# East Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)

East Suffolk was a county constituency in Suffolk, England. It elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the bloc vote system of election.

## History

The seat was created under the Reform Act 1832 as one of two divisions, together with the Western Division, of the Parliamentary County of Suffolk. This resulted in a more representative allocation, with a total of four MPs instead of two for the former entire county at large, which still allowed for double voting (or more) of those Forty Shilling Freeholders who also were householders or landlords of any particular boroughs within the county. This Act retained the four largest boroughs of the seven before 1832, with the three abolished boroughs of Aldeburgh, Dunwich and Orford being absorbed into the Eastern Division.
Further sweeping changes took place as a result of the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which saw the 2 two-member Suffolk divisions being replaced by five single-member constituencies. The Eastern Division was largely replaced by the Northern or Lowestoft Division, the North-Eastern or Eye Division and the South-Eastern or Woodbridge Division.

## Boundaries

1832–1885: The part of the county of Suffolk not included in the West Suffolk constituency, i.e. the Hundreds of Blything, Bosmere and Claydon, Carlford, Colneis, Hoxne, Loes, Mutford and Lothingland, Plomesgate, Samford, Thredling, Wangford, and Wilford, and the Liberty of Ipswich.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | 1st Member | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Member | 2nd Party |
| 1832 | | John Henniker-Major | Tory | | Robert Newton Shawe | Whig |
| 1834 | | John Henniker-Major | Conservative | | Robert Newton Shawe | Whig |
| 1835 | | John Henniker-Major | Conservative | | Charles Broke Vere | Conservative |
| 1843 by-election | | John Henniker-Major | Conservative | | The Lord Rendlesham | Conservative |
| 1846 by-election | | Sir Edward Gooch, Bt | Conservative | | The Lord Rendlesham | Conservative |
| 1852 by-election | | Sir Edward Gooch, Bt | Conservative | | Fitzroy Kelly | Conservative |
| 1856 by-election | | John Henniker-Major | Conservative | | Fitzroy Kelly | Conservative |
| 1866 by-election | | Hon. John Henniker-Major | Conservative | | Sir Edward Kerrison, Bt | Conservative |
| 1867 by-election | | Hon. John Henniker-Major | Conservative | | Frederick Snowdon Corrance | Conservative |
| 1870 by-election | | Arthur Stanhope | Conservative | | Frederick Snowdon Corrance | Conservative |
| 1874 | | Arthur Stanhope | Conservative | | Frederick Thellusson | Conservative |
| 1876 by-election | | Frederick St John Barne | Conservative | | Frederick Thellusson | Conservative |
| 1885 | constituency abolished: see Eye, Lowestoft, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Woodbridge | constituency abolished: see Eye, Lowestoft, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Woodbridge | constituency abolished: see Eye, Lowestoft, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Woodbridge | constituency abolished: see Eye, Lowestoft, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Woodbridge | constituency abolished: see Eye, Lowestoft, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Woodbridge | constituency abolished: see Eye, Lowestoft, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Woodbridge |

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

General election 1832: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Henniker-Major, Sr. | 2,030 | 35.0 |
| | Whig | Robert Newton Shawe | 1,990 | 34.3 |
| | Tory | Charles Broke Vere | 1,784 | 30.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,826 | 89.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,265 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 0.7 |
| | Tory win (new seat) | Tory win (new seat) | Tory win (new seat) | Tory win (new seat) |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 206 | 3.6 |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
General election 1835: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henniker-Major, Sr. | 2,452 | 36.0 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | Charles Broke Vere | 2,321 | 34.1 | +3.4 |
| | Whig | Robert Newton Shawe | 2,029 | 29.8 | −4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 292 | 4.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,345 | 86.3 | −3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,034 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.6 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +2.8 | |
General election 1837: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Henniker-Major, Sr. | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Charles Broke Vere | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,278 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henniker-Major, Sr. | 3,279 | 39.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Charles Broke Vere | 3,178 | 38.5 | N/A |
| | Whig | Robert Adair | 1,787 | 21.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,391 | 16.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,983 | 72.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,915 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Vere's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 18 April 1843: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Thellusson | 2,952 | 61.9 | −16.4 |
| | Whig | Robert Adair | 1,818 | 38.1 | +16.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,134 | 23.8 | +7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,770 | 70.3 | −1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,786 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −16.4 | |
Henniker-Major resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Manor of Northstead, causing a by-election.
By-election, 19 February 1846: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Gooch | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Gooch | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Frederick Thellusson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,673 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

Thellusson's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 1 May 1852: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Fitzroy Kelly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1852: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Gooch | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Fitzroy Kelly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,343 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Gooch's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 26 December 1856: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henniker-Major, Sr. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henniker-Major, Sr. | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Fitzroy Kelly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,907 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Kelly was appointed Attorney-General for England and Wales, causing a by-election.
By-election, 6 March 1858: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Fitzroy Kelly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henniker-Major, Sr. | 2,677 | 37.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Fitzroy Kelly | 2,517 | 35.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Robert Adair | 1,883 | 26.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 634 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,480 (est) | 76.8 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,837 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henniker-Major (senior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Fitzroy Kelly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,769 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Henniker-Major was elevated to a UK peerage, becoming Lord Hartismere, and Kelly resigned after being appointed Chief Justice of the Court of the Exchequer, causing a by-election for both seats.
By-election, 25 July 1866: East Suffolk :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Henniker-Major (junior) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative | Edward Kerrison | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Kerrison resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 20 February 1867: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Snowdon Corrance | 2,489 | 54.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Robert Adair | 2,120 | 46.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 369 | 8.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,609 | 68.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,769 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1868: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Henniker-Major (junior) | 3,650 | 26.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Frederick Snowdon Corrance | 3,620 | 26.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Robert Adair | 3,321 | 24.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Thomas Western | 3,045 | 22.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 299 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,818 (est) | 75.6 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,024 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

Henniker-Major succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Hartismere.
By-election, 1 Jun 1870: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Stanhope | 3,456 | 51.3 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal | Robert Adair | 3,285 | 48.7 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 2.6 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,741 | 74.7 | −0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,024 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.0 | |
General election 1874: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Thellusson | 4,136 | 37.4 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Stanhope | 3,896 | 35.3 | +8.8 |
| | Liberal | George Tomline | 3,014 | 27.3 | −19.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 882 | 8.0 | +5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,030 (est) | 74.1 (est) | −1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,484 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +10.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.3 | |
Stanhope was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 20 Mar 1874: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Stanhope | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Stanhope succeeded to the peerage, becoming Earl Stanhope and causing a by-election.
By-election, 24 Feb 1876: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick St John Barne | 3,659 | 57.5 | −15.2 |
| | Liberal | Charles Easton | 2,708 | 42.5 | +15.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 951 | 15.0 | +7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,367 | 66.6 | −7.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,558 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −15.2 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: East Suffolk :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Frederick Thellusson | 4,239 | 37.3 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | Frederick St John Barne | 3,618 | 31.8 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal | Robert Lacey Everett | 3,504 | 30.8 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 114 | 1.0 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,433 (est) | 77.1 (est) | +3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,635 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.6 | |