Peeblesshire was a Scottish county constituency of Great Britain and after 1801 the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster) from 1708 until 1868. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post voting system.
Creation The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Peeblesshire.
Boundaries
The name relates the constituency to the county of Peebles. Article XII of the Union with Scotland Act 1706 (Act settling the Manner of electing the Representatives of Scotland), provided that one representative should be chosen for every shire and steuartry (except for some shires which were to take turns).Union with Scotland Act 1706
History The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished for the 1868 general election.
This arrangement was continued by the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1832.Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1832, Schedule A.
The Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1868 abolished the rights of the counties of Peebles and Selkirk to return a member, and provided that those counties should jointly return a member, thereby establishing the Peebles and Selkirk constituency.Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1868, section 10.
Members of Parliament
ElectionMemberParty1708William Morison1710Alexander Murray, later 3rd Baronet1713William Morison1715 Alexander Murray (c. 1686–1755)1722 John Douglas1732 by-electionSir James Naesmyth, 2nd Baronet1741 Alexander Murray (c. 1686–1755)1747John Dickson1767 by-election Adam Hay 1768James William MontgomeryJune 1775 by-election Adam Hay December 1775 by-electionSir Robert Murray-Keith1780Alexander Murray1783 by-election Alexander Murray, later 7th Lord Elibank1784 David Murray1790William Montgomery1800 by-electionSir James Montgomery, 2nd Bt Tory1831 by-election Sir George Montgomery, 2nd Bt Tory1831 John Hay Tory1834Conservative1837 William Forbes MackenzieConservative1852 Graham Graham-Montgomery Conservative 1868 Constituency abolished. See Peebles and Selkirk
Election results
Elections in the 1830s
Montgomery resigned, causing a by-election.
Montgomery's death caused a by-election.
Elections in the 1840s
Mackenzie was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.
Elections in the 1850s
Elections in the 1860s
Graham-Montgomery was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.
References