View source for Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency, 1708–1918)

{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801–1918}}
{{For|the constituency in its current form|Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox UK constituency main
|name        = Edinburghshire
|parliament  = uk
|map1        =
|map2        =
|map_entity  =
|map_year    =
|year        = 1708
|abolished   = 1918
|type        = County
|elects_howmany = One
|previous    = [[Edinburghshire (Parliament of Scotland constituency)|Edinburghshire]]
|next        = [[Midlothian and Peebles Northern (UK Parliament constituency)|Midlothian & Peebles Northern]]<br />[[Peebles and Southern Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency)|Peebles & Southern Midlothian]]
|region      = Scotland
|county      =
}}
'''Edinburghshire''' (also known as '''Midlothian''') was a Scottish [[county constituency]] of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of Great Britain]] (at [[Westminster Palace|Westminster]]) from 1708 to 1801 and of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] (also at Westminster) from 1801 to 1918.
It elected one [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) by the [[first past the post]] system of election.
The seat is most famous as the location of [[William Ewart Gladstone]]'s upset victory in the [[Midlothian Campaign]] of 1880, regarded as the birth of the modern political campaign in the United Kingdom. After Gladstone's victory it became the first non-[[England|English]] constituency to be represented by a serving [[Prime minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]].
==Creation==
The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the [[Acts of Union, 1707]] and replaced the former [[Parliament of Scotland]] shire constituency of [[Edinburghshire (Parliament of Scotland constituency)|Edinburghshire]].
== Boundaries ==
As first used, in the [[1708 British general election|1708 general election]] of the Parliament of Great Britain, the constituency covered the [[county of Edinburgh]], except the [[burgh of Edinburgh]], which was covered by the [[Edinburgh (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh]] [[burgh constituency]]. 1708 boundaries were used also for all subsequent elections of that parliament.
In 1801 the [[Parliament of Ireland]] was merged with the Parliament of Great Britain to form the Parliament of the United Kingdom . The first [[general election]] of the new parliament was the [[1802 United Kingdom general election|general election of 1802]]. There was no change to the boundaries of any pre-existing Westminster constituency, and 1802 boundaries were used also in the general elections of [[1806 United Kingdom general election|1806]], [[1807 United Kingdom general election|1807]], [[1812 United Kingdom general election|1812]], [[1818 United Kingdom general election|1818]], [[1820 United Kingdom general election|1820]], [[1826 United Kingdom general election|1826]], [[1830 United Kingdom general election|1830]] and [[1831 United Kingdom general election|1831]].
For the [[1832 United Kingdom general election|1832 general election]], as a result of the [[Representation of the People Act 1832]], the constituency was redefined. The boundaries of [[Counties of Scotland|counties]] and [[burgh]]s for parliamentary purposes ceased to be necessarily those for other purposes, but nominally the Edinburghshire constituency consisted of the county of Edinburgh minus the burghs of Edinburgh, [[Leith]], [[Portobello, Edinburghshire|Portobello]], and [[Musselburgh]]. Edinburgh was again covered by the Edinburgh constituency, and Leith, Portobello and Musselburgh were covered by the [[Leith Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Leith Burghs]] constituency.
1832 boundaries were used also in the general elections of [[1835 United Kingdom general election|1835]], [[1837 United Kingdom general election|1837]], [[1841 United Kingdom general election|1841]], [[1847 United Kingdom general election|1847]], [[1852 United Kingdom general election|1852]], [[1857 United Kingdom general election|1857]], [[1859 United Kingdom general election|1859]], [[1865 United Kingdom general election|1865]], [[1874 United Kingdom general election|1874]], [[1880 United Kingdom general election|1880]], [[1886 United Kingdom general election|1886]], [[1892 United Kingdom general election|1892]], [[1895 United Kingdom general election|1895]], [[1900 United Kingdom general election|1900]], [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906]], [[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|January 1910]] and [[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|December 1910]].
For the [[1918 United Kingdom general election|1918 general election]], as a result of the [[Representation of the People Act 1918]], the area of the Edinburghshire constituency was mostly divided between the [[Midlothian and Peebles Northern (UK Parliament constituency)|Midlothian and Peebles Northern]] and [[Peebles and Southern Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency)|Peebles and Southern Midlothian]] constituencies. By this date, the county of Edinburgh had been renamed as the [[county of Midlothian]].
The Midlothian and Peebles Northern constituency consisted of the Calder and Suburban districts and part of the Lasswade district of the county of Midlothian, and the Peebles and Southern constituency consisted of the [[Peeblesshire|county of Peebles]], the Gala Water district and part of the Lasswade district of county of Midlothian, and the burghs of [[Bonnyrigg]], [[Lasswade]], and [[Penicuik]] in county of Midlothian.<ref name="Graig">''[[Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972]]'' ({{ISBN|0-900178-09-4}}), [[F. W. S. Craig]], 1972</ref>
The rest of the county of Midlothian was covered by the [[Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]], [[Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh East]], [[Edinburgh North (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh North]], [[Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South]], [[Edinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh West]] and [[Leith (UK Parliament constituency)|Leith]] constituencies.<ref name="Graig"/>
==History==
The constituency elected one [[Member of Parliament (MP)]] by the [[Plurality voting system|first past the post]] system. There were 56 voters in 1708, 68 in 1710,<ref name = HOP1690>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/constituencies/edinburghshire-%28midlothian%29 | title=Edinburghshire (Midlothian)
| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1690-1715)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }}</ref> about 80 between 1715 and 1754,<ref name = HOP1715>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-1754/constituencies/edinburghshire-%28midlothian%29
| title= Edinburghshire (Midlothian)
| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1715-1754)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }}</ref> 84 in 1764, 104 in 1774, 93 in 1788,<ref name = HOP1754>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/constituencies/edinburghshire-%28midlothian%29
| title= Edinburghshire (Midlothian)
| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1754-1790)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }}</ref> 95 in 1790 rising to 123 in 1811,<ref name = HOP1790>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/constituencies/edinburghshire-%28midlothian%29
| title= Edinburghshire (Midlothian)
| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1790-1820)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }}</ref> 174 in 1820, 168 in 1826 and 165 in 1830.
<ref name = HOP1820>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/edinburghshire| title= Edinburghshire (Midlothian)
| publisher= History of Parliament Online (1820-1832)| accessdate = 9 June 2019 }}</ref> The seat was redefined for the [[United Kingdom general election, 1832|1832 general election]] and replaced for the [[1918 United Kingdom general election|1918 general election]].
==Members of Parliament==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2" | Election !! Member !! Party
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
|[[1708 British general election|1708]]
|  [[George Lockhart (politician)|George Lockhart]]
|  [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: white" |
|[[1715 British general election|1715]]
|  [[Sir John Baird, 2nd Baronet|John Baird]]
| <!-- Party -->
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: white" |
|[[1722 British general election|1722]]
|  [[Robert Dundas, of Arniston, the elder|Robert Dundas]]
| <!-- Party -->
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: white" |
|[[1737 Midlothian by-election|1737]]
|  Sir [[Sir Charles Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|Charles Gilmour]]
| <!-- Party -->
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: white" |
|[[1751 Midlothian by-election|1751]]
|  [[Robert Balfour, 4th of Balbirnie|Robert Balfour-Ramsay]]
| <!-- Party -->
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
|[[1754 British general election|1754]]
|  [[Robert Dundas, of Arniston, the younger|Robert Dundas]]
|  [[Whig (political party)|Whig]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: white" |
|[[1761 British general election|1761]]
|  Sir [[Sir Alexander Gilmour, 3rd Baronet|Alexander Gilmour]]
| <!-- Party -->
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
|[[1774 British general election|1774]]
| [[Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville|Henry Dundas]]
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
|[[1790 British general election|1790]]
|  [[Robert Dundas of Arniston|Robert Dundas]]
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
|1801
| [[Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville|Robert Saunders-Dundas]]
| [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" |
|1811
|  [[Sir George Clerk, 6th Baronet|Sir George Clerk, Bt]]
|  [[Tories (British political party)|Tory]]<ref name="stookssmith">{{cite book |last1=Stooks Smith |first1=Henry |title=The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections: Containing the Uncontested Elections Since 1830 |date=1842 |publisher=Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. |location=London |pages=200 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VQgHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA200}}</ref>
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
|1832
|  [[John Dalrymple, 8th Earl of Stair|Sir John Dalrymple, Bt]]
|  [[Whig (political party)|Whig]]<ref name="stookssmith"/>
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|1835
|  [[Sir George Clerk, 6th Baronet|Sir George Clerk, Bt]]
|  [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]<ref name="stookssmith"/>
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" |
|1837
|  [[William Gibson-Craig]]
|  [[Whig (political party)|Whig]]<ref name="stookssmith"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cookson |first1=J. E. |title=The Edinburgh and Glasgow Duke of Wellington Statues: Early Nineteenth-Century Unionist Nationalism as a Tory Project |journal=The Scottish Historical Review |date=April 2004 |volume=83 |issue=215 |pages=23–40 |jstor=25529753 |doi=10.3366/shr.2004.83.1.23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Edward|last1=Churton|author-link1=Edward Churton|title=The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838|date=1838|page=65|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVwEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA65}}</ref><ref name="evening1841">{{cite news |title=Evening Mail |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001316/18410630/014/0003 |accessdate=2 September 2018 |date=30 June 1841 |pages=3–4 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="northernstar1841">{{cite news |title=Electoral Decisions |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000090/18410710/091/0024 |accessdate=2 September 2018 |work=Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser |date=10 July 1841 |page=24 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|- Whig
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|1841
|  [[William Ramsay (MP)|William Ramsay]]
|  [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]<ref name="stookssmith"/>
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|1845
|  [[Sir John Hope, 11th Baronet]]
|  [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|1853
|  [[William Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|The Earl of Dalkeith]]
|  [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
|1868
|  [[Alexander Ramsay-Gibson-Maitland|Sir Alexander Ramsay-Gibson-Maitland]]
|  [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|1874
|  [[William Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|The Earl of Dalkeith]]
|  [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
|1880
|  [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
|  [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
|1895
|  [[Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael|Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael]]
|  [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
|1900
|  [[Alexander Murray, 1st Baron Murray of Elibank|The Master of Elibank]]
|  [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
|1906
|  [[Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery|Lord Dalmeny]]
|  [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
|1910
|  [[Alexander Murray, 1st Baron Murray of Elibank|The Master of Elibank]]
|  [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|-
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Unionist Party (Scotland)}}" |
|1912
|  [[Sir John Hope, 16th Baronet|John Hope]]
|  [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist]]
|-
|colspan="2" align="center"| [[1918 United Kingdom general election|1918]]
|colspan="2"| ''constituency abolished''
|}
==Election results==
===1830s===
{{Election box begin no change | title=[[1830 United Kingdom general election|General election 1830]]: Midlothian<ref name="stookssmith"/><ref name="hop1820-1832">{{cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=David R. |title=Edinburghshire |url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/edinburghshire |website=The History of Parliament |accessdate=8 May 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Tories (British political party)
|candidate  = [[Sir George Clerk, 6th Baronet|George Clerk]]
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change|
|reg. electors = 165
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Tories (British political party)
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=[[1831 United Kingdom general election|General election 1831]]: Midlothian<ref name="stookssmith"/><ref name="hop1820-1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Tories (British political party)
|candidate  = [[Sir George Clerk, 6th Baronet|George Clerk]]
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change|
|reg. electors = 165
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Tories (British political party)
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=[[1832 United Kingdom general election|General election 1832]]: Midlothian<ref name="stookssmith"/><ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party      = Whigs (British political party)
|candidate  = [[John Dalrymple, 8th Earl of Stair|John Dalrymple]]
|votes      = 601
|percentage = 52.9
|change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party      = Tories (British political party)
|candidate  = [[Sir George Clerk, 6th Baronet|George Clerk]]
|votes      = 536
|percentage = 47.1
|change     =
}}
{{Election box majority no change|
|votes      = 65
|percentage = 5.8
|change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout no change|
|votes      = 1,137
|percentage = 87.6
|change     =
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change|
|reg. electors = 1,298
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing|
|winner     = Whigs (British political party)
|loser     = Tories (British political party)
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1835 United Kingdom general election|General election 1835]]: Midlothian<ref name="stookssmith"/><ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Sir George Clerk, 6th Baronet|George Clerk]]
|votes      = 565
|percentage = 51.4
|change     = +4.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Whigs (British political party)
|candidate  = [[William Gibson-Craig]]
|votes      = 534
|percentage = 48.6
|change     = &minus;4.3
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 31
|percentage = 2.8
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 1,099
|percentage = 79.9
|change     = &minus;7.7
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 1,376
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner    = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser     = Whigs (British political party)
|swing     = +4.3
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1837 United Kingdom general election|General election 1837]]: Midlothian<ref name="stookssmith"/><ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Whigs (British political party)
|candidate  = [[William Gibson-Craig]]
|votes      = 703
|percentage = 51.5
|change     = +2.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Sir George Clerk, 6th Baronet|George Clerk]]
|votes      = 661
|percentage = 48.5
|change     = &minus;2.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 42
|percentage = 3.0
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 1,364
|percentage = 81.1
|change     = +1.2
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 1,682
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner    = Whigs (British political party)
|loser     = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing     = +2.9
}}
{{election box end}}
===1840s===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1841 United Kingdom general election|General election 1841]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Ramsay (MP)|William Ramsay]]
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 2,315
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser = Whigs (British political party)
}}
{{election box end}}
Ramsay resigned by accepting the office of [[Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds]], causing a by-election.
{{Election box begin | title=[[1845 Midlothian by-election|By-election, 25 June 1845]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Sir John Hope, 11th Baronet|John Hope]]
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1847 United Kingdom general election|General election 1847]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Sir John Hope, 11th Baronet|John Hope]]
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 2,185
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
===1850s===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1852 United Kingdom general election|General election 1852]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Sir John Hope, 11th Baronet|John Hope]]
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 2,017
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
Hope's death caused a by-election.
{{Election box begin | title=[[1853 Midlothian by-election|By-election, 25 June 1853]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|William Montagu Douglas Scott]]
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1857 United Kingdom general election|General election 1857]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|William Montagu Douglas Scott]]
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 1,960
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1859 United Kingdom general election|General election 1859]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|William Montagu Douglas Scott]]
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 1,974
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
===1860s===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1865 United Kingdom general election|General election 1865]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|William Montagu Douglas Scott]]
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 1,656
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1868 United Kingdom general election|General election 1868]]: Midlothian <ref>Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1870</ref><ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Alexander Ramsay-Gibson-Maitland]]
|votes      = 1,146
|percentage = 55.9
|change     = ''New''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|William Montagu Douglas Scott]]
|votes      = 905
|percentage = 44.1
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 241
|percentage = 11.8
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 2,051
|percentage = 82.4
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 2,489
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      = ''N/A''
}}
{{election box end}}
===1870s===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1874 United Kingdom general election|General election 1874]]: Midlothian <ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|William Montagu Douglas Scott]]
|votes      = 1,194
|percentage = 53.0
|change     = +8.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Hay, 10th Marquess of Tweeddale|William Hay]]
|votes      = 1,059
|percentage = 47.0
|change     = -8.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 135
|percentage = 6.0
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 2,253
|percentage = 84.3
|change     = +1.9
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 2,672
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner  = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser   = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing   =
}}
{{election box end}}
===1880s===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1880 United Kingdom general election|General election 1880]]: Midlothian <ref name="craig1832">{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=F. W. S.|editor-link=F. W. S. Craig|title=British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885|date=1977|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=978-1-349-02349-3|edition=1st|type=e-book}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
|votes      = 1,579
|percentage = 53.6
|change     = +6.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|William Montagu Douglas Scott]]
|votes      = 1,368
|percentage = 46.4
|change     = &minus;6.6
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 211
|percentage = 7.2
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 2,947
|percentage = 90.4
|change     = +6.1
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 3,260
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing      = +6.6
}}
{{election box end}}
Gladstone's appointment as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[First Lord of the Treasury]] and [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] required a by-election.
{{Election box begin | title=[[1880 Midlothian by-election|By-election, 10 May 1880]]: Midlothian <ref name="craig1832"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
[[File:1271754717 william-e.-gladstone.jpg|thumb|120px|[[William Ewart Gladstone|Gladstone]]]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[1885 United Kingdom general election|General election 1885]]: Midlothian <ref name="debrett-1889"/><ref name="craig1885"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
|votes      = 7,879
|percentage = 70.8
|change     = +17.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Sir Charles Dalrymple, 1st Baronet|Charles Dalrymple]]
|votes      = 3,248
|percentage = 29.2
|change     = &minus;17.2
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 4,631
|percentage = 41.6
|change     = +34.4
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 11,127
|percentage = 86.1
|change     = &minus;4.3
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 12,924
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = +17.2
}}
{{election box end}}
Gladstone's appointment as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[First Lord of the Treasury]] and [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] required a by-election.
{{Election box begin | title=[[1886 Midlothian by-election|By-election, 10 Feb 1886]]: Midlothian <ref name="craig1885"/><ref name="debrett-1889">Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1889</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[1886 United Kingdom general election|General election 1886]]: Midlothian <ref name="craig1885"/><ref name="debrett-1889"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
}}
{{election box end}}
===1890s===
[[File:Andrew-gilbert-wauchope.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Andrew Gilbert Wauchope|Wauchope]]]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[1892 United Kingdom general election|General election 1892]]: Midlothian <ref name="Whitaker's Almanack, 1893"/><ref name="craig1885">{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
|votes      = 5,845
|percentage = 53.1
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Andrew Wauchope]]
|votes      = 5,155
|percentage = 46.9
|change     = ''New''
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 690
|percentage = 6.2
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 11,000
|percentage = 83.1
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 13,234
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = ''N/A''
}}
{{election box end}}
Gladstone's appointment as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[First Lord of the Treasury]] and [[Lord Privy Seal]] required a by-election.
{{Election box begin| title=[[1892 United Kingdom general election|By-election, 24 Aug 1892]]: Midlothian<ref name="craig1885"/><ref name="Whitaker's Almanack, 1893">Whitaker's Almanack, 1893</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Liberal Party (UK)
}}
{{Election box end}}
[[File:Thomas_Gibson-Carmichael.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael|Gibson-Carmichael]]]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[1895 United Kingdom general election|General election 1895]]: Midlothian <ref name="debrett-1901"/><ref name="craig1885"/>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael|Thomas Gibson-Carmichael]]
|votes      = 6,090
|percentage = 52.0
|change     = &minus;1.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Unionist Party
|candidate  = North de Coigny Dalrymple-Hamilton
|votes      = 5,631
|percentage = 48.0
|change     = +1.1
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 459
|percentage = 4.0
|change     = &minus;2.2
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 11,721
|percentage = 85.2
|change     = +2.1
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 13,750
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = &minus;1.1
}}
{{election box end}}
===1900s===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1900 United Kingdom general election|General election 1900]]: Midlothian <ref name="debrett-1901">Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1901</ref><ref name="craig1885">{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Alexander Murray, 1st Baron Murray of Elibank|Alexander Murray]]
|votes      = 5,804
|percentage = 51.4
|change     = &minus;0.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Unionist Party
|candidate  = North de Coigny Dalrymple-Hamilton
|votes      = 5,490
|percentage = 48.6
|change     = +0.6
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 314
|percentage = 2.8
|change     = &minus;1.2
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 11,294
|percentage = 80.7
|change     = &minus;4.5
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 13,991
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = &minus;0.6
}}
{{election box end}}
[[File:Lord_Dalmeny.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery|Dalmeny]]]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[1906 United Kingdom general election|General election 1906]]: Midlothian <ref>Whitaker's Almanack, 1907</ref><ref name="craig1885"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery|Harry Primrose]]
|votes      = 8,348
|percentage = 61.9
|change     = +10.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = Frank J. Usher
|votes      = 5,131
|percentage = 38.1
|change     = &minus;10.5
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 3,217
|percentage = 23.8
|change     = +21.0
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 13,479
|percentage = 85.8
|change     = +5.1
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 15,711
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
|swing      = +10.5
}}
{{election box end}}
===1910s===
[[File:Lord Murray of Elibank - Bain Collection.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Alexander Murray, 1st Baron Murray of Elibank|Elibank]]]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|General election January 1910]]: Midlothian <ref name="debrett-1916"/><ref name="craig1885">{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Alexander Murray, 1st Baron Murray of Elibank|Alexander Murray]]
|votes      = 9,062
|percentage = 62.5
|change     = +0.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Mountstuart Elphinstone]]
|votes      = 5,427
|percentage = 37.5
|change     = &minus;0.6
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 3,635
|percentage = 25.0
|change     = +1.2
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 14,489
|percentage = 84.5
|change     = &minus;1.3
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 17,141
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Scottish Liberal Party
|swing      = +0.6
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|General election December 1910]]: Midlothian <ref name="debrett-1916"/><ref name="craig1885"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Alexander Murray, 1st Baron Murray of Elibank|Alexander Murray]]
|votes      = 8,837
|percentage = 60.9
|change     = &minus;1.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate  =  [[Sir John Hope, 16th Baronet|John Hope]]
|votes      = 5,680
|percentage = 39.1
|change     = +1.6
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 3,157
|percentage = 21.8
|change     = &minus;3.2
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 14,517
|percentage = 82.3
|change     = &minus;2.2
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 17,639
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner     = Scottish Liberal Party
|swing      = &minus;1.6
}}
{{Election box end}}
[[File:Alexander_Shaw.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Alexander Shaw, 2nd Baron Craigmyle|Shaw]]]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[1912 Midlothian by-election]]<ref name="debrett-1916">Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1916</ref><ref name="craig1885"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party      = Unionist Party (Scotland)
|candidate  = [[Sir John Hope, 16th Baronet|John Hope]]
|votes      = 6,021
|percentage = 41.8
|change     = +2.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Scottish Liberal Party
|candidate  = [[Alexander Shaw, 2nd Baron Craigmyle|Alexander Shaw]]
|votes      = 5,989
|percentage = 41.5
|change     = &minus;19.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party      = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate  = [[Robert Brown (trade unionist)|Robert Brown]]
|votes      = 2,413
|percentage = 16.7
|change     = ''New''
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes      = 32
|percentage = 0.3
|change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes      = 14,423
|percentage = 80.8
|change     = &minus;1.5
}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 17,847
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner     = Unionist Party (Scotland)
|loser      = Scottish Liberal Party
|swing      = +11.1
}}
{{Election box end}}
== Notes and references ==
{{reflist}}
{{rayment-hc|m|2|date=March 2012}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|rows=3|last=[[Buckinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Buckinghamshire]]|reason=since 1876}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies represented by sitting prime ministers|Constituency represented by the prime minister]]|years=1880–1885}}
{{s-vac|rows=3|next=[[Manchester East (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester East]]|reason=until 1902}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies represented by sitting prime ministers|Constituency represented by the prime minister]]|years=1 February – 20 July 1886}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies represented by sitting prime ministers|Constituency represented by the prime minister]]|years=1892–1895}}
{{s-end}}
{{Scottish Westminster constituencies (style 1)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency, 1708-1918)}}
[[Category:Historic parliamentary constituencies in Scotland (Westminster)]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1708]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1918]]
[[Category:History of Midlothian]]