Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
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Hertfordshire was a
county constituency In the United Kingdom (UK), each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one member to the House of Commons. Within the United Kingdom there are five bodies with members elected by electoral districts called " constitue ...
covering the county of Hertfordshire in England. It returned two
Knights of the Shire Knight of the shire ( la, milites comitatus) was the formal title for a member of parliament (MP) representing a county constituency in the British House of Commons, from its origins in the medieval Parliament of England until the Redistribution ...
to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and to the
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...
of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...
from 1800 until 1832. The Reform Act 1832 gave the county a third seat with effect from the 1832 general election. Elections were held using the bloc vote system, when contested. However, even after the 1832 reforms, contested elections were the exception: of the 17 elections from 1832 to 1880, 9 were uncontested, including the 1880 general election. In such cases all the nominated candidates were returned without a vote.


History

The constituency consisted of the historic county of Hertfordshire. (Although Hertfordshire contained two boroughs, Hertford and St Albans, each of which elected two MPs in its own right, these were not excluded from the county constituency, and owning property within the borough could confer a vote at the county election.) As in other
county constituencies In the United Kingdom (UK), each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one member to the House of Commons. Within the United Kingdom there are five bodies with members elected by electoral districts called " constitue ...
the franchise between 1430 and 1832 was defined by the Forty Shilling Freeholder Act, which gave the right to vote to every man who possessed
freehold Freehold may refer to: In real estate *Freehold (law), the tenure of property in fee simple * Customary freehold, a form of feudal tenure of land in England * Parson's freehold, where a Church of England rector or vicar of holds title to benefice ...
property within the county valued at £2 or more per year for the purposes of land tax; it was not necessary for the freeholder to occupy his land, nor even in later years to be resident in the county at all. Except during the period of the Commonwealth, Hertfordshire has two MPs elected by the bloc vote method, under which each voter had two votes. In the nominated Barebones Parliament, two members represented Hertfordshire. In the First and Second Parliaments of
Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three K ...
's Protectorate, however, there was a general redistribution of seats and Hertfordshire elected five members, while each of the boroughs had their representation reduced to a single MP. The traditional arrangements were restored from 1659.


General character of the constituency before the Reform Act

At the time of the
Great Reform Act The Representation of the People Act 1832 (also known as the 1832 Reform Act, Great Reform Act or First Reform Act) was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom (indexed as 2 & 3 Will. IV c. 45) that introduced major changes to the electo ...
in 1832, Hertfordshire had a population of approximately 143,000, and was entirely agricultural in character, although there was a limited urban vote: at the election of 1805, when 2628 votes were cast, four towns ( St Albans, Bishops Stortford, Ware and Hitchin) provided more than 100 votes each though none provided more than 160. Elections were held at a single polling place, Hertford, and voters from the rest of the county had to travel to the county town to exercise their franchise; but in a physically small county like Hertfordshire, with good roads, this was less prohibitively expensive than in some others. (It was normal for voters to expect the candidates for whom they voted to meet their expenses in travelling to the poll, making the cost of a contested election substantial in many counties. Even in Hertfordshire, it was reported that accommodation and entertainment for the voters at the county meeting in September 1774 cost the candidates £4,000; and that was merely a meeting to discuss the candidates and see if consensus could be reached without the need for a contest – the cost of the poll the following month, that in the end could not be averted, was on top of this.) Contested elections were relatively frequent (there were contests at 13 of the 28 general elections between 1701 and 1831), and were often vigorously fought – the voters valued their independence, and at least from the middle of the 18th century no landed interests had much influence over them, although fifty years earlier the local gentry reckoned to return one of the two MPs without opposition.


The by-election of 1805

Peter Jupp includes in his collection of documents relating to elections round the turn of the 19th century a contemporary account of the Hertfordshire by-election, written by one of the candidates, William Baker, which gives a vivid picture of electioneering in the county at this period. The election was a straight fight between Baker and Hon. Thomas Brand to fill the vacancy left by the death of Hon. Peniston Lamb; Baker had been the county's MP until three years previously, and was backed by Pitt and his government, while Brand had particular support among the religious dissenters. Baker's campaign took the form of a personal canvass of the voters, by visiting every town and village of any size in the county, if possible on market day: Hertford on the 26th; Ware on the 28th; then Watton; Stevenage; Hitchin and
Baldock Baldock ( ) is a historic market town and unparished area in the local government district of North Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire, England, where the River Ivel rises. It lies north of London, southeast of Bedford, and north n ...
on the same day; and so through the whole of Hertfordshire in two weeks, over snow-bound roads with even the high road between St Albans and Berkhamsted barely passable in places. He travelled mostly on horseback, his carriage "attending me as it could at intervals by the great roads, and meeting me at the places where I was to sleep". In most of the county he had already pledges of solid support (he records that at Stevenage he had "nothing to do but go round... and thank the voters for their promises already made in my favour to their
Rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
"), and where possible in each place he was met by the local magnates who joined him in his canvassing to demonstrate their support. The informality of the election itself seems strange today. After the candidates had made their final speeches at Hertford, the Sheriff took a show of hands and could have ended the proceedings there and then, had the candidates been content; but, Brand demanding the poll that was his right everybody proceeded to the hustings. Voting thus began around one in the afternoon. The poll was continued on the second day, the arrangement being that voting would be from eight o'clock until three, but ended as soon as Brand admitted defeat, some half-an-hour before the agreed deadline. By this time Baker had 1,556 votes and Brand only 1,076, and plainly he felt he had too few supporters unpolled to have any hope of making up the deficit. The election ended in typically rumbustious fashion. Baker having been declared the victor, his supporters celebrated by chairing their candidate round the town, but :''"Wilshere's coachman... had the insolence to drive his master's carriage full speed through the crowd at the time of chairing, to the risk of the lives of hundreds. Providentially, however, no person was materially injured. Brand made an apology to me afterwards by letter for the outrage, and Wilshere, though not at my desire, has since turned the servant away..."''
- Letter of William Baker to his son, 22 February 1805, in Hertfordshire County Records Office, quoted by Jupp, ''op cit''


After the Reform Act

In 1832, the
Great Reform Act The Representation of the People Act 1832 (also known as the 1832 Reform Act, Great Reform Act or First Reform Act) was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom (indexed as 2 & 3 Will. IV c. 45) that introduced major changes to the electo ...
increased the county's representation from two to three MPs (a change that had not been in the original Reform Bill of 1830 but was adopted the following year), as well as making minor boundary changes. (One parish, Coleshill, was transferred to Buckinghamshire.) The extension of the franchise to tenants-at-will, copyholders and leaseholders increased the electorate a little, but the 4,245 electors registered in 1832 was not much higher than the 4,000 qualified voters who have been estimated for 1754. However, the electorate grew by almost half over the next thirty years, and the extension of the franchise in 1868 increased the electorate still further, to more than 9,000.


Abolition

The borough of St Albans was disenfranchised for corruption in 1852 and the borough of Hertford was reduced to single-member representation by the
1867 Reform Act The Representation of the People Act 1867, 30 & 31 Vict. c. 102 (known as the Reform Act 1867 or the Second Reform Act) was a piece of British legislation that enfranchised part of the urban male working class in England and Wales for the first ...
. Under the
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (48 & 49 Vict., c. 23) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equal ...
, the borough of Hertford ceased to exist, and the county of Hertfordshire was divided into four new single-member constituencies: the Mid or St Albans division of Hertfordshire, the Eastern or Hertford division, the Northern or Hitchin division and the Western or Watford division.


Members of Parliament


MPs 1290–1640

{, class="wikitable" , - !Parliament!!First member!!Second member , - , 1294, ,
Roger Bryan Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...
, - , 1296, ,
Roger Bryan Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...
, - , 1306, , Ranulph de Monte Canisto , - , 1312, 1337, 1349 , Sir Phillip de Peletot , , - , 1377 (Jan), ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , , - , 1379, ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , , - , 1380 (Jan), ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , , - , 1380 (Nov), ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , , - , 1381, ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , , - , 1384, , Sir Edward Benstede, , , - , 1385, ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , , - , 1386, ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , Thomas Lee , - , 1388 (February), ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , Sir Robert Turk , - , 1388 (September), ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , Sir Robert Turk , - , 1390 (January), ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , Sir John Thornbury , - , 1390 (November), ,
Sir Walter Lee Sir Walter Lee or Walter Attelee (c. 1350–1395), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. Life Lee was born in either 1348 or 1353. He was the son and heir of Sir John Lee of Albury, who died in 1370, and was the stewart of the hous ...
, , John Ruggewyn , - , 1391, ,
John Norbury John Norbury (died 1414) of Hoddesdon and Little Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, was an English courtier, ambassador and Member of Parliament who served as Lord High Treasurer of England. Origins He was a younger son of Thomas Norbury of Nantwic ...
, , Sir John Thornbury , - , 1393, , Sir Robert Turk, , John Ruggewyn , - , 1394, , Richard de la Pantry, , John Ruggewyn , - , 1395, , Sir Thomas Morewell, , John Ruggewyn , - , 1397 (January), , Sir Edward Benstede, , John Ruggewyn , - , 1397 (September), , Sir Edward Benstede, , John Ruggewyn , - , 1399, , Sir Edward Benstede, , John Ludwick , - , 1401, , Sir Thomas de la Barre, , Robert Newport , - , 1402, , Sir Edward Benstede, , Sir Robert Corbet , - , 1404 (January), , Sir John Poultney, , Sir Robert Corbet , - , 1404 (October), , Sir John Poultney, , William Parker , - , 1406, , Sir John Poultney, , John Goldington , - , 1407, , William Parker, , Sir Thomas de la Barre , - , 1410, , , - , 1411, , Sir Thomas de la Barre, , Robert Newport , - , 1413 (February), , , - , 1413 (May), ,
John Hotoft John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...
, , John Leventhorpe , - , 1414 (April), ,
John Hotoft John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...
, ,
William Flete William Flete was a 14th-century Augustinian hermit friar, a contemporary and great friend of St. Catherine of Siena. Biography The exact place and date of his birth are unknown and those of his death are disputed. He was an English mystic, and ...
{ , - , 1414 (November), ,
John Hotoft John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...
, ,
William Flete William Flete was a 14th-century Augustinian hermit friar, a contemporary and great friend of St. Catherine of Siena. Biography The exact place and date of his birth are unknown and those of his death are disputed. He was an English mystic, and ...
, - , 1415, , , - , 1416 (March), ,
John Hotoft John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...
, , John Leventhorpe , - , 1416 (October), , , - , 1417, , Sir Philip Thornbury, ,
John Hotoft John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...
, - , 1419, ,
John Fray Sir John Fray (died 1461) was an English lawyer who was Chief Baron of the Exchequer and a Member of Parliament. He was elected Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in 1419 and 1420. He served on a number of commissions before being appointe ...
, ,
John Hotoft John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...
, - , 1420, ,
John Fray Sir John Fray (died 1461) was an English lawyer who was Chief Baron of the Exchequer and a Member of Parliament. He was elected Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in 1419 and 1420. He served on a number of commissions before being appointe ...
, , John Barley , - , 1421 (May), ,
Robert Louthe The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
, , William Rokesburgh , - , 1421 (December), , Sir Philip Thornbury, , John Kirby , - , 1422, , John Leventhorpe, ,
John Hotoft John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...
, - , 1427, , Sir John Tyrell , - , 1435, , Thomas Broket , - , 1439, , Sir John Cressy , - , 1447, ,
John Troutbeck Reverend Doctor John Troutbeck (November 12, 1832, Blencowe–October 11, 1899, London) was an English clergyman, translator and musicologist, a Canon (priest), Canon Precentor of Westminster Abbey and Chaplain-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria, whos ...
, - , 1449, , Sir Robert Wingfield , - , October 1450, , Sir William Oldhall, , , - , March 1453, , John Say, , Bartholemew Halley , - , April 1453, , John Say, , Bartholemew Halley , - , February 1454, , John Say, , Bartholemew Halley , - , 1463, ,
Sir John Say Sir John Say (born 1415 in Podington, Bedfordshire, England, died 12 April 1478) was an English courtier, MP and Speaker of the House of Commons. Life He was the son of John Say (born before 1445) and his wife Maud. His brother, aster Willia ...
, - , 1467, ,
Sir John Say Sir John Say (born 1415 in Podington, Bedfordshire, England, died 12 April 1478) was an English courtier, MP and Speaker of the House of Commons. Life He was the son of John Say (born before 1445) and his wife Maud. His brother, aster Willia ...
, - , 1472, ,
Sir John Say Sir John Say (born 1415 in Podington, Bedfordshire, England, died 12 April 1478) was an English courtier, MP and Speaker of the House of Commons. Life He was the son of John Say (born before 1445) and his wife Maud. His brother, aster Willia ...
, - , January 1478, ,
Sir John Say Sir John Say (born 1415 in Podington, Bedfordshire, England, died 12 April 1478) was an English courtier, MP and Speaker of the House of Commons. Life He was the son of John Say (born before 1445) and his wife Maud. His brother, aster Willia ...
, , John Sturgeon , - , 1491, , Sir William Say, , , - , 1495, , Sir William Say, , , - , 1510–1523, , colspan = "2", ''No names known'' , - , 1529, , Henry Barley, , Philip Butler , - , 1536, , , - , 1539, , Sir Henry Parker, , Sir Philip Butler , - , 1542, ,
Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Ralph Sadler or Sadleir PC, Knight banneret (1507 – 30 March 1587) was an English statesman, who served Henry VIII as Privy Councillor, Secretary of State and ambassador to Scotland. Sadler went on to serve Edward VI. Having signed the d ...
, , Edward Brocket or John Brocket, snr , - , 1545, , Sir Richard Lee, , John Cock , - , 1547, , Sir
Anthony Denny Sir Anthony Denny (16 January 1501 – 10 September 1549) was Groom of the Stool to King Henry VIII of England, thus his closest courtier and confidant. He was the most prominent member of the Privy chamber in King Henry's last years, having ...
, ''died
and repl. October 1549 by '' Sir Henry Parker, ''died
and repl. January 1552 by'' John Cock, , Sir Ralph Rowlett , - , 1553 (Mar), ,
Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Ralph Sadler or Sadleir PC, Knight banneret (1507 – 30 March 1587) was an English statesman, who served Henry VIII as Privy Councillor, Secretary of State and ambassador to Scotland. Sadler went on to serve Edward VI. Having signed the d ...
, , John Cock , - , 1553 (Oct), , Sir John Butler, , Sir John Brocket, snr , - , 1554 (Apr), , John Cock, , Francis Southwell , - , 1554 (Nov), , John Cock, , Edward Brocket , - , 1555, , Sir John Brocket, snr, , John Cock , - , 1558, , John Foster, ,
John Purvey John Purvey (c. 1354 – c. 1414) was an English theologian, reformer, and disciple of John Wycliffe. He was born around 1354 in Lathbury, near Newport Pagnell in the county of Buckinghamshire, England. He was a great scholar, permitted to ente ...
, - , 1559 (Jan), , Sir Thomas Parry, ,
Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Ralph Sadler or Sadleir PC, Knight banneret (1507 – 30 March 1587) was an English statesman, who served Henry VIII as Privy Councillor, Secretary of State and ambassador to Scotland. Sadler went on to serve Edward VI. Having signed the d ...
, - , 1562–3, ,
Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Ralph Sadler or Sadleir PC, Knight banneret (1507 – 30 March 1587) was an English statesman, who served Henry VIII as Privy Councillor, Secretary of State and ambassador to Scotland. Sadler went on to serve Edward VI. Having signed the d ...
, , Henry Capell , - , 1571, ,
Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Ralph Sadler or Sadleir PC, Knight banneret (1507 – 30 March 1587) was an English statesman, who served Henry VIII as Privy Councillor, Secretary of State and ambassador to Scotland. Sadler went on to serve Edward VI. Having signed the d ...
, , Sir George Carey , - , 1572 (Apr), ,
Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Ralph Sadler or Sadleir PC, Knight banneret (1507 – 30 March 1587) was an English statesman, who served Henry VIII as Privy Councillor, Secretary of State and ambassador to Scotland. Sadler went on to serve Edward VI. Having signed the d ...
, , Sir John Brocket, jnr , - , 1584 (Nov), ,
Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Ralph Sadler or Sadleir PC, Knight banneret (1507 – 30 March 1587) was an English statesman, who served Henry VIII as Privy Councillor, Secretary of State and ambassador to Scotland. Sadler went on to serve Edward VI. Having signed the d ...
, , Sir Henry Cocke , - , 1586 (Oct), ,
Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Ralph Sadler or Sadleir PC, Knight banneret (1507 – 30 March 1587) was an English statesman, who served Henry VIII as Privy Councillor, Secretary of State and ambassador to Scotland. Sadler went on to serve Edward VI. Having signed the d ...
, , Sir Henry Cocke , - , 1588 (Oct), , Robert Cecil, , Sir Philip Butler , - , 1593, , Sir Robert Cecil, , Sir Henry Cocke , - , 1597 (Sep), , Sir Robert Cecil, , Rowland Lytton , - , 1601 (Oct), , Sir Robert Cecil, , Sir Henry Cary , - , 1604, , Sir Henry Cary, , Rowland Lytton , - , 1614, , Sir Henry Carey, ,
Ralph Coningsby Ralph (pronounced ; or ,) is a male given name of English, Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Old English ''Rædwulf'' and Radulf, cognate with the Old Norse ''Raðulfr'' (''rað'' "counsel" and ''ulfr'' "wolf"). The most common forms ...
, - , 1621, , Sir Henry Cary , ,
Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet (18 April 1587 – 20 August 1628) (also Moryson) of Cashiobury in Watford, Hertfordshire, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1628. Origins Morrison ...
, - , 1624, ,
Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet (18 April 1587 – 20 August 1628) (also Moryson) of Cashiobury in Watford, Hertfordshire, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1628. Origins Morrison ...
, , Sir William Lytton , - , 1625, , rowspan = "2", John Boteler, , Sir John Boteler , - , 1626, , Sir Thomas Dacres , - , 1628, , Sir William Lytton, , Sir Thomas Dacres , - , 1629–1640, , colspan = "2", ''No Parliament summoned''


MPs 1640–1653

{, class="wikitable" , - !Year!!!!First member!!First party!!!!Second member!!Second party , - , April 1640 , rowspan="2" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="2",
Arthur Capel Arthur Edward Capel CBE (December 1881 – 22 December 1919), known as Boy Capel, was an English polo player, possibly best-remembered for being a lover and muse of fashion designer Coco Chanel. Biography Born in Brighton, Sussex, Capel ...
, , rowspan="2",
Royalist A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of governm ...
, style="background-color: white" , , Sir William Lytton , , , - , November 1640 , rowspan="2" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="2", Sir William Lytton , , rowspan="2", Parliamentarian , - , August 1641 , style="background-color: white" , , Sir Thomas Dacres, , Parliamentarian , - , December 1648 , colspan="6", ''Dacres and Lytton excluded in
Pride's Purge Pride's Purge is the name commonly given to an event that took place on 6 December 1648, when soldiers prevented members of Parliament considered hostile to the New Model Army from entering the House of Commons of England. Despite defeat in the ...
– both seats vacant'' , - , 1653 , style="background-color: white" , , Henry Lawrence, , , style="background-color: white" , , William Reeve, , , -


MPs 1654–1658

{, class="wikitable" , colspan="7", ''
First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the Ho ...
: representation increased to 5 members'' , - !Year!!!!First member!!Second member!!Third member!!Fourth member!!Fifth member , - ,
1654 Events January–March * January 6– In India, Jaswant Singh of Marwar (in what is now the state of Rajasthan) is elevated to the title of Maharaja by Emperor Shah Jahan. * January 11– In the Battle of Río Bueno in sout ...
, style="background-color: white" , , Henry Lawrence, , rowspan="2", Sir Richard Lucy, Bt, , rowspan="2", John Wittewrong, , rowspan="2", The Earl of Salisbury, ,
Thomas Nicholl Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...
, - , 1656 , style="background-color: white" , , Sir John Gore, , Rowland Lytton , -


MPs 1659–1832

{, class="wikitable" , colspan="7", ''
Third Protectorate Parliament The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons. It was a bicameral Parliament, with an Upper House having a po ...
: representation reverted to 2 members'' , - !Year!!!!First member!!First party!!!!Second member!!Second party , - , January 1659 , style="background-color: white" , ,
Richard Galston Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'strong ...
, , , style="background-color: white" , , Rowland Lytton , , , - , May 1659 , colspan="6", ''Not represented in the restored Rump'' , - , April 1660 , style="background-color: white" , , Henry Caesar , , style="background-color: white" , , Rowland Lytton , , - , 1661 , rowspan="4" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="4", Sir Richard Franklin , rowspan="4", , style="background-color: white" , , Sir Thomas Fanshawe , , - , 1666 , style="background-color: white" , , Sir Henry Caesar , , - , 1668 , style="background-color: white" , , Viscount Cranborne , , - , 1669 , rowspan="2" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="2", William Hale , rowspan="2", , - , February 1679 , style="background-color: white" , , Silius Titus , , - , August 1679 , style="background-color: white" , , Sir Jonathan Keate , , rowspan="2" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="2", Sir Charles Caesar , rowspan="2", , - , 1681 , style="background-color: white" , , William Hale , , - , 1685 , style="background-color: white" , , Ralph Freman , , style="background-color: white" , , Thomas Halsey , , - , 1689 , rowspan="3" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="3", Sir Thomas Blount , rowspan="3", , style="background-color: white" , , Sir Charles Caesar , , - , 1690 , style="background-color: white" , , Ralph Freman , , - , 1695 , rowspan="2" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="2", Thomas Halsey , rowspan="2", , - , 1697 , rowspan="4" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="4", Ralph Freman, junior , rowspan="4", , - , 1705 , style="background-color: white" , , Sir John Spencer, Bt , , - , 1708 , style="background-color: white" , , Thomas Halsey , , - , 1715 , rowspan="3" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="3", Sir Thomas Sebright, Bt , rowspan="3", , - , 1727 , style="background-color: " , , Charles Caesar , Tory , - , 1734 , rowspan="2" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="2",
William Plumer William Plumer (June 25, 1759December 22, 1850) was an American lawyer, Baptist lay preacher, and politician from Epping, New Hampshire. He is most notable for his service as a Federalist in the United States Senate (1802–1807), and the sevent ...
, rowspan="2", Whig , - , 1736 , style="background-color: " , , Charles Caesar , Tory , - , 1741 , style="background-color: " , ,
Jacob Houblon Jacob Houblon (31 July 1710 – 1770), of Hallingbury, Essex, was a British landowner and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1735 and 1768. Houblon was the only surviving son of Charles Houblon, Portugal merchant, of Bubbin ...
, Tory , rowspan="3" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="3",
Charles Gore Charles Gore (22 January 1853 – 17 January 1932) was a Church of England bishop, first of Worcester, then Birmingham, and finally of Oxford. He was one of the most influential Anglican theologians of the 19th century, helping reconcile the c ...
, rowspan="3", Tory , - , 1747 , style="background-color: white" , ,
Paggen Hale Paggen Hale ( – 3 April 1755) was a British politician, who served as MP for Hertfordshire. Hale was the second son of William Hale of King's Walden, Hertfordshire, and his wife Catherine, daughter of Peter Paggen of Wandsworth, Surrey. William ...
, , - , 1755 , style="background-color: ", ,
William Plumer William Plumer (June 25, 1759December 22, 1850) was an American lawyer, Baptist lay preacher, and politician from Epping, New Hampshire. He is most notable for his service as a Federalist in the United States Senate (1802–1807), and the sevent ...
, Whig , - , 1761 , style="background-color: white" , ,
Thomas Plumer Byde Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...
, , style="background-color: " , ,
Jacob Houblon Jacob Houblon (31 July 1710 – 1770), of Hallingbury, Essex, was a British landowner and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1735 and 1768. Houblon was the only surviving son of Charles Houblon, Portugal merchant, of Bubbin ...
, Tory , - , 1768 , rowspan="2" style="background-color: white" , , rowspan="5",
William Plumer William Plumer (June 25, 1759December 22, 1850) was an American lawyer, Baptist lay preacher, and politician from Epping, New Hampshire. He is most notable for his service as a Federalist in the United States Senate (1802–1807), and the sevent ...
, rowspan="2", , style="background-color: white" , , Thomas Halsey , , - , 1784 , style="background-color: white" , , The Viscount Grimston , , - , 1790 , rowspan="3" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="3" , Whig , style="background-color: " , , William Baker , Whig , - , 1802 , style="background-color: " , , Hon. Peniston Lamb , Whig , - , 1805 , style="background-color: " , , William Baker ,
Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. The ...
, - , 1807 , style="background-color: " , , Hon. Thomas Brand , Whig , rowspan="3" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="3", Sir John Sebright, Bt , rowspan="3", Whig , - , 1819 , style="background-color: " , , Hon. William Lamb , Whig , - , 1826 , style="background-color: " , , Nicolson Calvert , Whig , - ,
1832 Events January–March * January 6 – Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison founds the New-England Anti-Slavery Society. * January 13 – The Christmas Rebellion of slaves is brought to an end in Jamaica, after the island's white plant ...
, colspan="6", ''Representation increased to three members''


MPs 1832–1885

{, class="wikitable" , - !Election!!!!First member!!First party!!!!Second member!!Second party!!!!Third member!!Third party , - ,
1832 Events January–March * January 6 – Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison founds the New-England Anti-Slavery Society. * January 13 – The Christmas Rebellion of slaves is brought to an end in Jamaica, after the island's white plant ...
, rowspan="2" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="2" , Sir John Sebright, Bt , rowspan="2" , Whig , rowspan="2" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="2" , Nicolson Calvert , rowspan="2" , Whig , style="background-color: " , , rowspan="4", Viscount Grimston ,
Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. The ...
, - ,
1834 Events January–March * January – The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad is chartered in Wilmington, North Carolina. * January 1 – Zollverein (Germany): Customs charges are abolished at borders within its member states. * January 3 ...
, rowspan="3" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="3",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, - ,
1835 Events January–March * January 7 – anchors off the Chonos Archipelago on her second voyage, with Charles Darwin on board as naturalist. * January 8 – The United States public debt contracts to zero, for the only time in history. ...
, rowspan="3" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="3", Abel Smith, senior , rowspan="3",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, style="background-color: " , , Rowland Alston , Whig , - ,
1841 Events January–March * January 20 – Charles Elliot of the United Kingdom, and Qishan of the Qing dynasty, agree to the Convention of Chuenpi. * January 26 – Britain occupies Hong Kong. Later in the year, the first census of the i ...
, rowspan="2" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="2", Hon. Granville Ryder , rowspan="2",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, - , 1846 by-election , rowspan="3" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="3", Thomas Plumer Halsey , rowspan="3",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, - ,
1847 Events January–March * January 4 – Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the U.S. government. * January 13 – The Treaty of Cahuenga ends fighting in the Mexican–American War in California. * January 16 – John C. Frémont ...
, rowspan="4" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="4", Sir Henry Meux, Bt , rowspan="4",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, style="background-color: " , , Thomas Brand , Whig , - ,
1852 Events January–March * January 14 – President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte proclaims a new constitution for the French Second Republic. * January 15 – Nine men representing various Jewish charitable organizations come tog ...
, rowspan="6" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="6", Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Bt , rowspan="6",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, - , 1854 by-election , style="background-color: " , , Abel Smith, junior ,
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, - , 1857 , style="background-color: " , , rowspan="2", Christopher William Puller , Whig , - ,
1859 Events January–March * January 21 – José Mariano Salas (1797–1867) becomes Conservative interim President of Mexico. * January 24 ( O. S.) – Wallachia and Moldavia are united under Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Romania since 1866, final ...
, rowspan="2" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="2", Abel Smith, junior , rowspan="2",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, style="background-color: " , ,
Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...
, - , 1864 by-election , rowspan="3" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="3", Henry Surtees , rowspan="3",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, - , 1865 , rowspan="4" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="4", Hon. Henry Cowper , rowspan="4",
Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...
, - , 1866 by-election , rowspan="3" style="background-color: " , , rowspan="3", Abel Smith, junior , rowspan="3",
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, - ,
1868 Events January–March * January 2 – British Expedition to Abyssinia: Robert Napier leads an expedition to free captive British officials and missionaries. * January 3 – The 15-year-old Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji of Jap ...
, style="background-color: " , , Henry Brand ,
Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...
, - , 1874 , style="background-color: " , , Frederick Halsey ,
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, - , 1885 , colspan="9", ''Constituency abolished''


Election results


Elections in the 1830s


Elections in the 1840s

Grimston succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd
Earl of Verulam Earl of Verulam is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1815 for James Grimston, 4th Viscount Grimston. He was made Viscount Grimston (in the peerage of the United Kingdom) at the same time. Verulam had previously ...
and causing a by-election.


Elections in the 1850s

Halsey's death caused a by-election. Bulwer-Lytton was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.


Elections in the 1860s

Puller's death caused a by-election. Bulwer-Lytton was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Lytton and causing a by-election.


Elections in the 1870s


Elections in the 1880s


References

Notes *D Brunton & D H Pennington, ''Members of the Long Parliament'' (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) * John Cannon, ''Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1973) * ''Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803'' (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808

*F W S Craig, ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885'' (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989) * Peter Jupp, ''British and Irish Elections 1784–1831'' (Newton Abbott: David & Charles, 1973) * Lewis Namier & John Brooke, ''The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1754–1790'' (London: HMSO, 1964) * J E Neale, ''The Elizabethan House of Commons'' (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949) * J Holladay Philbin, ''Parliamentary Reform 1640–1832'' (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965) * Robert Walcott, ''English Politics in the Early Eighteenth Century'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1956)
British History Online – Parliamentary papers
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hertfordshire (Uk Parliament Constituency) Parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire (historic) Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1290 Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1885