Before 2010, the constituency existed from 1832–1918, and from 1950–1974, however on different boundaries during each period. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election from 1832, until the representation was reduced in 1885 to one member elected by the first past the post system. ;Prominent members Three names feature prominently among the area's Commons members, the 3rd and 5thEarl Spencer ; Edward Fitzroy, Speaker of the House of Commons from 1928 until his death in 1943; and lastly, Reginald Manningham-Buller, 1st Viscount Dilhorne who on accomplishment of a peerage sat for the final two years of his life as the historic equivalent of the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom with additional functions, the Lord Chancellor. In the 19th century history of the seat the Cartwright family lived in the stately home Aynhoe Park near Banbury. ;History of boundaries The seat was abolished in 1918 to form the new constituency of Daventry, then recreated in 1950 caused by a relatively short-lived abolition of Daventry. In 1974 the constituency was almost wholly swallowed up by a reborn Daventry, which on wide boundaries saw substantial population growth. This called for recreation in 2010 whereby most of the electoral wards were taken from the former version of the Daventry seat. ;Present bordering constituencies The constituency is bordered by Daventry and Northampton South to the north, Wellingborough to the north east, Milton Keynes North and Milton Keynes South to the south east, Buckingham to the south, Banbury to the south west and Kenilworth and Southam to the west.
Boundaries
1832–1885: The Hundreds of Kings Sutton, Chipping Warden, Greens Norton, Cleley, Towcester, Fawsley, Wymersley, Spelhoe, Nobottle Grove, and Guilsborough. 1885–1918: The Sessional Divisions of Brackley and Towcester, and part of the Sessional Division of Daventry. 1950–1974: The Boroughs of Daventry and Brackley, and the Rural Districts of Brackley, Daventry, Northampton, and Towcester. 2010–present: The District of South Northamptonshire wards of Astwell, Blakesley, Blisworth, Brackley East, Brackley South, Brackley West, Chase, Cogenhoe, Collingtree, Cosgrove, Courteenhall, Deanshanger, Grafton, Kings Sutton, Kingthorn, Little Brook, Middleton Cheney, Salcey, Silverstone, Steane, Tove, Towcester Brook, Towcester Mill, Wardoun, Washington, Whittlewood, and Yardley, and the Borough of Northampton wards of East Hunsbury, Nene Valley, and West Hunsbury.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1832–1885
MPs 1885–1918
MPs 1950–1974
MPs since 2010
Elections
Elections in the 2010s
Elections in the 1970s
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1950s
Election results 1868–1918
Elections in the 1860s
Elections in the 1870s
Elections in the 1880s
Cartwright's death caused a by-election.
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1910s
General Election 1914/15: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
