Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)

Bristol was a two-member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England (to 1707), Great Britain (1707–1800), and the United Kingdom (from 1801). The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.

Boundaries The historic port city of Bristol is located in what is now the South West Region of England. Until 1373 it straddled the border between the historic geographical counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, but in 1373 it became a county of its own, entirely separate from its neighbouring counties, by Royal Charter from King Edward III. It was often erroneously accounted as a Gloucestershire borough in the later part of the 19th and the 20th centuries.Latimer, J., Annals of Bristol in the Fourteenth Century (Bristol, 1908).Charter of 1373 (Edward III), printed in Seyer, Memoirs of Bristol, vol. 2 (1823), pp. 177–181.

The parliamentary borough of Bristol was represented in Parliament from the 13th century, as one of the most important population centres in the Kingdom. Namier and Brooke comment that in 1754 the city was the second largest in the Kingdom and had the third largest electorate for an urban seat.

From the 1885 United Kingdom general election the city was divided into four single member seats. These were Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West.

Members of Parliament

The use of Roman numerals in the list below denotes different politicians of the same name, not that the individuals concerned would have used the Roman numerals as part of their name.

Non Partisan denotes that the politician concerned is not known to have been associated with a party (not necessarily that he was not). Whilst Whig and Tory societies in the city continued to nominate candidates in the last half of the 18th century, the electoral labels used in Bristol had very little to do with what the MPs did in national politics.

Year1st Member1st Party2nd Member2nd Party1295 John le Taverner1298John le TavernerJohn de Cheddre1301 John de Malmesbury1305 Thomas WelishoteJohn Hasard1306John le TavernerRobert de Holhurst1307 (Jan)Geoffrey ComperNicholas Coker1309Stephen de Bello MonteRobert Martyn1311 (Aug)Richard ColpeckJohn Fraunceys1311 (Nov) John HaszardJohn le Lun1313 (Mar) John de WellescotenJohn Methelan1313 (Sep)John FraunceysJohn Tropyn1315 Robert WyldemershThomas le Spicer1316 (Jan) Nicholas de RoubergweJohn Veys1318 Gilbert PickeringRichard de Woodhall1319 Thomas de SalopRobert de Lyncoln1320 John le HunteJohn Welishote1321 John de RomeneyeWilliam de Hanyngfeld1322 (May) William de ClyfJohn Fraunceys jnr (son of 1311)1322 (Nov) John le TavernerJohn Fraunceys jnr1324 (Jan) John de AxebridgeJohn Fraunceys jnr1325 John de AxebridgeJohn Fraunceys jnr1327 John de AxebridgeJohn de Romeneye1328 (Feb) Richard de PanesHugh le Hunte1328 (Apr) William de TrowbridgeHugh de Langebridge1330 (Mar) John FraunceysHugh le Hunte1330 (Nov) Hugh le HunteRichard de Panes1332 (Mar) John de RomeneyeJohn de Axebridge1332 (Sep)Hugh de LangebridgeJohn de Axebridge1332 (Dec)Richard de ChelreyeJohn Fraunceys snr1334 (Feb) John OteryJohn de Strete1334 (Sep) Robert Gyene or Gwyen1335 Hugh de LangebridgeJohn de Strete1336 (Mar) Robert de Gyn or de GyeynJohn Franceys1336 (Sep) John Fraunceys jnrThomas Tropin1336 (Dec) Hugh de LangebridgeJohn le SpycerWilliam le Haukare1337 (Jan) Robert de GyeneJohn de Strete1338 (Jan) Everard le FraunceysPhilip de Torynton1338 (Jul) Everard le FraunceysPhilip de Torynton1339 (Jan) Everard le FraunceysJohn de Strete1340 (Jan)Thomas TropynJohn le Spicer1341Robert GuyenePhilip de Toryton1344Roger TurtleJohn de Horncastle1346 (Sep)John de WycoumbeJohn Neel1348 (Jan)Everard Fraunceys or le FreynsheJohn de Strete1348 (Mar)Everard le FraunceysThomas de Lodelawe1351John de Colyngton or CobbingtonJohn Seymour1353Thomas BabbecaryWilliam Coumbe1354 Richard le SpicerReginald le French1358Reginald FrenchRichard Brompton1360Thomas BabbecariGalfridus Beauflour (Geoffrey Beauflower)1361Reginald le FrenchWilliam Yonge1362Walter FromptonEdmund Blanket1363John SerjauntJohn Stoke1365William HayeWilliam Cannings1366William SomerwellThomas Denbaud1368Richard ChaimburleynRichard Sydenham1369 Robert CheddreEdmund Blanket1371 (Jun) John Bathe1372 Walter DerbyJohn Stoke1373 Walter DerbyThomas Beaupyne or Beaupenny1377 (Jan)Ehas SpellyThomas Beaupyne or Beaupenny1378Thomas BeaupyneWalter de Frompton1381Elias SpellyJohn Stokes1382 (May)Thomas BeaupyneJohn Viell1382 (Oct)Walter DerbyJohn Fullbroke1383 (Feb)William I Canynges (d.1396)John Candavere1383 (Oct)John Canynges (d.1405)William Frome1384 (Apr) William I Canynges (d.1396)William Somerwell1384 (Nov)Elias SpellyWalter Tedistill (Tyddeley?)1385Elias SpellyThomas Knapp1386 Elias SpellyWilliam I Canynges (d.1396)1388 (Feb) Thomas BeaupyneThomas Knapp1388 (Sep) Robert GardinerJohn Fulbrook1390 (Jan)John ViellWilliam Frome1391 William FromeJohn Stephens1393Thomas BeaupyneJohn Stephens1397 (Jan)William FromeJohn Banbury1399Thomas NortonRichard Pavys or Pannys1402Thomas NortonJohn Droyes1406Henry BokerellGilbert Joce1407 (Oct)John Droys, merchantJohn Newton, merchant1411 (Oct) Thomas NortonDavid Dudbroke1413 (Apr) Thomas NortonJohn Leycester1414 (Jan) Thomas YoungJohn Spyne1414 (Oct) Thomas Blount, merchantJohn Clyve, merchant1416 (Feb) Robert RussellRobert Colville1417 (Oct)Thomas NortonJohn Burton1419 (Sep) Robert RussellMark William1420 (Nov)Thomas NortonJohn Spyne1421 (Mar)Thomas NortonHenry Gildeney1421 (Nov)Mark WilliamRichard Trenode1422 (Oct)John BurtonRoger Lyveden or Lavindon1423 (Oct)John BurtonRoger Leveden or Lavindon1425 (Mar) Richard TrenodeWalter Power or Powell1426 (Feb) Henry GildeneyJohn Langley1427 (Sep)John BurtonHenry Gildeney1429 (Sep)Richard TrenodeJohn Sharp1430 (Dec)Thomas FishWalter Power or Powell1432 (Apr)John BurtonJohn Sharp1433 (Jun)Robert RussellWalter Power1435 (Sep)Thomas FissheThomas Young (d.1476) Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004, Vol. "C", p.970, Canynges. Thomas Young was half-brother to William II Canynges1436 (Dec)Thomas Young (d.1476)Thomas Norton jnr1439William II Canynges (d.1474)Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004, Vol. "C", p.970, Canynges1442 (Jan)Thomas Young (d.1476)John Sharp1447 (Jan)Thomas Young (d.1476)John Sharp, jnr (son of John Sharp 1429)1449 (Jan)Thomas Young (d.1476)John Sharp, jnr1449 (Nov)Thomas Young (d.1476)John Sharp, jnr1450 (Oct)Thomas Young (d.1476)William II Canynges (d.1474)1453 (Feb)John ShipwardWilliam Pa(vy?)1455 (Jul)Thomas Young (d.1476)William II Canynges (d.1474)1459 (Nov) John ShipwardPhilip Mede1460 (Sep)John ShipwardPhilip Mede1462 Thomas Meede1467 (Apr)William SpencerJohn Bagot1472 (Aug)John TwynyhoJohn Bagot1478 (Jan)John HawkesEdmund Westcote1483 (Jan)Edmund WestcoteWilliam Wykam1484 (Jan)John TwynyhoRobert Strange1485 (Oct)John EsterfieldRobert Strange (MP for Bristol)1487 (Oct) John EsterfieldHenry Vaughan1490 (Jan)William TokerJohn Fisher1491 (Oct) John Syram™ (or Seymour?)John Pynke1495 (Oct)Henry VaughanPhilip Kingston1505 Henry DaleThomas Snigg1510 )Jan)Richard VaughanHenry Dale1512 (Jan) Thomas SmithRichard Hobby1523 (Apr)Robert ThornRichard Hobby 1529 Thomas Jubbes Richard Abingdon 1536 Nicholas Thorn Roger Coke 1539 Thomas White David Broke1 1541 David Broke Robert Elyot 1545 Robert Keilway John Drewes 1553 John Walshe David Harris 1554 Thomas Lansden 1555 William Chester 1558 William Tyndall Robert Butler 1559 John Walshe William Carr 1563 John Walshe, made judge, repl. by Thomas Chester William Carr 1571 John Popham Philip Langley 1584Thomas Hanham Richard Cole 1586 Thomas Aldworth 1588 William Saltern 1593 Richard Cole 1597 George Snigge made Baron of the Court of Exchequer and replaced 1605 by John Whitson William Ellys 1601 John Hopkins Non Partisan 1604 Thomas James Non Partisan 1614 John WhitsonNon Partisan Thomas James Non Partisan 1621 John Barker Non-Partisan John Guy Non Partisan 1624 John BarkerNon Partisan John Guy Non Partisan 1625 Nicholas HydeNon Partisan John Whitson Non Partisan 1626 John Whitson Non Partisan John Doughty Non Partisan 1628 John Doughty Non Partisan John Barker Non Partisan 1640 (Mar) John Glanville Non Partisan Humphrey Hooke Non Partisan 1640 (Oct) Humphrey Hooke Non Partisan Richard Longe Non Partisan 1642 John Glanville Non Partisan John Tailer Non Partisan 1646 Richard Aldworth Non Partisan Luke Hodges Non Partisan 1654 Richard Aldworth Non Partisan Miles Jackson Non Partisan 1656 Robert Aldworth Non Partisan John DodderidgeMiles Jackson Non Partisan 1659 Robert Aldworth Non Partisan Joseph Jackson Non Partisan 1660 John Stephens Non Partisan Sir John Knight Non Partisan 1661 The Earl of Ossory 2 Non Partisan 1666 Sir Humphrey Hooke 3 Non Partisan 1678 Sir Robert Cann Non Partisan 1681 Thomas Earle Non Partisan 1681 Sir Richard Hart Non Partisan 1685 Sir John Churchill 4 Non Partisan Sir Richard Crumpe Non Partisan 1685 Sir Richard Hart Non Partisan 1689 Sir John Knight II Non Partisan 1695 Sir Thomas Day Non Partisan Robert Yate Non Partisan 1701 Sir William Daines Non Partisan 1710 Edward Colston Tory Joseph Earle Non Partisan 1713 Thomas Edwards Non Partisan 1715 Sir William Daines Non Partisan 1722 Sir Abraham Elton, Bt I Non Partisan 1727 John Scrope Non Partisan Sir Abraham Elton, Bt II 6 Non Partisan 1734 Thomas Coster 5 Non Partisan 1739 Edward Southwell Non Partisan 1742 Robert Hoblyn Non Partisan 1754 Robert Craggs-Nugent(later The Viscount Clare) 8 Whig Richard Beckford 7 Tory 1756 Jarrit Smith Tory 1768 Matthew Brickdale Tory 1774 Henry Cruger Whig Edmund Burke Whig 1780 Matthew Brickdale Tory Sir Henry Lippincott, Bt 9 Tory 1781 George Daubeny Tory 1784 Henry Cruger Whig 1790 Marquess of Worcester Tory The Lord Sheffield 10 Whig 1796 Charles Bragge(later Charles Bragge Bathurst) 11 Tory 1802 Evan Baillie Whig 1812 Richard Hart Davis Tory 1812 Edward Protheroe I Whig 1820 Henry Bright Whig 1830 James Evan Baillie Whig 1831 Edward Protheroe II Whig 1832 Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bt Tory 1834 Conservative 1835 Philip John Miles Conservative 1837 Philip William Skinner Miles Conservative Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley 13 Radical 1852 Henry Gore-Langton Whig 1859 Liberal Liberal 1865 Sir Morton Peto 12 Liberal 1868 John Miles Conservative 1868 Samuel Morley Liberal 1870 Elisha Smith Robinson 14 Liberal 1870 Kirkman Hodgson 12 Liberal 1878 Lewis Fry Liberal1885 constituency divided. See Bristol East, Bristol North, Bristol South and Bristol West.

Notes:- 1 By 4 February 1536 David Broke had been elected vice Thomas Jubbes deceased. He was probably re-elected in the 1536 general election and certainly was at the 1539 and 1542 elections.. 2 A Peer of Ireland. He was created a Peer of England, as 1st Baron Butler, in 1666. 3 Died 16 October 1677. 4 Died 11 October 1685. 5 Died 30 September 1739. 6 Died 20 October 1742. 7 Died 24 January 1756. 8 Created a Peer of Ireland, as 1st Viscount Clare, in 1767. 9 Died 30 December 1780. 10 A Peer of Ireland, as 1st Baron Sheffield, created in 1781. 11 Adopted a new surname of Bathurst, in 1804. 12 Resigned. 13 Died 10 March 1870. 14 Election declared void on petition.

Elections During the existence of this constituency, Bristol was a city with the status of being a county of itself. That meant that the city was not subject to the administration of the officials of the geographic counties in which it was situated. In electoral terms it meant that the voters for the parliamentary borough included those qualified on the same 40 shilling freeholder franchise as that for a county constituency. Other electors qualified as freemen of the borough. These were the ancient right franchises, applicable to Bristol, preserved by the Reform Act 1832, which also introduced a broader occupation franchise for all borough constituencies.