Dorchester

The principal Tory interest lay in the Brownes of Frampton, of whom Robert Browne succeeded his father as high steward in 1734, and John Browne, the recorder from 1747 to 1750, held one of the seats for 23 years. The Whig interest was supported by the Duke of Newcastle, who in 1711 had inherited the site of the priory and the manor of Frome Whitfield, within the borough, from his uncle Duke John,1Hutchins, Dorset, ii. 366, 412. the high steward from 1701. The Damer family also developed a strong interest and there was an independent vote.

With the exception of Abraham Janssen, all the Dorchester Members were local or Dorset landowners, three of them being well-known lawyers. The two sitting Tory Members were re-elected in 1715 but Whigs were successful in 1722, one of whom, William Chapple, who was seated on petition, had Newcastle’s support in three elections. From 1727 to 1747 inclusive there appears to have been a compromise, John Browne holding one seat and the other going to a Whig, except at a by-election in 1737 when Robert Browne was unopposed. In 1734, when a third candidate stood, Chapple wrote to Newcastle that ‘Mr. Browne, who also stands again, hath given me assurances of his interest’.227 Mar. 1734, Add. 32689, f. 174. In 1741 and 1747 the Whig was Nathaniel Gundry, like Browne a bencher of Lincoln’s Inn. On Browne’s death in 1750 his seat went to the Damers, who retained it for 40 years. At the same time Gundry was succeeded by John Pitt, a former Tory with a government post, who was invited to stand by ‘so large a number’ of independent voters ‘as could not be refused’.3John Pitt to Hen. Pelham, 19 May 1750, Newcastle (Clumber) mss.