West Cornwall was a county constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system of election.
Boundaries In 1832 the county of Cornwall, in south west England, was split for parliamentary purposes into two county divisions. These were the West division (with a place of election at Truro) and East Cornwall (where voting took place at Bodmin). Each division returned two members to Parliament.
The parliamentary boroughs included in the West division, between 1832 and 1885, (whose non-resident 40 shilling freeholders were eligible to vote in the county constituency) were Helston, Penryn and Falmouth, St Ives and Truro. (Source: Stooks Smith).
1832–1885: The Hundreds of Kerrier, and Penwith, and in the hundred of Powder, the western division, i.e. the parishes of St Allen, St Anthony in Roseland, St Clement, Cornelly, Creed-with-Grampound, Cuby-with-Tregony, St Erme, Feock, Gerrans, St Just in Roseland (with St Mawes), Kea, Kenwyn, Lamorran, Merther, St Michael Penkevil, Philleigh, Probus, Ruan Lanihorne, Truro St Mary, Veryan, and in the hundred of Pydar, the parishes of St Agnes, Crantock, Cubert, Newlyn, St Enoder, and Perranzabuloe, and the Isles of Scilly.
History During the 53-year history of this division, there was never a contested election. Only once was a Conservative member returned, but he only represented the constituency for a few months before becoming the 2nd Earl of Falmouth.
In 1885 this division was abolished, when the East and West Cornwall county divisions were replaced by six new single-member county constituencies. These were Bodmin (the South-Eastern division), Camborne (North-Western division), Launceston (North-Eastern division), St Austell (Mid division), St Ives (the Western division) and Truro. In addition the last remaining Cornish borough constituency was Penryn and Falmouth.
Members of Parliament Constituency created (1832)
ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party 1832Sir Charles Lemon, Bt Whig Edward Wynne-Pendarves Whig1841Lord Boscawen-Rose Conservative 1842 by-election Sir Charles Lemon, Bt Whig 1853 by-election Michael Williams Whig 1857 Richard Davey Whig 1858 by-election Sir John St Aubyn, Bt Radical 1859Liberal Liberal1868Arthur Vivian Liberal1885 Constituency abolished
Election results Elections in the 1830s
Charles Lemon had been Whig Member of Parliament for Cornwall prior to the 1832 election. Edward Wynne-Pendarves had also been a Member of Parliament in the previous parliament.
Elections in the 1840s
Boscawen-Rose succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Earl of Falmouth and causing a by-election.
Elections in the 1850s
Wynne-Pendarves' death caused a by-election.
John Tremayne had planned to stand for election, but withdrew.The Times, Saturday, 21 March 1857; pg. 12; Issue 22634; col AThe Times, Wednesday, 1 April 1857; pg. 5; Issue 22643; col E "The Elections".
Williams' death caused a by-election.
George Williams, younger son of Michael, had withdrawn to avoid "disturbing the County".The Times, Saturday, 3 July 1858; pg. 9; Issue 23036; col D
Elections in the 1860s
Elections in the 1870s
Elections in the 1880s
See also
List of former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies Parliamentary representation from Cornwall
References
Sources Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972) British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977) The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973) Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832-1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976) Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886-1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)