a parliamentary borough, seaport, and market-town of England, on the west coast of the county of Cumberland, 38 miles S.W. of Carlisle, and 294 N.N.W. of London. It is situated on a small creek of the Irish Sea, and comprises a number of handsome, straight, wide, streets, which intersect each other at right angles, and are well paved and lighted with gas. The town has advanced to its present state of prosperity from being, in 1566, a small place containing six fishermen's huts. For this progress it is chiefly indebted to the family of Lowther, who, having large estates around the town, and valuable possessions of coal underneath it, have liberally come forward, when opportunities occurred, to promote its prosperity. There are four churches, and places of worship belonging to Presbyterians, Independents, Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, and Roman Catholics. The institutions for educational purposes comprise a marine school, national, British, and infant schools. There are also an infirmary, a fever hospital, a dispensary, and a house of industry. The public buildings, including a town-house, market-house, custom-house, theatre, and news-room, are well adapted for their respective purposes. Its harbour is spacious and commodious, having several piers extending into the sea in different directions, and affording ample security to the shipping. There is attached to the harbour a patent slip, erected at the expense of Lord Lonsdale. There are two lighthouses at the entrance of the harbour, and a third is situated on the promontory of St Bees' Head, three miles to the south-west. The commerce of this port is very extensive; the principal export articles being coal, iron, and iron ore. The chief manufactures are coarse linens, and articles connected with the fitting out of vessels. The town contains iron and brass foundries, and breweries. The coalworks in the vicinity are very important, and are the principal source of wealth to the town. The mines extend for upwards of two miles under the sea; and such vast quantities have been excavated, that they have the appearance of a subterranean city. The quantity of coal shipped from the port in the year 1859-60 was 195,508 tons, and of iron 198,397 tons, besides about as much more used at the iron furnaces of Cleator Moor, and Workington, and sent by railway. The net amount of custom dues collected in that year was £68,931. In the end of 1858 there were 179 sailing vessels, tonnage 27,499; and 3 steamers, tonnage 564, belonging to the town. In the same year there entered the port 751 sailing vessels, tonnage 32,077; and 252 steamers, tonnage 53,569. And there cleared 3389 sailing vessels, tonnage 228,637; and 301 steamers, tonnage 74,730. Steam-vessels sail regularly to Liverpool, Belfast, Dublin, and the Isle of Man. Whitehaven is governed by 21 trustees elected triennially, and returns a member to parliament. The population of the borough in 1851 amounted to 18,916, including Preston Quarter, which contained 5102. In 1801 the population of the town of Whitehaven was 8742, and of Preston Quarter 1886; in 1831, of the former 11,393, and of the latter 4323.