Blackburn by-election, 1869
Encyclopedia
The Blackburn by-election of 1869 was a parliamentary by-election
held in England
in March 1869. It returned two Members of Parliament
(MPs) to the House of Commons for the borough of Blackburn
in Lancashire
.
It was a rare double-by-election, caused when the 1868 general election
of the borough's two Conservative
MPs was nullified. Their sons won the by-election, but the result led to fighting in the town of Blackburn and was denounced by the Liberal Party
candidates as a "farce".
in borough of Blackburn
was declared null and void, after an election petition
had been lodged.
The two Conservatives who had been elected, Joseph Feilden
and William Henry Hornby, were unseated when Mr Justice Willes found that that there had been widespread intimidation of voters. The candidates themselves were absolved of direct involvement in the intimidation, but their agents were held responsible for a document known as the "screw circular". The circular called on mill-owners, tradesmen, and other employers to secure the election of Conservatives at both the municipal and parliamentary elections, and led to the dismissal of many long-serving employees on the spurious grounds of trivial misconduct, long after the alleged misconduct had occurred.
The Liberal Party
nominated John Gerald Potter, who had contested Blackburn in 1865
and 1868, and John Morley
, a barrister who had taken up journalism and become the editor of the Fortnightly Review
.
Potter told meeting that if the working class
es of Blackburn were allowed to vote freely, he and Morley would both be returned, and that the longer he lived, the more he saw the need for voting to be conducted by secret ballot
. He favoured the abolition of the ratepaying qualification for elections, a national system of education, a reduction in taxation and the legalisation of trade union
s. Morley said that the Tories had no policy, no spirit and no temper, and that he supported the policies of the present government.
The Conservatives also nominated two candidates: Edward Hornby
and Henry Master Feilden
, both sons of the ousted Conservatives MPs. Both Hornby and Fielden appealed for support as a tribute to their fathers, with Hornby asserting that he had "no vain idea" that his own merits were enough to qualify him as an MP.
, so voting was conducted in public at the hustings, which were attended by a large number of police armed with cutlass
es. A show of hands
was taken and pronounced to be in favour of Fielden and Hornby, but a vote was demanded on behalf of the Liberal candidates.
Polling took place the following day, 30 March, in 25 locations. Voting began at 8am, and there were no reports of any disturbances. The Times
newspaper reported that "only three persons" were arrested for personation
, one of whom had been released when it was acknowledged that a mistake had been made.
The results were announced by the Mayor at 6.30pm, when Fielden and Hornby were declared the winners
with a margin of over 700 votes.
In their acceptance speeches, Fielden and Hornby both pronounced the result as being the true voice of Blackburn once the screw had been removed. Fielden said that he hoped that Potter would not dare challenge the result again, and then a fight broke out, which was speedily broken up the police. There were reports that shots had been fired, but The Times reported that the police had received no accounts of anyone wounded by gunfire.
The Liberal candidates did not appear on the platform at the declaration, and issued a printed statement saying that they were unsurprised by the result. They asserted that the Conservative victory was the result of intimidation, and elections in Blackburn would remain "a farce" without a secret ballot
.
At about 7pm, stones were thrown at Conservative supporters in Penny Street. A policeman was shot in the arm, other shots were fired from windows, and there was serious fighting for a few minutes until 60 policemen came to guard the approaches to the street.
never stood for Parliament again, and held the seat until the 1874 general election
, when he retired from the House of Commons. Henry Master Feilden
was re-elected in 1874, but died in office in 1875, triggering a by-election in October 1875.
After three unsuccessful candidacies, J. G. Potter did not stand again. John Morley
unsuccessfully contested the City of Westminster
at the 1880 general election
, and was elected as MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
at a by-election in February 1883. He held a number of senior posts in the Cabinet
, and was ennobled in 1908 as Viscount Morley of Blackburn.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in March 1869. It returned two Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MPs) to the House of Commons for the borough of Blackburn
Blackburn (UK Parliament constituency)
Blackburn is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The town currently elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It has elected Labour MPs since its re-creation in 1955.-Boundaries:The constituency...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
It was a rare double-by-election, caused when the 1868 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1868
The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom...
of the borough's two Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MPs was nullified. Their sons won the by-election, but the result led to fighting in the town of Blackburn and was denounced by the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidates as a "farce".
The vacancy
On 16 March 1869, the result of the 1868 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1868
The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom...
in borough of Blackburn
Blackburn (UK Parliament constituency)
Blackburn is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The town currently elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It has elected Labour MPs since its re-creation in 1955.-Boundaries:The constituency...
was declared null and void, after an election petition
Election petition
An election petition refers to the procedure for challenging the result of a Parliamentary election or local government election in the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong.- Outcomes :...
had been lodged.
The two Conservatives who had been elected, Joseph Feilden
Joseph Feilden
Randle Joseph Feilden was a businessman and Conservative politician who represented several Lancashire constituencies.Feilden was born at Clifton, Bristol, the second son of Joseph Feilden of Witton Park, Lancashire. He was an officer in the 60th Rifles. He was elected member of parliament for...
and William Henry Hornby, were unseated when Mr Justice Willes found that that there had been widespread intimidation of voters. The candidates themselves were absolved of direct involvement in the intimidation, but their agents were held responsible for a document known as the "screw circular". The circular called on mill-owners, tradesmen, and other employers to secure the election of Conservatives at both the municipal and parliamentary elections, and led to the dismissal of many long-serving employees on the spurious grounds of trivial misconduct, long after the alleged misconduct had occurred.
Candidates
The nominations were made on 29 March 1869, before a gathering of 15,000 people in Blakey Moor, Blackburn.The Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
nominated John Gerald Potter, who had contested Blackburn in 1865
United Kingdom general election, 1865
The 1865 United Kingdom general election saw the Liberals, led by Lord Palmerston, increase their large majority over the Earl of Derby's Conservatives to more than 80. The Whig Party changed its name to the Liberal Party between the previous election and this one.Palmerston died later in the same...
and 1868, and John Morley
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn OM, PC was a British Liberal statesman, writer and newspaper editor. Initially a journalist, he was elected a Member of Parliament in 1883...
, a barrister who had taken up journalism and become the editor of the Fortnightly Review
Fortnightly Review
Fortnightly Review was one of the most important and influential magazines in nineteenth-century England. It was founded in 1865 by Anthony Trollope, Frederic Harrison, Edward Spencer Beesly, and six others with an investment of £9,000; the first edition appeared on 15 May 1865...
.
Potter told meeting that if the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
es of Blackburn were allowed to vote freely, he and Morley would both be returned, and that the longer he lived, the more he saw the need for voting to be conducted by secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
. He favoured the abolition of the ratepaying qualification for elections, a national system of education, a reduction in taxation and the legalisation of trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s. Morley said that the Tories had no policy, no spirit and no temper, and that he supported the policies of the present government.
The Conservatives also nominated two candidates: Edward Hornby
Edward Hornby
Edward Kenworthy Hornby was an English Conservative Party politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1869 to 1874.- Family :...
and Henry Master Feilden
Henry Master Feilden
Henry Master Feilden was an English Conservative Party politician.- Career :On 16 March 1869, the result of the 1868 general election in the borough of Blackburn was declared null and void, after an election petition had been lodged.The two Conservatives who had been elected, William Henry Hornby...
, both sons of the ousted Conservatives MPs. Both Hornby and Fielden appealed for support as a tribute to their fathers, with Hornby asserting that he had "no vain idea" that his own merits were enough to qualify him as an MP.
Result
There was no secret ballot until 1872Ballot Act 1872
The Ballot Act 1872 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that introduced the requirement that parliamentary and local government elections in the United Kingdom be held by secret ballot.-Background:...
, so voting was conducted in public at the hustings, which were attended by a large number of police armed with cutlass
Cutlass
A cutlass is a short, broad sabre or slashing sword, with a straight or slightly curved blade sharpened on the cutting edge, and a hilt often featuring a solid cupped or basket shaped guard...
es. A show of hands
Show of hands
A show of hands is a common voting method used in committees and other informal or small gatherings for voting. It is more precise than a voice vote but does not require members to leave their seats. However, it does not count as a division of the assembly, and is not always as effective as a...
was taken and pronounced to be in favour of Fielden and Hornby, but a vote was demanded on behalf of the Liberal candidates.
Polling took place the following day, 30 March, in 25 locations. Voting began at 8am, and there were no reports of any disturbances. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper reported that "only three persons" were arrested for personation
Personation
Personation is a term used in law for the specific kind of voter fraud where an individual votes in an election, whilst pretending to be a different elector....
, one of whom had been released when it was acknowledged that a mistake had been made.
The results were announced by the Mayor at 6.30pm, when Fielden and Hornby were declared the winners
with a margin of over 700 votes.
In their acceptance speeches, Fielden and Hornby both pronounced the result as being the true voice of Blackburn once the screw had been removed. Fielden said that he hoped that Potter would not dare challenge the result again, and then a fight broke out, which was speedily broken up the police. There were reports that shots had been fired, but The Times reported that the police had received no accounts of anyone wounded by gunfire.
The Liberal candidates did not appear on the platform at the declaration, and issued a printed statement saying that they were unsurprised by the result. They asserted that the Conservative victory was the result of intimidation, and elections in Blackburn would remain "a farce" without a secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
.
At about 7pm, stones were thrown at Conservative supporters in Penny Street. A policeman was shot in the arm, other shots were fired from windows, and there was serious fighting for a few minutes until 60 policemen came to guard the approaches to the street.
Aftermath
Edward HornbyEdward Hornby
Edward Kenworthy Hornby was an English Conservative Party politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1869 to 1874.- Family :...
never stood for Parliament again, and held the seat until the 1874 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1874
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, when he retired from the House of Commons. Henry Master Feilden
Henry Master Feilden
Henry Master Feilden was an English Conservative Party politician.- Career :On 16 March 1869, the result of the 1868 general election in the borough of Blackburn was declared null and void, after an election petition had been lodged.The two Conservatives who had been elected, William Henry Hornby...
was re-elected in 1874, but died in office in 1875, triggering a by-election in October 1875.
After three unsuccessful candidacies, J. G. Potter did not stand again. John Morley
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn OM, PC was a British Liberal statesman, writer and newspaper editor. Initially a journalist, he was elected a Member of Parliament in 1883...
unsuccessfully contested the City of Westminster
Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)
Westminster was a parliamentary constituency in the Parliament of England to 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain 1707-1800 and the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. It returned two members to 1885 and one thereafter....
at the 1880 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, and was elected as MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne was a borough constituency in the county of Northumberland of the House of Commons of England to 1706 then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
at a by-election in February 1883. He held a number of senior posts in the Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
, and was ennobled in 1908 as Viscount Morley of Blackburn.