List of ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Date Constituency c/u Former incumbent Winner Position
29 July 1819 Edinburgh c William Dundas William Dundas Keeper of Sasines
20 July 1819 Ashburton u John Copley John Copley Solicitor General for England and Wales
19 July 1819 Eye u Sir Robert Gifford Sir Robert Gifford Attorney General for England and Wales
17 July 1819 Milborne Port c Robert Casberd Robert Casberd Puisne Justice of the Brecon Circuit
24 June 1819 Heytesbury u William Scott William Scott Clerk of Patents and Registrar of Affidavits at the Court of Chancery
5 April 1819 Monmouthshire u Lord Granville Somerset Lord Granville Somerset Junior Lord of the Treasury
2 April 1819 Banffshire u James Duff James Duff Lord of the Bedchamber
29 March 1819 Orford u Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Edmond Alexander MacNaghten Junior Lord of the Treasury
17 March 1819 Carrickfergus u George Chichester George Chichester Accepted a Commission in the Army
16 March 1819 Inverness-shire u Charles Grant Charles Grant Chief Secretary for Ireland
15 March 1819 Edinburghshire u Sir George Clerk Sir George Clerk Lord of the Admiralty
12 February 1819 Ashburton u John Copley John Copley Chief Justice of Chester
Ministerial by-elections -- 6th Parliament ( 1818–1820 )
Ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster were held from 1801 to the 1920s when a member of parliament (MP) was appointed as a minister in the government. Unlike most Westminster by-elections, ministerial by-elections were often a formality, uncontested by opposition parties. Re-election was required under the Succession to the Crown Act 1707. This was in line with the principle established in 1624 that accepting an office of profit from the Crown would precipitate resignation from the House, with the option of standing for re-election. Typically a minister sought re-election in the constituency he had just vacated, but occasionally contested another seat which was also vacant. In 1910 The Times newspaper noted that the relevant Act had been passed in the reign of Queen Anne to prevent the Court from swamping the House of Commons with and pensioners, and described the process as anomalous and indefensible in the 20th century. The Re-Election of Ministers Act 1919 ended the necessity to seek re-election within nine months of a general election, and the Re-Election of Ministers Act (1919) Amendment Act 1926 ended the practice in all other cases.