Sandwich (UK Parliament constituency)
# Sandwich (UK Parliament constituency)

Sandwich was a parliamentary constituency in Kent, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons from 1366 until 1885, when it was disfranchised for corruption.

## History

Sandwich like most of the other Cinque Ports, was first enfranchised in the 14th century. As a Cinque Port it was technically of different status from a parliamentary borough, but the difference was in most respects purely a nominal one. (The writ for election was directed to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, rather than the sheriff of the county, and its MPs were termed "barons" rather than "burgesses" as in boroughs.) Until 1832, the constituency consisted of the three parishes making up the town of Sandwich; it had once been a flourishing port but by the 19th century the harbour had silted up and there was only a limited maritime trade.

The right to vote was reserved to the freemen of the town, whether or not they were resident within the borough. In 1831 this amounted to 955 qualified voters, of whom only 320 lived in Sandwich. The freedom could be obtained by inheritance, by serving an apprenticeship, or by marrying the daughter or widow of a freeman; the corporation apparently did not, as in some boroughs, have the power to create unlimited numbers of honorary freemen so as to swamp the rights of the genuine freemen. At one period in the 17th century, the town corporation attempted to annex the right of voting to itself (as was the case in many other boroughs) on the grounds of "the avoidance of popular tumults common at elections", and in 1621 the Lord Warden ordered with the consent of the Privy Council that this should be so. However, the inhabitants of the town not only petitioned against the election result, but informed the Lord Warden that they intended to present a bill to Parliament to annul the result of that year's election and to restore their former privileges. In the event the petition against the election result was upheld and the election declared void, and a decision of the Commons in another dispute election, in 1690, confirmed that the right of voting was in the freemen.

For most of its existence, no single interest had a predominant influence in Sandwich so as to reduce it to a pocket borough, but the power of official patronage sometimes exerted some leverage. In Tudor times, the Lord Warden expected to be able to nominate one of the two MPs, but - unlike most of the other Cinque Ports - Sandwich consistently defied him, and made its own choice of both MPs throughout Queen Elizabeth's reign. In the 18th and 19th centuries, though, the influence of the navy (through the employment it provided) was sufficient that the Admiralty could be sure of choosing at least one MP at most elections. Nevertheless, Sandwich fell short of being a true "Admiralty borough", and generally elected members who would benefit the town. (They were, however, no less venal than in other boroughs: the committee investigating a disputed election in 1695 was told that the elected member had promised that if after election he were to gain paid office he would give half his salary to the corporation, that he would contribute £20 a year for the poor of the town and a treat to the corporation on the anniversary of his election.)

In 1831, the population of the constituency was 3,084, and the town contained 610 houses. This would not have been sufficient for the borough to retain both its MPs under the Great Reform Act, but the boundaries were extended so as to include the neighbouring towns of Deal and Walmer, which quadrupled the population. Even so, and despite the extension of the franchise, the revised constituency had only 916 qualified voters for the 1832 general election.

At a by-election in 1880, evidence of widespread bribery in Sandwich emerged. Its writ was suspended, and a Royal Commission appointed to investigate. It was found that out of an electorate of 2115, 1850 voted, of whom 900 admitted they had been bribed and 100 admitted they had bribed. As a result of its report, Sandwich was abolished as a constituency with effect from 25 June 1885, being incorporated into the Eastern Kent county division.

## Members of Parliament

### 1366–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| - | - | - |
| 1386 | John Godard | William Ive |
| 1388 (Feb) | William Jordan | Stephen Reyner |
| 1388 (Sep) | John Berham | Peter Cundy |
| 1390 (Jan) | John Berham | Stephen Reyner |
| 1390 (Nov) | |
| 1391 | John Edward | William Jordan |
| 1393 | Stephen Reyner | Thomas atte Welle |
| 1394 | |
| 1395 | John Godard | John atte Nessche |
| 1397 (Jan) | Richard Benge | John Godard |
| 1397 (Sep) | |
| 1399 | John Godard | Stephen Peyntour |
| 1401 | |
| 1402 | John Godard | John atte Nessche |
| 1404 (Jan) | |
| 1404 (Oct) | |
| 1406 | Henry Loveryk | John Norton |
| 1407 | Richard Mildenale | John Norton |
| 1410 | John Gyllyng | Robert Haddon |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) | |
| 1413 (May) | John Geldeford | John Gyllyng |
| 1414 (Apr) | |
| 1414 (Nov) | Simon Halle | Richard Mildenale |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | William Gayler | Richard Mildenale |
| 1419 | Laurence Cundy | Thomas Loveryk |
| 1420 | John Bolle | Laurence Cundy |
| 1421 (May) | Simon Halle | Laurence Cundy |
| 1421 (Dec) | John Bolle | Laurence Cundy |
| 1485 | Thomas Overton | |
| 1491 | John Naseby | |
| 1510 | John Westcliff | John Cock |
| 1512 | John Westcliff | John Hobard |
| 1515 | John Westcliff | John Hobard |
| 1523 | John Somer | Roger Manwood |
| 1529 | Vincent Engeham | John Boys, died and replaced Dec 1553 by Thomas Wingfield |
| 1536 | Thomas Wingfield | Vincent Engeham |
| 1539 | Thomas Patche | Nicholas Peake |
| 1542 | John Lee | Thomas Rolfe |
| 1545 | John Master | Thomas Menys |
| 1547 (first election) | Thomas Pinnock | John Seer |
| 1547 (second election) | Thomas Patche | Thomas Ardern |
| 1553 (Mar) | Thomas Patche | Thomas Menys |
| 1553 (Oct) | Sir John Perrot | Simon Linch |
| 1554 (Apr) | John Master | Simon Linch |
| 1554 (Nov) | John Tysar | Nicholas Crispe |
| 1555 | Nicholas Peake | Sir John Perrot |
| 1558 | Roger Manwood | Nicholas Crispe |
| 1559 | Roger Manwood | John Tysar |
| 1562–3 | Roger Manwood | Rice Perrot |
| 1571 | Roger Manwood | John Manwood |
| 1572 | Roger Manwood, made a judge replaced Jul 1576 by Edward Peake | John Boys |
| 1584 | Edward Peake | Edward Wood |
| 1586 | Edward Peake | Edward Wood |
| 1588–9 | Peter Manwood | Edward Peake |
| 1593 | Peter Manwood | Edward Peake |
| 1597 | Peter Manwood | Edward Peake |
| 1601 | Peter Manwood | Edward Peake |
| 1604-1611 | Sir George Fane | Edward Peake died replaced by John Griffith |
| 1614 | Thomas Smythe | Sir Samuel Peyton, 1st Baronet |
| 1621-1622 | Sir Edwin Sandys | Sir Robert Hatton election voided - replaced by John Burroughes |
| 1624 | Sir Robert Hatton | Francis Drake |
| 1625 | Sir Henry Wotton | Sir Robert Hatton |
| 1626 | Sir John Suckling sat for Norwich, replaced by Sir Edward Boys | Peter Peake |
| 1628 | John Philipot | Peter Peake |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |

### 1640–1885

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| April 1640 | | Sir John Manwood | | | Nathaniel Finch | |
| November 1640 | | Sir Thomas Peyton | Royalist | | Sir Edward Partridge | Parliamentarian |
| February 1644 | Peyton disabled from sitting - seat vacant | Peyton disabled from sitting - seat vacant | Peyton disabled from sitting - seat vacant | | | | Sir Edward Partridge | Parliamentarian |
| 1645 | | Charles Rich | | | Sir Edward Partridge | Parliamentarian |
| December 1648 | Rich and Partridge excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Rich and Partridge excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Rich and Partridge excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Rich and Partridge excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Rich and Partridge excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Rich and Partridge excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant |
| 1653 | Sandwich was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Sandwich was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Sandwich was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Sandwich was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Sandwich was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Sandwich was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Colonel Thomas Kelsey | | Sandwich had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Sandwich had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Sandwich had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | James Thurbarne | | Sandwich had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Sandwich had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Sandwich had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | James Thurbarne | | | Richard Meredith | |
| May 1659 | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump |
| April 1660 | | James Thurbarne | | | Henry Oxenden | |
| 1661 | | James Thurbarne | | | Edward Montagu | |
| 1665 | | James Thurbarne | | | John Strode | |
| 1679 | | John Thurbarne | | | Sir James Oxenden | |
| 1685 | | John Strode | | | Sir Philip Parker | |
| 1689 | | John Thurbarne | | | Sir James Oxenden | |
| 1690 | | John Thurbarne | | | Edward Brent | |
| 1695 | | John Taylor | | | Edward Brent | |
| April 1698 | | John Taylor | | | John Thurbarne | |
| July 1698 | | John Michel | | | John Thurbarne | |
| January 1701 | | Henry Furnese | | | John Taylor | |
| April 1701 | | John Michel | | | John Taylor | |
| November 1701 | | Sir Henry Furnese | | | Sir James Oxenden | |
| 1702 | | Sir Henry Furnese | | | John Michel | |
| 1705 | | Sir Henry Furnese | | | Josiah Burchett | Court Whig |
| April 1713 | | John Michel | | | Josiah Burchett | Court Whig |
| August 1713 | | John Michel | | | Sir Henry Oxenden | |
| 1715 | | (Sir) Thomas D'Aeth | | | Sir Henry Oxenden | |
| 1720 | | (Sir) Thomas D'Aeth | | | Sir George Oxenden | Whig |
| 1722 | | Josiah Burchett | Whig | | Sir George Oxenden | Whig |
| 1741 | | John Pratt | | | Sir George Oxenden | Whig |
| 1747 | | John Clevland | | | Sir George Oxenden | Whig |
| 1754 | | John Clevland | | | Claudius Amyand | |
| 1756 | | John Clevland | | | Henry Conyngham | |
| 1761 | | George Hay | | | Henry Conyngham | |
| 1768 | | (Sir) Philip Stephens | | | Henry Conyngham | |
| 1774 | | (Sir) Philip Stephens | | | William Hey | |
| 1776 | | (Sir) Philip Stephens | | | Charles Brett | Tory |
| 1780 | | (Sir) Philip Stephens | | | Sir Richard Sutton | |
| 1784 | | (Sir) Philip Stephens | | | Charles Brett | Whig |
| 1790 | | (Sir) Philip Stephens | | | Sir Horatio Mann | |
| 1806 | | Captain Thomas Fremantle | | | Sir Horatio Mann | |
| 1807 | | Admiral Peter Rainier | | | Charles Jenkinson | |
| 1808 | | John Spratt Rainier | | | Charles Jenkinson | |
| 1812 | | Joseph Marryatt, Snr. | | | Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke | |
| 1818 | | Joseph Marryatt, Snr. | | | Sir George Warrender | |
| 1824 | | Henry Bonham | | | Sir George Warrender | |
| 1826 | | Joseph Marryatt, Jnr. | Non Partisan | | Sir Edward Owen | Tory |
| 1829 | | Joseph Marryatt, Jnr. | Non Partisan | | Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Fane | Tory |
| 1830 | | Joseph Marryatt, Jnr. | Whig | | Samuel Grove Price | Tory |
| 1831 | | Joseph Marryatt, Jnr. | Whig | | Sir Edward Troubridge | Whig |
| 1835 | | Samuel Grove Price | Conservative | | Sir Edward Troubridge | Whig |
| 1837 | | Sir James Rivett-Carnac | Whig | | Sir Edward Troubridge | Whig |
| 1839 | | General Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin | Whig | | Sir Edward Troubridge | Whig |
| 1841 | | Hugh Hamilton Lindsay | Conservative | | Sir Edward Troubridge | Whig |
| 1847 | | Lord Clarence Paget | Whig | | Charles Grenfell | Whig |
| May 1852 | | Lord Clarence Paget | Whig | | Lord Charles Clinton | Conservative |
| July 1852 | | James Macgregor | Conservative | | Lord Charles Clinton | Conservative |
| 1857 | | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | Whig | | Lord Clarence Paget | Whig |
| 1859 | | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | Liberal | | Lord Clarence Paget | Liberal |
| 1866 | | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | Liberal | | Charles Capper | Conservative |
| 1868 | | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | Liberal | | Henry Brassey | Liberal |
| May 1880 | | Charles Henry Crompton-Roberts | Conservative | | Henry Brassey | Liberal |
| Aug 1880 | Writ suspended and seat left vacant after evidence of bribery was uncovered. | Writ suspended and seat left vacant after evidence of bribery was uncovered. | Writ suspended and seat left vacant after evidence of bribery was uncovered. | | | | Henry Brassey | Liberal |
| 1885 | Following Royal Commission investigation of corruption, constituency abolished and absorbed into Eastern Kent | Following Royal Commission investigation of corruption, constituency abolished and absorbed into Eastern Kent | Following Royal Commission investigation of corruption, constituency abolished and absorbed into Eastern Kent | Following Royal Commission investigation of corruption, constituency abolished and absorbed into Eastern Kent | Following Royal Commission investigation of corruption, constituency abolished and absorbed into Eastern Kent | Following Royal Commission investigation of corruption, constituency abolished and absorbed into Eastern Kent |

Notes

* ↑ This election was called at request of the borough Mayor, with Patche and Ardern returned but the return was declared invalid by Privy Council after appeal.
* ↑ Created a baronet, June 1707
* ↑ Created a baronet, July 1716
* ↑ Created a baronet, March 1795
* ↑ On petition the result of the 1880 by-election was declared void

## Election results

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - |
| Whig | Joseph Marryat (1790–1876) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory | Samuel Grove Price | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Whig gain from Nonpartisan | Whig gain from Nonpartisan | Whig gain from Nonpartisan | Whig gain from Nonpartisan |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |

General election 1831: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Whig | Joseph Marryat (1790–1876) | 498 | 41.8 |
| | Whig | Edward Troubridge | 397 | 33.3 |
| | Tory | Samuel Grove Price | 297 | 24.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 | 8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 700 | c. 75.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 930 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |

General election 1832: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Whig | Joseph Marryat (1790–1876) | 495 | 30.8 | −11.0 |
| | Whig | Edward Troubridge | 485 | 30.2 | −3.1 |
| | Tory | Samuel Grove Price | 361 | 22.5 | +10.1 |
| | Tory | Edward Owen | 265 | 16.5 | +4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124 | 7.7 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 847 | 92.5 | c. +17.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 916 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −9.1 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −5.1 | |

General election 1835: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Samuel Grove Price | 551 | 41.0 | +18.5 |
| | Whig | Edward Troubridge | 405 | 30.1 | −30.9 |
| | Conservative | Edward Owen | 389 | 28.9 | +12.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 841 | 90.0 | −2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 934 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 66 | 10.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +17.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 | 1.2 | −6.5 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −30.9 | |

Troubridge was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 27 April 1835: Sandwich :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Whig | Edward Troubridge | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

General election 1837: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Whig | Edward Troubridge | 416 | 27.4 | +12.4 |
| | Whig | James Rivett-Carnac | 401 | 26.4 | +11.4 |
| | Conservative | Samuel Grove Price | 370 | 24.4 | −16.6 |
| | Conservative | Brook Bridges | 330 | 21.8 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 2.0 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 769 | 84.4 | −5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 911 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +12.1 | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.6 | |

Rivett-Carnac resigned after being appointed Governor of Bombay, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 12 February 1839: Sandwich :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Whig | Rufane Shaw Donkin | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

Donkin's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 11 May 1841: Sandwich :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Hugh Hamilton Lindsay | 406 | 53.0 | +6.8 |
| | Whig | Charles Richard Fox | 360 | 47.0 | −6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 46 | 6.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 766 | 80.5 | −3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 952 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +6.8 | |

General election 1841: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Whig | Edward Troubridge | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Hugh Hamilton Lindsay | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 952 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |

General election 1847: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Whig | Clarence Paget | 459 | 35.6 | N/A |
| | Whig | Charles Grenfell | 437 | 33.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Charles Pelham-Clinton | 392 | 30.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45 | 3.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 840 (est) | 89.1 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 943 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1850s

Grenfell resigned in order to contest a by-election at Windsor, causing a by-election.

By-election, 28 May 1852: Sandwich (1 seat) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Lord Charles Clinton | 460 | 64.2 | +33.8 |
| | Whig | John Tracy William French | 257 | 35.8 | −33.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 203 | 28.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 717 | 74.7 | −14.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 960 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +33.8 | |

General election 1852: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Lord Charles Clinton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Macgregor | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 960 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |

General election 1857: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Whig | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | 547 | 39.2 | New |
| | Whig | Clarence Paget | 503 | 36.0 | New |
| | Conservative | James Macgregor | 322 | 23.1 | N/A |
| | Whig | John Lang | 24 | 1.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 12.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 847 (est) | 84.0 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,008 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

General election 1859: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | 497 | 29.5 | −9.7 |
| | Liberal | Clarence Paget | 458 | 27.1 | −8.9 |
| | Conservative | James Fergusson | 404 | 23.9 | +12.3 |
| | Conservative | William David Lewis | 328 | 19.4 | +7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 3.2 | −9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 844 (est) | 81.9 (est) | -2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,030 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −9.9 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −9.5 | |

Knatchbull-Hugessen was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 28 June 1859: Sandwich :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | 463 | 62.1 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | James Fergusson | 283 | 37.9 | −5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 24.2 | +21.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 746 | 72.4 | −9.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,030 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +5.5 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | 494 | 35.7 | +6.2 |
| | Liberal | Clarence Paget | 477 | 34.5 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative | Charles Capper | 413 | 29.8 | −14.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 64 | 4.7 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 899 (est) | 85.2 (est) | +3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,054 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +6.7 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +7.3 | |

Paget resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 8 May 1866: Sandwich (1 seat) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Charles Capper | 466 | 50.4 | +20.6 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Brassey | 458 | 49.6 | −20.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 924 | 87.7 | +2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,054 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +20.6 | |

General election 1868: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | 933 | 36.4 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal | Henry Brassey | 923 | 36.0 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative | Henry Worms | 710 | 27.7 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 213 | 8.3 | +3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,638 (est) | 85.9 (est) | +0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,906 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +1.3 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Henry Brassey | 1,035 | 30.3 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | 1,006 | 29.4 | −7.0 |
| | Conservative | Frederic C Hughes Hallett | 764 | 22.4 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative | Hugh Sydney Baillie | 611 | 17.9 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 242 | 7.0 | -1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,708 (est) | 83.5 (est) | −2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,046 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −6.0 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −6.6 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Sandwich (2 seats) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Henry Brassey | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,115 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

Hugessen resigned in advance of being elevated to the peerage, causing a by-election.

By-election, 19 May 1880: Sandwich (1 seat) :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Charles Henry Crompton-Roberts | 1,145 | 61.9 | New |
| | Liberal | Julian Goldsmid | 705 | 38.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 440 | 23.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,850 | 87.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,115 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |

A Royal Commission found proof of extensive bribery and the writ was suspended, with the by-election result being voided. The writ was never returned and the constituency was merged into East Kent on 25 June 1885, before that seat was then abolished for the 1885 general election.

