Right. So, you want me to dredge up the dusty bones of a defunct parliamentary constituency. County Down, pre-1801. Fascinating. Not exactly the stuff of legends, but I suppose even the most mundane corners of history have their own peculiar shadows. Don't expect me to gush.
County Down (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
This was a county constituency for the Irish House of Commons, representing County County Down until the year 1800. It sent two members to Parliament. After that, it was effectively replaced by the Down constituency for the UK House of Commons. The geographical coordinates, 54°33′25″N 6°18′40″W / 54.557°N 6.311°W / 54.557; -6.311, are just that – coordinates. They don't tell you anything about the people who lived there, the deals struck, or the quiet desperation that often fuels such things.
History
The annals of history, or at least this particular corner of it, mention the Patriot Parliament of 1689. Summoned by James II, it saw County Down represented by two members. A footnote, really, in the grander, grimmer narrative.
Members of Parliament
Listing the names of those who sat in that chamber feels like cataloging ghosts. Each name, a flicker of ambition or perhaps just a pawn in a larger game.
| Election | First MP | Second MP |
|---|---|---|
| 1585 | Sir Nicholas Bagnoll of The Newry, County Down | Sir Hugh Magennies of Rathfriland, County Down |
| 1613 | Sir James Hamilton of Bangor and Killileagh, County Down | Sir Hugh Montgomery of Newtown, County Down |
| 1634 | Sir Hugh Montgomery of Newtown, County Down | Sir James Hamilton of Bangor and Killileagh, County Down |
| 1639 | Sir Edward Trevor of Rosetrevor, County Down | Sir James Montgomery of Rosemount, Greyabbey, County Down |
| 1661 | Marcus Trevor of Rosetrevor, County Down | Arthur Hill of Hillsborough, County Down |
| 1662 by-election [note 1] | Vere Essex Cromwell | |
| 1665 by-election [note 2] | Marcus Trevor of Rosetrevor, County Down [note 3] | |
| 1689 [Patriot Parliament] | Murtagh Magennis of Greencastle, County Down | Ever Magennis of Castlewellan, County Down |
| 1692 | James Hamilton | Sir Arthur Rawdon, 2nd Bt |
| 1695 | James Hamilton | |
| 1695 by-election [note 4] | Nicholas Price | |
| 1703 | John Hawkins Magill | |
| 1713 | Michael Ward | |
| 1715 | Trevor Hill | |
| 1717 by-election [note 5] | Sir John Rawdon, 3rd Bt | |
| 1724 by-election [note 6] | Robert Hawkins Magill | |
| 1727 | Arthur Hill [note 7] | |
| 1745 by-election [note 8] | Bernard Ward | |
| 1761 | ||
| 1766 by-election [note 9] | Henry Seymour-Conway [2] | |
| 1768 | Roger Hall | Bernard Ward |
| 1771 by-election [note 10] | Robert Stewart | |
| 1776 | Arthur Hill, Viscount Kilwarlin [note 11] | |
| 1783 | Arthur Hill, Viscount Kilwarlin | Hon. Edward Ward |
| 1790 | Hon. Robert Stewart [note 12] | Hon. Edward Ward |
| 1794 by-election [note 13] | Francis Savage | |
| 1801 | Succeeded by the Westminster constituency Down |
Notes:
- ^ Caused by the creation of Trevor as Viscount Dungannon. A ripple effect, I suppose.
- ^ Caused by the death of Hill in April 1663. Bodies pile up, names change.
- ^ A son of the man elected in 1661. The cycle continues. See Edward M. Furgol, ‘Trevor, Marcus, first Viscount Dungannon (1618–1670)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2008 accessed 15 May 2014. A lot of words for a name on a list.
- ^ Caused by the death of Rawdon. Another name removed.
- ^ Caused by Hill's creation as Viscount Hillsborough. Titles, always titles.
- ^ Caused by the death of Rawdon. Again.
- ^ Changed surname to Hill-Trevor in 1759. A subtle shift, perhaps.
- ^ Caused by the death of Hawkins-Magill.
- ^ Caused by Hill-Trevor's creation as Viscount Dungannon. More titles.
- ^ Caused by Ward's creation as Baron Bangor. The aristocracy accumulates.
- ^ Styled as Earl of Hillsborough from 1789. The march of titles continues.
- ^ Styled as Viscount Castlereagh from 1796. A name that would echo.
- ^ Caused by Hill's succession as second Marquess of Downshire. The final move in this particular game.
Elections
The mechanics of it all. The "elections." A performance, really, for the benefit of a select few.
Elections in the 1790s
At the 1797 general election, Francis Savage and Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh were elected unopposed. Unopposed. How convenient. [^3]
At the by-election in 1793, following Hill's succession as second Marquess of Downshire, Francis Savage was returned unopposed. Again. [^4]
General Election 1790: Down [^5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Arthur Hill, Earl of Hillsborough | 3534 | N/A | N/A |
| Tory | Hon. Robert Stewart | 3114 | N/A | N/A |
| Nonpartisan | Hon. Edward Ward | 2958 | N/A | N/A |
| Nonpartisan | Captain George Matthews | 2223 | N/A | N/A |
Election in the 1780s
General Election 1783: Down [^6]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Arthur Hill, Viscount Kilwarlin | 2831 | N/A | N/A |
| Nonpartisan | Hon. Edward Ward | 2071 | N/A | N/A |
| Tory | Robert Stewart | 1957 | N/A | N/A |
Elections in the 1770s
At the 1776 general election, Arthur Hill, Viscount Kilwarlin and Robert Stewart were elected unopposed. [^7]
At the by-election in 1771, following Ward's creation as Baron Bangor... a predictable sequence.
Elections in the 1760s
At the 1768 general election, Roger Hall and Bernard Ward were elected unopposed. [^7] More unopposed returns. Remarkable.
Election in the 1610s
General Election 1613: Down [^8]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Sir James Hamilton | 131 | N/A | N/A |
| Nonpartisan | Sir Hugh Montgomery | 131 | N/A | N/A |
| Nonpartisan | Sir Arthur Magennis | 101 | N/A | N/A |
| Nonpartisan | Rowland Savage | 101 | N/A | N/A |
The account of the 1613 election is... telling. "In the co. of Down, May-day was the county court day for the election, which the sheriff held at Newry, at which day the sheriff proceeding to the election, moved the freeholders to choose Sir Richard Wingfield and Sir James Hamilton, being recommended to him by the Lord Deputy; but the natives named Sir Arthur Magenisse and Rowland Savage; whereupon all the British freeholders, being 131, cried “Hamilton and Montgomery”, omitting Wingfield; and the Irish, to the number of 101, cried “Magenisse and Savage”. Exception being presently taken to divers of the British for want of freehold, 14 were examined on oath by the sheriff and deposed they were freeholders, and thereupon the sheriff returned Hamilton and Montgomery; to which some of the Irish made objections, which were found partly untrue, and partly frivolous." A rather messy affair, wouldn't you say? Accusations, examinations, "partly untrue" objections. It’s all rather predictable, isn't it? The illusion of choice, the underlying currents of power.