Background Information

Number of voters: about 6000

Number of seats
2
Constituency business
Date Candidate Votes
2 May 1754 SIR THOMAS PALMER
EDWARD SMITH
9 Apr. 1761 SIR THOMAS PALMER
EDWARD SMITH
25 Mar. 1762 SIR THOMAS CAVE vice Smith, deceased
26 Dec. 1765 SIR JOHN PALMER vice Sir Thomas Palmer, deceased
31 Mar. 1768 SIR THOMAS CAVE
SIR JOHN PALMER
20 Oct. 1774 SIR JOHN PALMER
THOMAS NOEL
12 Jan. 1775 JOHN PEACH HUNGERFORD vice Noel, called to the Upper House
2,717
William Pochin
2,597
14 Sept. 1780 JOHN PEACH HUNGERFORD
WILLIAM POCHIN
22 Apr. 1784 JOHN PEACH HUNGERFORD
WILLIAM POCHIN
Main Article

Although there were important aristocratic interests in Leicestershire, notably those of the Duke of Rutland and the Earls of Stamford, Huntingdon and Harborough, the county representation was almost completely dominated by the country gentlemen. Only one son of a peer sat for Leicestershire during this period: the other Members were all country gentlemen, and it was only in alliance with one of these that an aristocratic interest could be effective. But too overt aristocratic interference was resented: Pochin in 1775, though strongly supported by the Duke of Rutland, lost the election—probably Rutland’s support lost him more votes than it gained.

The Leicestershire Members were undistinguished: of the seven men who represented the county during this period only Sir Thomas Cave is known to have spoken in the House—and he only once.

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