Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Lancashire was a county constituency of the House of Commons
of the Parliament of England
from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain
from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament
, traditionally known as Knights of the Shire
until 1832.
The constituency was split into two two-member divisions, for Parliamentary purposes, in 1832. The county was then represented by the North Lancashire
and South Lancashire
constituencies : the latter representing the hundreds of Salford
and West Derby
, and the former the hundreds of Amounderness
, Blackburn, Leyland
and Lonsdale
.
of Lancashire
, except for the Parliamentary borough
s of Clitheroe
, Lancaster
, Liverpool
, Newton
, Preston
and Wigan
.
of Lancaster
. The expense and difficulty of voting at only one location in the county, together with the lack of a secret ballot contributed to the corruption and intimidation of electors, which was widespread in the unreformed British political system.
The expense, to candidates, of contested elections encouraged the leading families of the county to agree on the candidates to be returned unopposed whenever possible. Contested county elections were therefore unusual. The Stanleys, led by the Earl of Derby
dominated the county. One seat was nearly always held by a Stanley relative, the second, by one of the other leading families.
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, traditionally known as Knights of the Shire
Knights of the Shire
From the creation of the Parliament of England in mediaeval times until 1826 each county of England and Wales sent two Knights of the Shire as members of Parliament to represent the interests of the county, when the number of knights from Yorkshire was increased to four...
until 1832.
The constituency was split into two two-member divisions, for Parliamentary purposes, in 1832. The county was then represented by the North Lancashire
North Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Lancashire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was represented by two Members of Parliament...
and South Lancashire
South Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)
South Lancashire, formally called the Southern Division of Lancashire or Lancashire Southern, is a former county constituency in England...
constituencies : the latter representing the hundreds of Salford
Salford (hundred)
The hundred of Salford was an ancient division of the historic county of Lancashire, in Northern England. It was sometimes known as Salfordshire, the name alluding to its judicial centre being the township of Salford...
and West Derby
West Derby (hundred)
The hundred of West Derby was an ancient division of the historic county of Lancashire, in northern England. It was sometimes known as West Derbyshire, the name alluding to its judicial centre being the township of West Derby .It covered the southwest of Lancashire, containing the ancient...
, and the former the hundreds of Amounderness
Amounderness
Amounderness was a hundred of Lancashire in North West England. Formerly, the name had been used for territories now in Lancashire and north of the River Ribble that had been included in Domesday Yorkshire.-Etymology and history:...
, Blackburn, Leyland
Leyland (hundred)
The Leyland hundred, or Leylandshire, was a hundred of the English county of Lancashire. It covered the parishes of Brindle, Chorley, Croston, Eccleston, Hoole, Leyland, Penwortham, Rufford, Standish and Tarleton....
and Lonsdale
Lonsdale (hundred)
Lonsdale was a hundred of Lancashire, England. For many decades, it covered most of the northwestern part of Lancashire around Morecambe Bay, including the detached part around Furness, and the city of Lancaster....
.
Boundaries
The constituency comprised the whole historic countyHistoric counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, except for the Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
s of Clitheroe
Clitheroe (UK Parliament constituency)
Clitheroe was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire.The town of Clitheroe was first enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1559, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and finally to the...
, Lancaster
Lancaster (UK Parliament constituency)
Lancaster was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1867, centred on the historic city of Lancaster in north-west England...
, Liverpool
Liverpool (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool was a Borough constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament...
, Newton
Newton (UK Parliament constituency)
Newton was a parliamentary borough in the county of Lancashire, in England. It was represented by two Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1559 to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, Preston
Preston (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
and Wigan
Wigan (UK Parliament constituency)
Wigan is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
.
1290–1653
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
|---|---|---|
| 1295 | Mathew de ?Sechnan | John de ?Evyas |
| 1297 | Henry de Keighley | Henry de Boteler |
| 1298 | Henry de Keighley | John Denyas |
| 1300 | Gilbert de Singleton | Egbert de Haydock |
| 1301 | Henry de Keighley | Thomas Travers |
| 1302 | William de Clifton | Gilbert de Singleton |
| 1305 | William de Clifton | William Banastre |
| 1307 (Jan) | Gilbert de Singleton | John Travers |
| 1307 (Oct) | Mathew de Redman | William le Gentil |
| 1311 | William le Gentil | Thomas de Betham |
| 1312 | Henry de Trafford | Sir Richard le Molyneux |
| 1313 (Mar) | William de Bradshaigh | Edmund de Daere |
| 1313 (Jul) | Ralph de Bickerstaff | William de Slene |
| 1313 (Sep) | Henry de ?Vegherby | Thomas de Thornton |
| 1314 | Thomas Banastre | William de Slene |
| 1316 (Jan) | William de Bradshaigh | Adam de Hoghton |
| 1316 (Jun) | John de Lancaster | William de Walton |
| 1316 (Jul) | Sir Roger de Pilkington | Sir John de Pilkington |
| 1318 (Oct) | Edmund de Neville | John de Hornby |
| 1319 | William de Walton | William de Slene |
| 1320 | Gilbert de Haydock | Thomas de Thornton |
| 1321 | John de Hornby | Gilbert de Haydock |
| 1322 | Richard de Hoghton | John de Lancaster |
| 1324 (Jan) | Edmund de Nevill | Gilbert de Haydock repl. by Thomas de Lathom |
| 1324 (Oct) | William de Slene | Nicholas de Norreys |
| 1325 | William de Bradshaigh | John de Hornby |
| 1326 | Edmund de Neville | Richard de Hoghton |
| 1327 (Sep) | Michael de Haverington | William Lawrence |
| 1328 (Feb) | William de Bradshaigh | Edmund de Neville |
| 1328 (Apr) | Thomas de Thornton | John de Hornby |
| 1328 (Jul) | William Lawrence | Thomas de Thornton |
| 1328 (Oct) | Nicholas de Norreys | Henry de Haydock |
| 1329 (Feb) | Nicholas de Norreys | Henry de Haydock |
| 1329/30 (Mar) | William de Saperton | Henry de Haydock |
| 1330 | William de Bradshaigh | John de Lancaster |
| 1331 | William de Bradshaigh | Oliver de Stansmeld |
| 1332 | Robert de Dalton | Adam de Banastre |
| 1332 (Sep) | John de Hornby, jnr | Robert de Dalton |
| 1332/3 (Jan) | Edmund de Neville | John de Hornby, jnr |
| 1333/4 (Feb) | Edmund de Nevill | Robert de Dalton |
| 1334 | Robert de Radcliffe | Henry de Haydock |
| 1335 (May) | Robert de Sherburne | Edmund de Neville |
| 1336 (Mar) | John de Sherburne | Henry de Haydock |
| 1336 (Sep) | John de Hornby, jnr | Henry de Haydock |
| 1336/7 (Mar) | Robert de Ireland | Sir Henry de Haydock |
| 1337 (Sep) | Richard de Hoghton | Edmund de Neville |
| 1337/8 (Feb) | Robert de Billisthorpe | Robert de Radcliffe |
| 1338 (Jul) | John de Hornby | John de Clyderhow |
| 1339 | Robert de Clyderhowe | Henry de Bickerstaff |
| 1339 (Oct) | Nicholas de Hulme | Robert de Prescot |
| 1339/40 (Jan) | John de Radcliffe | Robert de Radcliffe |
| 1340 (Mar) | John de Dalton | Robert de Dalton |
| 1343 (Apr) | John de Haverington | John Ungoun |
| 1344 | Nicholas le Boteler | William de Radcliffe |
| 1346 | John de Clyderhow | Adam de Bradkirk |
| 1347/8 (Jan) | Adam de Hoghton | John Cockayne |
| 1348 (Apr) | Robert de Plesington | Robert de Prescot |
| 1351 | Otho de Halsall | William de Radcliffe |
| 1351/2 (Jan) | ? | |
| 1352 (Aug) | John de Haverington | One knight only summoned |
| 1353 | William Cables | One knight only summoned |
| 1354 (Apr) | William Cables | Richard Nowell |
| 1355 | Robert de Hornby | Roger de Farington |
| 1357 (Apr) | John de Haverington | Robert de Singleton |
| 1357/8 (Feb) | Robert de Farington | Robert de Hornby |
| 1360 | William de Hesketh | Roger de Farington |
| 1360/1 (Jan) | William de Radcliffe | Richard de Towmley |
| 1362 (Oct) | Edmund Lawrence | Matthew de Rixton of Rixton Hall |
| |colspan = "2"|Result set aside as unlawful | ||
| 1363 (Oct) | Adam de Hoghton | Roger de Pilkington |
| 1364/5 (Jan) | Sir Adam de Houghton | Sir Roger de Pilkington |
| 1366 (May) | Sir John le Boteler | William de Radcliffe |
| 1368 | Sir Roger de Pilkington | Roger de Ratcliffe |
| 1369 (Jun) | Sir John de Dalton | John de Ipres |
| 1370/1 (Feb) | John de Ipres | Richard de Townley |
| 1371 (Jun) | John de Ipres | One knight only summoned |
| 1372 (Nov) | Nicholas de Haverington | Sir John le Boteler |
| 1373 (Nov) | William de Atherton | John de Holcroft |
| 1376 (Apr) | Sir John le Boteler | Roger de Brockholes |
| 1376/7 (Jan) | Sir John le Boteler | Roger de Pilkington |
| 1377 (Oct) | Sir John le Boteler | Nicholas de Haverington |
| 1378 | Ralph de Ypres | Sir John le Boteler |
| 1379 | Nicholas de Haverington | Robert Urswyk |
| 1380 (Jan) | Sir John le Boteler | Thomas Southworth |
| 1380 (Nov) | Sir John le Boteler | Thomas Southworth |
| 1381 (Sep) | Sir William de Atherton | Robert Urswyk |
| 1382 (May) | Sir Roger de Pilkington | Robert de Clifton |
| 1382 (Oct) | Sir John de Assheton | Robert Urswyck |
| 1382/3 (Feb) | Sir Richard de Hoghton | Robert Clifton |
| 1383 (Oct) | John de Holcroft | Sir Walter de Urswyk |
| 1384 (Apr) | Sir Roger Pilkington | Thomas Gerard |
| 1384 (Nov) | Robert Urswyk | William de Tunstall |
| 1385 | Robert Urswyk | Thomas de Radcliffe |
| 1386 (Oct) | Sir Nicholas Haryngton | Robert Worsley |
| 1388 (Feb) | Sir John le Boteler | Sir Thomas Gerard |
| 1388 (Sep) | Sir John Assheton | Sir John Croft |
| 1390 (Jan) | Sir John Assheton | Sir Ralph de Ypres |
| 1390 (Nov) | S1r Robert Urswyk | Sir John Croft |
| 1391 | Sir Robert Urswyk | Robert Worsley |
| 1393 | Sir Robert Urswyk | Sir Ralph de Ypres |
| 1394 | Sir Robert Urswyk | Sir Thomas Gerard |
| 1395 | Sir Robert Urswyk | Thomas Radcliffe |
| 1397 (Jan) | Sir Robert Urswyk | Richard Molyneux |
| 1397 (Sep) | Sir John le Boteler | Sir Ralph Radcliffe |
| 1399 | Sir Robert Urswyk | Sir Henry Hoghton |
| 1401 | Sir Robert Urswyk | Sir Nicholas Atherton |
| 1402 | Sir Richard Houghton | Sir Nicholas Haryngton |
| 1404 (Jan) | Robert Laurence | Sir Ralph Radcliffe |
| 1404 (Oct) | Sir James Haryngton | Sir Ralph Stavely |
| 1406 | Robert Laurence | Sir William Boteler |
| 1407 | Sir Henry Hoghton | Sir Ralph Stavely |
| 1410 | ||
| 1411 | John de Ashton John de Ashton (seneschal) Sir John de Ashton or Sir John Assheton , was an MP and soldier under King Henry IV and King Henry V.Ashton was the grandson of Sir John de Ashton and his wife, Margary Legh... |
John Booth |
| 1413 (Feb) | ||
| 1413 (May) | John de Ashton John de Ashton (seneschal) Sir John de Ashton or Sir John Assheton , was an MP and soldier under King Henry IV and King Henry V.Ashton was the grandson of Sir John de Ashton and his wife, Margary Legh... |
John Stanley |
| 1414 (Apr) | Ralph Radcliffe | Nicholas Blundell |
| 1414 (Nov) | Robert Laurence | John Stanley |
| 1415 | ||
| 1416 (Mar) | John de Ashton John de Ashton (seneschal) Sir John de Ashton or Sir John Assheton , was an MP and soldier under King Henry IV and King Henry V.Ashton was the grandson of Sir John de Ashton and his wife, Margary Legh... |
John Morley |
| 1416 (Oct) | ||
| 1417 | ||
| 1419 | Nicholas le Boteler | John Laurence |
| 1420 | Richard Shirburne | John Booth |
| 1421 (May) | Sir Thomas Radcliffe | Thomas Urswick |
| 1421 (Dec.) | Richard Shirburne | Sir John Byron |
| 1422 (Nov) | Thomas Urswick | John Gerard |
| 1423 (Oct) | Sir Thomas de Radcliffe | Ralph de Radcliffe |
| 1425 (Apr) | Ralph Fitz Nicholas | Richard de Radcliffe |
| 1425/6 (Feb) | Sir John Boteler | Nicholas Boteler |
| 1427 (Oct) | Ralph de Radcliffe | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, titular King of Mann, KG , was an English politician.-Life:Stanley was the son of Sir John Stanley and Isabell Harington, daughter of Robert de Harington and Isabel Loring... |
| 1429 (Sep) | Sir John Byron | Sir Robert Lawrence |
| 1430/1 (Jan) | John de Morley | William Gernet |
| 1432 (May) | Sir William de Assheton | Thomas de Harrington |
| 1433 (Jul) | Sir Thomas Stanley | Sir Thomas Radcliffe |
| 1435 (Oct) | Henry de Halsall | Thomas Lawrence |
| 1436/7 (Jan) | Thomas de Harrington | Henry de Halsall |
| 1439 (Nov) | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, titular King of Mann, KG , was an English politician.-Life:Stanley was the son of Sir John Stanley and Isabell Harington, daughter of Robert de Harington and Isabel Loring... |
Thomas de Harrington |
| 1442 (Jan) | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, titular King of Mann, KG , was an English politician.-Life:Stanley was the son of Sir John Stanley and Isabell Harington, daughter of Robert de Harington and Isabel Loring... |
Thomas de Harrington |
| 1447 | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, titular King of Mann, KG , was an English politician.-Life:Stanley was the son of Sir John Stanley and Isabell Harington, daughter of Robert de Harington and Isabel Loring... |
Thomas de Harrington |
| 1448 | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, titular King of Mann, KG , was an English politician.-Life:Stanley was the son of Sir John Stanley and Isabell Harington, daughter of Robert de Harington and Isabel Loring... |
Thomas de Harrington |
| 1450 | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, titular King of Mann, KG , was an English politician.-Life:Stanley was the son of Sir John Stanley and Isabell Harington, daughter of Robert de Harington and Isabel Loring... |
Thomas de Harrington |
| 1455 | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, titular King of Mann, KG , was an English politician.-Life:Stanley was the son of Sir John Stanley and Isabell Harington, daughter of Robert de Harington and Isabel Loring... |
Alexander Radcliffe |
| 1459 | Sir Richard Harrington | Henry Halsall |
| 1460 | Sir Richard Harrington | Henry Halsall |
| 1463 (Apr) | ? | |
| 1467 (Jun) | Sir James Harrington | Sir William Harrington |
| 1472 (Oct) | Robert Harrington | John Assheton |
| 1477/8 (Jan) | Sir George Stanley | Sir James Harrington |
| 1482/3 (Jan) | ? | |
| 1483-1523 | Not known | |
| 1529 | Henry Farrington | Andrew Barton |
| 1536 | ? | |
| 1539 | ? | |
| 1542 | ? | |
| 1545 | Sir Thomas Holcroft Sir Thomas Holcroft Sir Thomas Holcroft was a sixteenth-century English courtier and politician.He was born at Vale Royal, Cheshire, the son of John Holcroft and Margaret Massey... |
John Kitchen |
| 1547 | Thurstan Tyldesley | John Kitchen |
| 1553 (Mar) | Sir Richard Houghton died 1553 and replaced by Sir Robert Worsley |
Thomas Butler |
| 1553 (Oct) | Sir Richard Sherborn | John Rigmayden |
| 1554 (Apr) | Sir Thomas Stanley | Sir Thomas Langton |
| 1554 (Nov) | Sir Thomas Stanley | Sir John Holcroft |
| 1555 | Sir Thomas Stanley | Sir William Stanley |
| 1558 | Sir Thomas Talbot | Sir John Holcroft |
| 1559 (Jan) | Sir John Atherton | Sir Robert Worsley |
| 1562–1563 | Sir Thomas Gerard | Sir John Southworth |
| 1571 | John Ratcliffe | Thomas Butler |
| 1572 | John Ratcliffe | Edmund Trafford |
| 1584 (Nov) | Sir Gilbert Gerard, made Master of the Rolls and replaced Jan 1585 by Richard Bold |
Richard Molyneux |
| 1586 | John Atherton | Richard Holland |
| 1588 (Oct) | Thomas Gerard Thomas Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard Thomas Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard was an English politician and peer. He was made Baron Gerard, Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire, president of the Council of Wales and the Marches and Lord Lieutenant of Wales.... , sat for Staffs and repl. by ?) |
Thomas Walmesley |
| 1593 | (Sir Richard Molyneux | Sir Thomas Gerard Thomas Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard Thomas Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard was an English politician and peer. He was made Baron Gerard, Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire, president of the Council of Wales and the Marches and Lord Lieutenant of Wales.... |
| 1597 (Nov) | Sir Thomas Gerard Thomas Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard Thomas Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard was an English politician and peer. He was made Baron Gerard, Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire, president of the Council of Wales and the Marches and Lord Lieutenant of Wales.... |
Robert Hesketh |
| 1601 | Sir Richard Hoghton | Thomas Hesketh |
| 1604 | Sir Richard Molyneux | Sir Richard Hoghton |
| 1614 | Sir Thomas Gerard, 1st Baronet Sir Thomas Gerard, 1st Baronet Sir Thomas Gerard, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1621.Gerard was the son of Sir Thomas Gerard, of Bryn and his wife Elizabeth Port, daughter of Sir John Port, of Etwall, Derbyshire. He matriculated at Brasenose College,... |
Sir Cuthbert Halsall |
| 1621-1622 | Sir John Ratcliffe John Ratcliffe (soldier) Sir John Ratcliffe was an English soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1626. He was killed in action in France during the Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.... |
Sir Gilbert Hoghton Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1614 and 1640. He was a Royalist leader during the English Civil War.... |
| 1624 | Sir John Ratcliffe John Ratcliffe (soldier) Sir John Ratcliffe was an English soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1626. He was killed in action in France during the Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.... |
Sir Thomas Walmisley |
| 1625 | Sir Richard Molyneux, Bt Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1628 when he was created a peer.... |
Sir John Ratcliffe John Ratcliffe (soldier) Sir John Ratcliffe was an English soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1626. He was killed in action in France during the Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.... |
| 1626 | Robert Stanley | Sir Gilbert Hoghton Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1614 and 1640. He was a Royalist leader during the English Civil War.... |
| 1628-1629 | Sir Richard Molyneux Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1628 when he was created a peer.... |
Sir Alexander Radcliff |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | |
| 1640 (Apr) | Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1614 and 1640. He was a Royalist leader during the English Civil War.... |
William Farrington William Farrington (Royalist) William Farrington was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.... |
| 1640 (Nov) | Ralph Assheton Ralph Assheton (general) Ralph Assheton was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1649. He was a general in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War.... |
Roger Kirkby Roger Kirkby (Royalist) Roger Kirkby was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.Kirkby was the son of Roger Kirkby of Kirkby Ireleth in Lonsdale... , disabled Aug 1642 |
| 1645 | Ralph Assheton Ralph Assheton (general) Ralph Assheton was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1649. He was a general in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War.... |
Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1656. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.... |
| 1648 | Ralph Assheton Ralph Assheton (general) Ralph Assheton was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1649. He was a general in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War.... |
Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1656. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.... |
1653–1659
| Parliament | First member | Second member | Third Member (1653–1659) | Fourth Member (1654–1659) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1653 | William West William West (died 1670) William West was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1653 and 1660. He fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.... |
John Sawry John Sawry John Sawry was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1653.Sawry was of Plumpton, Lancashire and was a colonel in the service of the Commonwealth. In 1653, he was nominated as Member of Parliament for Lancashire in the Barebones Parliament.... |
Robert Cunliffe Robert Cunliffe (MP) Robert Cunliffe was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1653Cunliffe was of Sparth in Clayton in the Moors, Lancashire and was an active parliamentarian. He was one of commissioners for sequestration for Lancashire in 1643 . In 1653, he was nominated as Member of Parliament... |
|
| 1654 | Richard Holland Richard Holland (Parliamentarian) Richard Holland was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1654 and 1656. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.... |
Gilbert Ireland Gilbert Ireland Sir Gilbert Ireland was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1654 and 1675.Ireland was the son of John Ireland of Hutt and Hale and his wife Elizabeth Hays, daughter of Sir Thomas Hays, alderman of London. He was a grandson of Sir Gilbert Ireland who... |
Richard Standish Richard Standish Richard Standish was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660. He was a colonel in the Parliamentarian army in the English Civil War.... |
William Ashurst William Ashurst (MP) William Ashurst was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1649 and 1654. He fought in the Parliamentarian army in the English Civil War.Ashurst was of Ashurst where his ancestors were seated after the Norman conquest.... |
| 1656 | Richard Holland Richard Holland (Parliamentarian) Richard Holland was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1654 and 1656. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.... |
Gilbert Ireland Gilbert Ireland Sir Gilbert Ireland was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1654 and 1675.Ireland was the son of John Ireland of Hutt and Hale and his wife Elizabeth Hays, daughter of Sir Thomas Hays, alderman of London. He was a grandson of Sir Gilbert Ireland who... |
Richard Standish Richard Standish Richard Standish was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660. He was a colonel in the Parliamentarian army in the English Civil War.... |
Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1656. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.... |
| 1659 | Sir George Booth Bt George Booth, 1st Baron Delamer George Booth, 1st Baron Delamer , known as Sir George Booth, 2nd Baronet, from 1652 to 1661, was an English peer.-Civil War:... |
Alexander Rigby Alexander Rigby (died 1694) Alexander Rigby was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660.Rigby was the son of Alexander Rigby of Middleton in Goosnargh near Preston and his wife Lucy Legh of Manchester. He succeeded father at Middleton in 1650.In 1659, Rigby was elected Member of Parliament for... |
||
1660–1832
| Election | 2nd Member | 2nd Party | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1660 | Sir Robert Bindlosse, 1st Baronet | Roger Bradshaigh Sir Roger Bradshaigh, 1st Baronet Sir Roger Bradshaigh, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1679.... |
||||
| 1661 Cavalier Parliament The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter century reign of Charles II of England... |
Hon. Edward Stanley | |||||
| 1665 | Thomas Preston | |||||
| 1679 | Viscount Brandon Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield was born in France and was naturalized in England by Act of Parliament in 1677.-Biography:... |
Peter Bold | ||||
| 1679 | Charles Hoghton | |||||
| 1685 Loyal Parliament The Loyal Parliament was the first and only Parliament of England of King James II, in theory continuing from May 1685 to July 1688, but in practice sitting during 1685 only. It gained its name because at the outset most of its members were loyal to the new king... |
James Holt | Roger Bradshaigh | ||||
| 1689 Convention Parliament (1689) The English Convention was an irregular assembly of the Parliament of England which transferred the Crowns of England and Ireland from James II to William III... |
Viscount Brandon Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield was born in France and was naturalized in England by Act of Parliament in 1677.-Biography:... |
Charles Hoghton | ||||
| 1690 English general election, 1690 -Summary of the Constituencies:See British general election, 1796 for details. The constituencies used in England and Wales were the same throughout the period... |
Hon. James Stanley James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby PC , styled The Honourable until 1702, was a British peer and politician.Derby was the second son of Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby, and Dorothea Helena Kirkhoven... |
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| 1694 | Ralph Assheton Sir Ralph Assheton, 2nd Baronet, of Middleton Sir Ralph Assheton, 2nd Baronet was an English politician.Baptised on 19 February 1651 in Middleton in Lancashire, he was the son of Sir Ralph Assheton, 1st Baronet and Anne Assheton. Assheton was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1668... |
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| 1698 English general election, 1698 -Summary of the Constituencies:See British general election, 1796 for details. The constituencies used in England and Wales were the same throughout the period... |
Hon. Fitton Gerard Fitton Gerard, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield Fitton Gerard, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield was a British peer, styled Hon. Fitton Gerard until 1701.He was the younger son of Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, and represented several constituencies, mostly in Lancashire, in the British House of Commons, before succeeding his brother Charles... |
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| 1701 English general election, 1701 -Summary of the Constituencies:See British general election, 1796 for details. The constituencies used in England and Wales were the same throughout the period... |
Richard Bold | |||||
| 1703 | Richard Assheton | |||||
| 1704 | Richard Fleetwood | |||||
| 1705 English general election, 1705 The 1705 election saw contests in 110 constituencies in England and Wales, roughly 41% of the total. The election was fiercely fought, with mob violence occurring in serveral boroughs. During the previous session of Parliament the Tories had become incrasingly unpopular, and their position was... |
Hon. Charles Zedenno Stanley | Richard Shuttleworth | ||||
| 1713 British general election, 1713 The British general election, 1713 produced further gains for the governing Tory party. Since 1710 Robert Harley had lead a government appointed after the downfall of the Whig junto, attempting to pursue a moderate and non-controversial policy, but had increasingly struggled to deal with the... |
Sir John Bland | |||||
| 1727 British general election, 1727 The British general election, 1727 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 7th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election was triggered by the death of George I; at the time elections... |
Sir Edward Stanley Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby , known as Sir Edward Stanley, 5th Baronet, from 1714 to 1736, was a British peer and politician.... |
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| 1736 | Peter Bold | |||||
| 1741 British general election, 1741 The British general election, 1741 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 9th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707... |
Lord Strange | |||||
| 1750 | Peter Bold | |||||
| 1761 British general election, 1761 The British general election, 1761 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707... |
James Shuttleworth | |||||
| 1768 British general election, 1768 The British general election, 1768 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:... |
Lord Archibald Hamilton Archibald Hamilton, 9th Duke of Hamilton Archibald Douglas-Hamilton, 9th Duke of Hamilton and 6th Duke of Brandon was a Scottish peer and politician.Hamilton was the eldest son of the 5th Duke of Hamilton and his third wife, Anne, and was educated at Eton... |
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| 1771 | The Earl of Sefton Charles Molyneux, 1st Earl of Sefton Charles William Molyneux, 1st Earl of Sefton was a Member of the British Parliament and a member of the peerage of Ireland.He was born on 11 October 1748, the son of Thomas and Mary Molyneux... |
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| 1772 | Sir Thomas Egerton Thomas Egerton, 1st Earl of Wilton Thomas Grey Egerton, 1st Earl of Wilton , known as Sir Thomas Grey Egerton, 7th Baronet from 1756 to 1784, was a British peer.... |
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| 1774 British general election, 1774 The British general election, 1774 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 14th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:... |
Lord Stanley Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby PC , styled Lord Strange between 1771 and 1776, was a British peer and politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries... |
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| 1776 | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley (1753–1779) Thomas Stanley , was a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Lancashire 1776–1779.He was born the son of James Smith-Stanley, Lord Strange and educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.... |
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| 1780 | Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley (1749–1816) Thomas Stanley was a British Whig politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Lancashire from February 1780 until he retired from the House of Commons at the 1812 general election, having been elected unopposed at seven successive elections.He was the son of the Revd Thomas Stanley and educated... |
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| 1784 British general election, 1784 The British general election of 1784 resulted in William Pitt the Younger securing an overall majority of about 120 in the House of Commons of Great Britain, having previously had to survive in a House which was dominated by his opponents.-Background:... |
John Blackburne | |||||
| 1812 United Kingdom general election, 1812 The election to the 5th Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1812 was the fourth general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland.... |
Lord Stanley Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby KG , styled Lord Stanley from 1776 to 1832 and known as The Lord Stanley from 1832 to 1834, was an English politician, landowner, builder, farmer, art collector and naturalist... |
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| 1830 United Kingdom general election, 1830 The 1830 United Kingdom general election, was triggered by the death of King George IV and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, William IV. Fought in the aftermath of the Swing Riots, it saw electoral reform become a major election issue... |
John Wilson-Patten John Wilson-Patten, 1st Baron Winmarleigh John Wilson-Patten, 1st Baron Winmarleigh PC was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:... |
Tory Tory Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada... |
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| 1831 United Kingdom general election, 1831 The 1831 general election in the United Kingdom saw a landslide win by supporters of electoral reform, which was the major election issue. As a result it was the last unreformed election, as the Parliament which resulted ensured the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Polling was held from 28 April to... |
Benjamin Heywood Benjamin Heywood Sir Benjamin Heywood, 1st Baronet FRS was an English banker and philanthropist.Born in St Ann's Square, Manchester, grandson of Thomas Percival, son of Nathaniel Heywood and Ann Percival, and brother to Thomas Heywood and James Heywood... |
- Constituency abolished (1832Reform Act 1832The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
)
Elections
The county franchise, from 1430, was held by the adult male owners of freehold land valued at 40 shillings or more. Each elector had as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings, which took place in the county townCounty town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
. The expense and difficulty of voting at only one location in the county, together with the lack of a secret ballot contributed to the corruption and intimidation of electors, which was widespread in the unreformed British political system.
The expense, to candidates, of contested elections encouraged the leading families of the county to agree on the candidates to be returned unopposed whenever possible. Contested county elections were therefore unusual. The Stanleys, led by the Earl of Derby
Earl of Derby
Earl of Derby is a title in the Peerage of England. The title was first adopted by Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby under a creation of 1139. It continued with the Ferrers family until the 6th Earl forfeited his property toward the end of the reign of Henry III and died in 1279...
dominated the county. One seat was nearly always held by a Stanley relative, the second, by one of the other leading families.
See also
- List of former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies
- Unreformed House of CommonsUnreformed House of CommonsThe unreformed House of Commons is the name generally given to the British House of Commons as it existed before the Reform Act 1832.Until the Act of Union of 1707 joining the Kingdoms of Scotland and England , Scotland had its own Parliament, and the term refers to the House of Commons of England...