Yorkshire election 1807
Encyclopedia
The county of Yorkshire
was one of the constituencies that went to a poll during the general election of 1807
. This was the first time Yorkshire had seen a contested election since 1741.
The election is one of the most famous from the pre-reform era. It is most well known because of the amount of money spent, nearly £250,000 between the three candidates. This makes it the most costly election of any before 1832.
The three contestants were: William Wilberforce
, leader of the anti-slavery movement in Parliament and MP for Yorkshire since 1784; Henry Lascelles
, son of Lord Harewood and representative of Yorkshire between 1796 and 1806; and Lord Milton
, son of Earl FitzWilliam. Counties each returned two MPs so two of these three would be successful.
Polling took place between May 20 and June 5, 1807. Wilberforce won with 11,808 votes whilst Milton gained the second seat with 11,177 votes. Lascelles came third with 10,990. This was only 187 fewer votes than Milton received.
Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Yorkshire was a 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...
was one of the constituencies that went to a poll during the general election of 1807
United Kingdom general election, 1807
The election to the 4th Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1807 was the third general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland....
. This was the first time Yorkshire had seen a contested election since 1741.
The election is one of the most famous from the pre-reform era. It is most well known because of the amount of money spent, nearly £250,000 between the three candidates. This makes it the most costly election of any before 1832.
The three contestants were: William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was a British politician, a philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becoming the independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire...
, leader of the anti-slavery movement in Parliament and MP for Yorkshire since 1784; Henry Lascelles
Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood
Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood DL , known as Viscount Lascelles from 1814 to 1820, was a British peer and Member of Parliament....
, son of Lord Harewood and representative of Yorkshire between 1796 and 1806; and Lord Milton
William FitzWilliam, 4th Earl FitzWilliam
William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam PC , styled Viscount Milton until 1756, was a British Whig statesman of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1782 he inherited his uncle Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham's estates, making him one of the richest people in...
, son of Earl FitzWilliam. Counties each returned two MPs so two of these three would be successful.
Polling took place between May 20 and June 5, 1807. Wilberforce won with 11,808 votes whilst Milton gained the second seat with 11,177 votes. Lascelles came third with 10,990. This was only 187 fewer votes than Milton received.