Robert Campbell (Liberal politician)

Robert Campbell
MP
Member of Parliament
for Helston
In office
1 May 1866 – 5 July 1866
Preceded by Adolphus William Young
Succeeded by William Brett
Personal details
Died 1887
Nationality British
Political party Liberal

Robert Campbell ( – 1877)[1] was a British Liberal Party politician.

He was elected MP for Helston at a by-election in May 1866 but was unseated in July 1866. The by-election had originally recorded 153 votes for both him and his rival, William Brett, but Campbell was declared elected after the Returning officer (who was the father of his election agent) cast a vote for him, after consulting a legal textbook which suggested he could make the casting vote.

A petition was lodged, and a committee decided the returning officer had no right to cast the vote and should have declared both candidates elected. However, on scrutiny one vote was taken from Campbell's total, leaving Brett elected alone. This election led to Parliament deciding that "according to the law and usage of Parliament, it is the duty of the sheriff or other returning officer in England, in the case of an equal number of votes being polled for two or more candidates at an election, to return all such candidates". [2]

References

  1. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 2)
  2. ↑ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book)|format= requires |url= (help) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Adolphus William Young		 Member of Parliament for Helston
May 1866–July 1866		 Succeeded by
William Brett
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