The 1887 Northwich by-election was held on 13 August 1887 after the incumbent Liberal Unionist MP, Robert Verdin died.
Brunner had previously been the MP but lost the seat in the 1885 general election due to a split within the Liberal party over Irish Home Rule.
[2] In November 1886, Brunner embarked on a world tour and his return to Northwich on 2 July 1887 was greeted with great celebration, as he was extremely popular in the town, regarded as a kind and sympathetic employer and a generous benefactor.
[3] Within three weeks of Brunner's return, Robert Verdin died[4] and a by-election was called.
At the 1892 general election, Brunner's opponent was not a Liberal Unionist, but a Conservative, George Whiteley, who was a cotton manufacturer from Blackburn.