Ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of Great Britain at Westminster were held from 1707 to 1801, when a Member of Parliament (MP) was appointed as a minister in the government. Unlike most Westminster by-elections, ministerial by-elections were often a formality, uncontested by opposition parties. Re-election was required under the Succession to the Crown Act 1707.[1] This was in line with the principle established in 1624 that accepting an office of profit from the Crown would precipitate resignation from the House, with the option of standing for re-election.[2] Typically a minister sought re-election in the same constituency he had just vacated, but occasionally contested another seat which was also vacant. In 1910 The Times newspaper noted that the relevant Act had been passed in the reign of Queen Anne "to prevent the Court from swamping the House of Commons with placemen and pensioners", and described the process as "anomalous" and "indefensible" in the 20th century.[3] The Re-Election of Ministers Act 1919 ended the necessity to seek re-election within nine months of a general election, and the Re-Election of Ministers Act (1919) Amendment Act 1926 ended the practice in all other cases.[1]
Date | Constituency | c/u | Former incumbent | Winner | Position | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 August 1714 | Truro | u | Thomas Hare | Thomas Hare | First Register and Clerk of the Crown in Barbados | |
4 May 1714 | Droitwich | u | Edward Jeffreys | Edward Jeffreys | Puisne Justice of Chester | |
22 April 1714 | Leicester | u | Sir George Beaumont | Sir George Beaumont | Lord of the Admiralty | |
15 April 1714 | Forfarshire | u | John Carnegie | John Carnegie | Solicitor General for Scotland | |
5 April 1714 | Elgin Burghs | u | James Murray | James Murray | Commissary for Commercial Negotiations with France | |
20 March 1714 | Dartmouth | u | Frederick Herne | John Fownes | Commissioner for Settling Trade with France and Death | |
18 March 1714 | Hastings | c | Sir Joseph Martin | Sir Joseph Martin | Commissary for Commercial Negotiations with France | |
16 March 1714 | Whitchurch | u | Thomas Vernon | Thomas Vernon | Lord of Trade | |
15 March 1714 | Ripon | u | John Sharp | John Sharp | Lord of Trade | |
15 March 1714 | Penryn | c | Alexander Pendarves | Samuel Trefusis | Surveyor General of Crown Lands |
Date | Constituency | c/u | Former incumbent | Winner | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 March 1708 | King's Lynn | u | Robert Walpole | Robert Walpole | Secretary at War |
2 March 1708 | Sandwich | u | Josiah Burchett | Josiah Burchett | Secretary to the Marines |
21 February 1708 | Westminster | u | Henry Boyle | Henry Boyle | Northern Secretary |
1 December 1707 | Hedon | u | Anthony Duncombe | Anthony Duncombe | Commissioner of Prizes |
2 December 1707 | Lymington | u | Paul Burrard, junior | Paul Burrard, junior | Sub-Commissioner of Prizes at Portsmouth |
29 November 1707 | Chipping Wycombe | u | Fleetwood Dormer | Fleetwood Dormer | Commissioner of Prizes |
29 November 1707 | Great Bedwyn | c | Nicholas Pollexfen | Tracy Pauncefort | Commissioner of Prizes |
Tracy Pauncefort | Nicholas Pollexfen | By-election result reversed on petition 22 December 1707 | |||
29 November 1707 | Aldborough | u | William Jessop | William Jessop | Justice of the Anglesey Circuit |
28 November 1707 | New Romney | u | John Brewer | John Brewer | Receiver General of Prizes[36] |