Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency, 1708–1918)

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Edinburghshire.

As first used, in the 1708 general election of the Parliament of Great Britain, the constituency covered the county of Edinburgh, except the burgh of Edinburgh, which was covered by the Edinburgh burgh constituency. 1708 boundaries were used also for all subsequent elections of that parliament.

In 1801 the Parliament of Ireland was merged with the Parliament of Great Britain to form the Parliament of the United Kingdom . The first general election of the new parliament was the general election of 1802. There was no change to the boundaries of any pre-existing Westminster constituency, and 1802 boundaries were used also in the general elections of 1806, 1807, 1812, 1818, 1820, 1826, 1830 and 1831.

For the 1832 general election, as a result of the Representation of the People Act 1832, the constituency was redefined. The boundaries of counties and burghs for parliamentary purposes ceased to be necessarily those for other purposes, but nominally the Edinburghshire constituency consisted of the county of Edinburgh minus the burghs of Edinburgh, Leith, Portobello, and Musselburgh. Edinburgh was again covered by the Edinburgh constituency, and Leith, Portobello and Musselburgh were covered by the Leith Burghs constituency.

1832 boundaries were used also in the general elections of 1835, 1837, 1841, 1847, 1852, 1857, 1859, 1865, 1874, 1880, 1886, 1892, 1895, 1900, 1906, January 1910 and December 1910.

For the 1918 general election, as a result of the Representation of the People Act 1918, the area of the Edinburghshire constituency was mostly divided between the Midlothian and Peebles Northern and Peebles and Southern Midlothian constituencies. By this date, the county of Edinburgh had been renamed as the county of Midlothian.

The Midlothian and Peebles Northern constituency consisted of the Calder and Suburban districts and part of the Lasswade district of the county of Midlothian, and the Peebles and Southern constituency consisted of the county of Peebles, the Gala Water district and part of the Lasswade district of county of Midlothian, and the burghs of Bonnyrigg, Lasswade, and Penicuik in county of Midlothian.Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972 ({{ISBN|0-900178-09-4}}), F. W. S. Craig, 1972

The rest of the county of Midlothian was covered by the Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh East, Edinburgh North, Edinburgh South, Edinburgh West and Leith constituencies.

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system. There were 56 voters in 1708, 68 in 1710,{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/constituencies/edinburghshire-%28midlothian%29 | title=Edinburghshire (Midlothian)

| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1690-1715)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }} about 80 between 1715 and 1754,{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-1754/constituencies/edinburghshire-%28midlothian%29

| title= Edinburghshire (Midlothian)

| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1715-1754)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }} 84 in 1764, 104 in 1774, 93 in 1788,{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/constituencies/edinburghshire-%28midlothian%29

| title= Edinburghshire (Midlothian)

| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1754-1790)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }} 95 in 1790 rising to 123 in 1811,{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/constituencies/edinburghshire-%28midlothian%29

| title= Edinburghshire (Midlothian)

| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1790-1820)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }} 174 in 1820, 168 in 1826 and 165 in 1830.

{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/edinburghshire| title= Edinburghshire (Midlothian)

| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1820-1832)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }} The seat was redefined for the 1832 general election and replaced for the 1918 general election.

{{Election box begin no change | title=General election 1830: Midlothian{{cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=David R. |title=Edinburghshire |url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/edinburghshire |website=The History of Parliament |accessdate=8 May 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = George Clerk

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = 165

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Tories (British political party)

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=General election 1831: Midlothian}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = George Clerk

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = 165

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Tories (British political party)

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=General election 1832: Midlothian}}

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

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = John Dalrymple

|votes = 601

|percentage = 52.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = George Clerk

|votes = 536

|percentage = 47.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority no change|

|votes = 65

|percentage = 5.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|votes = 1,137

|percentage = 87.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = 1,298

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Tories (British political party)

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = George Clerk

|votes = 565

|percentage = 51.4

|change = +4.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Gibson-Craig

|votes = 534

|percentage = 48.6

|change = −4.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 31

|percentage = 2.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 1,099

|percentage = 79.9

|change = −7.7

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 1,376

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +4.3

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Gibson-Craig

|votes = 703

|percentage = 51.5

|change = +2.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = George Clerk

|votes = 661

|percentage = 48.5

|change = −2.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 42

|percentage = 3.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 1,364

|percentage = 81.1

|change = +1.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 1,682

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +2.9

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Ramsay

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 2,315

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{election box end}}

Ramsay resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 25 June 1845: Midlothian}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Hope

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Hope

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 2,185

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Hope

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 2,017

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

Hope's death caused a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 25 June 1853: Midlothian}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Montagu Douglas Scott

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Montagu Douglas Scott

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 1,960

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Montagu Douglas Scott

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 1,974

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Montagu Douglas Scott

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 1,656

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1868: Midlothian Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1870}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Alexander Ramsay-Gibson-Maitland

|votes = 1,146

|percentage = 55.9

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Montagu Douglas Scott

|votes = 905

|percentage = 44.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 241

|percentage = 11.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 2,051

|percentage = 82.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 2,489

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Montagu Douglas Scott

|votes = 1,194

|percentage = 53.0

|change = +8.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Hay

|votes = 1,059

|percentage = 47.0

|change = -8.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 135

|percentage = 6.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 2,253

|percentage = 84.3

|change = +1.9

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 2,672

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1880: Midlothian {{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 = William Ewart Gladstone

|votes = 1,579

|percentage = 53.6

|change = +6.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Montagu Douglas Scott

|votes = 1,368

|percentage = 46.4

|change = −6.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 211

|percentage = 7.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 2,947

|percentage = 90.4

|change = +6.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 3,260

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +6.6

}}

{{election box end}}

Gladstone's appointment as Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer required a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 10 May 1880: Midlothian }}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Ewart Gladstone

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

File:1271754717 william-e.-gladstone.jpg]]

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1885: Midlothian }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Ewart Gladstone

|votes = 7,879

|percentage = 70.8

|change = +17.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Dalrymple

|votes = 3,248

|percentage = 29.2

|change = −17.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 4,631

|percentage = 41.6

|change = +34.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 11,127

|percentage = 86.1

|change = −4.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 12,924

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = +17.2

}}

{{election box end}}

Gladstone's appointment as Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer required a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 10 Feb 1886: Midlothian Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Ewart Gladstone

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Ewart Gladstone

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{election box end}}

File:Andrew-gilbert-wauchope.jpg]]

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1892: Midlothian {{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Ewart Gladstone

|votes = 5,845

|percentage = 53.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Andrew Wauchope

|votes = 5,155

|percentage = 46.9

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 690

|percentage = 6.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 11,000

|percentage = 83.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 13,234

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{election box end}}

Gladstone's appointment as Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Lord Privy Seal required a by-election.

{{Election box begin| title=By-election, 24 Aug 1892: MidlothianWhitaker's Almanack, 1893

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Ewart Gladstone

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:Thomas_Gibson-Carmichael.jpg]]

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1895: Midlothian

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Gibson-Carmichael

|votes = 6,090

|percentage = 52.0

|change = −1.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate = North de Coigny Dalrymple-Hamilton

|votes = 5,631

|percentage = 48.0

|change = +1.1

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 459

|percentage = 4.0

|change = −2.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 11,721

|percentage = 85.2

|change = +2.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 13,750

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = −1.1

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1900: Midlothian Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Alexander Murray

|votes = 5,804

|percentage = 51.4

|change = −0.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate = North de Coigny Dalrymple-Hamilton

|votes = 5,490

|percentage = 48.6

|change = +0.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 314

|percentage = 2.8

|change = −1.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 11,294

|percentage = 80.7

|change = −4.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 13,991

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = −0.6

}}

{{election box end}}

File:Lord_Dalmeny.jpg]]

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1906: Midlothian Whitaker's Almanack, 1907}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Harry Primrose

|votes = 8,348

|percentage = 61.9

|change = +10.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Frank J. Usher

|votes = 5,131

|percentage = 38.1

|change = −10.5

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,217

|percentage = 23.8

|change = +21.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 13,479

|percentage = 85.8

|change = +5.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 15,711

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = +10.5

}}

{{election box end}}

File:Lord Murray of Elibank - Bain Collection.jpg]]

{{Election box begin | title=General election January 1910: Midlothian {{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Alexander Murray

|votes = 9,062

|percentage = 62.5

|change = +0.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Mountstuart Elphinstone

|votes = 5,427

|percentage = 37.5

|change = −0.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,635

|percentage = 25.0

|change = +1.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 14,489

|percentage = 84.5

|change = −1.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 17,141

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Scottish Liberal Party

|swing = +0.6

}}

{{election box end}}

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

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Alexander Murray

|votes = 8,837

|percentage = 60.9

|change = −1.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Hope

|votes = 5,680

|percentage = 39.1

|change = +1.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,157

|percentage = 21.8

|change = −3.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 14,517

|percentage = 82.3

|change = −2.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 17,639

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Scottish Liberal Party

|swing = −1.6

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:Alexander_Shaw.jpg]]

{{Election box begin | title=1912 Midlothian by-electionDebrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (Scotland)

|candidate = John Hope

|votes = 6,021

|percentage = 41.8

|change = +2.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Scottish Liberal Party

|candidate = Alexander Shaw

|votes = 5,989

|percentage = 41.5

|change = −19.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Brown

|votes = 2,413

|percentage = 16.7

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 32

|percentage = 0.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 14,423

|percentage = 80.8

|change = −1.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 17,847

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (Scotland)

|loser = Scottish Liberal Party

|swing = +11.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist}}

{{rayment-hc|m|2|date=March 2012}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|uk}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-vac|rows=3|last=Buckinghamshire|reason=since 1876}}

{{s-ttl|title=Constituency represented by the prime minister|years=1880–1885}}

{{s-vac|rows=3|next=Manchester East|reason=until 1902}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-ttl|title=Constituency represented by the prime minister|years=1 February – 20 July 1886}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-ttl|title=Constituency represented by the prime minister|years=1892–1895}}

{{s-end}}

{{Scottish Westminster constituencies (style 1)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency, 1708-1918)}}

Category:Historic parliamentary constituencies in Scotland (Westminster)

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1708

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

Category:History of Midlothian