The 1881 Preston by-election took place on 20 May 1881 after the death of the incumbent Conservative MP Edward Hermon. The Conservative candidate William Farrer Ecroyd campaigned on a fair trade platform and won the seat.[1]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Farrer Ecroyd | 6,004 | 58.0 | -10.9 | |
| Liberal | Henry Yates Thompson | 4,340 | 42.0 | +10.9 | |
| Majority | 1,664 | 16.0 | +14.3 | ||
| Turnout | 10,344 | 88.0 | -7.8 (est) | ||
| Registered electors | 11,748 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -10.9 | |||
| 1880 |
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| 1881 |
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| 1883 |
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| 1885 |
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