1904 Isle of Thanet by-election
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox election
|election_name=1904 Isle of Thanet by-election
|type=presidential
|country=United Kingdom
|previous_election=Isle of Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1900s
|previous_year=1900
|next_election=Isle of Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1900s
|next_year=1906
|election_date=7 October 1904
|candidate1=Marks
|image1=85px
|party1=Conservative Party (UK)
|popular_vote1=4,048
|percentage1=52.5%
|candidate2=King
|image2=85px
|party2=Liberal Party (UK)
|popular_vote2=3,666
|percentage2=47.5%
|title=MP
|posttitle=Subsequent MP
|before_election=James Lowther
|before_party=Conservative Party (UK)
|after_election=Harry Marks
|after_party=Conservative Party (UK)
}}
The 1904 Isle of Thanet by-election was held in the UK Parliament constituency of the Isle of Thanet on 7 October 1904, following the death of Conservative Party MP James Lowther. It was successfully defended for the Conservative party by Harry Marks.
Vacancy
Conservative Party MP James Lowther died on 12 September 1904, triggering a by-election to fill the vacancy.{{cite book|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|last=Lucas|first=Reginald|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2004|editor=rev. H. C. G. Matthew|chapter=Lowther, James (1840–1904)|access-date=2007-01-26|chapter-url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/34614}}
Electoral history
The Isle of Thanet seat had been held by the Conservative party since its creation in 1885. In the 1900 general election Conservative candidate James Lowther was elected unopposed.
{{Election box begin|title=General election 1900: Isle of Thanet British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918, FWS Craig
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=James Lowther
|votes=Unopposed
|percentage= N/A
|change= N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner=Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{Election box end}}
Candidates
In anticipation of a forthcoming general election, the local Liberal association, about 6 months earlier, had selected 44 year old Joseph King as their candidate. He lived in Surrey, where he had previously been elected to the county council.Black and White October 1, 1904
Campaign
The usually Conservative supporting newspaper The Times, took a position in opposition to the Conservative candidate.Black and White October 1, 1904
Result
{{Election box begin|title=Isle of Thanet by-election, 1904 British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918, FWS Craig
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Harry Marks
|votes=4,048
|percentage=52.5
|change= N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate=Joseph King
|votes=3,666
|percentage=47.5
|change= New
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=382
|percentage=5.0
|change= N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes= 7,714
|percentage=71.3
|change= N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner=Conservative Party (UK)
|swing= N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
Aftermath
Marks held the seat at the subsequent general election.
{{Election box begin|title=General election 1906: Isle of Thanet British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918, FWS Craig
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party=Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate=Harry Marks
|votes=5,154
|percentage=51.3
|change= -1.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate=Joseph King
|votes=3,961
|percentage=39.5
|change= -8.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party=Independent Conservative
|candidate=Frederick E McCormick Goodhart
|votes=925
|percentage=9.2
|change= New
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes=1,193
|percentage=11.8
|change= +6.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes= 10,040
|percentage=84.4
|change=+13.1
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner=Conservative Party (UK)
|swing=
}}
{{Election box end}}
Marks would go on to represent the constituency until retiring in 1910.
References
{{reflist}}
{{By-elections to the 27th UK Parliament}}
Category:1904 elections in the United Kingdom
Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Kent constituencies