1895 Dublin University by-election explained

The Dublin University by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 2–6 December 1895.^[1] The constituency returned two Members 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 when the Unionist Member of Parliament, David Plunket was elevated to the peerage as Baron Rathmore on 14 November 1895. Plunket had been a Member of Parliament for the constituency since an 1870 by-election.

Candidates

W. E. H. Lecky stood as a Liberal Unionist candidate. He was an essayist and historian. He was the author of History of England in the XVIIIth Century among other works.^[2]

Lecky was an honorary LL.D. of Dublin, St Andrew's, and Cambridge Universities, and an honorary D.C.L. of the University of Oxford.^[3]

George Wright stood as a Unionist candidate. He was a barrister. He had been called to the Irish Bar in 1871 and Queen's Counsel in 1884.^[4]

He would go on to be Solicitor-General for Ireland from 1900 to 1901, and then a Justice of the High Court of Justice in Ireland.^{[5] [6]}

Campaign

Lecky's religious opinions, as expressed in History Of The Rise And Influence Of The Spirit Of Rationalism In Europe (1865), were criticised as being atheistic.^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

It was suggested that the Fellows and Professors of the university supported Lecky, while the students and out-voters supported Wright.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Book: Craig, F.W.S. . 1987 . Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987 . Chichester . Parliamentary Research Services . 292.
2. Book: Stenton . Michael . Lees . Stephen . 1978 . Who's Who of British Members of Parliament . 2 . Brighton . The Harvester Press Limited . 213 . 0-85527-315-1.
3. News: . 14 December 1895 . General News . The Wrexham Advertiser . 3 . 16 March 2023 .
4. Book: MacDowel Cosgrave, E. . Ephraim MacDowel Cosgrave . Pike . W. T. . 1908 . Dublin and Co. Dublin in the Twentieth Century. Contemporary Biographies. . Brighton . W. T. Pike & Co. . 146 .
5. Book: McCarthy, Michael J. F. . Michael McCarthy (Irish lawyer) . 1903 . Five Years in Ireland 1895-1900 . 10th . Dublin . Hodges, Figgis & Co., Ltd. . 118–120 .
6. News: . 26 October 1901 . Mr George Wright, KC, New Judge of the High Court in Ireland . The Illustrated London News . 16 March 2023 .
7. News: . 3 December 1895 . British Politics . The South Australian Register . 5 . Adelaide . 16 March 2023 .
8. News: . 4 December 1895 . The Dublin University Election . The Patea County Press . 3 . 16 March 2023 .
9. Web site: John Beech's Branch . Sandford . Michael . 26 May 2007 . Sandford Family Genealogy . 16 March 2023 .
10. McDowell . R. B. . 1992 . Trinity College Dublin and Politics . Hermathena . Quatercentenary Papers . 115–143 . 23046517 . 16 March 2023 .