Nairnshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 until 1800, and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832.
Creation The British parliamentary constituency of Nairnshire was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Nairnshire . Nairnshire was paired as an alternating constituency with neighbouring Cromartyshire. The freeholders of Nairnshire elected one Member of Parliament (MP) to one Parliament, while those of Cromartyshire elected a Member to the next.
Boundaries The constituency covered the entire Scottish county of Nairnshire.
History Prior to the Scottish Reform Act 1832 (2 & 3 Will. 4. c. 65), the constituency was generally controlled by the Dukes of Argyll or Campbells, the number of voters varying between 15 and 30.
The Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1832 abolished the alternating constituencies. Nairnshire was merged with Elginshire to form the single constituency of Elginshire and Nairnshire, both counties electing one Member between them to each Parliament.
Members of Parliament ElectionMemberPartyNotesRef28 June 1708Hugh RoseD. W. Hayton, Nairnshire in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715 (2002).D. W. Hayton, ROSE, Hugh II (1684-1755), of Kilravock, Nairn. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715 (2002).1710none29 September 1713John Forbes D. W. Hayton, FORBES, John (c.1673-1734), of Culloden, Inverness. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715 (2002).1715none26 April 1722John ForbesPaula Watson, Nairnshire in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754 (1970).J. M. Simpson, FORBES, John (c.1673-1734), of Culloden, Inverness. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754 (1970).1727none31 May 1734John CampbellWhigChose to sit for Pembrokeshire.Edith, Lady Haden-Guest and Romney R. Sedgwick, CAMPBELL, John (1695-1777), of Calder (Cawdor), Nairn, and Stackpole Court, Pemb. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754 (1970).17 March 1735Alexander BrodiePaula Watson, BRODIE, Alexander (d.1770), of Lethen, Nairnshire. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754 (1970).1741none14 July 1747John CampbellWhig1754none18 April 1761Pryse CampbellWhigAppointed a Lord of the Treasury in August 1766.J. A. Cannon, Nairnshire in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790 (1964).Edith, Lady Haden-Guest, CAMPBELL, Pryse (1727-68), of Calder, Nairn; Stackpole Court, Pemb. and Llanvread, Card. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790 (1964).4 December 17661768none25 October 1774Cosmo GordonAppointed a Baron of the Exchequer in March 1777.Edith, Lady Haden-Guest, GORDON, Cosmo (c.1736-1800), of Cluny, Aberdeen, and Kinsteary, Nairn. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790 (1964).18 April 1777John CampbellWhigEdith, Lady Haden-Guest, CAMPBELL, John (1755-1821), of Calder, Nairn; Stackpole Court, Pemb. and Llanvread, Card. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790 (1964).1780none1 May 1784Alexander CampbellDied in November 1785.Edith, Lady Haden-Guest, CAMPBELL, Alexander (1756-85). in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790 (1964).22 December 1785Alexander BrodieEdith, Lady Haden-Guest, BRODIE, Alexander (1748-1812). in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790 (1964).1790none18 June 1796Henry Frederick Campbell David R. Fisher, Nairnshire in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820 (1986).David R. Fisher, CAMPBELL, Henry Frederick (1769-1856). in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820 (1986).1802none29 November 1806Henry Frederick Campbell1807none28 October 1812Hugh RoseAppointed Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds in June 1813.David R. Fisher, ROSE, Hugh (1781-1827), of Kilravock, Nairn. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820 (1986).25 June 1813Sir James MackintoshWhigWinifred Stokes and R. G. Thorne, MACKINTOSH, Sir James (1765-1832), of Weedon Lodge, nr. Aylesbury, Bucks. in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820 (1986).1818none26 March 1820George Pryse CampbellWhigDavid R. Fisher, Nairnshire in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1820-1832 (2009).David R. Fisher, CAMPBELL, Hon. George Pryse (?1792-1858). in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1820-1832 (2009).1826none19 August 1830George Pryse CampbellWhigAppointed a Groom of the Bedchamber in February 1831.21 March 18311831none
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