# Coventry (UK Parliament constituency)

Coventry was a borough constituency which was represented in the House of Commons of England and its successors, the House of Commons of Great Britain and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
Centred on the City of Coventry in Warwickshire, it returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) from 1295 until the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, when its representation was reduced to one. The Coventry constituency was abolished for the 1945 general election, when it was split into two new constituencies: Coventry East and Coventry West.
Elections were held using the bloc vote system when electing two MPs (until 1885), and then first-past-the-post to elect one MP thereafter.

## Boundaries

1832–1868: The City of Coventry and the suburbs thereof.
1868–1918: The existing parliamentary borough and the Parish of Stoke.
The constituency was unchanged by the Representation of the People Act 1884. By the time its boundaries were revised in 1918, it was defined as consisting of the city of Coventry, the parishes of St. Michael Without and Holy Trinity Without, the parish of Stoke, and part of the parish of Wyken.
1918–1945: The county borough of Coventry.

## History

In the eighteenth century Coventry was, despite its size, known as a corrupt borough.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs before 1660

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1295 | Anketil de Coleshull | Richard de Weston |
| 1298 | Robert Russell | Robert Kelle |
| 1301 | Thomas Ballard | Lawrence de Schepey |
| 1302 | Ralph Tewe | John Russell |
| 1305 | Henry Bagot | Peter Baron |
| 1306 | Alexander de Moubray | Henry Bagot |
| 1315 | Richard de Spicer | John de Langley |
| 1346 | John de Percy | Nicholas de Hunt |
| 1353 | Nicholas Michel | Richard de Stoke |
| 1354–1449 | No representation | No representation |
| 1450 | Thomas Lyttelton | ? |
| 1453 | William Elton | ? |
| 1460 | Henry Butler | Richard Braytoft |
| 1467 | Henry Butler | Richard Braytoft |
| 1472 | Henry Butler | John Wildegryse |
| 1478 | Henry Butler | John Wildegryse |
| 1485 | Sir Robert Onley |
| 1491 | Richard Cook | John Smith |
| 1495 | Henry Marlar |
| 1510-1515 | No names known |
| 1523 | Ralph Swyllyngton | Richard Marlar |
| 1529 | Roger Wigston | John Bond |
| 1536 | ?Roger Wigston | ? |
| 1539 | Roger Wigston | Baldwin Porter |
| 1542 | Roger Wigston, died and replaced Jan 1544 by Edward Saunders | Henry Over alias Waver |
| 1545 | Christopher Warren | Henry Porter |
| 1547 | Christopher Warren | Henry Porter |
| 1553 (Mar) | James Rogers | John Talonts |
| 1553 (Oct) | John Nethermill | Thomas Bond |
| 1554 (Apr) | Thomas Keyvet | Edward Davenport |
| 1554 (Nov) | John Throckmorton | John Harford |
| 1555 | John Throckmorton | Henry Porter |
| 1558 | John Throckmorton | John Talonts |
| 1558–1559 | John Throckmorton | John Nethermill |
| 1562–1563 | Thomas Dudley | Richard Grafton |
| 1571 | Henry Goodere | Edmund Brownell |
| 1572 | Edmund Brownell, died and replaced Apr 1573 by Bartholemew Tate | Thomas Wight |
| 1584 (Oct) | Edward Boughton | Thomas Wight |
| 1586 | Thomas Saunders | Henry Breres |
| 1588 (Oct) | Thomas Saunders | Henry Breres |
| 1593 | Thomas Saunders | John Myles |
| 1597 (Sep) | Henry Kervyn | Thomas Saunders |
| 1601 (Oct) | Henry Breres | Thomas Saunders |
| 1604 | Henry Breres | John Rogerson, taken ill and replaced by Sir John Harington |
| 1614 | Sir Robert Coke | Sampson Hopkins |
| 1621 | Sampson Hopkins | Henry Sewall |
| 1624 | Sir Edward Coke | Henry Harwell |
| 1626 | Henry Harwell | Isaac Walden |
| 1628 | William Purefoy of Caldecote | Richard Green of Wyken |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |
| 1640 (Apr) | William Jesson | Simon Norton |
| 1640 (Nov) | Simon Norton, died 1641 and replaced by William Jesson | John Barker excluded in 1648 in Pride's Purge |
| 1649 | John Barker (readmitted 1649) | (one seat only) |
| 1653 | Coventry not represented in the Barebones Parliament | Coventry not represented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | William Purefoy | Robert Beake |
| 1656 | William Purefoy | Robert Beake |
| 1659 | William Purefoy | Robert Beake |

### MPs 1660–1885

| Year | 1st Member | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Member | 2nd Party |
| 1660, March | | Richard Hopkins | | | Robert Beake | |
| 1660, August | | Richard Hopkins | | | William Jesson | |
| 1661 | | Sir Clement Fisher, Bt | | | Thomas Flynt | |
| 1670 | | Sir Clement Fisher, Bt | | | Richard Hopkins | |
| 1679, Feb | | Robert Beake | | | Richard Hopkins | |
| 1679, August | | John Stratford | | | Richard Hopkins | |
| 1685 | | Sir Roger Cave, Bt | | | Sir Thomas Norton | |
| 1689 | | Sir Roger Cave, Bt | | | John Stratford | |
| 1690 | | Richard Hopkins | | | John Stratford | |
| 1695 | | George Bohun | | | Thomas Gery | |
| 1698 | | Sir Christopher Hales, Bt | | | Richard Hopkins | |
| 1701, Jan | | Sir Christopher Hales, Bt | | | Thomas Hopkins | |
| 1701, Dec | | Sir Christopher Hales, Bt | | | Edward Hopkins | |
| 1702 | | Sir Christopher Hales, Bt | | | Thomas Gery | |
| 1707 | | Sir Orlando Bridgeman, Bt | Whig | | Edward Hopkins | |
| 1710, Oct | | Robert Craven | | | Thomas Gery | |
| 1710, Dec | | Clobery Bromley | | | Thomas Gery | |
| 1711 | | Sir Christopher Hales, Bt | | | Thomas Gery | |
| 1713 | | Sir Christopher Hales, Bt | | | Sir Fulwar Skipwith, Bt | |
| 1715 | | (Sir) Adolphus Oughton | | | Sir Thomas Samwell, Bt | |
| 1722 | | (Sir) Adolphus Oughton | | | John Neale | |
| 1734 | | (Sir) Adolphus Oughton | | | John Bird | |
| 1737, Feb | | John Neale | | | John Bird | |
| 1737, Apr | | John Neale | | | Earl of Euston | |
| 1741 | | William Grove | | | Earl of Euston | |
| 1747, Jun | | William Grove | | | Viscount Petersham | |
| 1747, Dec | | William Grove | | | Samuel Greatheed | |
| 1761 | | James Hewitt | | | Hon. Andrew Archer | |
| 1766 | | Hon. Henry Seymour-Conway | | | Hon. Andrew Archer | |
| 1768 | | Hon. Henry Seymour-Conway | | | Sir Richard Glyn, Bt | |
| 1773 | | Hon. Henry Seymour-Conway | | | Walter Waring | |
| 1774 | | Edward Roe Yeo | Tory | | Walter Waring | |
| 1780, Feb | | Edward Roe Yeo | Tory | | John Baker Holroyd | Tory |
| 1780, Oct | Election abandoned due to rioting; both seats vacant | Election abandoned due to rioting; both seats vacant | Election abandoned due to rioting; both seats vacant | Election abandoned due to rioting; both seats vacant | Election abandoned due to rioting; both seats vacant | Election abandoned due to rioting; both seats vacant |
| 1780, Dec | | Sir Thomas Hallifax | Whig | | Thomas Rogers | Whig |
| 1781 | | Edward Roe Yeo | Tory | | The Lord Sheffield | Tory |
| 1783 | | Hon. William Seymour-Conway | | | The Lord Sheffield | Tory |
| 1784 | | Sir Sampson Gideon, Bt | | | John Eardley Wilmot | |
| 1796 | | William Wilberforce Bird | Whig | | Nathaniel Jefferys | Tory |
| 1802 | | Francis William Barlow | Tory | | Nathaniel Jefferys | Tory |
| 1803 | | Francis William Barlow | Tory | | Peter Moore | Whig |
| 1805 | | William Mills | Whig | | Peter Moore | Whig |
| 1812 | | Joseph Butterworth | Whig | | Peter Moore | Whig |
| 1818 | | Edward Ellice | Whig | | Peter Moore | Whig |
| 1826 | | Richard Edensor Heathcote | Tory | | Thomas Bilcliffe Fyler | Tory |
| 1830 | | Edward Ellice | Whig | | Thomas Bilcliffe Fyler | Tory |
| 1831 | | Edward Ellice | Whig | | Henry Bulwer | Whig |
| 1835 | | Edward Ellice | Whig | | William Williams | Radical |
| 1847 | | Edward Ellice | Whig | | George James Turner | Conservative |
| 1851 | | Edward Ellice | Whig | | Charles Geach | Radical |
| 1854 | | Edward Ellice | Whig | | Sir Joseph Paxton | Whig |
| 1859 | | Edward Ellice | Liberal | | Sir Joseph Paxton | Liberal |
| 1863 | | Morgan Treherne | Conservative | | Sir Joseph Paxton | Liberal |
| 1865 | | Morgan Treherne | Conservative | | Henry Eaton | Conservative |
| 1867 | | Henry Jackson | Liberal | | Henry Eaton | Conservative |
| 1868, March | | Samuel Carter | Liberal | | Henry Eaton | Conservative |
| 1868, November | | Alexander Staveley Hill | Conservative | | Henry Eaton | Conservative |
| 1874 | | Sir Henry Jackson, Bt | Liberal | | Henry Eaton | Conservative |
| 1880 | | Sir Henry Jackson, Bt | Liberal | | William Wills | Liberal |
| 1881 | | Henry Eaton | Conservative | | William Wills | Liberal |
| 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 |

### MPs 1885–1945

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1885 | Henry Eaton | Conservative |
| | 1887 by-election | William Ballantine | Liberal |
| | 1895 | Charles James Murray | Conservative |
| | 1906 | A. E. W. Mason | Liberal |
| | Jan 1910 | Kenneth Foster | Conservative |
| | Dec 1910 | David Marshall Mason | Liberal |
| | 1918 | Edward Manville | Coalition Conservative |
| | 1923 | A. A. Purcell | Labour |
| | 1924 | Archibald Boyd-Carpenter | Conservative |
| | 1929 | Philip Noel-Baker | Labour |
| | 1931 | William Strickland | Conservative |
| 1945 | 1945 | constituency abolished: see Coventry East & Coventry West | constituency abolished: see Coventry East & Coventry West |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | Thomas Bilcliffe Fyler | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig | Edward Ellice | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1831: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | 1,658 | 38.0 | N/A |
| | Whig | Henry Bulwer | 1,560 | 35.7 | N/A |
| | Tory | Thomas Bilcliffe Fyler | 1,150 | 26.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 410 | 9.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,721 | c. 77.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 3,500 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1832: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | 1,613 | 40.8 | +2.8 |
| | Whig | Henry Bulwer | 1,607 | 40.6 | +4.9 |
| | Tory | Thomas Bilcliffe Fyler | 371 | 9.4 | −3.8 |
| | Tory | Morgan Thomas | 366 | 9.2 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,236 | 31.2 | +21.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,989 | 60.5 | c. −17.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,285 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +3.4 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +4.4 | |
Ellice was appointed Secretary at War, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 12 April 1833: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | 1,502 | 53.7 | −27.7 |
| | Tory | Morgan Thomas | 1,208 | 43.2 | +24.6 |
| | Radical | John Morgan Cobbett | 89 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 294 | 10.5 | −20.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,799 | 85.2 | +24.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,285 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −26.2 | |
General election 1835: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Williams | 1,865 | 37.1 | N/A |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | 1,601 | 31.8 | −49.6 |
| | Conservative | Morgan Thomas | 1,566 | 31.1 | +12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,206 | 89.6 | +29.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,577 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 264 | 5.3 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 | 0.7 | −30.5 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −31.1 | |
General election 1837: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | 1,778 | 27.5 | −4.3 |
| | Radical | William Williams | 1,748 | 27.0 | −10.1 |
| | Conservative | Morgan Thomas | 1,511 | 23.3 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative | John David Hay Hill | 1,392 | 21.5 | +6.0 |
| | Chartist | John Bell | 43 | 0.7 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,323 | 90.7 | +1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,577 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30 | 0.5 | −0.2 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −5.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 237 | 3.7 | −1.6 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −8.5 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Williams | 1,870 | 37.5 | +10.5 |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | 1,829 | 36.7 | +9.2 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Weir | 1,290 | 25.9 | −18.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 3,140 | c. 82.9 | c. −7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,789 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 | 0.8 | −2.9 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +10.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 539 | 10.8 | +10.3 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +9.3 | |
General election 1847: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | 2,901 | 46.1 | +9.4 |
| | Conservative | George James Turner | 1,754 | 27.9 | +2.0 |
| | Radical | William Williams | 1,633 | 26.0 | −11.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,144 (est) | 77.8 (est) | −5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,043 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,147 | 18.2 | +7.4 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +5.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 121 | 1.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +3.9 | |

### Elections in the 1850s

Turner resigned after being appointed Vice-Chancellor of the High Court, causing a by-election.
By-election, 8 April 1851: Coventry (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Charles Geach | 1,669 | 60.2 | +34.2 |
| | Whig | Edward Strutt | 1,104 | 39.8 | −6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 565 | 20.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,773 | 65.7 | −12.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,223 | | |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | +20.3 | |
General election 1852: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Charles Geach | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,502 | | |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Geach's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 2 December 1854: Coventry (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Joseph Paxton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical |
General election 1857: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Ellice | 2,810 | 41.0 | N/A |
| | Whig | Joseph Paxton | 2,384 | 34.8 | N/A |
| | Whig | John Mellor | 703 | 10.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Morgan Treherne | 599 | 8.7 | New |
| | Peelite | Robert Phillimore | 356 | 5.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,681 | 24.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,426 (est) | 68.8 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,982 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical |
* Phillimore retired from the contest two hours into polling.
General election 1859: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Ellice | 3,107 | 41.7 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Paxton | 2,409 | 32.4 | −2.4 |
| | Conservative | Morgan Treherne | 1,928 | 25.9 | +17.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 481 | 6.5 | −18.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,686 (est) | 87.4 (est) | +18.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,363 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −4.0 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −5.5 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

Ellice's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 8 October 1863: Coventry (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Morgan Treherne | 2,263 | 51.5 | +25.6 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Peel | 2,129 | 48.5 | −25.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 134 | 3.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,392 | 84.4 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,206 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +25.6 | |
Paxton's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 21 June 1865: Coventry (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Eaton | 2,395 | 52.8 | +26.9 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Mason Jones | 2,142 | 47.2 | −26.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 253 | 5.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,537 | 91.3 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,967 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +26.9 | |
General election 1865: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Eaton | 2,489 | 26.2 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative | Morgan Treherne | 2,401 | 25.3 | +12.3 |
| | Liberal | Edward Fordham Flower | 2,342 | 24.7 | −17.0 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Mason Jones | 2,259 | 23.8 | −8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 59 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,746 (est) | 95.5 (est) | +8.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,967 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +13.0 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +12.6 | |
Treherne's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 23 July 1867: Coventry (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Jackson | 2,429 | 53.4 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative | William Ferrand | 2,123 | 46.6 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 6.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,552 | 91.6 | −3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,967 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.9 | |
The by-election was declared void on petition due to bribery by Jackson's agent.
By-election, 26 March 1868: Coventry (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Carter | 2,415 | 53.1 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Staveley Hill | 2,134 | 46.9 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 281 | 6.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,549 | 91.6 | −3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,967 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.6 | |
General election 1868: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Eaton | 3,781 | 25.7 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Staveley Hill | 3,761 | 25.6 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal | Henry Jackson | 3,594 | 24.4 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Carter | 3,576 | 24.3 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 167 | 1.2 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,356 (est) | 92.8 (est) | −2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,925 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Eaton | 3,823 | 25.6 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal | Henry Jackson | 3,799 | 25.5 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Carter | 3,662 | 24.6 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative | Frederick du Pré Thornton | 3,628 | 24.3 | −1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,456 (est) | 92.9 (est) | +0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,027 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 0.9 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.2 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Coventry (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Jackson | 4,184 | 26.1 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal | William Wills | 4,105 | 25.6 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | Henry Eaton | 4,008 | 25.0 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Kekewich | 3,715 | 23.2 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,006 (est) | 86.9 (est) | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,208 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.6 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.1 | |
Jackson resigned after being appointed a judge on the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, causing a by-election.
By-election, 14 Mar 1881: Coventry (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Eaton | 4,011 | 52.9 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal | Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth | 3,568 | 47.1 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 443 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,579 | 91.7 | +4.8 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,263 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.6 | |
General election 1885: Coventry (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Eaton | 4,577 | 51.4 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal | Courtenay Warner | 4,328 | 48.6 | −3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 249 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,905 | 91.5 | +4.6 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,736 | | |
| | Conservative win | Conservative win | Conservative win | Conservative win | Conservative win |
General election 1886: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Eaton | 4,201 | 52.5 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal | William Ballantine | 3,796 | 47.5 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 405 | 5.0 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,996 | 82.1 | −9.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,736 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
Eaton was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Cheylesmore, causing a by-election.
By-election, 9 Jul 1887: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Ballantine | 4,229 | 50.1 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | Herbert Eaton | 4,213 | 49.9 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,442 | 85.6 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,867 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.6 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Ballantine | 4,754 | 50.8 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative | Charles James Murray | 4,611 | 49.2 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 143 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,365 | 86.4 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,838 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.3 | |
General election 1895: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles James Murray | 4,974 | 51.8 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal | William Ballantine | 4,624 | 48.2 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 350 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,598 | 87.8 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,926 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.6 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles James Murray | 5,257 | 55.7 | +3.9 |
| | Liberal | L Cowen | 4,188 | 44.3 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,069 | 11.4 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,445 | 77.8 | −10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,145 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
General election 1906: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | A. E. W. Mason | 6,554 | 54.5 | +10.2 |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Foster | 5,462 | 45.5 | −10.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,092 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,016 | 86.0 | +8.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,965 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.2 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Foster | 7,369 | 50.7 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal | Silas Hocking | 7,153 | 49.3 | −5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 216 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,522 | 88.2 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.2 | |
General election December 1910: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Marshall Mason | 7,351 | 51.8 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Foster | 6,828 | 48.2 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 523 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,179 | 86.1 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.5 | |
General election 1918: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Edward Manville | 17,380 | 44.8 | −3.4 |
| | Labour | R. C. Wallhead | 10,298 | 26.6 | New |
| | Liberal | Courtenay Mansel | 4,128 | 10.7 | −41.1 |
| | Independent | Arthur Charles Bannington | 3,806 | 9.8 | New |
| | Independent Liberal | David Marshall Mason | 3,145 | 8.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,082 | 18.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,757 | 62.4 | −23.7 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
Mason had opposed the war and was replaced as Liberal candidate by Mansel who supported the Coalition Government. Bannington was the candidate of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers.

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Edward Manville | 20,986 | 42.6 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | Robert Williams | 16,289 | 33.1 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal | John Edward Darnton | 11,985 | 24.3 | +13.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,697 | 9.5 | −8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,260 | 80.8 | +18.4 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -4.3 | |
General election 1923: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | A. A. Purcell | 16,346 | 34.2 | +1.1 |
| | Unionist | Edward Manville | 15,726 | 32.9 | −9.7 |
| | Liberal | Henry Paterson Gisborne | 15,716 | 32.9 | +8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 620 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,788 | 77.1 | −3.7 |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +5.4 | |
General election 1924: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Archibald Boyd-Carpenter | 22,712 | 42.4 | +9.5 |
| | Labour | A. A. Purcell | 17,888 | 33.4 | −0.8 |
| | Liberal | Henry Paterson Gisborne | 12,953 | 24.2 | −8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 620 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,553 | 84.9 | +7.8 |
| | Unionist gain from Labour | Unionist gain from Labour | Swing | +5.4 | |
General election 1929: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Philip Noel-Baker | 34,255 | 49.4 | +16.0 |
| | Unionist | Archibald Boyd-Carpenter | 22,536 | 32.5 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal | James Wiseman McKay | 12,516 | 18.1 | −6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,719 | 16.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 69,307 | 82.2 | −2.7 |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +13.0 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Strickland | 44,305 | 61.0 | +28.5 |
| | Labour | Philip Noel-Baker | 28,311 | 39.0 | −10.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,994 | 22.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 72,616 | 82.7 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +23.4 | |
General election 1935: Coventry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Strickland | 37,313 | 51.7 | −9.3 |
| | Labour | Philip Noel-Baker | 34,841 | 48.3 | +9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,472 | 3.4 | −18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 72,154 | 81.0 | −1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -9.3 | |

## References & Notes

* ↑ "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV: An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 300–383.
* ↑ "A Collection of the Public General Statutes: 1867/68. Cap. XLVI. An Act to settle and describe the Limits of certain Boroughs and the Divisions of certain Counties in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1868. pp. 119–166.
* 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
* ↑ Hesilrige, Arthur G. M., ed. (1918). Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1918. London: Dean & Son, Limited. p. 206.
* ↑ Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the People Act, 1918: with explanatory notes. London: Sweet and Maxwell.
* ↑ Pages 102 to 105,Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition - London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 "British History Online". Retrieved 17 September 2011.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "History of Parliament". Retrieved 18 September 2011.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "History of Parliament". Retrieved 18 September 2011.
* ↑ Created a baronet, August 1718
* ↑ The election of 1722 was declared void because of the "notorious and outrageous Riots, Tumults and Seditions ... in Defiance of the Civil Authority, and in Violation of the Freedom of Elections", and a new writ was issued, but the original victors (Oughton and Neale) were returned once more at the by-election.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 98–100. Retrieved 1 November 2018 – via Google Books.
* ↑ On petition, the election of Hallifax and Rogers was declared void, and their opponents, Yeo and Seymour-Conway, were declared to have been duly elected and seated in their place
* ↑ Changed his surname to Eardley, July 1789; created The Lord Eardley (in the Peerage of Ireland, September 1789
* 1 2 Colthart, James M. (1976). "Edward Ellice". Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. IX. Toronto. ISBN 0-8020-3319-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
* 1 2 "Rt. Hon. Edward Ellice". Legacies of British Slave-ownership. University College London. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
* 1 2 Bloy, Marjorie. "Edward Ellice, the elder (1781–1863)". A Web of English History. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
* 1 2 Escott, Margaret. "ELLICE, Edward (1783–1863), of Wyke House, nr. Brentford, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
* 1 2 Miller, Henry (2015). Politics Personified: Portraiture, Caricature and Visual Culture in Britain, c. 1830–80. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7190-9084-4. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
* 1 2 3 Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 82, 238. Retrieved 21 August 2018 – via Google Books.
* ↑ "Latest Intelligence". Gloucester Journal. 10 August 1850. p. 3. Retrieved 22 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Imperial Parliament". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 August 1850. p. 8. Retrieved 22 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Election Intelligence". Norfolk News. 12 April 1851. p. 2. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* 1 2 "Wednesday & Thursday's Posts". Stamford Mercury. 11 April 1851. p. 2. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Local & General Intelligence". Newcastle Journal. 12 April 1851. p. 5. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Local News". Derby Mercury. 9 April 1851. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Commercial". Dundalk Democrat, and People's Journal. 25 November 1854. p. 2. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* 1 2 Escott, Margaret. "Coventry". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
* ↑ "Coventry Election". Coventry Herald. 21 July 1837. p. 4. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ Coventry Standard. 13 March 1857. p. 4 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000683/18570313/105/0004. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ "Local Election Movements". Aris's Birmingham Gazette. 23 March 1857. p. 1. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Coventry". Evening Mail. 27 March 1857. p. 7. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Election Movements". Coventry Standard. 20 March 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Coventry Election". Coventry Standard. 3 April 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Coventry". Aris's Birmingham Gazette. 3 October 1863. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* 1 2 "Coventry". Leamington Spa Courier. 24 June 1865. p. 9. Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Coventry". Cumberland and Westmorland Advertiser, and Penrith Literary Chronicle. 24 March 1868. p. 4. Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* ↑ "Latest Election News". Edinburgh Evening News. 2 February 1874. p. 3. Retrieved 29 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Liberal Year Book, 1907
* 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig