Right of election

in the corporation

Background Information

Number of voters: 24

Constituency business
County
Hampshire
Date Candidate Votes
28 Jan. 1715 ANTHONY MORGAN
WILLIAM STEPHENS
25 Apr. 1717 JAMES STANHOPE vice Morgan, chose to sit for Yarmouth, I.o.W.
22 July 1717 SIR TRISTRAM DILLINGTON vice Stanhope, called to the Upper House
2 Aug. 1721 THOMAS STANWIX vice Dillington, deceased
23 Mar. 1722 CHARLES LENNOX, Earl of March
CHARLES WHITWORTH, Baron Whitworth
29 Oct. 1722 CHARLES CADOGAN vice March, chose to sit for Chichester
1 Feb. 1726 GEORGE HUXLEY vice Whitworth, deceased
31 Jan. 1727 SIR WILLIAM WILLYS vice Cadogan, called to the Upper House
21 Aug. 1727 GEORGE HUXLEY
WILLIAM FORTESCUE
2 June 1729 HUXLEY re-elected after appointment to office
27 May 1730 FORTESCUE re-elected after appointment to office
27 Apr. 1734 WILLIAM FORTESCUE
GEORGE HUXLEY
17 Feb. 1736 GUSTAVUS HAMILTON, Visct. Boyne, vice Fortescue, appointed to office
27 June 1737 BOYNE re-elected after appointment to office
8 May 1741 ANTHONY CHUTE
MONOUX COPE
2 July 1747 BLUETT WALLOP
THOMAS LEE DUMMER
20 June 1749 RALPH JENISON vice Wallop, deceased
Main Article

In 1715 the Newport seats were filled by Anthony Morgan, a government supporter, and William Stephens, a local Tory landowner, without opposition, though Morgan, who had been appointed lieutenant governor of the Isle of Wight after George I’s accession, tried to persuade the Government to put up a second candidate, assuring them that ’it will be an easy matter to bring in two Whigs at that corporation’.1T. Stephens, The Castle Builders, 41. At all subsequent elections both seats were filled on the recommendation of the Administration without a contest. On 30 Jan. 1722 Lord Cadogan, governor of the Isle of Wight, offering to bring in Charles, Lord Whitworth, for Newport, wrote:

I have already engaged the corporation. I shall endeavour to make the terms as easy to you as I can, but in this time of general corruption and that most boroughs sell themselves by inch of candle, it will not be possible to come in anywhere without some expense.2Add. 37387, f. 377.

Whitworth’s election cost him £600.3Whitworth to Geo. Tilson, 10/21 Mar. 1722, Add. 37388, f. 146. After 1740 Newport, like the other Isle of Wight boroughs, was managed for the Administration by Thomas Holmes.4Add. 38333, f. 95.

Author
P.W.
Volume
Commons 1715-1754
Notes
  • 1. T. Stephens, The Castle Builders, 41.
  • 2. Add. 37387, f. 377.
  • 3. Whitworth to Geo. Tilson, 10/21 Mar. 1722, Add. 37388, f. 146.
  • 4. Add. 38333, f. 95.