# Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency)

Sutherland was a Scottish constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918.

## Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Sutherlandshire.

## Boundaries

The constituency represented essentially the traditional county of Sutherland. The county town of Dornoch, however, was represented as a component of the Tain Burghs constituency, from 1708 to 1832, and of the Wick Burghs constituency, from 1832 to 1918.

## History

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished in 1918.
In 1918 the Sutherland constituency and Dornoch were merged into the then new constituency of Caithness and Sutherland. In 1997 Caithness and Sutherland was merged into Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1708 | Sir William Gordon | |
| 1713 | William Morison | |
| 1714 | Sir William Gordon | |
| 1727 | Lord Strathnaver | |
| 1734 | Sir James Fergusson | |
| 1736 | Hon. James St Clair | |
| 1747 | Hon. George Mackay | |
| 1761 | Hon. Alexander Mackay | |
| 1768 | James Wemyss | |
| 1784 | William Wemyss | Pittite |
| 1787 | James Grant | |
| 1802 | William Dundas | Tory |
| 1808 | John Randoll Mackenzie | |
| 1809 | George Macpherson-Grant | |
| 1812 | James Macdonald | Whig |
| 1816 | George Macpherson-Grant | |
| 1826 | Lord Francis Leveson-Gower | Tory |
| 1831 | Sir Hugh Innes | Whig |
| 1831 by-election | Roderick Macleod | Whig |
| 1837 | Hon. William Howard | Conservative |
| 1840 by-election | Sir David Dundas | Whig |
| 1852 | Marquess of Stafford | Whig |
| 1859 | Marquess of Stafford | Liberal |
| 1861 by-election | Sir David Dundas | Liberal |
| 1867 by-election | Lord Ronald Gower | Liberal |
| 1874 | Marquess of Stafford | Liberal |
| 1886 | Angus Sutherland | Liberal/Crofter |
| 1894 by-election | John MacLeod | Liberal/Crofter |
| 1900 | Frederick Leveson-Gower | Liberal Unionist |
| 1906 | Alpheus Morton | Liberal |
| 1918 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | Francis Leveson-Gower | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1831: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Hugh Innes | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20 | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
Innes' death caused a by-election.
By-election, 14 September 1831: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Roderick Macleod | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Roderick Macleod | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 84 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Roderick Macleod | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 108 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | William Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 128 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |

### Elections in the 1840s

Howard resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 8 April 1840: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | David Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative |
General election 1841: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | David Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 137 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative |
Dundas was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 28 July 1846: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | David Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | David Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 184 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Dundas was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 5 June 1849: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | David Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 207 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1857: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 264 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1859: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 298 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

Sutherland-Leveson-Gower succeeded to the peerage, becoming 3rd Duke of Sutherland, and causing a by-election.
By-election, 27 March 1861: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Dundas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 180 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Dundas resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 27 May 1867: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ronald Gower | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1868: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ronald Gower | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 358 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Marquess of Stafford | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 324 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Marquess of Stafford | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 326 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1885: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Marquess of Stafford | 1,701 | 61.7 | N/A |
| | Independent Liberal (Crofters) | Angus Sutherland | 1,058 | 38.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 643 | 23.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,759 | 86.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,185 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1886: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal (Crofters) | Angus Sutherland | 1,463 | 71.5 | +9.8 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Ralph Wardlaw McLeod Fullarton | 583 | 28.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 880 | 43.0 | +19.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,046 | 64.2 | −22.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,185 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal (Crofters) | Angus Sutherland | 1,453 | 70.5 | -1.0 |
| | Liberal Unionist | John MacKay | 607 | 29.5 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 846 | 41.0 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,060 | 75.0 | +10.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,745 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -1.0 | |
Sutherland was appointed Chairman of the Fishery Board for Scotland, causing a by-election.
By-election, 26 Oct 1894: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal (Crofters) | John MacLeod | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1895: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John MacLeod | 1,085 | 64.8 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal Unionist | John Alexander Swanston | 590 | 35.2 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 495 | 29.6 | −11.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,675 | 67.2 | −7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,493 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −5.7 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Frederick Leveson-Gower | 1,224 | 61.9 | +26.7 |
| | Liberal | John MacLeod | 752 | 38.1 | −26.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 472 | 23.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,977 | 76.3 | +9.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,589 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +26.7 | |
General election 1906: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alpheus Morton | 1,383 | 59.7 | +21.6 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Frederick Leveson-Gower | 933 | 40.3 | −21.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 450 | 19.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,316 | 82.3 | +6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,814 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +21.6 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alpheus Morton | 1,607 | 62.8 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | Donald Cameron | 951 | 37.2 | −3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 656 | 25.6 | +6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,558 | 83.7 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,055 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +3.1 | |
General election December 1910: Sutherland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alpheus Morton | 1,464 | 53.4 | −9.4 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Marquess of Stafford | 1,277 | 46.6 | +9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 187 | 6.8 | −18.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,741 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -9.4 | |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Liberal: Alpheus Morton
* Unionist: Theodore Gervase Chambers