Edinburgh (UK Parliament constituency)

Edinburgh
Former Burgh constituency
for the House of Commons
Major settlements	Edinburgh
1708 (1708)–1885 (1885)
Number of members	1808–1832: One 1832–1885: Two
Replaced by	Edinburgh Central Edinburgh South Edinburgh East Edinburgh West

Edinburgh was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1885. Originally a single member constituency, representation was increased to two members in 1832. It was abolished in 1885, being split into Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh South, Edinburgh East and Edinburgh West.

Boundaries

The boundaries of the constituency, as set out in the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1832, were-

"From a Point on the Road from Leith to Queensferry which is distant Four hundred Yards (measured along such Road) to the West of the Point at which the same meets the Inverleith Road at the House called Golden Acre, in a straight Line to the North-western Corner of the Enclosure of John Watsons Institution; thence in a straight Line to the Second Stone Bridge, marked No. 2, on the Union Canal; thence in a straight Line to the Point at which the Western Wall of the Enclosure of the Lunatic Asylum at Morningside meets the Jordan or Pow Burn; thence down the Jordan or Pow Burn to a Point which is distant One hundred and fifty Yards (measured along such Burn) below the Arch over the same on the Carlisle Road; thence in a straight Line to the Summit of Arthur's Seat, thence in a straight Line to the Point at which the Feeder enters the Western Side of Lochend Loch; thence in a straight Line to the Point at which Pilrig Street joins Leith Walk; thence along Pilrig Street and the Bonnington Road to the Point at which the latter meets the Road from Leith to Queensferry; thence along the Road from Leith to Queensferry to the Point first described."

Members of Parliament

MPs 1708–1832

• 1708 Sir Samuel MacClellan
• 1709 Sir Patrick Johnston
• 1713 Sir James Stewart
• 1715 Sir George Warrender
• 1721 John Campbell
• 1734 Patrick Lindsay
• 1741 Archibald Stewart
• 1747 James Ker
• 1754 William Alexander
• 1761 George Lind
• 1762 James Coutts
• 1768 Sir Lawrence Dundas
• 1780 William Miller
• 1781 Sir Lawrence Dundas
• 1781 James Hunter Blair
• 1784 Sir Adam Fergusson
• 1790 Henry Dundas
• 1803 Charles Hope
• 1805 George Abercromby
• 1806 Sir Patrick Murray
• 1812 William Dundas
• 1831 Robert Adam Dundas

MPs 1832–1885

Under the Representation of the People Act 1832, Edinburgh's representation was increased to two members.

Election	1st Member		1st Party	2nd Member		2nd Party
1832		Francis Jeffrey	Liberal		James Abercromby, later Baron Dunfermline	Liberal
1834 by-election		Sir John Campbell, later Baron Campbell	Liberal
1839 by-election					Thomas Babington Macaulay, later Baron Macaulay	Liberal
1841		Sir William Gibson Craig	Liberal
1847					Charles Cowan	Liberal
1852		Thomas Babington Macaulay	Liberal
1856 by-election		Adam Black	Liberal
1859 by-election					James Moncreiff, later Baron Moncreiff	Liberal
1865		Duncan McLaren	Liberal
1868					John Miller	Liberal
1874					James Cowan	Liberal
January 1881 by-election		John McLaren	Liberal
August 1881 by-election		Thomas Buchanan	Liberal
1882 by-election					Samuel Danks Waddy	Liberal
1874	constituency divided: see Central, East, South and West divisions

Election results

General Election 1868: Edinburgh
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Duncan McLaren	unopposed
	Liberal	John Miller	unopposed

References

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 1)

See also

• Politics of Edinburgh

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Cambridge University	Constituency represented by the Speaker 1835 – 1839	Succeeded by Hampshire North