Carmarthen (1542–1918 UK Parliament constituency)

File:Carmarthenshire boundaries map 1885.jpg

Until 1832, Carmarthen was a borough constituency consisting of the town of Carmarthen.

Between 1832 and 1918 Carmarthen was a district of boroughs constituency, consisting of Carmarthen itself and Llanelli, and was sometimes called "The Carmarthen Boroughs". A county-wide constituency also existed, called Carmarthenshire, until 1885 (at which point it was split into East and West).

In 1918, the Carmarthen borough constituency was abolished, but the name was transferred to the new county-wide division of Carmarthen.

{{Election box begin no change | title=General election 1830: Carmarthen Boroughs{{cite web |last1=Escott |first1=Margaret |title=Carmarthen |url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/carmarthen |website=The History of Parliament |access-date=4 May 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = John Jones

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Tories (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

At the 1830 general election, rioting broke out during polling, at which point John Jones and his Whig rival, John George Philipps, had secured three votes apiece. The vote was abandoned and a by-election was called four months later in December.

{{Election box begin no change | title=1831 Carmarthen Boroughs by-election{{cite web |last1=Escott |first1=Margaret |title=Carmarthen |url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/carmarthen |website=The History of Parliament |access-date=4 May 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = John Jones

|votes = 274

|percentage = 57.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = John George Philipps

|votes = 203

|percentage = 42.6

}}

{{Election box majority no change|

|votes = 71

|percentage = 14.8

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|votes = 477

|percentage = {{circa|66.0}}

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = {{circa|723}}

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Tories (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1832: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Henry Yelverton

|votes = 302

|percentage = 50.6

|change = +8.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = John Jones

|votes = 295

|percentage = 49.4

|change = -8.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 7

|percentage = 1.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 597

|percentage = 87.3

|change = {{circa|+21.3}}

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 684

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Tories (British political party)

|swing = +8.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1835: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = David Lewis

|votes = 304

|percentage = 53.1

|change = +3.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Henry Yelverton

|votes = 268

|percentage = 46.9

|change = -3.7

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 36

|percentage = 6.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 572

|percentage = 74.0

|change = -13.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 773

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +3.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1837: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = David Morris

|votes = 333

|percentage = 53.7

|change = +6.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = David Lewis

|votes = 287

|percentage = 46.3

|change = -6.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 46

|percentage = 7.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 620

|percentage = 78.9

|change = +4.9

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 786

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +6.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1841: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = David Morris

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 938

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1847: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = David Morris

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 991

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1852: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = David Morris

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 849

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1857: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = David Morris

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 799

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1859: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = David Morris

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 823

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1864 Carmarthen Boroughs by-election}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Morris

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1865: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Morris

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 884

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1868: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Cowell-Stepney

|votes = 1,892

|percentage = 76.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Morgan Dalrymple Treherne{{cite news|title=The Battle of the Boroughs|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000930/18681128/039/0004|access-date=3 February 2018|work=Carmarthen Weekly Reporter|date=28 November 1868|page=4|via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

|votes = 595

|percentage = 23.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,297

|percentage = 52.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 2,487

|percentage = 75.7

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 3,286

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1874: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles William Nevill

|votes = 1,654

|percentage = 52.8

|change = +28.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Arthur Cowell-Stepney

|votes = 1,481

|percentage = 47.2

|change = −28.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 173

|percentage = 5.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 3,135

|percentage = 69.8

|change = −5.9

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 4,494

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = +28.9

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1876 Carmarthen Boroughs by-election}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Arthur Cowell-Stepney

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1878 Carmarthen Boroughs by-election}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Benjamin Thomas Williams

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1880: Carmarthen Boroughs{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=F. W. S.|editor-link=F. W. S. Craig|title=British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885|date=1977|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=978-1-349-02349-3|edition=1st|type=e-book}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Benjamin Thomas Williams

|votes = 1,935

|percentage = 51.5

|change = +4.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent Liberal

|candidate = John Jones Jenkins{{cite news|title=The nomination for Carmarthen Boroughs|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001578/18820107/058/0015|access-date=24 November 2017|work=The Illustrated London News|date=7 January 1882|page=15}}

|votes = 1,825

|percentage = 48.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 110

|percentage = 3.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 3,760

|percentage = 70.0

|change = +0.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,369

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1882 Carmarthen Boroughs by-election}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Jones Jenkins

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1885: Carmarthen BoroughsBritish parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Jones Jenkins

|votes = 2,884

|percentage = 69.2

|change = +17.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Simmons Tregoning

|votes = 1,281

|percentage = 30.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,603

|percentage = 38.4

|change = +35.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 4,165

|percentage = 77.1

|change = +7.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,399

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1886: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Arthur Cowell-Stepney

|votes = 2,120

|percentage = 52.8

|change = −16.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = John Jones Jenkins

|votes = 1,898

|percentage = 47.2

|change = +16.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 222

|percentage = 5.6

|change = −32.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 4,018

|percentage = 74.4

|change = −2.7

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,399

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = −16.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1892: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Evan Rowland Jones

|votes = 2,412

|percentage = 52.4

|change = −0.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = John Jones Jenkins

|votes = 2,187

|percentage = 47.6

|change = +0.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 225

|percentage = 4.8

|change = −0.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 4,599

|percentage = 87.0

|change = +12.6

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,289

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = −0.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:1895_Carmarthen_District_candidates.jpg

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1895: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = John Jones Jenkins

|votes = 2,443

|percentage = 50.5

|change = +2.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Evan Rowland Jones

|votes = 2,391

|percentage = 49.5

|change = −2.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 52

|percentage = 1.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 4,834

|percentage = 90.0

|change = +3.0

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,370

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)

|loser = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = +2.9

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1900: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Alfred Davies

|votes = 2,837

|percentage = 58.1

|change = +8.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = John Jones Jenkins

|votes =2,047

|percentage = 41.9

|change = −8.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 790

|percentage = 16.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 4,884

|percentage = 87.9

|change = −2.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,557

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = +8.6

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:Llewelyn Williams MP.jpg

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1906: Carmarthen Boroughs

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = W. Llewelyn Williams

|votes = 3,902

|percentage = 68.3

|change = +10.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Vere Ponsonby

|votes =1,808

|percentage = 31.7

|change = −10.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,094

|percentage = 36.6

|change = +20.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 5,710

|percentage = 91.2

|change = +3.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 6,258

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = +10.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election January 1910: Carmarthen BoroughsCraig, F. W. S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = W. Llewelyn Williams

|votes = 4,197

|percentage = 68.1

|change = −0.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Viscount Tiverton

|votes = 1,965

|percentage = 31.9

|change = +0.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,232

|percentage = 36.2

|change = −0.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 6,162

|percentage = 91.0

|change = −0.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 6,772

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = −0.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election December 1910: Carmarthen Boroughs}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = W. Llewelyn Williams

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1912 Carmarthen Boroughs by-election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = W. Llewelyn Williams

|votes = 3,836

|percentage = 58.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Coulson Bond

|votes = 2,555

|percentage = 39.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent Labour

|candidate = Frank G Vivian

|votes = 149

|percentage = 2.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,281

|percentage = 19.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 6,540

|percentage = 89.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 7,281

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing =-8.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1915 Carmarthen Boroughs by-election}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = W. Llewelyn Williams

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist}}

• Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [https://archive.org/details/achronologicalr00beatgoog ]
• D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
• Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [https://web.archive.org/web/20150904125310/http://www2.odl.ox.ac.uk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=p-000-00---0modhis06--00-0-0-0prompt-10---4------0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---00001-001-1-1isoZz-8859Zz-1-0&a=d&cl=CL1]
• The Constitutional Year Book for 1913 (London: National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, 1913)
• F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
• J Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)

{{Historic constituencies in Wales|selected = Until 1918}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carmarthen}}

Category:Historic parliamentary constituencies in South Wales

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1542

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1832

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1918

Category:Politics of Carmarthenshire