The summary of the electorate gives a very generalised view, for all eighteenth–century figures are 'soft' and can only be approximate.
- All constituencies returned two members.
- All electors had two votes, but could use only one ('plump') if they wished.
In the tables below:
- figures after county names show percentages of Catholic households in 1732;
- square brackets after percentages are estimates of the total population in 1784;
- figures preceded by c. are guesses at the electorate, extrapolated from the electoral returns;
- square brackets after the electorate represent estimates of the county electorate 1800 to 1832 taken from the History of Parliament 1790–1820 (indicating the effects of the 1793 Catholic Enfranchisement Act);
CO. ANTRIM – 19%, [110,920 + Carrickfergus 3,225] c. 3,500,3 [c. 8,000 (1815)] | |||
---|---|---|---|
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Antrim | Potwalloping | E. of Massereene | 250–300 |
Belfast | Corporation | E. of Donegall | 13 burgesses, 5 resident |
(unchanged 1800–32) | |||
Lisburn | Potwalloping | E. of Hertford | 350–400 electors (1808 – c. 75) |
Randalstown | Potwalloping | John O'Neil | 80–200 electors |
Carrickfergus | County borough | E. of Donegall (1 seat) | 900 freemen and freeholders |
Open (1 seat) | (1812 – c. 800) | ||
CO. ARMAGH – 33%, [84,000] c. 2,400,5 [c. 6,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Armagh | Corporation | Primate | 13 burgesses (unchanged 1800–32) |
Charlemont | Corporation | E. of Charlemont | 13 burgesses |
CO. CARLOW – 80%, [34,176] c. 550–650,6 [c. 4,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Carlow | Corporation | William Burton; sold 2 | 13 burgesses |
seats 1795 (£13,000)7 to | (unchanged 1800–32) | ||
Charles Bury (Charleville) | |||
Old Leighlin | Corporation | Bishop of Ferns | 13 burgesses |
CO. CAVAN – 76%, [68,000] c. 1,850,8 [c. 4,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Belturbet | Corporation | E. of Lanesborough; sold 1 | 12 burgesses (very few resident) |
seat to David La Touche; | |||
sold 2 seats c. 1783 to | |||
E. of Belmore9 | |||
Cavan | Corporation10 | Thomas Nesbitt (1 seat) | 13 burgesses |
Robert Clements (1 seat) | |||
CO. CLARE – 93%, [66,000] c. 1,000,11 [c. 7,000 (1801), c. 6,000 (1815), c. 10,000 (1818)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Ennis | Corporation | Sir Lucius O'Brien (1 seat) | 12 burgesses (unchanged 1800–32) |
Pierpont Burton- | |||
Conyngham (1 seat) | |||
CO. CORK – 89%, [250,000 + Cork city 100,000] c. 3,000,12 [c. 20,500 (1818)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Baltimore | Potwalloping | Sir John Freke | 23 voted in 177413 |
Bandon-Bridge | Corporation | Francis Bernard (Bandon) | 13 burgesses, 50 freemen |
13 burgesses 1800–32 | |||
Castlemartyr | Corporation | E. of Shannon | 13 burgesses |
Charleville | Corporation | E. of Shannon (1) | 6 burgesses at present alive14 |
E. of Cork (1) | |||
Clonakilty | Corporation | E. of Shannon | Burgesses and freemen: 7 voted (1783) |
Cork city 68% | County borough | Open | 1200–1500 freemen and freeholders |
(1,895 in 1818) | |||
Doneraile | Manor | Lord Doneraile | Freeholders of manor |
Kinsale | Corporation | Lord de Clifford | Burgesses and freemen resident in |
Ulster (176 in 1831) | |||
Mallow | Manor | Denham Jephson | Freeholders of manor (524 in 1831) |
Midleton | Corporation | Lord Midleton | 6 burgesses |
Rathcormack | Potwalloping | William Hull | 7 voted in 1783 |
(Tonson) (Riversdale) | |||
Youghal | Corporation | E. of Shannon | Burgesses and freemen (263 in 1831) |
CO. DONEGAL – 43%, [66,720] c. 2,500,15 [c. 6,000 (1815)] ... | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Ballyshannon | Corporation | Conolly family; sold16 2 seats | 13 burgesses, one resident |
in 1797 to E. of Belmore | |||
Donegal | Corporation | E. of Arran | 13 burgesses, one resident |
Killybegs | Corporation | E. of Conyngham and heirs | 13 burgesses, all non-resident |
Lifford | Corporation | Lord Erne | 13 burgesses, one resident |
St Johnstown | Corporation | E. of Abercorn (2 seats) | 13 burgesses, all non-resident |
William Forward and heiress | |||
– Countess of Wicklow17 | |||
(2 seats) | |||
CO. DOWN – 27%, [135,835]18 c. 6,000,19 [c. 13,000 (1811), c. 15,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Bangor20 | Corporation | Sir James Hamilton and | 12 burgesses |
heiresses (2 seats) | |||
Lord Bangor (1 seat) | |||
E. of Carrick (1 seat) | |||
Downpatrick | Potwalloping | Lord de Clifford | 250 electors (393 voted in 1818) |
Hillsborough | Corporation | E. of Hillsborough | 13 burgesses |
(Downshire) | |||
Killyleagh | Corporation | Stevenson family (pre-1769) | 13 burgesses |
(2 seats) | |||
Sir John Blackwood21 (2 seats) | |||
Newry22 | Potwalloping | William Needham (1 seat) | 600–700 electors (c. 500 post-1800) |
Open (1 seat) | |||
Newtown(ards) | Corporation | Colvill family (mid-1740s) | 13 burgesses |
(2 seats); John Ponsonby23 | |||
(2 seats) – heir exchanged | |||
Banagher with Lord Caledon | |||
c. 1787 | |||
CO. DUBLIN – 77%, [56,800 + Dublin city c. 300,000] c. 1,200–1,500,24 [c. 2,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Dublin city25 32% | County borough | Open | 3,000–4,000 freemen and freeholders |
(3,000 in 1806) | |||
Dublin University | Corporation | Provost (2 seats) post-1776 | 70 Scholars and 22 Fellows |
TCD | ?Open (2 seats) | (unchanged 1800–32) | |
Newcastle26 | Corporation | E. of Lanesborough; | 12 burgesses |
sold 2 seats 1776–9 (£7,000– | |||
8,000) to David La Touche | |||
Swords27 | Potwalloping | Open | 160 electors |
CO. FERMANAGH – 42%, [30,000] c. 3,000,28 [c. 7,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Enniskillen | Corporation | E. of Enniskillen | 12–14 burgesses (unchanged 1800–32) |
CO. GALWAY – 95%, [166,249 + Galway town 12,600] c. 700, [c. 13,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Athenry | Corporation | John Blakeney | 13 burgesses and 2 freemen |
Galway | County borough | Denis Daly (1 seat) | 569 freemen and freeholders (including |
Denis Bowes Daly (1 seat) | 295 admitted in 1783)29 | ||
(560 in 1812); 847 voted in 1818 | |||
Tuam | Corporation | Bingham family30 | 13 burgesses |
(Clanmorris) | |||
CO. KERRY – 92%, [75,000] c. 1,000, [c. 5,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Ardfert | Corporation | E. of Glandore | 12 burgesses and 6 freemen |
Dingle | Corporation | Maurice FitzGerald heirs – | 150 freemen, 2 resident |
Townshend family | |||
Tralee | Corporation | Sir Barry Denny | 13 burgesses (unchanged 1800–32) |
CO. KILDARE – 92%, [49,968] [?]c. 300–1,500,31 [c. 2,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Athy | Corporation | Duke of Leinster | 'A few' burgesses and freemen |
Harristown | Corporation | Duke of Leinster; sold 2 seats | 13 burgesses – uninhabited |
1793 (£14,000–16,000) to | |||
John La Touche | |||
Kildare | Corporation | Duke of Leinster | 13 burgesses plus 'a few' freemen |
Naas | Corporation | John Bourke (E. of Mayo) | 'A few' burgesses and freemen |
CO. KILKENNY – 91%, [86,574 + Kilkenny city 13,865] c. 1,050,32 [2,300 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Callan | Corporation | James Agar (Callan) | Freemen |
Gowran | Corporation | James Agar and heir (Clifden) | c. 13 burgesses |
Innistiogue | Corporation | Col. Ponsonby (1692)33 (2 | 13 burgesses |
seats); Sir William Fownes | |||
and heirs (2 seats) | |||
Kilkenny city34 | County borough | Duke of Ormonde (1692–1715) | 1,400–1,800 freemen and freeholders |
Sir Haydock Morres (1 seat) | (865 in 1831) | ||
Sir John Blunden (1 seat) | |||
From 1783, Cuffe and | |||
Butler families (2 seats) | |||
Knocktopher | Potwalloping | Sir Hercules Langrishe (1 seat) | Potwallopers and freemen |
John Ponsonby (1 seat) | 1 elector in 1783–4 | ||
After 1783, Langrishe (2 seats) | |||
St Canice or | Corporation | Bishop of Ossory | 13 burgesses and freemen |
Irishtown | |||
Thomastown | Corporation | James Agar (Clifden) | [?]13 Burgesses |
KING'S COUNTY – 84%, [48,000] c. 900–1,500,35 [c. 3,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Banagher36 | Corporation | Misses Plunket (2 seats); | 13 burgesses and 'a few freemen' |
sold (2 seats) to Peter | |||
Holmes; sold (2 seats) 1787 | |||
(£10,500) to James Alexander; | |||
exchanged (2 seats) for | |||
Newtown(ards) 1788 with | |||
G. Ponsonby | |||
Philipstown37 | Corporation | E. of Belvidere | 13 burgesses and 'a few freemen' |
CO. LEITRIM – 85%, [35,280] c. 1,076,38 [c. 7,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Carrick | Corporation | Nathaniel Clements | 13 burgesses, all non-resident39 |
(E. of Leitrim) | |||
Jamestown | Corporation | King family | 13 burgesses, one resident |
CO. LIMERICK – 88%, [120,000 + 40,000 Limerick city] c. 1,500,40 [c. 1,500 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Askeaton | Corporation | Edward Taylor41 – | 13 burgesses |
heirs E. of Carrick (1 seat); | |||
Hugh Massy (1 seat) | |||
Kilmallock | Corporation | Silver Oliver | 13 burgesses |
Limerick | County borough | Smyth and Pery families | 800 freemen and freeholders |
(c. 1,000 in 1818) | |||
CO. LONDONDERRY – 24%, [99,000] [?] c. 2,252–2,432,42 [c. 8,500 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Coleraine | Corporation | Richard Jackson (1 seat), died 1789 | Mayor, 12 aldermen and 24 non- |
(1 seat), sold c. 1793 | resident burgesses (52 in 1831) | ||
(£7,000) to E. of Tyrone | |||
(M. of Waterford) | |||
(2 seats – bought from | |||
Richard Jackson's heir) | |||
Limavady | Corporation | E. of Conyngham and heir, | 13 burgesses |
Thomas Conolly; sold43 | |||
1792 to Lord Londonderry | |||
Londonderry | Corporation | Open | 700–750 freemen electors |
(c. 1,000 in 1812) | |||
CO. LONGFORD – 82%, [40,000] c. 700,44 [c. 3,100 (1813)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Granard | Manor | Mrs Macartney and heirs | Freeholders |
Lanesborough | Corporation | Robert Dillon (of | Burgesses and freemen (very few) |
Clonbrock) | |||
Longford | Corporation | E. of Longford | Burgesses and freemen (very few) |
St Johnstown | Corporation | E. of Granard | Burgesses, all non-resident |
CO. LOUTH – 85%, [46,446] [?]c. 400,45 [c. 600 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Ardee | Corporation | John Ruxton and heirs | 24 burgesses and 80 freemen |
Carlingford | Corporation | Ross Moore (1 seat); | 13 burgesses and 'some' freemen |
Col. Robert Ross (1 seat), | |||
sold c. 1790s to | |||
M. of Downshire | |||
Drogheda | County borough | Francis Leigh (?1 seat) | 500 freemen and freeholders |
Open (1 seat) | (650 in 1815) | ||
Dundalk46 | Corporation | E. of Clanbrassill | 16 burgesses and 700 freemen |
1798 Countess of Roden | (c. 30 post-1800) | ||
Dunleer47 | Corporation | Lord Dartmouth until 1698 | 13 burgesses and 30 freemen |
Tenison family until 1735 | |||
Foster family (1 seat) | |||
Dixie Coddington (1779 | |||
1 seat) | |||
CO. MAYO – 94%, [120,084] c. 1,000,48 [c. 12,000 (1802), c. 11,000 (1814)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Castlebar | Corporation | Sir Charles Bingham | 13 burgesses, all non-resident |
(E. of Lucan) | |||
CO. MEATH – 90%, [94,600] c. 1,200,49 [c. 4,300 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Athboy | Manor | E. of Darnley | 30 freeholders (1783) |
Duleek | Corporation | Abel Ram; sold 2 seats | 13 burgesses (probably fewer) |
c. 1789 (£10,000) to | |||
Henry Bruen50 | |||
Kells | Corporation | E. of Bective (M. of Headfort) | A few freemen and burgesses |
Navan | Corporation | E. of Ludlow (1 seat) | 13 burgesses and 60–70 freemen; |
John Preston (Lord Tara) | only 9 voted in 1783 | ||
(1 seat) | |||
Ratoath | Manor | Gorges Lowther (2) | Freeholders |
Trim | Corporation | E. of Mornington (Wellesley) | 13 burgesses and 300 freemen |
CO. MONAGHAN – 64%, [99,225] [?]c. 1,500,51 [c. 3,500 (1807)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Monaghan | Corporation | Sir Alexander Cairnes and | 13 burgesses, all non-resident |
heirs; E. of Clermont (1 seat) | |||
and heirs; Lady Blayney | |||
(1 seat) and heirs | |||
QUEEN'S COUNTY – 90%, [40,000] [?]c. 1,500–1,600,55 [c. 6,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Ballynakill | Corporation | E. of Drogheda | 12 burgesses, 2 resident |
Maryborough53 | Corporation | Sir John Parnell (1 seat) | Mayor, 2 bailiffs, 12 burgesses |
Dean Coote (1 seat) | and c. 350 freemen | ||
Portarlington | Corporation | Lord Carlow | 13 burgesses and 50 freemen54 |
(E. of Portarlington) | (12 in 1815, 15 in 1831) | ||
CO. ROSCOMMON – 90%, [40,000] [?]c. 1,500–1,600,55 [c. 6,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Boyle | Corporation | E. of Kingston | 13 burgesses, mostly non-resident |
Roscommon | Corporation | Henry Sandford (Mt Sandford) | 13 burgesses |
Tulsk | Corporation | Sir George Caulfeild and heirs | 13 burgesses, all non-resident |
CO. SLIGO – 81%, [36,900] c. 1,000,56 [c. 2,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Sligo | Corporation | Owen Wynne | 13 burgesses (unaltered 1800–32) |
CO. TIPPERARY – 91%, [119,706] c. 1,500,57 [c. 18,000 (post–1800)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Cashel | Corporation | Richard Pennefather | Mayor, 17 aldermen and 70–80 |
freemen (25 in 1829) | |||
Clonmel | Corporation | Moore family | Mayor, 19 burgesses and 72 freemen |
(Mountcashell)58 | (c. 90 post-1800) | ||
Fethard | Corporation | Cornelius O'Callaghan | 13 burgesses and 900 freemen59 |
(Lismore) (1 seat) | |||
Mr William Barton (1 seat) | |||
CO. TYRONE – 52%, [112,612] c. 3,500 [20,000 (post–1800), 10,000 (1812)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Augher | Corporation | Sir Archibald Erskine and | 13 burgesses |
heirs; James Moutray (1 seat) | |||
William Richardson (1 seat)60 | |||
M. of Abercorn purchased | |||
2 seats 1790 (£11,500) | |||
Clogher | Corporation | Bishop of Clogher61 (2) | 13 burgesses, clergy |
Dungannon | Corporation | Thomas Knox (Ld. Welles) | 13 burgesses (unaltered 1800–32) |
Strabane | Corporation | E. of Abercorn62 | 13 burgesses |
CO. WATERFORD – 93%, [52,000 + Waterford city 40,000] c. 700,63 [c. 3,300 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Dungarvan64 | [?]Potwalloping | D. of Devonshire (1 seat) 65 | 120 freeholders and householders |
E. of Tyrone and others (1 seat) | |||
Lismore | [?]Manor | D. of Devonshire | Freeholders and householders |
Tallow | [?]Potwalloping | D. of Devonshire | Resident householders (96 in 1783) |
Waterford city66 | County borough | Alcock, Bolton, Carew and | Resident freemen and freeholders |
Christmas families | (c. 1,000 post-1800) | ||
CO. WESTMEATH – 86%, [70,350] c. 1,120,67 2,700(1806), [c. 3,000 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Athlone68 | Corporation | Sir Richard St George (1 seat) | Burgesses and 400–500 freemen |
Dean Handcock (1 seat) | (71 in 1832) | ||
Fore | Corporation | E. of Westmeath | 13 burgesses |
Kilbeggan | Corporation | Charles Lambart | 13 burgesses |
Mullingar69 | Manor | E. of Granard | Freeholders (12 voted in 1783) |
CO. WEXFORD – 83%, [77,628] [?]c. 2,500,70 [c. 7,500 (1818)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Bannow | Corporation | E. (M.) of Ely | 13 burgesses, 1 resident* |
Clonmines | Corporation | E. (M.) of Ely | 13 burgesses, 1 resident* |
Enniscorthy | Corporation | Sir Vesey Colclough | 13 burgesses, 1 resident |
Fethard | Corporation | E. (M.) of Ely | 13 burgesses, 1 resident* |
Gorey | Corporation | Abel Ram | 13 burgesses |
New Ross | Corporation | Charles Tottenham (1 seat) | 13 burgesses and freemen (38 in 1831) |
Robert Leigh (1 seat) | |||
Taghmon71 | Corporation | Hore family; sold ante | 13 Burgesses + 20 Freemen |
1795 to Henry Bruen | |||
Wexford72 | Corporation | Richard Nevill (1 seat) | Mayor, 2 bailiffs, 24 burgesses and |
Richard Le Hunt (1 seat) | 600–800 freemen (c. 150 post-1800) | ||
* Bannow, Clonmines and Fethard shared the same 13 burgesses. | |||
CO. WICKLOW – 67%, [56,532] c. 900,73 [c. 3,000 (1803), c. 1,500 (1815)] | |||
CONSTITUENCY | TYPE | PATRON | ELECTORATE |
Baltinglass | Corporation | E. of Aldborough | 12 burgesses plus 20 freemen |
Blessington | Corporation | Charles Dunbar and heirs | 12 burgesses plus 6 freemen |
(Hillsborough/ | |||
M. of Downshire) | |||
Carysfort | Corporation | V. Allen74 and heir | 13 burgesses, all non-resident |
Lord Carysfort | |||
Wicklow | Corporation | William Tighe | 13 burgesses |