# Aberdeen Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)

Aberdeen Burghs was a district of burghs constituency which was represented from 1708 to 1800 in the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain, and from 1801 to 1832 in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

## Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland burgh constituencies of Aberdeen, Arbroath, Brechin, Inverbervie and Montrose.

## Boundaries

The constituency consisted of the burgh of Aberdeen in the County of Aberdeen, the burgh of Inverbervie in the County of Kincardine, and the burghs of Arbroath, Brechin and Montrose in the County of Forfar.

## History

The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished for the 1832 general election.
In 1832 the constituency was divided between the new constituencies of Aberdeen and Montrose Burghs. The Aberdeen constituency covered the burgh of Aberdeen, while Montrose Burghs covered the other burghs plus the burgh of Forfar, which was previously a component of the Perth Burghs constituency.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1708 | John Gordon | |
| 1710 | James Scott | |
| 1711 | William Livingston | |
| 1713 | John Middleton | Whig |
| February 1715 | James Erskine | Tory |
| July 1715 | John Middleton | Whig |
| April 1722 | William Kerr | |
| October 1722 | John Middleton | Whig |
| 1739 | John Maule | Whig |
| 1748 | Charles Maitland | |
| 1751 | David Scott | |
| 1767 | Sir John Lindsay | |
| 1768 | Thomas Lyon | Pro-Administration Whig |
| 1779 | Adam Drummond | |
| 1784 | Sir David Carnegie, Bt | Whig |
| 1790 | Alexander Callender | |
| 1792 | Alexander Allardyce | |
| Act of Union 1800 | Parliament of Great Britain abolished, Parliament of the United Kingdom created | Parliament of Great Britain abolished, Parliament of the United Kingdom created |
| 1801 | Alexander Allardyce | |
| 1802 by-election | James Farquhar | |
| 1806 | John Ramsay | |
| 1807 | James Farquhar | |
| 1818 | Joseph Hume | Radical |
| 1826 | Joseph Hume | Radical |
| 1830 | Sir James Carnegie, Bt | Tory |
| 1831 | Horatio Ross | Whig |
| 1832 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1700s

1708 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Gordon | | | |
| | Independent | James Scott | | | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Elections in the 1710s

1710 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | James Scott | 3 | 60.0 |
| | Independent | William Livingston | 2 | 40.0 |
| | Independent | Thomas Coutts | 0 | 0.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 0 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 20.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | |
1711 Aberdeen Burghs By-election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Livingston | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
1713 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | ±% |
| | Whig | John Middleton | | New |
| | Tory | James Erskine | | New |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |
| | Whig gain from Independent | Whig gain from Independent | Swing | |
1715 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Tory | James Erskine | |
| | Whig | John Middleton | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing |
1715 Aberdeen Burghs By-election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Middleton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |

### Elections in the 1720s

1722 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Whig | William Kerr | |
| | Whig | John Middleton | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing |
1722 Aberdeen Burghs By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Middleton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
1727 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Middleton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1730s

1734 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Middleton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
1739 Aberdeen Burghs By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Maule | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1740s

1741 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | ±% |
| | Whig | John Maule | | N/A |
| | Independent | Alexander Udny | | New |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
1747 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Maule | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
1748 Aberdeen Burghs By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | ±% |
| | Independent | Charles Maitland | | New |
| | Independent | David Scott | | New |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |
| | Independent gain from Whig | Independent gain from Whig | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1750s

1751 Aberdeen Burghs By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Scott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
1754 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Scott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Elections in the 1760s

1761 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Scott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
1762 Aberdeen Burghs By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Lindsay | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
1768 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Thomas Lyon | 3 | 60.0 | N/A |
| | Whig | William Maule | 2 | 40.0 | New |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 20.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1770s

1774 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Thomas Lyon | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
1779 Aberdeen Burghs By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Adam Drummond | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |

### Elections in the 1780s

1780 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Adam Drummond | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
1784 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Sir David Carneige | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig gain from Independent | Whig gain from Independent | Whig gain from Independent | Whig gain from Independent | Whig gain from Independent |

### Elections in the 1790s

1790 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alexander Callander | 3 | 60.0 | New |
| | Whig | Sir David Carnegie | 2 | 40.0 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 20.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Whig | Independent gain from Whig | Swing | | |
1792 Aberdeen Burghs By-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alexander Allardyce | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
1796 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alexander Allardyce | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Elections in the 1800s

1802 Aberdeen Burghs by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Farquhar | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
1802 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Farquhar | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
1806 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Ramsay (British Army officer) | 3 | 60.0 | New |
| | Independent | James Farquhar | 2 | 40.0 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 20.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig gain from Independent | Whig gain from Independent | Swing | | |
1807 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Farquhar | 3 | 60.0 | +20.0 |
| | Whig | John Ramsay (British Army officer) | 2 | 40.0 | −20.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 20.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent gain from Whig | Independent gain from Whig | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1810s

1812 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Farquhar | 4 | 80.0 | +20.0 |
| | Whig | Thomas Molison | 1 | 20.0 | −20.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 60.0 | +40.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
1818 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Joseph Hume | 3 | 75.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | James Farquhar | 1 | 25.0 | −55.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 50.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Radical gain from Independent | Radical gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1820s

1820 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Joseph Hume | 3 | 60.0 | −15.0 |
| | Independent | John Mitchell | 2 | 40.0 | +15.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 20.0 | −30.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | | |
1826 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Joseph Hume | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold | Radical hold |

### Elections in the 1830s

1830 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | James Carnegie | 3 | 60.0 | New |
| | Whig | Horatio Ross | 2 | 40.0 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 20.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5 | | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Tory gain from Radical | Tory gain from Radical | Swing | | |
1831 general election: Aberdeen Burghs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Horatio Ross | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |