
| | Liberal | D Cadman | 19,989 | 28.1 | +14.2 |
| | Labour | JB Fryer | 18,697 | 26.3 | −6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,463 | 17.5 | −3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 71,138 | 80.7 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −11.1 | |
General election October 1974: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Ridsdale | 29,963 | 46.7 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | JB Fryer | 19,135 | 29.8 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Kellock | 15,048 | 23.5 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,828 | 16.9 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 64,146 | 72.3 | −8.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |
General election 1979: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Ridsdale | 37,685 | 54.3 | +7.6 |
| | Labour | CW Brooks | 16,998 | 24.5 | −5.3 |
| | Liberal | Robert Goodenough | 14,094 | 20.3 | −3.2 |
| | National Front | A Pearson | 597 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,687 | 29.8 | +12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 69,374 | 74.7 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.5 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Ridsdale | 27,422 | 54.1 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal | Robert Goodenough | 14,920 | 29.5 | +9.2 |
| | Labour | Ralph Knight | 8,302 | 16.4 | −8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,502 | 24.6 | −5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,644 | 70.2 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.7 | |
General election 1987: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Ridsdale | 29,344 | 51.8 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal | Liz Lynne | 17,262 | 30.4 | +0.9 |
| | Labour | Ralph Knight | 9,920 | 17.5 | +1.1 |
| | Independent | Christopher Humphrey | 161 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,082 | 21.4 | −3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,687 | 73.5 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.9 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Iain Sproat | 32,369 | 51.9 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pauline A. Bevan | 15,210 | 24.4 | −6.0 |
| | Labour | Ralph Knight | 14,511 | 23.3 | +5.8 |
| | Natural Law | Eileen P. McGrath | 279 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,159 | 27.5 | +6.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,369 | 77.7 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.1 | |
General election 1997: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ivan Henderson | 20,740 | 38.8 | +14.1 |
| | Conservative | Iain Sproat | 19,524 | 36.5 | −15.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann M. Elvin | 7,037 | 13.1 | −10.0 |
| | Referendum | Jeffrey Titford | 4,923 | 9.2 | New |
| | Independent | Ralph Knight | 1,290 | 2.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,216 | 2.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,514 | 70.5 | −3.3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | −14.7 | |
This was the Referendum Party's best result in the election.

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ivan Henderson | 21,951 | 45.6 | 6.8 |
| | Conservative | Iain Sproat | 19,355 | 40.2 | 3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Wilcock | 4,099 | 8.5 | 4.6 |
| | UKIP | Tony Finnegan-Butler | 2,463 | 5.1 | New |
| | Independent | Clive Lawrance | 247 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,596 | 5.4 | 3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,115 | 62.1 | 8.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.3 | |
General election 2005: Harwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Douglas Carswell | 21,235 | 42.1 | 1.9 |
| | Labour | Ivan Henderson | 20,315 | 40.3 | 5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Tully | 5,913 | 11.7 | 3.2 |
| | UKIP | Jeffrey Titford | 2,314 | 4.6 | 0.5 |
| | Respect | John Tipple | 477 | 0.9 | New |
| | Independent | Christopher Humphrey | 154 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 920 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,408 | 62.6 | 0.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 3.6 | |