1830 Liverpool by-election

British election February 2023 January 2023 1830 Liverpool by-election 30 November 1830 William Ewart Radicals (UK) 2,215 50.3% Evelyn Denison Whigs (British political party) 2,186 49.7% Member of Parliament (MP) William Huskisson Tory William Ewart Radicals (UK) The 1830 Liverpool by-election took place on 30 November to elect one of Liverpool's two Members of Parliament (MPs) after the death of incumbent William Huskisson. Huskisson, who had died in a railway accident in September, was a Tory, as was fellow MP Isaac Gascoyne. Radical William Ewart defeated Whig Evelyn Denison. Both men's views were regarded as similar, but Denison was considered more elitist and anti-reform. After allegations of bribery, the election was nullified in March. Both Ewart and Denison defeated Gascoyne heavily in the following year's general election. Background The constituency of Liverpool was entitled to two Members of Parliament (MPs). Since 1729, franchise in the constituency had been restricted to the Mayor, bailiffs, and freemen who were not receiving alms. This gave an electorate size contemporaneously estimated to be around 3,000,Representation of Liverpool https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116219765/representation-of-liverpool/ 11 January 2023 Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 6 301 4 2 October 1830 Newspapers.com although modern sources give more than 5,000 eligible voters in the early 1830s. Isaac Gascoyne and George Canning heavily defeated two other candidates to receive the seats in 1820. Canning became prime minister in 1823, whereupon his protege, William Huskisson, succeeded him in the constituency. Gascoyne and Huskisson would continue as MPs until Huskisson died in an accident while attending the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway on 15 September, necessitating a by-election to determine his successor. Campaign Campaigning for the election began before Huskisson was buried, on 24 September. William Ewart, a member of multiple commercial and politically-linked families, announced his candidacy on 1 October.Representation of Liverpool https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116219204/representation-of-liverpool/ 11 January 2023 Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 6 301 2 2 October 1830 Newspapers.com A Mr. Gladstone was speculated as a possible third candidate on 22 October, but had not formally entered the race as of the following day. At the same time, the opinions of Denison and Ewart were considered so identical that in the absence of a third candidate the race was considered "in great measure a personal one".Representation of Liverpool https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116218777/representation-of-liverpool/ 11 January 2023 Sheffield and Rotherham Independent 11 566 4 23 October 1830 Newspapers.com Nevertheless, Denison was criticised for failing to disclose his opinions on various issues to the electorate at that time. During the campaign, Denison was criticised for espousing aristocratic and anti-franchise expansion views, which were considered especially hypocritical given that he had visited America.Vindex To the Editors of the Liverpool Mercury https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116220078/to-the-editors-of-the-liverpool-mercury/ 11 January 2023 Liverpool Mercury 20 1019 8 12 November 1830 Newspapers.com Results This election was conducted over the course of 7 days.Stooks Smith Henry. Craig F. W. S. F. W. S. Craig The Parliaments of England 1844–1850 2nd 1973 Parliamentary Research Services Chichester 0-900178-13-2 180–184 https://archive.org/details/parliamentsofeng0000smit/page/180 By-election, 30 November 1830: LiverpoolEscott Margaret Liverpool https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/liverpool The History of Parliament 11 January 2023 Radicals (UK) William Ewart 2,215 50.3 +30.6 Whigs (British political party) Evelyn Denison 2,186 49.7 N/A 29 0.6 N/A 4,401 82.3 +77.0 5,350 Radicals (UK) Tories (British political party) N/A Aftermath Both sides accused each other of bribery, and the election was declared null and void in March. In the 1831 election, both Denison and Ewart defeated Gascoyne by a respective 1,886 and 1,910 to Gascoyne's 610. Gascoyne, mockingly described as "Gallant" by the Morning Chronicle, was also deemed to have "the ambition to obtain a bad pre-eminence".https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116219353/gascoyne/ 11 January 2023 The Morning Chronicle 19 47 2 6 May 1831 Newspapers.com (()) References Category:1830 elections in the United Kingdom Category:1830 in England Category:1830s in Liverpool Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Liverpool constituencies Category:November 1830