Tain Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)

{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801–1832}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox UK constituency main |name = Tain Burghs |parliament = uk |map1 = |map2 = |map_entity = |map_year = |year = 1708 |abolished = 1832 |type = District of Burghs |elects_howmany = One |previous = Dingwall, Dornoch, Kirkwall, Tain, Wick |next = Wick Burghs |region = Scotland |county = |towns = Dingwall, Dornoch, Kirkwall, Tain, Wick }}

'''Tain Burghs''' was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832, sometimes known as '''Northern Burghs'''. It was represented by one Member of Parliament (MP).

==Creation== The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland burgh constituencies of Tain, Dingwall, Dornoch, Kirkwall and Wick which had all been separately represented with one commissioner each in the former Parliament of Scotland. In 1707-08, members of the 1702-1707 Parliament of Scotland were co-opted to serve in the first Parliament of Great Britain. See Scottish representatives to the 1st Parliament of Great Britain, for further details.

==Boundaries== The constituency was a district of burghs representing the Royal burghs of Dingwall, Dornoch, Kirkwall, Tain and Wick.

In 1832 the constituency was replaced by Wick Burghs and Cromarty was added to the district.<ref>British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885</ref>

==History== The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was abolished for the 1832 general election.<ref name = HOP1690>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/constituencies/tain-burghs | title=Tain Burghs | publisher= History of Parliament Online (1690-1715)| accessdate = 24 April 2019 }}</ref> <ref name = HOP1715>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-1754/constituencies/tain-burghs | title= Tain Burghs | publisher= History of Parliament Online (1715-1754)| accessdate = 24 April 2019 }}</ref> <ref name = HOP1754>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/constituencies/tain-burghs | title= Tain Burghs | publisher= History of Parliament Online (1754-1790)| accessdate = 24 April 2019 }}</ref> <ref name = HOP1790>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/constituencies/tain-burghs | title= Tain Burghs | publisher= History of Parliament Online (1790-1820)| accessdate = 24 April 2019 }}</ref> <ref name = HOP1820>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/tain-burghs | title= Tain Burghs | publisher= History of Parliament Online (1820-1832)| accessdate = 24 April 2019 }}</ref>

The first Member of Parliament (MP), for the five Burghs, was elected at Tain in 1708. Lord Strathnaver was the eldest son of a Scottish peer. He would not have been eligible to be elected to the Parliament of Scotland. It was disputed that Strathnaver was eligible to be elected to the Parliament of Great Britain, as the representative of a Scottish seat.

On 3 December 1708, the House of Commons decided the issue, as at that time the House judged the eligibility of its members itself rather than leaving the issue to be decided by a Judge.

After the House called in counsel, the election petitions and representations in writing were read out and the lawyers put forward arguments for their clients. After counsel had withdrawn a question was formulated and put to a vote.

The proposition the House voted on was "that the eldest sons of the Peers of Scotland were capable by the Laws of Scotland at the time of the Union, to elect or be elected as Commissioners for the Shire or Boroughs [sic, see Burghs] to the Parliament of Scotland; and therefore by the Treaty of Union are capable to elect, or be elected to represent any Shire or Borough [sic] in Scotland, to sit in the House of Commons of Great Britain".

The House rejected the motion and so declared that Lord Strathnaver was ineligible to be elected an MP for Tain Burghs.<ref>''The Parliaments of England'' has a footnote about the 1708 election dispute</ref>

The most prominent English political figure, to represent a Scottish constituency in the 18th century, was Charles James Fox. In the 1784 general election, Fox sought re-election for the Westminster constituency. Political opponents challenged Fox's election. As Westminster had the largest electorate of any English borough, the scrutiny of votes (to check that each voter had been legally qualified to participate in the election) was thought likely to take a long time. To avoid Fox being out of Parliament, until the Westminster election petition was decided, a Scottish friend arranged for him to become member for Tain Burghs.

It took until 1786 for Fox to be confirmed as a duly elected MP for Westminster. Fox then chose to represent his English constituency and the Scottish one became vacant.<ref>''House of Commons 1754-1790''</ref>

==Members of Parliament== {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Elected!!Member!!Party |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1708 | Lord Strathnaver |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1709 by-election | Robert Douglas |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" | | 1710 | Sir Robert Munro, Bt | Whig |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1741 | Charles Erskine |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1742 by-election | Robert Craigie |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" | | 1747 | Sir Harry Munro, Bt | Whig |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1761 | John Scott |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1768 | Hon. Alexander Mackay |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1773 by-election | James Grant |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" | | 1780 | Charles Ross | Whig (Foxite) |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" | | 1784 | Charles James Fox | Whig (Foxite) |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" | | 1786 by-election | George Ross | Whig (Foxite) |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" | | 1786 by-election | Sir Charles Lockhart-Ross, Bt | Tory (Pittite) |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" | | 1796 | William Dundas | Tory |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1802 | John Villiers |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1805 by-election | James MacDonald |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1806 | John Randoll Mackenzie |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: white" | | 1808 by-election | William Fremantle |  |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Tories (British political party)}}" | | 1812 | Sir Hugh Innes, Bt | Tory |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Whigs (British political party)}}" | | 1830 | James Loch | Whig |- | | 1832 |colspan="2"| ''constituency abolished'' |}

==Elections== The electoral system for this constituency gave each of the five burghs one vote, with an additional casting vote (to break ties) for the burgh where the election was held. The place of election rotated amongst the burghs in successive Parliaments. The vote of a burgh was exercised by a burgh commissioner, who was elected by the burgh councillors.

The primary source for the results was Stooks Smith with additional information from the History of Parliament series. For details of the books used, see the Reference section below.

The reference to some candidates as Non Partisan does not, necessarily, mean that they did not have a party allegiance. It means that the sources consulted did not specify a party allegiance.

{| class="toccolours" align="center" | 1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s |}

===Elections of the 1700s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 26 May 1708: Tain Burghs (election at Tain)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''Lord Strathnaver''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |loser = new seat |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}} * ''1708 (3 December): Strathnaver declared ineligible as the eldest son of a Peer of Scotland''

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 5 May 1709: Tain Burghs (election at Tain)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''Robert Douglas'''<ref>{{Cite web | title=Tain (Northern) Burghs {{!}} History of Parliament Online | url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/constituencies/tain-%28northern%29-burghs | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212147/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/constituencies/tain-%28northern%29-burghs | access-date=2025-08-18 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1710s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 27 October 1710: Tain Burghs (election at Dingwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Robert Munro''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |loser = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 1713: Tain Burghs (election at Dornoch)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Robert Munro''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 1715: Tain Burghs (election at Wick)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Robert Munro''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1720s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 1722: Tain Burghs (election at Kirkwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Robert Munro''' |votes = Elected |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = Robert Gordon |votes = Defeated |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 1727: Tain Burghs (election at Tain)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Robert Munro''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1730s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 1734: Tain Burghs (election at Dingwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Robert Munro''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1740s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 28 May 1741: Tain Burghs (election at Dornoch)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''Charles Erskine''' |votes = Elected |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = Robert Munro |votes = Defeated |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |loser = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}} * ''Election declared void''

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 2 April 1742: Tain Burghs (election at Dornoch)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''Robert Craigie''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 22 July 1747: Tain Burghs (election at Wick)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Harry Munro''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |loser = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1750s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 9 May 1754: Tain Burghs (election at Kirkwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Harry Munro''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1760s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 20 April 1761: Tain Burghs (election at Tain)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''John Scott''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |loser = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 11 April 1768: Tain Burghs (election at Dingwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''Alexander Mackay''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1770s=== * ''1773 (February): Resignation of Mackay''

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 26 April 1773: Tain Burghs (election at Dingwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''James Grant''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 31 October 1774: Tain Burghs (election at Dornoch)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''James Grant''' |votes = 3 Dingwall, Dornoch, Kirkwall |percentage = 60.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = Adam Fergusson |votes = 2 Tain, Wick |percentage = 40.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1 |percentage = 20.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 5 |percentage = 100.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1780s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 2 October 1780: Tain Burghs (election at Wick)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Charles Ross''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |loser = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 26 April 1784: Tain Burghs (election at Kirkwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''Charles James Fox''' |votes = 3 Dingwall, Kirkwall, Tain |percentage = 60.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Tories (British political party) |candidate = John Sinclair |votes = 2 Dornoch, Wick |percentage = 40.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1 |percentage = 20.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 5 |percentage = 100.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}} * ''1786 (March): Fox chose to represent Westminster, where he had been declared duly elected in the 1784 general election, after an election petition and a prolonged scrutiny of votes''

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 15 March 1786: Tain Burghs (election at Kirkwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = '''George Ross''' |votes = 3 Dingwall, Kirkwall, Tain |percentage = 60.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Tories (British political party) |candidate = James Riddell |votes = 2 Dornoch, Wick |percentage = 40.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1 |percentage = 20.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 5 |percentage = 100.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}} * ''1786 (7 April): Ross died''

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 30 June 1786: Tain Burghs (election at Kirkwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Tories (British political party) |candidate = '''Charles Lockhart-Ross''' |votes = 3 Dornoch, Tain, Wick |percentage = 60.0 |change = +20.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = Charles Ross |votes = 2 Dingwall, Kirkwall |percentage = 40.0 |change = -20.0 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1 |percentage = 20.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 5 |percentage = 100.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Tories (British political party) |loser = Whig (British political party) |swing = +20.0 (W to T) }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1790s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 12 July 1790: Tain Burghs (election at Tain)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Tories (British political party) |candidate = '''Charles Lockhart-Ross''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Tories (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 20 June 1796: Tain Burghs (election at Dingwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''William Dundas''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |loser = Tories (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}} * ''November 1797: Dundas appointed a Commissioner for the Affairs of India''

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 1797: Tain Burghs (election at Dingwall)}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = '''William Dundas''' |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1800s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 30 July 1802: Tain Burghs (election at Dornoch)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = John Villiers |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 1804: Tain Burghs (election at Dornoch)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = John Villiers |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}} * ''July 1804: Villiers appointed Chief Prothonotary Common Pleas of the County Palatine of Lancaster'' * ''1805: Villiers resigned''

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 26 June 1805: Tain Burghs (election at Dornoch)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = James MacDonald |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 24 November 1806: Tain Burghs (election at Wick)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = John Mackenzie (MP)|John Mackenzie |votes = 3 |percentage = 60.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = John Sinclair<ref>It is presumed that the John Sinclair, who unsuccessfully contested this constituency in 1806, was the politician who served in the House of Commons in the previous and subsequent Parliaments. There were, however, three other contemporary baronets of the same name.</ref> |votes = 2 |percentage = 40.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1 |percentage = 20.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 5 |percentage = 100.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 1807: Tain Burghs (election at Kirkwall)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = John Mackenzie (MP)|John Mackenzie |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}} * ''Mackenzie resigned to stand for Sutherland''

{{Election box begin | |title=By-Election 7 May 1808: Tain Burghs (election at Kirkwall)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = William Fremantle |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1810s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 30 October 1812: Tain Burghs (election at Tain)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Tories (British political party) |candidate = Hugh Innes |votes = 3 |percentage = 60.0 |change = ''New'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Nonpartisan politician |candidate = Charles Lockhart-Ross |votes = 2 |percentage = 40.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1 |percentage = 20.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 5 |percentage = 100.0 |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Tories (British political party) |loser = Nonpartisan politician |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 1818: Tain Burghs (election at Dingwall)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Tories (British political party) |candidate = Hugh Innes |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Tories (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1820s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 1820: Tain Burghs (election at Dornoch)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Tories (British political party) |candidate = Hugh Innes |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Tories (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 1826: Tain Burghs (election at Wick)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Tories (British political party) |candidate = Hugh Innes |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Tories (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections of the 1830s=== {{Election box begin | |title=General election 23 August 1830: Tain Burghs (election at Kirkwall)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = James Loch |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |loser = Tories (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | |title=General election 1831: Tain Burghs (election at Tain)}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Whig (British political party) |candidate = James Loch |votes = Unopposed |percentage = ''N/A'' |change = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Whig (British political party) |swing = ''N/A'' }} {{Election box end}} * ''Constituency expanded and re-named in the 1832 redistribution''

==See also== {{Scottish Westminster constituencies (style 1)}}

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==References== * ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885'', compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977) * ''History of Parliament: House of Commons 1754-1790'', by Sir Lewis Namier and James Brooke (Sidgwick & Jackson 1964) * ''The Parliaments of England'' by Henry Stooks Smith (first edition published in three volumes 1844-50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973) * {{rayment-hc|t|1|date=March 2012}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tain Burghs (Uk Parliament Constituency)}} Category:Historic parliamentary constituencies in Scotland (Westminster) Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1708 Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1832 Category:Politics of the county of Caithness Category:Politics of Orkney Category:Politics of the county of Ross Category:Politics of the county of Sutherland