THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
CONSTITUENCIES BEGINNING WITH "B"
Last updated 13/08/2018 (24 Apr 2024)
Date Name Born Died Age
Dates in italics in the first column denote that the election held on that date was a by-election or, in some instances, the date of a successful petition against a previous election result. Dates shown in normal type were general elections.
Dates in italics in the "Born" column indicate that the MP was baptised on that date; dates in italics in the "Died" column indicate that the MP was buried on that date.
BETHNAL GREEN
23 Feb 1950 Percy Holman 5 Apr 1891 9 Jun 1978 87
31 Mar 1966 William Samuel Hilton 21 Mar 1926 12 Jun 1999 73
NAME ALTERED TO "BETHNAL GREEN AND BOW" FEB 1974
BETHNAL GREEN AND BOW
28 Feb 1974 Ian Mikardo 9 Jul 1908 6 May 1993 84
NAME ALTERED TO "BETHNAL GREEN AND STEPNEY" 1983, BUT REVERTED 1997
1 May 1997 Oona Tamsyn King, later [2011] Baroness King of Bow [L] 22 Oct 1967
5 May 2005 George Galloway 16 Aug 1954
6 May 2010 Rushanara Ali 14 Mar 1975
BETHNAL GREEN AND STEPNEY
9 Jun 1983 Peter David Shore, later [1997] Baron Shore [L] 20 May 1924 24 Sep 2001 77
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1997
BETHNAL GREEN NORTH EAST
25 Nov 1885 George Howell 5 Oct 1833 16 Sep 1910 76
16 Jul 1895 Mancherjee Merwanjee Bhownaggree [kt 1897] 15 Aug 1851 14 Nov 1933 82
16 Jan 1906 Sir Edwin Andrew Cornwall, later [1918] 1st baronet 30 Jun 1863 27 Feb 1953 89
15 Nov 1922 Garnham Edmonds 30 Apr 1865 9 Apr 1946 80
6 Dec 1923 Walter Windsor 18 Jul 1884 29 Jun 1945 60
30 May 1929 Harry Louis Nathan, later [1940] 1st Baron Nathan 2 Feb 1889 23 Oct 1963 74
14 Nov 1935 Daniel Chater 1870 25 May 1959 88
NAME ALTERED TO "BETHNAL GREEN" 1950
BETHNAL GREEN SOUTH WEST
25 Nov 1885 Edward Hare Pickersgill 1850 13 Oct 1911 61
4 Oct 1900 Samuel Forde Ridley 1864 17 Nov 1944 80
16 Jan 1906 Edward Hare Pickersgill 1850 13 Oct 1911 61
29 Jul 1911 Charles Frederick Gurney Masterman 25 Oct 1873 17 Nov 1927 54
19 Feb 1914 Sir Mathew Richard Henry Wilson 25 Aug 1875 17 May 1958 82
15 Nov 1922 Percy Alfred Harris, later [1932] 1st baronet 6 Mar 1876 28 Jun 1952 76
26 Jul 1945 Percy Holman 5 Apr 1891 9 Jun 1978 87
NAME ALTERED TO "BETHNAL GREEN" 1950
BEVERLEY (YORKSHIRE)
2 Apr 1660 Sir John Hotham, 2nd baronet (to 1685) 21 Mar 1632 29 Mar 1689 57
Hugh Bethell [he was also returned for Hedon, for which he chose to sit] 1 Oct 1615 3 Oct 1679 64
14 Jun 1660 Michael Warton (to 1689) 27 Apr 1623 9 Aug 1688 65
26 Mar 1685 Sir Ralph Warton 17 Jan 1628 6 Nov 1700 72
11 Jan 1689 Sir John Hotham, 2nd baronet 21 Mar 1632 29 Mar 1689 57
Sir Michael Warton (to 1702) c 1648 25 Mar 1725
7 May 1689 Sir John Hotham, 3rd baronet 2 Aug 1655 25 Aug 1691 36
3 Mar 1690 William Gee c 1648 15 Oct 1718
31 Oct 1695 Ralph Warton 11 Jul 1656 22 Mar 1709 52
26 Nov 1701 William Gee (to 1705) c 1648 15 Oct 1718
23 Jul 1702 Sir Charles Hotham, 4th baronet (to 1723) c 1663 8 Jan 1723
16 May 1705 John Moyser c 1659 1739
10 May 1708 Sir Michael Warton c 1648 25 Mar 1725
30 Mar 1722 Michael Newton, later [1734] 4th baronet (to 1727) c 1695 6 Apr 1743
31 Jan 1723 Sir Charles Hotham, 5th baronet 25 Apr 1693 15 Jan 1738 44
18 Aug 1727 Charles Pelham (to 1734) c 1679 6 Feb 1763
Ellerker Bradshaw [he was unseated on petition in favour of Sir Charles Hotham 8 Mar 1729] 1 Dec 1680 28 Jun 1742 61
8 Mar 1729 Sir Charles Hotham, 5th baronet (to 1738) 25 Apr 1693 15 Jan 1738 44
26 Apr 1734 Ellerker Bradshaw (to 1741) 1 Dec 1680 28 Jun 1742 61
2 Feb 1738 Charles Pelham (to 1754) c 1679 6 Feb 1763
5 May 1741 William Strickland 9 Oct 1714 3 Jun 1788 73
1 Jul 1747 Sir William Codrington, 2nd baronet (to 1761) 26 Oct 1719 11 Mar 1792 72
16 Apr 1754 John Jolliffe Tufnell 27 Jun 1720 23 Sep 1794 74
27 Mar 1761 Michael Newton c 1727 3 Oct 1803
George Forster Tufnell 1723 10 Jul 1798 75
18 Mar 1768 Hugh Bethell 17 Nov 1727 8 May 1772 44
Charles Anderson-Pelham, later [1794] 1st Baron Yarborough (to 1774) 3 Feb 1749 22 Sep 1823 74
22 May 1772 Sir Griffith Boynton, 6th baronet 22 Feb 1745 6 Jan 1778 32
7 Oct 1774 Sir James Pennyman, 6th baronet (to 1796) 6 Dec 1736 27 Mar 1808 71
George Forster Tufnell 1723 10 Jul 1798 75
8 Sep 1780 Francis Evelyn Anderson 8 Apr 1752 12 Sep 1821 69
2 Apr 1784 Sir Christopher Sykes, 2nd baronet 23 May 1749 17 Sep 1801 52
19 Jun 1790 John Wharton 21 Jun 1765 29 May 1843 77
28 May 1796 William Tatton 6 Jan 1774 9 Feb 1799 25
Napier Christie-Burton (to 1806) 31 Aug 1758 2 Jan 1835 76
2 Mar 1799 John Bacon Sawrey Morritt 1771 12 Jul 1843 72
5 Jul 1802 John Wharton (to 1826) 21 Jun 1765 29 May 1843 77
31 Oct 1806 Richard Vyse 11 Jul 1746 30 May 1825 78
8 May 1807 Richard William Howard Vyse 25 Jul 1784 8 Jun 1853 68
8 Oct 1812 Charles Forbes, later [1823] 1st baronet 3 Apr 1773 20 Nov 1849 76
17 Jun 1818 Robert Christie-Burton 1784 13 Apr 1822 37
8 Mar 1820 George Lane-Fox 4 May 1793 15 Nov 1848 55
9 Jun 1826 John Stewart 29 May 1784 5 Mar 1873 88
Charles Harrison-Batley c 1787 1 Aug 1835
31 Jul 1830 Henry Burton (later Henry Burton Peters) (to 1837) 12 Jan 1792 24 Nov 1874 82
Daniel Sykes 12 Nov 1766 24 Jan 1832 65
30 Apr 1831 William Marshall 26 May 1796 16 May 1872 75
10 Dec 1832 Charles Langdale 19 Sep 1787 1 Dec 1868 81
5 Jan 1835 James Weir Hogg, later [1846] 1st baronet (to 1847) 7 Sep 1790 27 May 1876 85
25 Jul 1837 George Lane-Fox 4 May 1793 15 Nov 1848 55
24 Jan 1840 Sackville Walter Lane Fox 24 Mar 1797 18 Aug 1877 80
30 Jun 1841 John Towneley (to 1852) 1806 21 Feb 1878 71
30 Jul 1847 Sackville Walter Lane Fox 24 Mar 1797 18 Aug 1877 80
7 Jul 1852 Francis Charles Lawley
For further information on this MP, see the note at the foot of this page		 24 May 1825 18 Sep 1901 76
William Wells (to 1857) 15 Mar 1818 1 May 1889 71
31 Jul 1854 Arthur Hamilton-Gordon, later [1893] 1st Baron Stanmore 26 Nov 1829 30 Jan 1912 82
28 Mar 1857 William Henry Forester Denison, later [1860] 2nd Baron Londesborough and [1887] 1st Earl of Londesborough (to 1859) 19 Jun 1834 19 Apr 1900 65
Edward Auchmuty Glover [his election was declared void 3 Aug 1857]
For further information on this MP, see the note at the foot of this page		 c 1816 17 Mar 1862
11 Aug 1857 Henry Edwards, later [1866] 1st baronet (to 1869) 20 Jul 1812 23 Apr 1886 73
29 Apr 1859 Ralph Walters [he was unseated on petition but no writ was issued until Jan 1860] c 1800 20 Apr 1865
31 Jan 1860 James Robert Walker, later [1883] 2nd baronet 19 Oct 1829 12 Jun 1899 69
12 Jul 1865 Christopher Sykes 10 Jan 1831 15 Dec 1898 67
17 Nov 1868 Edmund Hegan Kennard [following the general election in Nov 1868, the election of the two sitting members (Edwards and Kennard) was declared void 11 Mar 1869. No writ was issued to replace these members and an Act to disenfranchise this seat received Royal assent on 4 Jul 1870] 14 Oct 1834 9 Jul 1912 77
CONSTITUENCY DISENFRANCHISED 1870, BUT REVIVED 1950
23 Feb 1950 George William Odey 21 Apr 1900 16 Oct 1985 85
CONSTITUENCY DISENFRANCHISED 1955, BUT REVIVED 1983
9 Jun 1983 Sir Patrick Henry Bligh Wall 19 Oct 1916 15 May 1998 81
11 Jun 1987 James Douglas Cran 28 Jan 1944
NAME ALTERED TO "BEVERLEY AND HOLDERNESS" 1997
BEVERLEY AND HOLDERNESS (YORKSHIRE)
1 May 1997 James Douglas Cran 28 Jan 1944
5 May 2005 Graham Charles Stuart 12 Mar 1962
BEWDLEY (WORCESTERSHIRE)
13 Apr 1660 Thomas Foley 3 Dec 1617 10 Mar 1677 59
15 Apr 1661 Sir Henry Herbert c 1595 27 Apr 1673
7 Nov 1673 Thomas Foley [he was unseated on petition in favour of Henry Herbert 10 Mar 1677] 3 Dec 1617 1 Oct 1677 59
10 Mar 1677 Henry Herbert, later [1694] 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury 24 Jul 1654 22 Jan 1709 54
14 Feb 1679 Philip Foley 12 May 1648 c Dec 1716 68
12 May 1685 Sir Charles Lyttelton, later [1693] 3rd baronet c 1629 2 May 1716
11 Jan 1689 Henry Herbert, later [1694] 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury 24 Jul 1654 22 Jan 1709 54
19 Nov 1694 Salwey Winnington 28 Aug 1666 6 Nov 1736 70
13 May 1708 Henry Herbert, later [1709] 2nd Baron Herbert of Chirbury after 1678 Apr 1738
2 Mar 1709 Charles Cornwall 9 Aug 1669 7 Oct 1718 49
11 Oct 1710 Anthony Lechmere [he was unseated on petition in favour of Salwey Winnington 20 Dec 1710] 17 Jun 1674 8 Feb 1720 45
20 Dec 1710 Salwey Winnington 28 Aug 1666 6 Nov 1736 70
28 Jan 1715 Grey James Grove 10 Nov 1682 Apr 1742 59
27 Mar 1722 Crewe Offley 14 Nov 1682 28 Jun 1739 56
30 Apr 1734 William Bowles [he was also returned for Bridport, for which he chose to sit] 11 Feb 1686 14 May 1748 62
20 Feb 1735 Phineas Bowles 24 Jan 1690 22 Oct 1749 59
13 May 1741 William Bowles 11 Feb 1686 14 May 1748 62
9 Dec 1748 William Henry Lyttelton, later [1776] 1st Baron Westcote [I] and [1794] 1st Baron Lyttelton [GB] 24 Dec 1724 14 Sep 1808 83
5 Feb 1755 William Finch 18 Jan 1691 25 Dec 1766 75
30 Mar 1761 Sir Edward Winnington, 1st baronet c 1727 9 Dec 1791
21 Mar 1768 Thomas Lyttelton, later [1773] 2nd Baron Lyttelton [he was unseated on petition in favour of Sir Edward Winnington 25 Jan 1769] 30 Jan 1744 27 Nov 1779 35
25 Jan 1769 Sir Edward Winnington, 1st baronet c 1727 9 Dec 1791
14 Oct 1774 William Henry Lyttelton, later [1776] 1st Baron Westcote [I] and [1794] 1st Baron Lyttelton [GB] 24 Dec 1724 14 Sep 1808 83
21 Jun 1790 George Fulke Lyttelton, later [1808] 2nd Baron Lyttelton 27 Oct 1763 12 Nov 1828 65
30 May 1796 Miles Peter Andrews c 1742 18 Jul 1814
3 Aug 1814 Charles Edward Wilsonn c 1752 14 Feb 1829
19 Jun 1818 Wilson Aylesbury Roberts 23 Jun 1770 28 Nov 1853 83
12 Dec 1832 Sir Thomas Edward Winnington, 3rd baronet 13 Mar 1779 24 Sep 1839 60
24 Jul 1837 Sir Thomas Edward Winnington, 4th baronet 11 Nov 1811 16 Jun 1872 60
30 Jul 1847 Thomas James Ireland [his election was declared void 20 Mar 1848] 10 Jan 1792 2 Jul 1863 71
18 Apr 1848 William Drogo Montagu, styled Viscount Mandeville, later [1855] 7th Duke of Manchester 15 Oct 1823 22 Mar 1890 66
7 Jul 1852 Sir Thomas Edward Winnington, 4th baronet 11 Nov 1811 16 Jun 1872 60
17 Nov 1868 Sir Richard Atwood Glass [his election was declared void 16 Feb 1869] 1820 22 Dec 1873 53
11 Mar 1869 John Cunliffe Pickersgill Cunliffe [he was unseated on petition in favour of Augustus Henry Archibald Anson 30 Apr 1869] 6 Oct 1873
30 Apr 1869 Augustus Henry Archibald Anson VC
For further information on this MP and VC winner, see the note under the page containing details of the members for Lichfield		 5 Mar 1835 17 Nov 1877 42
2 Feb 1874 Charles Harrison [following the general election in Apr 1880, his election was declared void 29 Jun 1880] 1830 11 May 1888 57
13 Jul 1880 Enoch Baldwin 1822 after 1895
30 Nov 1885 Sir Edmund Anthony Harley Lechmere, 3rd baronet 8 Dec 1826 18 Dec 1894 68
Jul 1892 Alfred Baldwin 4 Jun 1841 13 Feb 1908 66
29 Feb 1908 Stanley Baldwin, later [1937] 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley 3 Aug 1867 14 Dec 1947 80
24 Jun 1937 Roger John Edward Conant, later [1954] 1st baronet 28 May 1899 30 Mar 1973 73
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1950
BEXHILL AND BATTLE (EAST SUSSEX)
9 Jun 1983 Charles Frederick Wardle 23 Aug 1939
7 Jun 2001 Gregory Leonard George Barker, later [2015] Baron Barker of Battle [L] 8 Mar 1966
7 May 2015 Huw William Merriman 13 Jul 1973
BEXLEY (KENT)
26 Jul 1945 Janet Laurel Adamson 9 May 1882 25 Apr 1962 79
22 Jul 1946 Ernest Ashley Bramall [kt 1975] 6 Jan 1916 10 Feb 1999 83
23 Feb 1950 Edward Richard George Heath [KG 1992] 9 Jul 1916 17 Jul 2005 89
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED FEB 1974
BEXLEYHEATH (KENT)
28 Feb 1974 Cyril David Townsend [kt 1997] 21 Dec 1937 20 Nov 2013 75
NAME ALTERED TO "BEXLEYHEATH AND CRAYFORD" 1997
BEXLEYHEATH AND CRAYFORD
1 May 1997 Christopher Nigel Beard 10 Oct 1936 31 Jul 2017 80
5 May 2005 David Anthony Evennett [kt 2018] 3 Jun 1949
BIGGLESWADE (BEDFORDSHIRE)
28 Nov 1885 Charles Magniac 1827 23 Nov 1891 64
10 Jul 1886 Francis George Baring, styled Viscount Baring, later [1904] 2nd Earl of Northbrook 6 Dec 1850 12 Apr 1929 78
Jul 1892 George William Erskine Russell 3 Feb 1853 17 Mar 1919 66
15 Jul 1895 Lord Alwyne Frederick Compton 5 Jun 1855 16 Dec 1911 56
19 Jan 1906 Arthur William Black [kt 1916] 28 Feb 1863 13 Jul 1947 84
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1918
BILLERICAY (ESSEX)
23 Feb 1950 Bernard Richard Braine [kt 1972], later [1992] Baron Braine of Wheatley [L] 24 Jun 1914 4 Jan 2000 85
26 May 1955 Richard Bernard Frank Stewart Body [kt 1986] 18 May 1927 26 Feb 2018 90
8 Oct 1959 Edward Lucas Gardner [kt 1983] 10 May 1912 2 Aug 2001 89
31 Mar 1966 Eric Moonman 29 Apr 1929 22 Dec 2017 88
18 Jun 1970 Robert Arthur McCrindle [kt 1990] 19 Sep 1929 8 Oct 1998 69
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED FEB 1974, BUT REVIVED 1983
9 Jun 1983 Keith Harvey Proctor 16 Jan 1947
11 Jun 1987 Teresa Ellen Gorman 30 Sep 1931 27 Aug 2015 83
7 Jun 2001 John Charles Baron 21 Jun 1959
UNITED WITH "BASILDON" TO FORM NEW CONSTITUENCY OF "BASILDON AND BILLERICAY" 2010
BILSTON (WOLVERHAMPTON)
14 Dec 1918 Thomas Edgecomb Hickman 25 Jul 1859 23 Oct 1930 71
15 Nov 1922 Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury 15 Aug 1883 20 Sep 1963 80
29 Oct 1924 John Baker 8 Apr 1867 3 May 1939 72
27 Oct 1931 Geoffrey Kelsall Peto [kt 1939] 8 Sep 1878 8 Jan 1956 77
14 Nov 1935 Ian Campbell Hannah 16 Dec 1874 7 Jul 1944 69
20 Sep 1944 William Ernest Gibbons 24 Apr 1898 15 Aug 1976 78
26 Jul 1945 Will Nally 13 Dec 1914 4 Aug 1965 50
26 May 1955 Robert Edwards 16 Jan 1905 4 Jun 1990 85
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED FEB 1974
BIRKENHEAD (CHESHIRE)
11 Dec 1861 John Laird 14 Jun 1805 29 Oct 1874 69
26 Nov 1874 David MacIver 24 Aug 1840 1 Sep 1907 67
25 Nov 1885 Sir Edward Bruce Hamley 27 Apr 1824 12 Aug 1893 69
Jul 1892 Arnold Allan Cecil Keppel, styled Viscount Bury, later [1894] 8th Earl of Albemarle 1 Jun 1858 12 Apr 1942 83
17 Oct 1894 Elliott Lees, later [1897] 1st baronet 23 Oct 1860 16 Oct 1908 47
16 Jan 1906 Henry Harvey Vivian 20 Apr 1868 30 May 1930 62
5 Dec 1910 Alfred Bigland 15 Mar 1855 7 Feb 1936 80
CONSTITUENCY SPLIT INTO "EAST" AND "WEST" DIVISIONS 1918, RE-UNITED 1950
23 Feb 1950 Percy Henry Collick 16 Nov 1897 24 Jul 1984 86
15 Oct 1964 Edmund Emanuel Dell 15 Aug 1921 1 Nov 1999 78
3 May 1979 Frank Ernest Field, later [2020] Baron Field of Birkenhead [L] 16 Jul 1942 23 Apr 2024 77
12 Dec 2019 Michael Whitley 17 Nov 1951
BIRKENHEAD EAST
14 Dec 1918 Alfred Bigland 15 Mar 1855 7 Feb 1936 80
15 Nov 1922 Henry Graham White 26 Aug 1880 19 Feb 1965 84
29 Oct 1924 William Henry Stott 1863 30 Dec 1930 67
30 May 1929 Henry Graham White 26 Aug 1880 19 Feb 1965 84
26 Jul 1945 Sir Frank Soskice, later [1966] Baron Stow Hill [L] 23 Jul 1902 1 Jan 1979 76
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1950
BIRKENHEAD WEST
14 Dec 1918 Henry Mulleneux Grayson [kt 1920], later [1922] 1st baronet 26 Jun 1865 27 Oct 1951 86
15 Nov 1922 William Henry Stott 1863 30 Dec 1930 67
6 Dec 1923 William Henry Egan 14 Feb 1869 10 Sep 1943 74
29 Oct 1924 Ellis Nuttall 8 Dec 1890 1 Jul 1951 60
30 May 1929 William Henry Egan 14 Feb 1869 10 Sep 1943 74
27 Oct 1931 John Sandeman Allen 30 May 1892 29 Sep 1949 57
26 Jul 1945 Percy Henry Collick 16 Nov 1897 24 Jul 1984 86
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1950
BIRMINGHAM (WARWICKSHIRE)
12 Dec 1832 Thomas Attwood 6 Oct 1783 9 Mar 1859 75
Joshua Scholefield (to 1844) 1775 Jul 1844 69
25 Jan 1840 George Frederick Muntz (to 1857) 26 Nov 1794 30 Jul 1857 62
15 Jul 1844 Richard Spooner 1783 24 Nov 1864 81
31 Jul 1847 William Scholefield (to 1867) 1809 9 Jul 1867 58
10 Aug 1857 John Bright (to 1885) 16 Nov 1811 27 Mar 1889 77
23 Jul 1867 George Dixon (to 1876) 1820 24 Jan 1898 77
REPRESENTATION INCREASED TO THREE MEMBERS 1868
18 Nov 1868 Philip Henry Muntz (to 1885) 1811 25 Dec 1888 77
27 Jun 1876 Joseph Chamberlain 8 Jul 1836 2 Jul 1914 77
SPLIT INTO 7 DIVISIONS 1885, SEE "BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL", "BIRMINGHAM EAST", "BIRMINGHAM NORTH", "BIRMINGHAM SOUTH", "BIRMINGHAM WEST", "BORDESLEY" AND "EDGBASTON"
BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL
24 Nov 1885 John Bright 16 Nov 1811 27 Mar 1889 77
15 Apr 1889 John Albert Bright 1848 11 Nov 1924 76
12 Jul 1895 Edward Ebenezer Parkes [kt 1917] 1848 29 Jun 1919 70
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1918
BIRMINGHAM EAST
24 Nov 1885 William Thomas Gustavus Cook [kt 1906] 1834 26 Jan 1908 73
3 Jul 1886 Henry Matthews, later [1895] 1st Viscount Llandaff 13 Jan 1826 3 Apr 1913 87
12 Jul 1895 Sir John Benjamin Stone 9 Feb 1838 2 Jul 1914 76
15 Jan 1910 Arthur Herbert Drummond Ramsay-Steel-Maitland, later [1917] 1st baronet 5 Jul 1876 30 Mar 1935 58
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1918
BIRMINGHAM NORTH
24 Nov 1885 William Kenrick 8 Jun 1831 31 Jul 1919 88
14 Feb 1899 John Throgmorton Middlemore, later [1919] 1st baronet 9 Jun 1844 17 Oct 1925 81
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1918
BIRMINGHAM SOUTH
24 Nov 1885 Joseph Powell Williams 18 Nov 1840 7 Feb 1904 63
26 Feb 1904 Charles James Stanley Howard, styled Viscount Morpeth, later [1911] 10th Earl of Carlisle 8 Mar 1867 20 Jan 1912 44
3 May 1911 Leopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery 22 Nov 1873 16 Sep 1955 81
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1918
BIRMINGHAM WEST
24 Nov 1885 Joseph Chamberlain 8 Jul 1836 2 Jul 1914 77
16 Jul 1914 Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain 16 Oct 1863 16 Mar 1937 73
29 Apr 1937 Walter Frank Higgs 7 Apr 1886 8 Aug 1961 75
26 Jul 1945 Charles James Simmons 9 Apr 1893 11 Aug 1975 82
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1950
BIRR (KING'S COUNTY)
2 Dec 1885 Bernard Charles Molloy 1842 26 Jun 1916 73
9 Oct 1900 Michael Reddy 30 Jul 1919
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1918
BISHOP AUCKLAND (DURHAM)
5 Dec 1885 James Mellor Paulton 1857 6 Dec 1923 66
19 Jan 1910 Sir Henry Spencer Moreton Havelock-Allan, 2nd baronet 29 Jan 1872 28 Oct 1953 81
14 Dec 1918 Benjamin Charles Spoor 2 Jun 1878 22 Dec 1928 50
7 Feb 1929 Florence Ruth Dalton 1890 15 Mar 1966 75
30 May 1929 Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton, later [1960] Baron Dalton [L] 26 Aug 1887 13 Feb 1962 74
27 Oct 1931 Aaron Charlton Curry 17 Aug 1887 6 Jan 1957 69
14 Nov 1935 Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton, later [1960] Baron Dalton [L] 26 Aug 1887 13 Feb 1962 74
8 Oct 1959 Harold James Boyden 19 Oct 1910 26 Sep 1993 82
3 May 1979 Derek Foster, later [2005] Baron Foster of Bishop Auckland [L] 25 Jun 1937 5 Jan 2019 81
5 May 2005 Helen Catherine Goodman 2 Jan 1958
12 Dec 2019 Dehenna Sheridan Davison 27 Jul 1993
BISHOP'S CASTLE (SHROPSHIRE)
14 Apr 1660 William Oakeley 22 Mar 1635 28 Jan 1695 59
Edmund Waring (to 1681) c 1638 9 Nov 1687
16 Sep 1679 Richard Scriven 7 Jun 1625 26 Jan 1683 57
14 Feb 1681 Sir Richard Mason c 1619 12 Mar 1685
Richard More 18 Oct 1627 7 Jul 1698 70
9 Apr 1685 Edmund Waring c 1638 9 Nov 1687
Francis Charlton, later [1697] 2nd baronet 27 Jun 1651 21 Apr 1729 77
14 Jan 1689 Richard More 18 Oct 1627 7 Jul 1698 70
Walter Waring 5 Dec 1667 Jul 1724 56
6 Mar 1690 William Oakeley (to Mar 1695) 22 Mar 1635 28 Jan 1695 59
Richard Mason c 1655 Apr 1690
17 May 1690 Walter Waring (to Oct 1695) 5 Dec 1667 Jul 1724 56
14 Mar 1695 Richard More (to 1698) 18 Oct 1627 7 Jul 1698 70
Henry Newton
Double return
28 Oct 1695 Charles Mason (to May 1701) [his election at the general election in Jan 1701 was declared void 13 May 1701] 15 Apr 1661 1739 78
26 Jul 1698 Sir William Brownlow, 4th baronet [his election was declared void 3 Feb 1700] 5 Nov 1665 6 Mar 1701 35
8 Jan 1701 George Walcot 7 Jul 1667 14 Dec 1743 76
29 Nov 1701 Henry Brett (to 1708) 5 Dec 1675 Sep 1724 48
Charles Mason [His election was declared void 31 Mar 1702, but at the general election held on 22 Jul 1702, he was again returned. At the general election in May 1705, he was also returned for Montgomery, for which he chose to sit] 15 Apr 1661 1739 78
5 Mar 1706 Henry Newport, styled Viscount Newport from 1708, later [1723] 3rd Earl of Bradford 8 Aug 1683 23 Dec 1734 51
10 May 1708 Richard Harnage (to 1719) after 1641 28 Nov 1719
Charles Mason 15 Apr 1661 1739 78
10 Oct 1710 Sir Robert Raymond, later [1731] 1st Baron Raymond 20 Dec 1673 18 Mar 1733 59
31 Jan 1715 Charles Mason (to 1722) 15 Apr 1661 1739 78
17 Dec 1719 Sir Matthew Decker, 1st baronet 1679 18 Mar 1749 69
24 Mar 1722 William Peere Williams (to 1727) c 1664 10 Jun 1736
Bowater Vernon [he was unseated on petition in favour of Charles Mason 26 Apr 1726] 21 May 1683 30 Nov 1735 52
26 Apr 1726 Charles Mason 15 Apr 1661 1739 78
30 Sep 1727 Robert More (to 1741) May 1703 5 Jan 1780 76
John Plumptre 9 Feb 1679 29 Sep 1751 72
25 Apr 1734 Edward Kynaston 6 Oct 1709 18 May 1772 62
6 May 1741 Henry Brydges, styled Marquess of Carnarvon, later [1744] 2nd Duke of Chandos 17 Jan 1708 28 Nov 1771 63
Andrew Hill (to 1747) 31 May 1755
6 Dec 1744 Granville Leveson-Gower, styled Viscount Trentham from 1746, later [1754] 2nd Earl Gower and [1786] 1st Marquess of Stafford 4 Aug 1721 26 Oct 1803 82
30 Jun 1747 Samuel Child 6 Jul 1693 14 Oct 1752 59
John Robinson Lytton (to 1754) 30 Sep 1724 Apr 1762 37
20 Jan 1753 John Dashwood-King, later [1781] 3rd baronet (to 1761) 4 Aug 1716 6 Dec 1793 77
18 Apr 1754 Barnaby Backwell 3 Oct 1754
27 Jan 1755 Walter Waring c 1726 Feb 1780
15 Feb 1759 Henry Grenville 11 Sep 1717 22 Apr 1784 66
28 Mar 1761 Francis Child c 1735 23 Sep 1763
Peregrine Cust (to 1768) 19 May 1723 2 Jan 1785 61
24 Nov 1763 George Clive (to 1779) 23 Mar 1779
21 Mar 1768 William Clive 29 Aug 1745 23 Jun 1825 79
16 Jan 1770 Alexander Wedderburn, later [1801] 1st Earl of Rosslyn 13 Feb 1733 2 Jan 1805 71
10 Oct 1774 Henry Strachey, later [1801] 1st baronet 23 May 1736 3 Jan 1810 73
15 Jun 1778 Alexander Wedderburn, later [1801] 1st Earl of Rosslyn (to 1780) 13 Feb 1733 2 Jan 1805 71
31 Mar 1779 William Clive (to 1820) 29 Aug 1745 23 Jun 1825 79
26 Jun 1780 Henry Strachey, later [1801] 1st baronet 23 May 1736 3 Jan 1810 73
12 Jul 1802 John Robinson c 1757 23 May 1819
10 Jul 1819 Douglas James William Kinnaird 26 Feb 1788 12 Mar 1830 42
10 Mar 1820 William Holmes 2 Apr 1779 26 Jan 1851 71
Edward Rogers (to 1832) 30 Sep 1781 22 Dec 1852 71
Douglas James William Kinnaird 26 Feb 1788 12 Mar 1830 42
Robert Knight
Double return. Holmes and Rogers declared elected 16 Jun 1820
31 Jul 1830 Frederick Hamilton Cornewall 15 Oct 1791 30 Dec 1845 54
30 Apr 1831 James Lewis Knight (Knight-Bruce from 1837) [kt 1842] 15 Feb 1791 7 Nov 1866 75
CONSTITUENCY DISENFRANCHISED 1832
BLABY
28 Feb 1974 Nigel Lawson, later [1992] Baron Lawson of Blaby [L] 11 Mar 1932 3 Apr 2023 91
9 Apr 1992 Andrew Robert George Robathan, later [2015] Baron Robathan [L] 17 Jul 1951
NAME ALTERED TO "LEICESTERSHIRE SOUTH" 2010
BLACKBURN (LANCASHIRE)
11 Dec 1832 William Feilden, later [1846] 1st baronet (to 1847) 13 Mar 1772 21 May 1850 78
William Turner 1776
30 Jul 1841 John Hornby (to 1852) 19 Aug 1810 5 Dec 1892 82
29 Jul 1847 James Pilkington (to 1865) 1804 17 Feb 1890 85
8 Jul 1852 William Eccles [his election was declared void 24 Feb 1853] 1794 17 Jun 1853 58
24 Mar 1853 Montague Joseph Feilden 8 May 1816 17 Oct 1898 82
27 Mar 1857 William Henry Hornby (to 1869) 2 Jul 1805 5 Sep 1884 79
12 Jul 1865 Joseph Feilden 28 Feb 1792 29 Aug 1870 78
Following the general election in Nov 1868, the election of both sitting members (William Henry Hornby and Joseph Feilden) was declared void 16 Mar 1869
30 Mar 1869 Henry Master Feilden (to 1875) 21 Feb 1818 5 Sep 1875 57
Edward Kenworthy Hornby 16 Jun 1839 25 Jun 1887 48
7 Feb 1874 William Edward Briggs (to 1885) 1847 1903 56
2 Oct 1875 Daniel Thwaites 1817 21 Sep 1888 71
2 Apr 1880 William Coddington, later [1896] 1st baronet (to 1906) 12 Dec 1830 15 Feb 1918 87
24 Nov 1885 Sir Robert Peel, 3rd baronet 4 May 1822 9 May 1895 73
1 Jul 1886 William Henry Hornby, later [1899] 1st baronet (to 1910) 29 Aug 1841 22 Oct 1928 87
16 Jan 1906 Philip Snowden, later [1931] 1st Viscount Snowden (to 1918) 18 Jul 1864 15 May 1937 72
17 Jan 1910 Sir Thomas Barclay 20 Feb 1853 20 Jan 1941 87
Dec 1910 Sir Henry Norman, later [1915] 1st baronet (to 1923) 19 Sep 1858 4 Jun 1939 80
14 Dec 1918 Percy Thompson Dean VC
For further information on this MP and VC winner, see the note at the foot of this page		 20 Jul 1877 20 Mar 1939 61
15 Nov 1922 Sir Sydney Herbert Holcroft Henn (to 1929) 4 Dec 1861 21 Oct 1936 74
6 Dec 1923 John Duckworth 1 Nov 1863 22 Jan 1946 82
30 May 1929 Thomas Harry Gill [kt 1950] 5 Dec 1885 20 May 1955 69
Mary Agnes Hamilton 8 Jul 1882 10 Feb 1966 83
27 Oct 1931 George Sampson Elliston [kt 1944] 27 Jul 1875 21 Feb 1954 78
Sir Walter Dorling Smiles
For further information on this MP, see the note at the foot of this page		 8 Nov 1883 31 Jan 1953 69
26 Jul 1945 Lewis John Edwards 27 May 1904 23 Nov 1959 55
Barbara Anne Castle, later [1990] Baroness Castle of Blackburn [L] 6 Oct 1911 3 May 2002 90
CONSTITUENCY SPLIT INTO "EAST" AND "WEST" DIVISIONS 1950, RE-UNITED 1955
26 May 1955 Barbara Anne Castle, later [1990] Baroness Castle of Blackburn [L] 6 Oct 1911 3 May 2002 90
3 May 1979 John Whitaker Straw 3 Aug 1946
7 May 2015 Catherine Molloy ("Kate") Hollern 12 May 1955
BLACKBURN EAST
23 Feb 1950 Barbara Anne Castle, later [1990] Baroness Castle of Blackburn [L] 6 Oct 1911 3 May 2002 90
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1955
BLACKBURN WEST
23 Feb 1950 Ralph Assheton, later [1955] 1st Baron Clitheroe 24 Feb 1901 18 Sep 1984 83
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1955
BLACKFRIARS AND HUTCHESONTOWN
27 Nov 1885 Mitchell Henry 1826 22 Nov 1910 84
5 Jul 1886 Andrew Dryburgh Provand 23 Mar 1838 18 Jul 1915 77
4 Oct 1900 Andrew Bonar Law 16 Sep 1858 30 Oct 1923 65
18 Jan 1906 George Nicoll Barnes 2 Jan 1859 21 Apr 1940 81
CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1918
BLACKLEY (MANCHESTER)
14 Dec 1918 William James Harold Briggs 26 May 1870 6 May 1945 74
6 Dec 1923 Philip Milner Oliver 20 Aug 1884 12 Apr 1954 69
29 Oct 1924 William James Harold Briggs 26 May 1870 6 May 1945 74
30 May 1929 Philip Milner Oliver 20 Aug 1884 12 Apr 1954 69
27 Oct 1931 John Lees-Jones 25 Sep 1887 13 Jan 1966 78
26 Jul 1945 John Diamond, later [1970] Baron Diamond [L] 30 Apr 1907 3 Apr 2004 96
25 Oct 1951 Eric Seymour Thewlis Johnson 8 Sep 1897 22 Jul 1978 80
15 Oct 1964 Paul Bernard Rose [originally Rosenberg] 26 Dec 1935 3 Nov 2015 79
3 May 1979 Kenneth Eastham 11 Aug 1927
1 May 1997 Graham Eric Stringer 17 Feb 1950
NAME ALTERED TO "BLACKLEY AND BROUGHTON" 2010
BLACKLEY AND BROUGHTON (MANCHESTER)
6 May 2010 Graham Eric Stringer 17 Feb 1950
BLACKPOOL (LANCASHIRE)
24 Nov 1885 Frederick Arthur Stanley, later [1893] 16th Earl of Derby 15 Jan 1841 14 Jun 1908 67
20 Aug 1886 Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th baronet, later [1900] 1st Viscount Ridley 25 Jul 1842 28 Nov 1904 62
21 Dec 1900 Henry Wilson Worsley-Taylor, later [1917] 1st baronet 25 Jul 1847 27 Jun 1924 76
18 Jan 1906 Wilfrid William Ashley, later [1932] 1st Baron Mount Temple 13 Sep 1867 3 Jul 1939 71
14 Dec 1918 Albert Lindsay Parkinson [kt 1922] 24 Feb 1870 3 Feb 1936 65
15 Nov 1922 Leonard Greenham Star Molloy 22 Nov 1861 19 Feb 1937 75
6 Dec 1923 Hugh Mowbray Meyler
For information on the death of this MP, see the note at the foot of this page		 25 Jun 1875 30 Apr 1929 53
29 Oct 1924 Sir Walter de Frece 7 Oct 1870 7 Jan 1935 64
27 Oct 1931 Clifford Charles Alan Lawrence Erskine‑Bolst 1878 11 Jan 1946 67
14 Nov 1935 John Roland Robinson [kt 1954], later [1964] 1st Baron Martonmere 22 Feb 1907 3 May 1989 82
CONSTITUENCY SPLIT INTO "NORTH" AND "SOUTH" DIVISIONS 1945
BLACKPOOL NORTH
26 Jul 1945 Toby Austin Richard William Low [kt 1957], later [1962] 1st Baron Aldington 25 May 1914 7 Dec 2000 86
13 Mar 1962 Norman Alexander Miscampbell 20 Feb 1925 16 Feb 2007 81
9 Apr 1992 Harold Daniel Hope Elletson 8 Dec 1960 23 Jun 2023 62
NAME ALTERED TO "BLACKPOOL NORTH AND FLEETWOOD" 1997
BLACKPOOL NORTH AND CLEVELEYS
6 May 2010 Paul Christopher Maynard 16 Dec 1975
BLACKPOOL NORTH AND FLEETWOOD
1 May 1997 Jovanka (Joan) Humble 3 Mar 1951
NAME ALTERED TO "BLACKPOOL NORTH AND CLEVELEYS" 2010
BLACKPOOL SOUTH
26 Jul 1945 John Roland Robinson [kt 1954], later [1964] 1st Baron Martonmere 22 Feb 1907 3 May 1989 82
15 Oct 1964 Peter Allan Renshaw Blaker [kt 1983], later [1994] Baron Blaker [L] 4 Oct 1922 5 Jul 2009 86
9 Apr 1992 Nicholas John Hawkins 27 Mar 1957
1 May 1997 Gordon Marsden 28 Nov 1953
12 Dec 2019 Scott Lloyd Benton 1 Jul 1987
BLAENAU GWENT
9 Jun 1983 Michael Mackintosh Foot 23 Jul 1913 3 Mar 2010 96
9 Apr 1992 Llewellyn Thomas Smith 16 Apr 1944
5 May 2005 Peter John Law 1 Apr 1948 25 Apr 2006 58
29 Jun 2006 David Clifford Davies 26 Nov 1959
6 May 2010 Nicholas Desmond John Smith 14 Jan 1960
BLAYDON (DURHAM)
14 Dec 1918 Walter Waring 11 Aug 1876 16 Nov 1930 54
15 Nov 1922 William Whiteley 3 Oct 1881 3 Nov 1955 74
27 Oct 1931 Thomas Ballantyne Martin 13 Nov 1901 28 Jan 1995 93
14 Nov 1935 William Whiteley 3 Oct 1881 3 Nov 1955 74
2 Feb 1956 Robert Edward Woof 24 Nov 1911 27 Nov 1997 86
3 May 1979 John David McWilliam 16 May 1941 14 Nov 2009 68
5 May 2005 David Anderson 2 Dec 1953
8 Jun 2017 Mary Elizabeth ("Liz") Twist 10 Jul 1956
BLETCHINGLEY (SURREY)
19 Apr 1660 Sir John Evelyn 20 Oct 1591 18 Jan 1664 72
John Goodwin c 1603 18 Feb 1674
27 Mar 1661 Sir William Hawarde c 1617 28 Jul 1704
Edward Bysshe c 1615 15 Dec 1679
28 Feb 1679 George Evelyn (to 1685) 4 Dec 1641 19 Jun 1699 57
Edward Harvey 30 Mar 1658 24 Oct 1736 78
10 Oct 1679 John Morris c 1625 Aug 1682
25 Feb 1681 Sir William Goulston c 1641 23 Dec 1687
1 May 1685 Ambrose Browne 11 Jan 1659 24 Jul 1688 29
Sir Marmaduke Gresham, 1st baronet 24 Jan 1627 14 Apr 1696 69
14 Jan 1689 Thomas Howard (to 1698) 21 Feb 1651 4 Apr 1701 50
John Glyd c 1651 23 Nov 1689
9 Dec 1689 Jeffrey Amherst 11 Jan 1650 15 Aug 1713 63
24 Feb 1690 Sir Robert Clayton 29 Sep 1629 16 Jul 1707 77
7 Nov 1695 Maurice Thompson, later [1710] 2nd Baron Haversham 1675 11 Apr 1745 69
22 Jul 1698 Hugh Hare 2 Jul 1668 1707 38
Sir Robert Clayton 29 Sep 1629 16 Jul 1707 77
4 Jan 1701 Sir Edward Gresham, 2nd baronet 30 Jan 1649 14 Apr 1709 60
John Ward (to 1708) c 1650 Mar 1726
18 Jul 1702 John Evelyn 3 Oct 1677 13 Nov 1702 25
1 Dec 1702 Sir Robert Clayton 29 Sep 1629 16 Jul 1707 77
10 May 1705 George Evelyn (to 1724) 26 Oct 1678 18 Oct 1724 46
3 May 1708 Thomas Onslow, later [1717] 2nd Baron Onslow 27 Nov 1679 5 Jun 1740 60
7 Dec 1715 William Clayton, later [1732] 1st baronet (to 1744) 28 Dec 1744
19 Nov 1724 Henry Arthur Herbert, later [1748] 1st Earl of Powis c 1703 11 Sep 1772
17 Aug 1727 Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 2nd baronet 27 Apr 1678 5 Dec 1746 68
26 Apr 1734 Kenrick Clayton, later [1744] 2nd baronet (to 1769) c 1713 10 Mar 1769
15 Jan 1745 William Clayton c 1718 3 Jul 1783
28 Mar 1761 Charles Whitworth [kt 1768] c 1721 22 Aug 1778
9 Mar 1768 Robert Clayton, later [1769] 3rd baronet (to 1783) c 1740 10 May 1799
3 Apr 1769 Frederick Standert c 1705 24 Apr 1785
11 Sep 1780 John Kenrick (to 1790) 1735 18 Sep 1799 64
23 Nov 1783 John Nicholls c 1745 spring 1832
20 Dec 1787 Sir Robert Clayton, 3rd baronet (to 1796) c 1740 10 May 1799
16 Jun 1790 Philip Francis [kt 1806] 22 Oct 1740 23 Dec 1818 78
31 May 1796 Sir Lionel Copley, 2nd baronet [he was also returned for Tregony, for which he chose to sit] c 1767 4 Mar 1806
John Stein (to 1802) 13 Sep 1769 c 1814
20 Feb 1797 Benjamin Hobhouse 29 Mar 1757 14 Aug 1831 74
5 Jul 1802 James Milnes 11 Oct 1755 21 Apr 1805 49
John Benn-Walsh (to 1806) 10 Feb 1759 7 Jun 1825 66
8 May 1805 Nicholas William Ridley-Colborne, later [1839] 1st Baron Colborne 14 Apr 1779 3 May 1854 75
31 Oct 1806 Josias du Pre Porcher c 1761 4 May 1820
William Kenrick (to 1814) 21 Jan 1774 22 Oct 1829 55
21 Jan 1807 John Alexander Bannerman 5 Jun 1759 8 Aug 1819 60
9 May 1807 Thomas Freeman-Heathcote, later [1819] 4th baronet 3 Sep 1769 21 Feb 1825 55
25 Jan 1809 Charles Cockerell, later [Sep 1809] 1st baronet 18 Feb 1755 6 Jan 1837 81
5 Oct 1812 Sir Charles Talbot, 2nd baronet 8 Nov 1751 3 Nov 1812 60
28 Dec 1812 Robert William Newman, later [1836] 1st baronet (to 1818) 18 Aug 1776 24 Jan 1848 71
24 Nov 1814 John Bolland c 1742 7 Jun 1829
15 Jun 1818 Matthew Russell [he was also returned for Saltash, for which he chose to sit] 24 Feb 1765 8 May 1822 56
George Tennyson (to 27 Feb 1819) 7 Feb 1750 4 Jul 1835 85
13 Feb 1819 Sir William Curtis, 1st baronet (to 1820) 25 Jan 1752 18 Jan 1829 76
27 Feb 1819 William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, styled Marquess of Titchfield (to 1822) 21 Aug 1796 4 Mar 1824 27
6 Mar 1820 Edward Henry Edwardes (to 1826) 5 Nov 1798 16 Aug 1829 30
19 Feb 1822 Lord Francis Leveson-Gower, later [1846] 1st Earl of Ellesmere 1 Jan 1800 18 Feb 1857 57
7 Jun 1826 William Russell 1798 30 Jan 1850 51
Charles Tennyson (to Jul 1831) [at the general election in Apr 1831, he was also returned for Stamford, for which he chose to sit] 20 Jul 1784 21 Jul 1861 77
7 May 1827 William Lamb, later [1828] 2nd Viscount Melbourne 15 Mar 1779 24 Nov 1848 69
23 Jul 1828 William Ewart 1 May 1798 23 Jan 1869 70
30 Jul 1830 Robert William Mills 9 May 1777 9 Mar 1851 73
18 Feb 1831 Sir William Horne 2 Dec 1773 13 Jul 1860 86
29 Apr 1831 John George Brabazon Ponsonby, later [1847] 5th Earl of Bessborough [I] 14 Oct 1809 28 Jan 1880 70
18 Jul 1831 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston [I] 20 Oct 1784 18 Oct 1865 80
Thomas Hyde Villiers 27 Jan 1801 3 Dec 1832 31
CONSTITUENCY DISENFRANCHISED 1832
BLYTH
23 Feb 1950 Alfred Robens, later [1961] Baron Robens of Woldingham [L] 18 Dec 1910 27 Jun 1999 88
24 Nov 1960 Edward James Milne 18 Oct 1915 23 Mar 1983 67
10 Oct 1974 John Ryman 7 Nov 1930 3 May 2009 78
NAME ALTERED TO "BLYTH VALLEY" 1983
BLYTH VALLEY (NORTHUMBERLAND)
9 Jun 1983 John Ryman 7 Nov 1930 3 May 2009 78
11 Jun 1987 Ronald ["Ronnie"] Campbell 14 Aug 1943 23 Feb 2024 80
12 Dec 2019 Ian Levy 14 Feb 1966
 

Francis Charles Lawley
MP for Beverley 1852‑1854
Lawley was the youngest son of the 1st Baron Wenlock. In July 1852 he was elected to the House of Commons in the Liberal interest for the seat of Beverley. In December of the same year, William Gladstone, who at that time was Chancellor of the Exchequer and whose wife was related to Lawley, appointed him as one of his private secretaries.
In June 1854, Lawley was appointed by the Colonial Secretary to be the new Governor of South Australia. The appointment provoked a storm of protest - Lawley was only 29, and accusations of "jobs for the boys" were rife. It was noted that his successor in the seat of Beverley was the Prime Minister's son, that he was related to Gladstone, that he was sorely in need of the salary he would receive as a colonial governor, and that he had no knowledge whatsoever of the colony he had been appointed to govern.
Shortly after his appointment, it became known that Lawley had run up large debts on the turf, and in an attempt to pay off these debts, had been indulging in insider trading, using privileged information known to him by virtue of his role as private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It appears that, even with the benefit of inside information, Lawley lost money in his speculations - it would seem to take a special brand of financial incompetence to lose money in these circumstances.
On 3 August 1854, during a debate in the House of Commons, Hansard records a speech by Sir George Grey, Colonial Secretary, which contains the following words:-
Sir G. Grey, in reference to a notice which appeared on the paper by Sir J. Pakington as to the appointment of the Hon. Francis Lawley to the Governorship of South Australia, stated the circumstances under which the choice was made. Before entering on the duties of the Colonial Office, he had a conference with the Duke of Newcastle [Grey's immediate predecessor at the Colonial Office] on various matters of business. The Duke communicated to him the arrangements he had recently made with respect to the filling-up of various Colonial Governorships, and mentioned that he had offered that of South Australia to Mr. Lawley. He explained that he knew nothing personally of the gentleman, but, from what he heard of his abilities and character, he had come to the conclusion that he was well fitted for the duties … In the course of conversation the Duke [of Newcastle] mentioned that the only thing which could be alleged against Mr. Lawley was that, like many young men, he had been early addicted to the turf. The Duke added, however, that Mr. Lawley had abandoned the pursuit … Under these circumstances he (Sir G. Grey) had resolved to submit his name to the Queen for appointment. Some days afterward the Duke of Newcastle called upon him, and mentioned that he had received from two quarters in the course of that day information highly injurious to the character of Mr. Lawley … The information was that Mr. Lawley had recently become subject of large liabilities, in consequence of turf transactions; and, further, that there was a still more serious rumour, that Mr. Lawley had availed himself of the knowledge he had acquired, as private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to engage in extensive speculations in the funds … In the course of that morning he had received a letter from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, from which he learned with the greatest grief and concern that Mr. Lawley confessed that he had been engaged in transactions in the funds in the last few months … Under all the circumstances, nothing remained but to advise her Majesty to rescind the appointment.
His career now in ruins, Lawley spent the remainder of his life as a journalist and writer.
Edward Auchmuty Glover
MP for Beverley Mar‑Aug 1857
At the time of Glover's election to the House of Commons, all members needed to be able to meet a qualification as to property, in that they had to show that they owned property worth £300 a year if elected to a borough seat, or £600 a year if elected to a county seat. Glover was returned for Beverley at the general election held on 28 March 1857, after having signed the required declaration as to his property qualifications. It was subsequently discovered, however, that Glover had no interest in the properties named in the declaration, with the result that he was unseated on 3 August 1857. The Parliamentary Committee which had examined his qualifications unanimously recommended that the matter be referred to the Attorney General, with a view to further action being taken.
In April 1858, Glover was tried for making the false property declaration. The following edited report is from the Ipswich Journal of 17 April 1858:-
At the Central Criminal Court on Friday, the 9th inst., Mr. Edward Auchmuty Glover surrendered to take his trial for misdemeanour, in having unlawfully made a false declaration as to his qualification to sit as a member of the House of Commons.
The charge against the defendant was preferred under a resolution of the House of Commons. The defendant was elected member for the borough of Beverley at the last general election. but a petition was subsequently presented against his return, upon the ground that he was not duly qualified. Now no person can sit in the House of Commons unless possessed of a certain property qualification, which by the statute of the 1st and 2nd Vict., was fixed at £300 a year in boroughs and £600 a year for counties. The qualification set up by the defendant appeared to arise out of three properties, two of them being situated in the county of Cork, where the father and the family of the defendant resided, and some property in the neighbourhood of Faversham, and Whitstable, and Herne Bay, in the county of Kent. It was contended, however, that the defendant had not the least shadow of interest in any of these properties such as would form a qualification for a ember of Parliament.
On Monday the trial was resumed and brought to a close. The Jury retired, and after an absence of above three hours returned a verdict of Guilty, but recommended the defendant to mercy, upon the ground that it was the first prosecution of the kind, and secondly, upon the fact of the loose way in which declarations of property are made at the bar of the House of Commons.
The defendant, having been ordered into custody, most solemnly declared that he thought himself entitled to what he had made a declaration of.
His Lordship said that he was sorry to hear him say that, as he felt quite certain the jury had come to a very proper conclusion, and but for the suggestion of the worthy alderman (Alderman Cubitt) he should have passed a more severe sentence than he was about to do, and that was that he be imprisoned in Newgate for four months as a first-class isdemeanant.
The property qualification for entry into the House of Commons was abolished later that year.
Percy Thompson Dean VC
MP for Blackburn 1918‑1922
Dean was a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who took part in the Zeebrugge Raid on 22-23 April 1918. This raid was designed to neutralize the key Belgian port, which was used by the German Navy as a base for their U-boats which in turn comprised a serious danger to British shipping in the English Channel and North Sea.
Part of the plan was to scuttle three old cruisers in order to block the harbour, but the failure of a diversionary attack on the harbour's mole resulted in German fire being directed at the three cruisers. Two of the cruisers, the Intrepid and the Iphigenia, both of which were filled with concrete, were scuttled in the narrowest point of the port's canal.
The crews of the two scuttled cruisers were taken off by a motor launch commanded by Dean. He embarked more than 100 officers and men in the face of constant gunfire from close range. As he was about to take the launch out of the canal, the steering gear broke down, so he was forced to manoeuvre using his engines. Once clear of the harbour's entrance, he became aware of an officer in the water, and immediately turned back and rescued him. Dean was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions.
Sir Walter Dorling Smiles
MP for Blackburn 1931‑1945, co. Down 1945‑1950 and co. Down North 1950‑1953
Sir Walter made the fateful decision to travel about the MV Princess Victoria between Stranraer in Scotland and Larne in Northern Ireland on 31 January 1953. The Princess Victoria was one of earliest roll-on, roll-off ferries to operate in British waters.
Notwithstanding that a gale warning was in force, the Captain put to sea at 7.45 am. The vessel was fitted with a special door designed to protect the sliding stern doors, but this additional door was not deployed. After reaching the open sea, the stern became exposed to the worst of the weather, with the result that the stern doors were damaged and water began to enter the car deck. It proved impossible to close the stern doors, and as a result, water keep pouring into the ship until the order was given to abandon ship at 2 pm.
Due largely to the extreme weather conditions which severely hampered rescue attempts, there were only 44 survivors out of a total of 177 passengers and crew. Not one of the ship's officers were among the survivors, nor were any women and children. As well as Sir Walter, the Deputy Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Sir Maynard Sinclair, was also lost in this disaster.
At the subsequent enquiry, it was found that the stern doors were not strong enough to withstand the actions of the sea, and that there was insufficient means of clearing any water that made its way into the car deck. This was the worst peacetime maritime disaster involving a British-registered vessel until the loss of the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987.
Hugh Mowbray Meyler
Blackpool 1923‑1924
The spectre of looming bankruptcy appears to lie behind Meyler's suicide in April 1929. The report beneath appeared in The Western Daily Press of 1 May 1929:-
Lieut.-Colonel Hugh Mowbray Meyler, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., a member of the firm of H.M. Meyler & co. , Solicitors, and a former M.P., was found shot dead in his office at Churton-street, Pimlico, London, yesterday afternoon. A revolver was lying near him.
Lieut.-Colonel Meyler, in addition to being enrolled as a solicitor in England, qualified as an Attorney in Natal, and in 1910 was elected a member of the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa. As a Liberal, he contested the S.W. Division of Bethnal Green in December, 1918, and Blackpool in November, 1922. He was M.P. for the latter constituency in 1923-1924.
Colonel Meyler returned from lunch apparently in good spirits, and had an interview with three clients who called to see him. He showed them out, chatting genially. Colonel Meyler's interview with his three clients occupied the greater part of the early afternoon. After dealing with their business he ordered tea. Before it had been brought to him, however, another visitor was announced. Colonel Meyler told his clerk that he would see the caller, but a few minutes later a report was heard from his room. His clerks had to break down the door in order to enter, because Colonel Meyler had locked himself in.
Lieut.-Colonel Meyler was one of the officers selected to conduct the prosecution of Sinn Feiners during the troubles in Ireland. His life became unsafe in Cork, and he was transferred to Belfast, where he had charge of many prosecutions against the Republicans, and he was constantly threatened with death.'
The subsequent inquest into Meyler's death was reported in The Western Gazette on 10 May 1929:-
A verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was recorded by the Westminster Coroner on Friday at the inquest on Lieut.-Colonel Hugh Mowbray Meyler, head of the firm of H.M. Meyler & co. , solicitors, an ex-M.P., and a son of a former town clerk of Taunton, who was found shot in his office in Churton-street on Tuesday afternoon.
Evidence was given by George James Gallop, a sheriff's officer, that they were in possession of Colonel Meyler's office furniture under a warrant. He attended to remove the furniture. Colonel Meyler, he said, thought they might have given him a little time. Mr. Gallop agreed that the execution had been postponed for the third and last time.
Mr. Frederick Simpson, a stockbroker of Simpson, Miller & Springer, Threadneedle-street, said that Colonel Meyler had had dealings on the Stock Exchange through his firm, and had bought shares amounting to £2,000 or £3,000, for which he did not pay, and which they then sold at a loss of £400. Ultimately they took proceedings for recovery, and got the execution order preliminary to bankruptcy proceedings.
In his summing up the Coroner read out a letter from Colonel Meyler addressed to him, which said: "30 April, 1929. This caused by the abuse of a legal process. A modern Shylock wants his pound of flesh, as the enclosed copy letter will show."
Colonel Meyler apparently regarded it as a hardship that he was going to be sold up just before bankruptcy proceedings were being taken, and called the stockbrokers "Shylocks" because they would not postpone the legal process for the third time. The Coroner thought they had shown ample consideration.
 

 
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