# Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)

County Antrim is a former county constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. It was a two-member constituency in Ireland from 1801 to 1885 and in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1950.

## History and boundaries

County Antrim had been represented by two seats in the Irish House of Commons. From 1801, under the Acts of Union 1800, it was represented by a county constituency with two MPs in the United Kingdom House of Commons. It consisted of County Antrim, except the parts in the parliamentary borough constituencies of Belfast, Carrickfergus and Lisburn. The boroughs of Antrim and Randalstown were disfranchised in 1801.
In 1885, Carrickfergus and Lisburn were disfranchised and the borders of the parliamentary borough of Belfast were extended. The county was split between the divisions of East Antrim, Mid Antrim, North Antrim and South Antrim.
In 1922, following the establishment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, the number of seats in Northern Ireland at Westminster was cut from 30 to 13 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. The constituency of Antrim was recreated to elect two MPs, consisting of the administrative county of Antrim, that is the whole of County Antrim excluding the part in the city of Belfast. In 1950, the county was split between the divisions of Antrim North and Antrim South, under the Representation of the People Act 1948, which abolished all multi-member constituencies in the United Kingdom.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1801–1885

| Election | MP | MP | MP | MP | Note |
| 1801 | Rt Hon. John Staples | Nonpartisan | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory | |
| 1802 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory | |
| 1806 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory | |
| 1807 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory | |
| 1811 b | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory | O'Neill app. constable of Dublin Castle |
| 1812 b | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory | O'Neill disqualified |
| 1812 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Francis Seymour-Conway | Tory | |
| 1818 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Tory | |
| 1820 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Tory | |
| 1822 b | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Richard Seymour-Conway | Tory | |
| 1826 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Tory | |
| 1830 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | George Chichester, Earl of Belfast | Tory | |
| 1831 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | George Chichester, Earl of Belfast | Whig | |
| 1832 | Hon. John O'Neill | Tory | George Chichester, Earl of Belfast | Whig | |
| 1835 | Hon. John O'Neill | Conservative | George Chichester, Earl of Belfast | Whig | |
| 1837 | Hon. John O'Neill | Conservative | John Irving | Conservative | |
| 1841 b | Nathaniel Alexander | Conservative | John Irving | Conservative | O'Neill succeeds as Viscount O'Neill |
| 1841 | Nathaniel Alexander | Conservative | John Irving | Conservative | |
| 1845 b | Nathaniel Alexander | Conservative | Sir Horace Seymour | Conservative | Death of Irving |
| 1847 | Nathaniel Alexander | Conservative | Sir Edmund Macnaghten, Bt | Conservative | |
| 1852 | Edward William Pakenham | Conservative | George Macartney | Conservative | |
| 1854 b | Thomas Pakenham | Conservative | George Macartney | Conservative | Death of Pakenham |
| 1857 | Thomas Pakenham | Conservative | George Macartney | Conservative | |
| 1859 | Thomas Pakenham | Conservative | George Upton | Conservative | |
| 1863 b | Thomas Pakenham | Conservative | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Conservative | Upton succeeds as Viscount Templetown |
| 1865 | Henry Seymour | Conservative | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Conservative | |
| 1866 b | Henry Seymour | Conservative | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Conservative | Seymour appointed Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty |
| 1868 | Henry Seymour | Conservative | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Conservative | |
| 1869 b | Hugh Seymour | Conservative | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Conservative | Death of Seymour |
| 1874 | James Chaine | Conservative | Hon. Edward O'Neill | Conservative | |
| 1880 | James Chaine | Conservative | Edward MacNaghten | Conservative | |
| 1885 b | William Pirrie Sinclair | Liberal | Edward MacNaghten | Conservative | Death of Chaine |
Notes:
* (1) Earl of Yarmouth (1800–1870) was known as Viscount Beauchamp until 17 June 1822.
* (2) Earl of Yarmouth (1843–1912) was known as Hugh de Grey Seymour until 25 August 1870.

### MPs 1922–1950

| Election | MP | MP | MP | MP | MP | MP |
| 1922 | Rt Hon. Charles Craig | | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | | UUP |
| 1923 | Rt Hon. Charles Craig | | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | | UUP |
| 1924 | Rt Hon. Charles Craig | | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | | UUP |
| 1929 | Joseph McConnell | | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | | UUP |
| 1931 | Joseph McConnell | | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | | UUP |
| 1935 | Joseph McConnell | | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | | UUP |
| 1943 b | John Dermot Campbell | | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | | UUP |
| 1945 | Samuel Gillmor Haughton | | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | | UUP |
| 1950 | Constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim | Constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim | Constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim | Constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim | Constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim | Constituency abolished. See North Antrim and South Antrim |

## Elections

In two-member elections the bloc voting system was used. Voters could cast a vote for one or two candidates, as they chose. The two candidates with the largest number of votes were elected. In by-elections, to fill a single seat, the first past the post system applied.
There was no election in 1801. The representatives of the county in the former Parliament of Ireland became members of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom.
After 1832, when registration of voters was introduced, a turnout figure is given for contested elections. In two-member elections, when the exact number of participating voters is unknown, this is calculated by dividing the number of votes by two. To the extent that voters did not use both their votes this will be an underestimate of turnout. If the electorate figure is unknown the last known electorate figure is used to provide an estimate of turnout.
Where a party had more than one candidate in one or both of a pair of successive elections change is calculated for each individual candidate, otherwise change is based on the party vote.

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 5 July 1945: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | 57,259 | 42.6 | N/A |
| | UUP | Samuel Gillmor Haughton | 57,232 | 42.5 | N/A |
| | NI Labour | Henry Holmes | 18,403 | 13.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 38,829 | 28.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 134,528 | 56.2 | N/A |
| | UUP hold | UUP hold | Swing | | |
By-Election 11 February 1943: Antrim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UUP | John Dermot Campbell | 42,371 | 69.4 | N/A |
| | NI Labour | Robert Getgood | 17,253 | 28.3 | New |
| | Progressive Unionist | Reginald Hanson Press | 1,432 | 2.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,118 | 41.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 135,795 | 45.0 | N/A |
| | UUP hold | UUP hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Seat vacant at dissolution (Death of Campbell)

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 14 November 1935: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UUP | Joseph McConnell | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 27 October 1931: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UUP | Joseph McConnell | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 30 May 1929: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | 53,864 | 37.5 | −11.5 |
| | UUP | Joseph McConnell | 52,851 | 36.8 | −12.2 |
| | Ulster Liberal | George Henderson | 18,985 | 13.2 | New |
| | Ulster Liberal | Robert Boyd | 17,824 | 12.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33,866 | 23.6 | −23.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 123,474 | 58.6 | −5.6 |
| | UUP hold | UUP hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 29 October 1924: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UUP | Charles Craig | 60,868 | 49.0 | N/A |
| | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | 60,764 | 49.0 | N/A |
| | Sinn Féin | William McCormick | 2,514 | 2.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 58,250 | 47.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 98,616 | 64.2 | N/A |
| | UUP hold | UUP hold | Swing | | |
General election 6 December 1923: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UUP | Charles Craig | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 15 November 1922: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UUP | Charles Craig | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | UUP | Hugh O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 21 May 1885: County Antrim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Pirrie Sinclair | 3,971 | 50.9 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | Robert Torrens O'Neill | 3,832 | 49.1 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 139 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,803 | 66.7 | −16.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,701 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.6 | |
General election 6 April 1880: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Chaine | 5,124 | 26.3 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative | Edward MacNaghten | 4,936 | 25.4 | −7.7 |
| | Liberal | Charles Wilson | 4,789 | 24.6 | +8.5 |
| | Liberal | Samuel Black | 4,610 | 23.7 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 147 | 0.8 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,730 (est) | 83.2 | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,701 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −8.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.7 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 12 February 1874: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Chaine | 4,356 | 34.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Edward O'Neill | 4,142 | 33.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Wilson | 4,009 | 32.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 133 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,258 (est) | 79.1 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,436 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

By-election, 21 August 1869: County Antrim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hugh Seymour | 5,588 | 70.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Robert Shafto Adair | 2,294 | 29.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,294 | 41.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,882 | 67.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,715 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Caused by Seymour's death.
* Note: Hugh Seymour was known as the Earl of Yarmouth from 25 August 1870.
General election 23 November 1868: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Seymour | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,715 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
By-election, 17 July 1866: County Antrim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Seymour | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,921 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Caused by Seymour's appointment as Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.
General election 22 July 1865: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Henry Seymour | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,921 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
By-election, 6 May 1863: County Antrim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward O'Neill | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,195 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Caused by Upton's succession to the peerage, becoming Viscount Templetown.

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 10 May 1859: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Pakenham | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | George Upton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,822 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 16 April 1857: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Pakenham | 4,686 | 44.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | George Hume Macartney | 4,341 | 41.1 | N/A |
| | Whig | Henry Hutchinson Hamilton O'Hara | 1,533 | 14.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,808 | 26.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,047 (est) | 62.5 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,676 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
By-election, 27 December 1854: County Antrim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Pakenham | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Caused by Pakenham's death
General election 23 July 1852: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward William Pakenham | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | George Macartney | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,207 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 11 August 1847: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Edmund Workman-Macnaghten | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,962 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
By-election, 22 December 1845: County Antrim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Horace Seymour | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Caused by Irving's death
General election 13 July 1841: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Irving | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,157 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
By-election, 14 April 1841: County Antrim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nathaniel Alexander | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
* Caused by O'Neill's succession to the peerage, becoming 3rd Viscount O'Neill

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 5 August 1837: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John O'Neill | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | John Irving | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,032 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
General election 15 January 1835: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John O'Neill | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | George Chichester | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,822 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 2 January 1833: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | 1,719 | 28.9 |
| | Whig | George Chichester | 1,654 | 27.8 |
| | Tory | Edmund McDonnell | 1,451 | 24.4 |
| | Tory | John Cromie | 1,133 | 19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,026 | 86.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,487 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65 | 1.1 |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 203 | 3.4 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 21 May 1831: County Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig | George Chichester | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 13 August 1830: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | 839 | 40.1 |
| | Tory | George Chichester | 719 | 34.4 |
| | Tory | Edmund McDonnell | 523 | 25.0 |
| | Non Partisan | Mark Kerr | 10 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 196 | 9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 1,046 | c. 51.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,037 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |

### Elections in the 1820s

General election 20 June 1826: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
1822 Antrim by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Richard Seymour-Conway | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 22 March 1820: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Elections in the 1810s

General election 27 June 1818: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Hugh Henry John Seymour | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 21 October 1812: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Francis Seymour-Conway | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
1812 Antrim by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
1811 Antrim by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |

### Elections in the 19th century

General election 18 May 1807: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 19 November 1806: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
General election 19 July 1802: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | John O'Neill | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Co-option 1 January 1801: Antrim (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Non Partisan | John Staples | Co-opted | N/A | N/A |
| | Tory | Edmond Alexander MacNaghten | Co-opted | N/A | N/A |