Stamford

Double Member Borough

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Background Information

Right of Election:

in inhabitants paying scot and lot

Number of voters:

about 500

Elections

DateCandidate
16 Apr. 1754John Harvey Thursby
 Robert Barbor
30 Mar. 1761John Chaplin
 George Bridges Brudenell
21 Jan. 1765George René Aufrère vice Chaplin, deceased
26 Dec. 1765Brudenell re-elected after appointment to office
19 Mar. 1768George Howard
 George René Aufrère
11 Oct. 1774Sir George Howard
 Henry Cecil
13 Sept. 1780Sir George Howard
 Henry Cecil
1 Apr. 1784Sir George Howard
 Henry Cecil

Main Article

In 1784 Thomas Cooke, mayor of Stamford and returning officer, wrote about the borough:1

The interest of Lord Exeter ... is so great, arising from three causes, viz. his property, his employment of tradesmen, and his visiting and entertaining the gentry, that no one ever opposes those who are honoured with his recommendation, and the business of elections in this town for many years has been conducted from the beginning to the end in a mere formal civil method between the agents of Lord Exeter, the candidates, and the mayor.

Author: John Brooke

Notes

  • 1. J. Drakard, Hist. Stamford, 155.