North Dorset by-election, 1905

The North Dorset by-election was a Parliamentary by-election. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy

John Kenelm Digby Wingfield-Digby had been Conservative MP for the seat of North Dorset since the 1892 General Election. He died on 25 December 1904 at the age of 46.

Electoral history

The seat had been Conservative since they gained it in 1892. They easily held the seat at the last election, with an increased majority;

General Election January 1900 Electorate 8,318

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Kenelm Digby Wingfield-Digby	3,705	53.9
	Liberal	Hon. George Arthur Maurice Hamilton-Gordon	3,165	46.1
Majority			540	7.8
Turnout				82.6
	Conservative hold		Swing

Candidates

The Conservatives selected 26-year-old Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker to defend the seat.

The local Liberal Association selected 37-year-old Arthur Walters Wills as their candidate. He took honours in law in 1890. As a Barrister-at-law, he was called to Bar in 1894 and joined the Western Circuit. He was standing for parliament for the first time.

Campaign

Polling Day was fixed for 26 January 1905, 32 days after the death of the previous MP.

Result

The Liberals gained the seat from the Conservatives;

North Dorset by-election, 1905 Electorate 8,338

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Walters Wills	4,239	56.0	+9.9
	Conservative	Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker	3,330	44.0	-9.9
Majority				12.0	19.8
Turnout				90.8
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	+9.9

Aftermath

At the following General Election the result was;

General Election January 1906 Electorate 8,490

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Walters Wills	4,153	54.2
	Conservative	Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker	3,508	45.8
Majority				8.4	-3.6
Turnout				90.2	-0.6
	Liberal hold		Swing