Carrickfergus and Belfast (constituency)
Encyclopedia
Carrickfergus and Belfast was a constituency in Ireland, that returned a single Member of Parliament
to sit in the House of Commons
of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
It was represented in the three Protectorate Parliaments, between 1654 and 1659.
and related conflicts, which had affected all three kingdoms.
Under the Instrument of Government, of 15 December 1653, the Lord Protector
and the English Council of State
were given power to provide for Irish representatives in the Westminster Parliament.
Provision for thirty Members of Parliament was made by An Ordinance by the Protector for Elections in Ireland of 27 June 1654. Carrickfergus and Belfast was one of the constituencies established by the Ordinance. The place of election was at Belfast.
Belfast
was a borough
, which had been enfranchised in 1613. According to Samuel Lewis in A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland in Parliament of Ireland elections the voters were the free burgess members of the corporation (the local Council). This group numbered twelve in the 18th century, although many Irish boroughs had larger corporations in earlier times than in the 18th century.
Carrickfergus
, one of the oldest Parliamentary borough
s in Ireland, was a county of itself. This was a status similar to the later County Borough
s. The town had been enfranchised in 1326, before County Antrim existed as a sub-division of Ireland
and Carrickfergus was included in that geographical county (but not for the purposes of administration). In Irish Parliament elections it was one of the few boroughs with a fairly large electorate. According to Samuel Lewis in A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland it consisted of the mayor
, aldermen, burgesses, and freemen
of the town as well as the freeholders of land valued at 40 shillings per annum or more.
borough
s of Belfast
and Carrickfergus
.
Both before and after the Commonwealth, Belfast (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
and Carrickfergus (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
each sent two members to the Parliament of Ireland
.
was summoned by the Lord Protector
Oliver Cromwell
under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall
as the Speaker of the House
.
sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658 with Thomas Widdrington
as the Speaker of the House
.
sat for one session from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659 with Chaloner Chute
and Thomas Bampfield
as the Speakers of the House
.
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,...
to sit in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
It was represented in the three Protectorate Parliaments, between 1654 and 1659.
Representation and Electorate
Ireland was united with England and Scotland under a republican government, after the defeat of the Royalists in the English Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and related conflicts, which had affected all three kingdoms.
Under the Instrument of Government, of 15 December 1653, the Lord Protector
Lord Protector
Lord Protector is a title used in British constitutional law for certain heads of state at different periods of history. It is also a particular title for the British Heads of State in respect to the established church...
and the English Council of State
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
were given power to provide for Irish representatives in the Westminster Parliament.
Provision for thirty Members of Parliament was made by An Ordinance by the Protector for Elections in Ireland of 27 June 1654. Carrickfergus and Belfast was one of the constituencies established by the Ordinance. The place of election was at Belfast.
Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
was a borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
, which had been enfranchised in 1613. According to Samuel Lewis in A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland in Parliament of Ireland elections the voters were the free burgess members of the corporation (the local Council). This group numbered twelve in the 18th century, although many Irish boroughs had larger corporations in earlier times than in the 18th century.
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
, one of the oldest Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
s in Ireland, was a county of itself. This was a status similar to the later County Borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
s. The town had been enfranchised in 1326, before County Antrim existed as a sub-division of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Carrickfergus was included in that geographical county (but not for the purposes of administration). In Irish Parliament elections it was one of the few boroughs with a fairly large electorate. According to Samuel Lewis in A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland it consisted of the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, aldermen, burgesses, and freemen
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of the town as well as the freeholders of land valued at 40 shillings per annum or more.
Boundaries and boundary changes
The constituency comprised the County AntrimCounty Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
s of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
.
Both before and after the Commonwealth, Belfast (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Belfast (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Belfast was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:Belfast in County Antrim was enfranchised as a borough constituency in 1613...
and Carrickfergus (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Carrickfergus (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Carrickfergus was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1326 to 1800.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This constituency was the borough of Carrickfergus in County Antrim. It returned two members to the Parliament of Ireland to 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689...
each sent two members to the Parliament of Ireland
Parliament of Ireland
The Parliament of Ireland was a legislature that existed in Dublin from 1297 until 1800. In its early mediaeval period during the Lordship of Ireland it consisted of either two or three chambers: the House of Commons, elected by a very restricted suffrage, the House of Lords in which the lords...
.
First Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate ParliamentFirst Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House....
was summoned by the Lord Protector
Lord Protector
Lord Protector is a title used in British constitutional law for certain heads of state at different periods of history. It is also a particular title for the British Heads of State in respect to the established church...
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall
William Lenthall
William Lenthall was an English politician of the Civil War period. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons.-Early life:...
as the Speaker of the House
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
.
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate ParliamentSecond Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658 with Thomas Widdrington
Thomas Widdrington
Sir Thomas Widdrington SL was an English politician and judge of the 17th century.He and his brother Ralph were of a junior branch of an ancient Northumbrian family and were distantly related to William Widdrington, 1st Baron Widdrington...
as the Speaker of the House
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
.
Third Protectorate Parliament
The Third Protectorate ParliamentThird Protectorate Parliament
The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons...
sat for one session from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659 with Chaloner Chute
Chaloner Chute
Chaloner Chute was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1654 and 1659. He was Speaker briefly in 1659....
and Thomas Bampfield
Thomas Bampfield
Thomas Bampfield or Bampfylde was an English Member of Parliament who was briefly Speaker of the House of Commons.He sat for Exeter in the First Protectorate Parliament, Second Protectorate Parliament and the Third Protectorate Parliament...
as the Speakers of the House
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
.