1903 South Antrim by-election

UK parliamentary by-election April 2022 The 1903 South Antrim by-election was held after the sitting Unionist MP William Ellison-Macartney had left the Commons to take up the post of Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint.http://www.ulsterbiography.co.uk/biogsMac1.htm Macartney, William Grey Ellison-1852-1924 Dictionary of Uster Biography (via the wayBack machine) 29 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20080319044843/http://www.ulsterbiography.co.uk/biogsMac1.htm 19 March 2008 It was retained by the Unionist candidate Charles Craig. Vacancy The by-election was caused by the resignation in January 1903 of the sitting Unionist MP, William Ellison-Macartney, after he had been appointed Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint.New Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint 8 January 1903 7 36972 Ellison-Macartney had been the only member of parliament for the constituency since it was created in 1885. By the early 1900s, his popularity in the constituency had dropped considerably due to his reluctance to dispense favour upon Antrim during his time as a junior minister, and he was criticised by the Belfast newspaper The News Letter. A resignation for a government position was a dignified way for the government to help him out of this predicament. He later became a colonial governor. Electoral history Ellison-Macartney was first elected when the constituency was created in 1885, and was re-elected unopposed four times. In the 1900 election there was an independent opponent, but Ellison-Macartney won convincingly with a 9 percent margin. 1900 general election: South AntrimWalker B.M. Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922 1978 Royal Irish Academy Dublin 0901714127 Irish Unionist Party William Ellison-Macartney 3,674 54.39 N/A Independent Unionist Samuel Lawther 3,081 45.61 New 593 8.78 N/A 6,755 65.07 N/A 10,381 Irish Unionist Party N/A Candidates and campaign The Unionists considered several candidates, but nominated Charles Craig, a solicitor from Belfast. Craig was supported by the Church of Ireland, and was a member of the Orange Institution.Election intelligence 5 February 1903 4 36996 His opponent was Dr. Samuel Robert Keightley, a Russellite who was the nominee of the Ulster Farmers′ and Labourers′ Union. Thomas Russell was himself present in the constituency to campaign on his behalf. He was also backed by the previous independent unionist candidate, Samuel Lawther (who was by 1903 High Sheriff of Belfast).Election intelligence 12 January 1903 4 36975 Polling and result 1903 South Antrim by-electionThe Constitutional Year Book, 1904, published by Conservative Central Office, page 187 (211 in web page) Irish Unionist Party Charles Craig 4,464 55.25 +0.86 Russellite Unionist Samuel Robert Keightley 3,615 44.75 +44.75 849 10.50 +1.72 8,079 78.93 +13.86 10,236 Irish Unionist Party N/A Craig held the seat through four subsequent general elections. References External links A Vision Of Britain Through Time (Constituency elector numbers) Category:1903 elections in Ireland Category:1903 elections in the United Kingdom Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in County Antrim constituencies Category:20th century in County Antrim