The 1880 Caernarvonshire by-election was a parliamentary by-election held for the House of Commons constituency of Caernarvonshire in Wales on 2 December 1880.
The by-election was caused by the resignation of the sitting Liberal MP, Watkin Williams, who was appointed as a judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice.[1]
Two candidates were nominated by the two main parties of the time.
The Liberal Party nominated businessman William Rathbone.[2]
The Conservative Party nominated Welsh landowner and magistrate Hugh Ellis-Nanney.[3][4]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William Rathbone | 3,180 | 59.7 | -0.3 | |
Conservative | Hugh Ellis-Nanney | 2,151 | 40.3 | +0.3 | |
Majority | 1,029 | 19.4 | -0.6 | ||
Turnout | 5,331 | 80.1 | -2.7 | ||
Registered electors | 6,652 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | -0.3 |