1887 Dublin University by-election

The 1887 Dublin University by-election was a parliamentary by-election held for the United Kingdom House of Commons constituency of Dublin University on 7–12 July 1887.[1]

The by-election resulted from the resignation of Hugh Holmes, one of the members in this two-seat constituency, following his appointment as a high court judge. Two candidates were nominated: Richard Clere Parsons, an engineer and third son of the Earl of Rosse,[2] and Dodgson Hamilton Madden, a serjeant-at-law. Parsons received 712 votes; Madden received 1,376 and was therefore elected.[3][4]

John Thomas Ball, a former Lord Chancellor of Ireland, was on Madden's support committee and seconded his nomination on 7 July. At the time, Ball was one of the Lords Justices of Ireland deputising for Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry, the absent Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Members of the Irish Parliamentary Party complained in the Commons that Ball's action was inappropriate.[5]

Result

1887 Dublin University by-election[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Irish Unionist	Dodgson Madden	1,376	65.9	N/A
	Irish Unionist	Richard Clare Parsons	712	34.1	N/A
Majority			664	31.8	N/A
Turnout			2,088	51.0	N/A
Registered electors			4,092
	Irish Unionist hold		Swing	N/A

References

1. Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 289.
2. ‘PARSONS, Hon. Richard Clere’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 6 June 2013
3. The Times, 9 July 1887
4. The Constitutional Year Book, 1904, published by Conservative Central Office, page 195 (219 in web page)
5. "Contested Elections—The Lord Justices as Governors of Ireland". Hansard. Vol. HC Deb vol 317. 8 July 1887. cc221–222. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
6. Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.