Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)

Dorset was a county constituency covering Dorset in southern England, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs), traditionally known as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons of England from 1290 until 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until 1832.

The Great Reform Act increased its representation to three MPs with effect from the 1832 general election, and under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 the constituency was abolished for the 1885 election, and replaced by four single-member divisions: North Dorset, South Dorset, East Dorset and West Dorset.

When elections were contested, the bloc vote system was used, but contests were rare. Even after the 1832 Reforms, only three of the nineteen elections before 1885 were contested; in the others, the nominated candidates were returned without a vote.

Elections in the 1830s
Calcraft's death caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1840s
Ashley-Cooper and Sturt both resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s
Bankes was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, requiring a by-election.

Bankes' death caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s
Seymer resigned, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s
Sturt was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord Alington.