1887 St George's, Hanover Square by-election

The 1887 St George's, Hanover Square by-election was held on 9 February 1887 following the resignation of the incumbent Conservative MP, Lord Algernon Percy. Percy vacated his Parliamentary seat by being appointed Steward of the Manor of Northstead on 31 January 1887.[1]

Candidates

The Liberal Unionist candidate was George Goschen. Goschen was Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had voted against Gladstone's Home Rule Bill in 1886 and became a Liberal Unionist. He subsequently lost his seat at Edinburgh East at the 1886 general election.[2]

Lord Randolph Churchill resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22 December 1886. The Marquess of Salisbury appointed Goschen to the post on 14 January 1887.[3][4] He became the sole Liberal Unionist in an otherwise Conservative government.

Goschen was therefore Chancellor outside the House of Commons. He first contested a by-election at Liverpool Exchange to return to the House, but was defeated by seven votes.[5]

Following this defeat, Goschen received offers from Conservative Members of Parliament to resign their seats for Goschen.[6]

Lord Algernon Percy put his safely Conservative seat at St George's Hanover Square at Goschen's disposal,[7][8] an offer which Goschen accepted.[9][10]

The Liberal Party candidate was James Haysman. Haysman had contested Brentford in the 1885 general election, the 1886 general election, and the December 1886 by-election.[11]

Result

1887 St George's Hanover Square by-election[11][12][13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Unionist	George Goschen	5,702	78.7	New
	Liberal	James Haysman	1,545	21.3	New
Majority			4,157	57.4	N/A
Turnout			7,247	65.4	N/A
Registered electors			11,079
	Liberal Unionist hold		Swing	N/A

References

1. Rogers, Daniel (12 May 2022). "Appointments to the Chiltern Hundreds and Manor of Northstead Stewardships since 1880". UK Parliament. House of Commons Library. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
2. Elliot, Arthur D. (1911). The life of George Joachim Goschen, first Viscount Goschen. Vol. II. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
3. "Past Chancellors of the Exchequer". gov.uk. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
4. Cook, Chris; Keith, Brendan (1975). British Historical Facts: 1830–1900. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-349-01348-7.
5. Otte, T. G.; Readman, Paul, eds. (2013). By-elections in British Politics, 1832-1914. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. p. 182. ISBN 978-1-84383-780-0.
6. Ferris, Wesley (2008). The Liberal Unionist Party, 1886-1912 (PDF) (PhD). Hamilton, Ontario: McMaster University. p. 184. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
7. Spinner, Jr., Thomas J. (1973). George Joachim Goschen: The Transformation of a Victorian Liberal. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 137. ISBN 0-521-20210-8.
8. "A Seat for Mr. Goschen". New York Times. New York, N.Y. 30 January 1887. p. 5. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
9. "A Seat for Mr. Goschen". The Darling Downs Gazette. Toowoomba. 5 February 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
10. "Cablegrams". The Clarence & Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser. Grafton. 5 February 1887. p. 4. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
11. Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918. London and Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-349-02300-4.
12. The Liberal Year Book for 1908. London: The Liberal Publication Department. 1908. pp. 330–331.
13. The Constitutional Year Book for 1919. London: National Unionist Association. 1919. p. 285.