It was successfully defended for the Conservative party by Harry Marks.

Conservative Party MP James Lowther died on 12 September 1904, triggering a by-election to fill the vacancy.

[1] The Isle of Thanet seat had been held by the Conservative party since its creation in 1885.

In anticipation of a forthcoming general election, the local Liberal association, about 6 months earlier, had selected 44 year old Joseph King as their candidate.

He lived in Surrey, where he had previously been elected to the county council.