Penryn

<p>The chief interests at Penryn in 1715 were those of the Boscawen, Trefusis and Godolphin families. Till 1734 the borough was represented by members or nominees of these families without opposition.</p><p>At the general election of 1734, <a href="/landingpage/57780" title="Richard Edgcumbe" class="link">Richard Edgcumbe</a>, who had replaced <a href="/landingpage/57362" title="Hugh Boscawen" class="link">Hugh Boscawen</a>, 1st Lord Falmouth, then in opposition, as Walpole’s chief election manager in Cornwall, put up two government candidates, who defeated two opposition Whigs standing on the Boscawen interest. In 1740 <a href="/landingpage/58689" title="Thomas Pitt" class="link">Thomas Pitt</a>, the Prince of Wales’s election manager, wrote:</p><blockquote><p>The natural interest of the town is on the country [opposition] side. Mr. Herle, who lives in the town, and Mr. Trefusis who lives near it, have declared themselves against any man of Mr. Edgcumbe’s recommendation — Mr. Herle, chaplain to Lord Falmouth, is a magistrate in the town, and a stirring popular man. The gentlemen in the country interest declared for Admiral Vernon and solicited votes for him but they were opposed by Mr. Enys, a gentleman who lives in the town, and who acts under Mr. Edgcumbe who solicited for both members — but by the last account Admiral Vernon’s election is secured and Mr. Edgcumbe acquiesces in it — and there is great room to hope for another in the country interest. ‘Tis said they are certain of carrying it for both, provided their design be kept secret.<a class='fnlink' id='t1' href='#fn1'>1<span>Chatham mss.</span></a></p></blockquote><p>At the ensuing election the two Boscawen candidates, Vernon and Evelyn, defeated the Edgcumbe candidates, Clavering and Campbell, who petitioned, but withdrew after the fall of Walpole. At a by-election in 1743, George Boscawen, brother to <a href="/landingpage/57363" title="Hugh Boscawen" class="link">Hugh Boscawen</a>, 2nd Lord Falmouth, was returned, the Boscawens having reverted to the government side. Thenceforth Falmouth and Edgcumbe became the joint patrons of the borough.</p>