# Inverness-shire (UK Parliament constituency)

Inverness-shire was a county 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 until 1918.
There was also a burgh constituency called Inverness Burghs, 1708 to 1918, and a county constituency called Inverness, 1918 to 1983.

## 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 Inverness-shire.

## History

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished in 1918.

## Boundaries

The Inverness-shire Member of Parliament (MP) represented, nominally, the county of Inverness minus the Inverness parliamentary burgh, which was represented as a component of Inverness District of Burghs. However, by 1892 the boundaries of the county had been redefined for all purposes except parliamentary representation, and it had become a local government area, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889. 26 years were to elapse before a review of constituency boundaries took account of new local government boundaries. Results of the review were implemented under the Representation of the People Act 1918.
In 1918, the constituency was largely replaced by two new county constituencies. The Western Isles constituency was created to cover Outer Hebridean areas of the county of Inverness, as well as part of the county of Ross and Cromarty. The Inverness constituency was created to cover the rest of the county of Inverness, including the parliamentary burgh.

## Members of Parliament

| Elected | Elected | Member | Party |
| | 1708 | Alexander Grant | |
| | 1710 | Alexander MacKenzie | |
| | 1715 | John Forbes | |
| | 1722 | Sir James Grant, Bt. | Whig |
| | 1741 | Norman Macleod, (1705–1772) | |
| | 1754 | Pryse Campbell | Whig |
| | 1761 | Simon Fraser | |
| | 1782 by-election | Archibald Campbell Fraser | |
| | 1784 | Lord William Gordon | |
| | 1790 | Norman Macleod, (1754–1801) | Pittite/Tory |
| | 1791 | Norman Macleod, (1754–1801) | Foxite Whig |
| | 1796 | John Simon Frederick Fraser | Pittite/Tory |
| | 1802 | Charles Grant (senior) | Pittite/Tory |
| | 1818 | Rt Hon. Charles Grant, later Baron Glenelg | Tory/Canningite |
| | 1828 by-election | Rt Hon. Charles Grant, later Baron Glenelg | Whig |
| | 1835 by-election | Alexander William Chisholm | Conservative |
| | 1838 by-election | Francis William Grant | Conservative |
| | 1840 by-election | Henry James Baillie | Conservative |
| | 1868 | Donald Cameron | Conservative |
| | 1885 | Charles Fraser-Mackintosh | Independent Liberal/Crofters' |
| | 1886 change | Charles Fraser-Mackintosh | Liberal Unionist /Crofters' Party |
| | 1892 | Donald MacGregor | Liberal/Crofters' Party |
| | 1895 | James Evan Bruce Baillie | Conservative |
| | 1900 | Sir John Dewar, Bt., later Baron Forteviot | Liberal |
| | 1917 by-election | Thomas Brash Morison, who was subsequently MP for Inverness | Liberal |
| 1918 | 1918 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Election results

The original electorate for this constituency was limited to substantial landowners. The 40 shilling freehold qualification used for English county constituencies, which was not adjusted for inflation since it was first set in the 15th century, was significantly lower than the Scottish county qualification. In Scotland the qualification was land worth 40 shillings "of old extent", which prevented inflation lowering the real value of the property qualification required.
The county electorate, in Scotland, was significantly extended in 1832 and was further expanded in 1868 and 1885. The change, before and after 1832, can be seen by comparing the 32 votes cast at the contested election in 1802 with the 467 votes cast in 1832 (when the new registration system recorded a registered electorate of 669).
Unless otherwise indicated, the primary source for the results listed was Craig. Candidates identified by Craig as Conservatives, in the 1832-1835 Parliament, are listed as Tories. In elections before the formal creation of the Liberal Party, shortly after the 1859 general election, candidates identified by Craig as Liberals are classified as Whigs. There were no Radicals candidates in this seat, according to Stooks Smith. Craig's registered electorate and vote figures are sometimes different from those of Stooks Smith, but Craig's figures are used below. For details of the books of Craig and Stooks Smith, see the Reference section below.
The calculations of change in % vote and swing, for the 1835 general election result, relate the performance of the Conservative candidate to his achievements as the Tory candidate in the 1832 general election.

### Elections in the 1800s

General election 1802: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nonpartisan | Charles Grant (senior) | 15 | 46.9 | N/A |
| | Nonpartisan | Simon Fraser | 11 | 34.4 | N/A |
| | Nonpartisan | Arthur Forbes | 6 | 18.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 12.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32 | N/A | N/A |
| | Nonpartisan hold | Nonpartisan hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Grant | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77 | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
Grant was appointed as President of the Board of Control, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 30 December 1830: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Grant | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1831: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Grant | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 81 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Charles Grant | 257 | 55.0 |
| | Tory | John Norman McLeod | 210 | 45.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47 | 10.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 467 | 69.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 669 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Grant | 260 | 50.7 | −4.3 |
| | Conservative | John Norman McLeod | 253 | 49.3 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 1.4 | −8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 513 | 71.5 | +1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 717 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −4.3 | |
* Appointment of Grant as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies and elevation to the peerage as the 1st Lord Glenelg
By-election, 15 May 1835: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alexander William Chisholm | 268 | 52.8 | +3.5 |
| | Whig | James Murray Grant | 240 | 47.2 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 | 5.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 508 | 70.9 | −0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 717 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +3.5 | |
General election 1837: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alexander William Chisholm | 303 | 54.9 | +5.6 |
| | Whig | James Murray Grant | 249 | 45.1 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 9.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 552 | 73.3 | +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 753 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +5.6 | |
* Resignation of Chisholm, in June 1838
By-election, 12 June 1838: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Francis William Grant | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

* Death of Grant
By-Election 31 March 1840: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Baillie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1841: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Baillie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 789 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Baillie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 817 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Baillie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 908 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Baillie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 827 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Baillie | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 884 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Baillie | 336 | 53.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George MacPherson-Grant | 297 | 46.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 39 | 6.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 633 | 72.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 878 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1868: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Cameron | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,661 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Cameron | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,724 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Appointment of Cameron as a Groom in Waiting to Her Majesty
By-Election 19 March 1874: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Cameron | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Donald Cameron | 808 | 50.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Kenneth Mackenzie | 779 | 49.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,587 | 85.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,851 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1885: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Liberal (Crofters) | Charles Fraser-Mackintosh | 3,555 | 47.5 | New |
| | Conservative | Reginald MacLeod | 2,031 | 27.1 | −23.8 |
| | Liberal | Kenneth Mackenzie | 1,897 | 25.4 | −23.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,524 | 20.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,483 | 80.2 | −5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,330 | | |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Conservative | Independent Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1886: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist (Crofters) | Charles Fraser-Mackintosh | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Independent Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Independent Liberal |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal (Crofters) | Donald MacGregor | 3,035 | 52.9 | New |
| | Liberal Unionist | Charles Fraser-Mackintosh | 2,706 | 47.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 329 | 5.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,741 | 67.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,480 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | N/A | |
* Since the last election Fraser-Mackintosh had lost the support of the Highland Land League; which endorsed the Liberal nominee MacGregor as a Crofters' candidate.
* Resignation of MacGregor'
By-Election 13 June 1895: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Baillie | 3,164 | 55.7 | +8.6 |
| | Liberal (Crofters) | Donald Macrae | 2,514 | 44.3 | −8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 650 | 11.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,678 | 69.0 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,229 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.6 | |
* The Highland Land League supported Macrae in this election, so he was a Crofters' candidate as well as the Liberal nominee.
General election 1895: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Baillie | 2,991 | 50.9 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal | Neil Kennedy | 2,891 | 49.1 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,882 | 71.5 | +3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,229 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.8 | |
* Results compared with 1892 election, not the 1895 by-election.

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Dewar | 3,168 | 52.5 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Donald Mackintosh | 2,867 | 47.5 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 301 | 5.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,035 | 66.6 | −4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,061 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | -3.4 (L to C) | |
General election 1906: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Dewar | 3,918 | 68.4 | +15.9 |
| | Conservative | L.H. Strain | 1,810 | 31.6 | −15.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,108 | 36.8 | +31.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,728 | 57.5 | −9.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,957 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -15.9 (L to C) | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Dewar | 4,599 | 62.4 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative | Reginald Macleod | 2,774 | 37.6 | +6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,825 | 24.8 | −12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,373 | 74.1 | +16.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,951 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.0 (L to C) | |
General election December 1910: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Dewar | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Creation of Dewar as the 1st Baron Forteviot
By-Election 2 January 1917: Inverness-shire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Brash Morison | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Constituency abolished (1918)