Down was a constituency represented in the

Irish House of Commons The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords. The membership of the House of Commons was directly elected, but on a highly restrictive fran ...

until 1800.

History

In the

Patriot Parliament Patriot Parliament is the name commonly used for the Irish Parliament session called by King James II during the Williamite War in Ireland which lasted from 1688 to 1691. The first since 1666, it held only one session, which lasted from 7 May ...

of 1689 summoned by James II, Down was represented with two members.

Members of Parliament

1585–1801

Notes

Elections

Elections in the 1790s

At the 1797 general election Francis Savage and

Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, (18 June 1769 – 12 August 1822), usually known as Lord Castlereagh, derived from the courtesy title Viscount Castlereagh ( ) by which he was styled from 1796 to 1821, was an Anglo-Irish politician ...

were elected unopposed. At the by-election in 1793 following Hill's succession as second Marquess of Downshire, Francis Savage was returned unopposed.Jupp (1972), p. 183

Election in the 1780s

Elections in the 1770s

At the 1776 general election Arthur Hill, Viscount Kilwarlin and Robert Stewart were elected unopposed. At the by-election in 1771 following Ward's creation as Baron Bangor

Elections in the 1760s

At the 1768 general election Roger Hall and

Bernard Ward Bernard Ward may refer to: *Bernard Ward, 1st Viscount Bangor (1719–1781), Irish MP for Down, Bangor and Killyleagh *Bernard Ward (bishop) (1857–1920), English Roman Catholic writer *Bernard Ward (sailor) (1918–?), Bermudian Olympic sailor * ...

were elected unopposed.

Election in the 1610s

"In the co. of Down, May-day was the county court day for the election, which the sheriff held at Newry, at which day the sheriff proceeding to the election, moved the freeholders to choose Sir Richard Wingfield and Sir James Hamilton, being recommended to him by the Lord Deputy; but the natives named Sir Arthur Magenisse and Rowland Savage; whereupon all the British freeholders, being 131, cried “Hamilton and Montgomery”, omitting Wingfield; and the Irish, to the number of 101, cried “Magenisse and Savage”. Exception being presently taken to divers of the British for want of freehold, 14 were examined on oath by the sheriff and deposed they were freeholders, and thereupon the sheriff returned Hamilton and Montgomery; to which some of the Irish made objections, which were found partly untrue, and partly frivolous."

References

Bibliography

* * *Peter Jupp, ''County Down Elections, 1783–1831,'' Irish Historical Studies 18, no. 70 (1972): 177–206 * {{County Down constituencies Constituencies of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) Historic constituencies in County Down 1800 disestablishments in Ireland Constituencies disestablished in 1800