1902 Woolwich by-election

The Woolwich by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 25 April 1902.[1] The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

The seat had become vacant following the resignation of the incumbent Conservative MP, Edwin Hughes due to ill health.[2] Hughes vacated his Parliamentary seat by being appointed Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds on 18 April 1902.[3] Hughes had been Member of Parliament for the constituency since the 1885 general election.

Candidates

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The Conservative candidate was Lord Charles Beresford. He had served as Member of Parliament for County Waterford from 1874 to 1880, for Marylebone East from 1885 to 1889, and for City of York from 1898 to 1900. He had been second in command of the Mediterranean Fleet from January 1900 to February 1902.[4][5]

Contemporary press reports suggested Frank Hugh O'Donnell would stand as a Liberal candidate.[6] O'Donnell had been Home Rule Member of Parliament for Dungarvan from 1877 to 1885. However, in the end no Liberal candidate stood.

Result

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The date for nominations was set for Friday 25 April and polling day for Wednesday 30 April.[6][7] As only one candidate was nominated, there was no poll.

1902 Woolwich by-election[8][9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Beresford Unopposed
Registered electors 15,376
Conservative hold

References

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  1. ^ Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 96.
  2. ^ "The Member for Woolwich". The Kalgoorlie Miner. Kalgoorlie. 23 April 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. ^ "No. 27427". The London Gazette. 22 April 1902. p. 2687.
  4. ^ "Court circular". The Times. No. 36683. London. 5 February 1902. p. 10.
  5. ^ Beresford, Lord Charles (1914). The Memoirs of Lord Charles Beresford. Vol. II. Boston: Little, Brown & Company. p. 469.
  6. ^ a b "Woolwich election". Evening Express. 23 April 1902. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Woolwich Election". The Mercury. Hobart. 24 April 1902. p. 3. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  8. ^ Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918. London and Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-349-02300-4.
  9. ^ The Constitutional Year Book for 1919. London: National Unionist Association. 1919. p. 289.
  10. ^ The Liberal Year Book for 1908. London: The Liberal Publication Department. 1908. pp. 362–363.